LOGINAria’s POVDinner had barely settled into a fragile rhythm when I felt it—that subtle shift in the air, the instinctive tightening in my chest that warned me something was about to go wrong.The table assigned to us was impossible to miss. Mason sat beside me, his presence alone enough to quiet those within earshot. Across and around us were Sam, Julian, Holden Larkin, Quinn, Daxton, and Hailey. It looked like a family table to outsiders. To those who knew better, it was a battlefield disguised in crystal glasses and polished silverware.The table next to ours held familiar comfort—Jacob and Cecil, Alisher and his wife, Alpha Hugo and his Luna, and Hugo’s two betas. Seeing them nearby made me feel safe. A quiet reminder that not everyone in this hall wished us harm.
Mason’s POVWe had barely taken five steps into the banquet hall when a familiar voice cut cleanly through the murmurs of people watching us enter and clinking glasses.“Mason!”I turned just in time to see a blur of dark blonde hair and bright energy rushing toward me.“Hailey—” I barely managed to say her name before she almost launched herself at me.I caught her easily, one arm wrapping around her shoulders as she laughed and clung to me, her feet nearly lifting off the ground. At seventeen, she was still all sharp edges and restless fire, nothing like the calm political wolves surrounding us tonight.“It’s so good to see you, Mason!” she said, pulling back just enough to grin up at me, her eyes shining. “You’re impossible to reach these days.”I smiled despite myself. With Hailey, it was impossible not to. “When did you get here?” I asked.“Just last night,” she replied, bouncing slightly on her heels. “And before you ask—yes, I’m only here for one month. Mom insists I enroll in
Mason’s POVThe closer we got to the hotel entrance, the louder the world became.Cameras pressed forward like a living thing, flashes popping so fast they blurred into a constant white glare. Microphones stretched toward us, voices overlapping, desperate to be heard over one another. Every sound, every whisper, every breath of hostility or curiosity reached her now with unforgiving clarity.We didn’t slow. We never did.“Chairman Larkin!”“Alpha Mason!”“Are you together with her?”The question cut through the noise like a blade. I didn’t even look toward the source. I kept my eyes forward, my stride steady.“You’ll find out later,” I said calmly.That alone ignited another wave of chaos.“What does that mean?”“Is that confirmation?”“Alpha Larkin, is she your chosen mate?”Another voice shouted louder than the rest, sharp with provocation. “Are you considering the former Luna of Crimson Claw Pack as your new Luna?”I finally turned my head slightly, just enough for the cameras to
Mason’s POVOur limousine rolled to a smooth stop beneath the blazing lights of the Grand Silver Crown Regency Hotel, the most opulent five-star fortress in all of Silver Moon Pack territory. As planned, we were the last to arrive. I am the most important person in this Annual Federation Gathering after all.The moment the doors of the limo opened, the night exploded.Camera shutters snapped like gunfire. Flashes burst in rapid succession, turning the hotel entrance into a storm of white light and murmurs. Cameramen surged forward, shouting names, demands to look in their direction, overlapped, voices sharp with hunger for spectacle.Julian stepped out first, composed as ever, his expression unreadable. Sam followed, offering the crowd a polite nod that did nothing to slow the frenzy. Then Jacob emerged, tall and calm, his arm immediately offered to Cecil. She looked radiant, glowing with newlywed happiness, her smile serene despite the chaos.The four of them moved aside in practiced
Aria’s POVThe music swelled through the backyard of Jacob and Cecil's home, rich and warm, wrapping around us like a blessing from the Moon Goddess herself. Golden lights shimmered above the dance floor, reflecting off the white and silver décor Cecil had chosen. Laughter echoed from every corner, guests talking, glasses clinking, wolves celebrating not just a wedding, but a future that finally felt hopeful.Mason’s hand rested securely at my waist as we swayed among the other couples. His thumb brushed slow, absent-minded circles against my back, as if reminding himself that I was here. That I was real. Alive. His.Through the bond, I felt his emotions ripple softly. contentment, pride, and beneath it all, a sharp edge of vigilance that never truly left him.[You look beautiful tonight,] Mason murmured through our mindlink.I smiled, resting my head lightly against his chest. ‘You say that every time.’[Because it’s true every time.]I laughed softly, listening to the steady beat o
Aria’s POVIt was finally here, the day we had all been waiting for. My best friend’s wedding day.After the doctor put me on vitamins and herbal tea, my nausea eased to almost nothing. Just enough that I could actually enjoy the day instead of counting the minutes until I could lie down again. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, because today was going to be busy, emotional, and unforgettable.The first thing on my mind wasn’t the decorations or the guests; it was Cecil.I knew her well enough to know she’d be a bundle of nerves by now.‘I’m coming to you,’ I told her through our mindlink. ‘Are you already dressed?’[Oh, thank Goddess! Please hurry!], she replied instantly, the anxiety in her voice making my steps quicken.When I opened the master bedroom door, I found her surrounded by stylists, hairdressers, and makeup artists, all fluttering around her like anxious birds.“Could you please give us a moment?” Cecil said firmly.Everyone immediately filed out, closing the do







