Chapter 3

Three days after moving out of the pack house, I rented an apartment downtown.

No Alpha pressure. No pack duties. No endless fighting. For the first time in years, I felt true peace.

I was on my balcony drinking coffee when my phone rang.

"Leo!" Marcia’s voice was frantic. "You have to come back!"

"What's wrong?" I asked, not really caring.

"The Full Moon ceremony! It’s in seven days, and…” Her voice trembled. "The preparations… Leo, it’s a total disaster!"

I almost laughed.

"Not my problem, Marcia. You have a new Lead Mate."

"But Victor has no idea what he's doing! The sacred offerings, the prayers for strength, how to even commune with the Moon Goddess... he knows nothing!"

"And what does he say?"

Marcia paused. "He says he'll learn... but we only have seven days! Leo, if the ceremony fails, the entire pack will lose the Moon Goddess's blessing!"

I took a sip of my coffee. "Hmm, that does sound pretty bad."

"So will you come back and help?" Marcia pleaded. "Even just to teach Victor..."

"Give me the phone."

An arrogant voice snatched the phone. It was Victor.

"Leo, don't listen to Marcia's whining," he snapped, his tone reeking of ignorant confidence. "I've been studying for three days. The Full Moon ceremony isn't that hard. It's just chanting some words and throwing some meat on a fire, right? How hard can it be?"

I nearly choked on my coffee.

"Victor, are you sure you understand what this ceremony is for? It's about the pack's spiritual connection to the Moon Goddess."

"Of course! I'm not an idiot," he said smugly. "And I've already got everything ready. You just wait and see how perfectly I handle it!"

He hung up.

I just shook my head and went back to enjoying my peaceful afternoon.

Three days later, my human friend, Sam, was getting married.

I wore a dark blue suit. By the time I got to the hotel, the ceremony had already started.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please be seated," the officiant's voice echoed through the speakers. "We are gathered here today to witness this sacred union..."

I found a seat in the back, ready to listen, when I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

"Moon Goddess, please witness our mate bond..."

I whipped my head around, nearly jumping out of my seat.

In the ballroom right next door, Elara was in a sleek black gown, holding hands with Victor in his pristine white suit. They were holding their own mating ceremony.

They chose the same damn hotel!

"...grant us eternal love and prosperity for our pack..."

Elara continued her vows, completely unaware of me.

I was about to slip away, but Victor's furious voice cut through the air.

"Leo! What are you doing here?"

Every head in the room turned to stare at me.

Elara's face went white, then quickly hardened into a guarded expression. "Leo? Why are you here?"

I stood up, trying to stay calm. "I'm here for a friend's wedding."

"A friend's wedding?" Victor eyed me suspiciously. "You're not here to ruin our ceremony, are you?"

"Ruin it?" I let out a cold laugh. "Why would I do that?"

Elara rushed over to me, her eyes flashing with... some kind of complicated emotion.

"Are you…?" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you getting mated to someone else?"

I blinked, then I understood what she was implying.

"No, Elara. I'm just here for my friend Sam's wedding. A human wedding." I pointed to the ballroom next door. "It has nothing to do with you."

"Then why this hotel?" Victor demanded, his anger rising. "There are so many hotels in the city. You had to pick this one?"

"Because the groom picked it," I said flatly. "Besides, I thought you'd be at a traditional mating site, not some human hotel."

A flicker of embarrassment crossed Elara's face.

"We... we wanted something more modern..."

"Modern?" I looked around. "Then where is the pack Elder? Why is a human wedding planner reading from a script? The Elders are the voice of the Moon Goddess, not him."

Victor's face turned red. "Those old rules are too much trouble!"

I shook my head. "You don't even have basic respect, and you expect the Moon Goddess to recognize your bond?"

"Our bond doesn't need your approval!" Victor fumed. "And I've prepared everything for the Full Moon ceremony. I'll show everyone what a perfect Lead Mate I am!"

Elara puffed out her chest, recovering her Alpha arrogance. "That's right. Victor is very talented with rituals."

Just then, Elara's phone rang.

She glanced at the screen, a smug smile spreading across her face. "It's the Full Moon. Our Mating Day. It's the Council. They must be calling to offer the Goddess's blessing and praise Victor's flawless preparations."

She confidently hit the speakerphone button, wanting to show off her authority in front of all her guests.

But what we heard next was Elder Graham's furious voice blasting from the speaker, so loud the whole ballroom could hear it.

"Alpha Elara! What in the Goddess's name have you two done?!" Elder Graham's voice roared, trembling with rage. "The sacred rites are a disaster! The Moon Goddess has withdrawn her blessing from our pack entirely!"