Chapter 2

Two days left.

Kaelan had promised me he would walk in holding my hand this time.

By five in the afternoon, Kaelan came back to the manor himself.

He stood at the bedroom door and watched the maid fasten the last clasp of my gown. He reached out his hand to me. “Tonight, you come with me,Everyone should know who you are before the ceremony.”

I looked at his hand for a moment, then placed mine in it.

Together, we went to the fortress.

The Moon Hall blazed with light. Pack elders, allied Alphas, and noble families filled the room. Some whispered about the future Luna Kaelan had kept away from public ceremonies for years.

At exactly eight o’clock, the doors opened.

Kaelan walked into the Moon Hall with me on his arm.

He wore a black suit with the Alpha crest at his shoulder, his power pressing the hall into silence. Just standing there made every werewolf want to lower their head.

Then every eye turned to me.

Someone whispered, “Is that Evelyn Hale?”

Another voice answered under its breath, “I thought Lady Vera would be at his side. She’s the one Alpha Kaelan always protects in public.”

The words were quiet, but werewolf hearing made quiet things useless. Kaelan heard them too. His expression cooled at once.

An elder stepped forward with an awkward smile. “Alpha, is this Miss Evelyn Hale?”

Kaelan’s hand tightened over mine. “Yes. Eve is my future Luna. She is the only woman I will bring to Blackthorn’s mate ceremony, and anyone who forgets that can answer to me.”

The hall went still. A few elders lowered their eyes, and the noble families who had been whispering quickly came forward to greet me, smiling as if they had never expected anyone else at his side.

I answered them politely.

Kaelan lowered his voice for me alone. “Don’t let them get in your head. I brought you here as my partner. Tonight, and every night after the ceremony, my side belongs to you.”

Before I could answer, the hall stirred again.

Vera appeared at the door.

She wore black, her face pale as frost, her dead mate’s wolf crest pinned to her chest. The moment she walked in, several elders turned toward her with sympathy.

Someone whispered, “Lady Vera still came tonight. She must be trying so hard.”

Vera stopped in front of us and gave me a soft smile. “So this is Miss Hale,I’ve heard so much about you.”

Kaelan glanced at her. “Vera, you should sit down if you’re tired.”

Vera lowered her eyes at once. “No, Kaelan. Don’t worry about me,” she said gently. “Tonight is your night with Miss Hale. I can take care of myself.”

Her words were considerate. But every wolf nearby heard them.

The elder smiled awkwardly. “Alpha, the first dance is about to begin.”

Kaelan looked at me.

Then Vera suddenly swayed. She caught the edge of the table and forced a smile. “I’m sorry. The scent of the ceremonial candles just reminded me of Ethan’s funeral. I’ll be fine. Please don’t let me ruin anything.”

Kaelan’s expression changed. I saw his hand loosen around mine.

A few years ago, I would have held on tighter. I would have reminded him that he had brought me here, that this was supposed to be my first dance as his future Luna.

This time, I let go first.

“Go,” I said.

Kaelan looked at me, startled.

I smiled calmly. “Lady Vera doesn’t look well.”

For a moment, he seemed like he wanted to say something. But Vera whispered his name again.

In the end, Kaelan walked to her side.

Vera’s fingers closed around his sleeve as if she were too weak to stand, but when she glanced past his shoulder at me, her eyes were perfectly clear.

When the first dance began, Kaelan was not beside me. He stood with Vera near the center of the floor, one hand supporting her arm while she lowered her head as if she were trying not to cry.

Vera gave me a soft, almost apologetic smile. “You won’t mind, will you, Miss Hale? Kaelan promised Ethan he would look after me. Besides, you still have tomorrow.”

Her voice was gentle enough to sound innocent and loud enough for every nearby wolf to hear.

A few young ladies looked at me with open pity. One of them murmured, “Poor Miss Hale. Future Luna or not, she still can’t keep him beside her.”

Another laughed under her breath. “A title is only a title. Lady Vera doesn’t need one when the Alpha keeps choosing her anyway.”

I had heard worse. After three years of standing second to Vera, pity no longer had teeth.

Another elder sighed. “Ethan died saving him. Of course Alpha Kaelan can’t abandon Lady Vera.”

No one said anything about the future Luna who had entered the hall with him. No one asked why I was standing alone.

Halfway through the ball, Vera pressed a hand to her chest again, her face going white.

She said she smelled the blood from the battle where Ethan died.

Kaelan immediately put down his glass. “Vera’s bond scar is hurting again,” he told the wolves beside him. “I’ll take her back first.”

Beta Eric reminded him in a low voice, “Alpha, Miss Hale is still here.”

Kaelan seemed to remember me then.

Across the crowd, he looked over and sent me a message.

[Eve, wait for me a little while.]

I looked at the message and replied with one word.

[Okay.]

Then I stood alone on the balcony and watched Kaelan drape his jacket over Vera’s shoulders before helping her into the car. It did not hurt anymore. My heart had seen this scene too many times.

Before the car door closed, Vera looked straight at me through the window. A second later, my phone buzzed.

[Kaelan says the night air will make my bond scar worse. He always notices things like that.]

[Don’t wait too long, Miss Hale. Some women need a title. Some are simply chosen.]

The music inside the Moon Hall continued.

Behind me, the elders were still praising Kaelan’s loyalty to his dead brother.