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ASHKA’S POV

I stood in front of the mirror holding up two dresses while Ivy sat on the edge of the bed watching me.

“Which one?” I asked. “The deep red or the dark green?”

Ivy tilted her head. “The red one. You’ve always looked good in that color, and stop smiling like that already. You’ve been married five years and you’re still this excited about an anniversary?”

I laughed. “I can’t help it, I still look forward to every single one. I love him the same way I did the day we got married.”

“You are hopeless,” Ivy said, standing up to take the green dress from my hands. “Try the red on properly so I can see.”

I changed quickly into it and turned around. “Well?”

“Its perfect. Now for the jewelry…” She hesitated, taking her time to access my neck. “Use that simple gold one he gave you on your third anniversary. It suits the dress better.”

I nodded and put it on. Then I picked up the small wooden box from the table. “What about the gift? Does the wrapping look neat enough?”

Ivy took the box and started fixing the ribbon. “It looks fine, but you should write him a letter to go with it. Men pretend they don’t care about words but they always keep the letters.”

I shook my head with a small laugh. “Rurik isn’t exactly a romantic man. And you know that.”

“Maybe this year will finally change him,” Ivy said, tying the ribbon properly. “Write it anyway. He’ll appreciate the effort. It’s what matters.”

“I already wrote one,” I admitted. “I just hope we can finally have a peaceful evening. We’ve barely seen each other these past few weeks because of pack matters.”

“Then make tonight count,” Ivy said. “You deserve it.”

We left the room together. As we walked down the corridor, I thought about how lucky I still felt. I had lost my father years ago, but I still had my husband and my sister.

I silently thanked the Moon Goddess for both of them and promised myself I would never take them for granted.

Instead of resting for the rest of the day, I went straight to work. I wanted to make sure the evening completely free.

In the trade hall I found two merchants arguing loudly over a delayed shipment of grain.

“You both need to stop,” I said firmly as I walked in. “What is the problem?”

The older merchant pointed at the younger one. “He is trying to raise the price after we already agreed last week.”

“That is not true,” the younger one said. “The cost of transportation increased, I certainly cannot take the loss alone.”

I looked at both of them. “You will split the extra cost. Half and half. And next time you bring any change to me before you start shouting in front of everyone. Understood?”

Both men nodded. “Yes, Luna.”

I signed the adjusted agreement and moved on.

Next I approved the supply list for the border villages and signed three documents that had been waiting for Rurik’s seal, delaying them would only make life harder for the people who needed those approvals.

By the time I returned to the manor, the sun was already lower in the sky. I went straight to the banquet hall to check the decorations myself.

“Move those flowers a little to the left,” I told one of the servants. “And make sure the table near the window has enough space. The Alpha prefers that side.”

I spoke with the cooks about the final dishes and adjusted the seating arrangement so that the older council members would be closer to the front.

Several servants congratulated me as I walked around. “It’s been five years already, your Grace. We hope the Alpha surprises you tonight. He has been so busy lately.”

I smiled. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. He has barely had time to eat with me these past weeks, maybe he is preparing something special.”

Later in the afternoon Ivy joined me again in the banquet hall.

“Have you decided what you’re giving him?” Ivy asked.

I opened the box and showed her the handcrafted silver cuff. “I bought this last month and the letter is inside too.”

Ivy looked at it carefully. “He’ll like it. You’ve been trying to plan a trip with him for months now, haven’t you?”

“Yes. But the issue is, every time we set a date something comes up. Pack meetings, border issues, council work. I keep hoping this anniversary will finally be the start of us having more time together again.”

Ivy put a hand on my shoulder. “After everything you’ve done for him and for this pack, you deserve a good evening. Don’t let anything ruin it.”

As evening came, I returned to my room to change.

I chose the exact red dress that Ivy hadpicked, which conincidentally Rurik had also complimented about a year ago. I really wanted him to remember those earlier years.

Before I left, I picked up the gift box and made sure the letter was still inside.

Guests started arriving at the manor. I stood near the entrance and welcomed each of them with a smile. I kept glancing toward the main doors, waiting for Rurik.

Time passed and he still did not appear.

“Where is the Alpha?” one of the elders asked politely.

“He should be here soon,” I answered. “Pack duties held him up a little. Please enjoy the wine while we wait.”

I quietly sent two servants to look for him. More guests kept arriving and more questions regarding his absence came.

Still no Rurik and Ivy was nowhere to be seen either.

I told myself they were probably together preparing whatever surprise they had planned. Rather than wait any longer, I decided I would go to him first.

I excused myself from the guests, picked up the gift box, and walked toward our private chambers.

The further I went, the more quiet the manor became.

When I reached our bedroom I noticed the door was not fully closed. I pushed it open gently, still expecting to find my husband getting ready for the celebration.

Instead I saw Rurik and Ivy in bed together.

A golden mate mark was clearly glowing on Ivy’s neck.

The gift box slipped from my hand and hit the floor.

I stood there unable to move, unable to speak, and unable to understand how the two people I loved most in the world could do this to me.