Eve Gathering

ANYA'S POV

The Great Hall had been completely transformed for the reception ahead of the Ancestral Council summit. Crystal chandeliers blazed over polished marble floors, and an orchestra played soft melodies that barely masked the tension hanging thick in the air. The elite of the shapeshifter world filled the room: alphas from other packs, diplomats, and high-ranking warriors. All were dressed in full regalia, yet in every gaze lurked the wild beast beneath.

I walked beside Azkarion, feeling dozens of eyes tracking our every step. I wore a black velvet gown, cut low at the back with an elegant train that brushed the floor. I had applied an extra dose of the blocker to my neck and wrists to keep up the appearance of an omega she-wolf. Azkarion, in his immaculate tuxedo, kept his hand resting firmly on my hip — a clear signal to everyone that I was with him.

"Hold your head high, little liar," he whispered close to my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "Kaelen is approaching — Alpha of the Northern Valley. I need his vote. Smile, but do not seem too warm."

Before I could reply, a broad-shouldered man with light brown hair and deep golden eyes stepped into our path. He held a glass in one hand, and wore a confident smile that was as captivating as it was dangerous.

"Azkarion, brother," he greeted. "I never thought the rumours were true. The whole north speaks of the female who has tamed the hardest Alpha the Hunters have ever known."

"Kaelen," Azkarion replied, his voice turning cold in an instant. His grip on my hip tightened. "May I introduce Anya, my future Luna. Anya, this is the Alpha of the Northern Valley."

I inclined my head slightly, moving with the grace I had practised so many times.

"It is an honour, Alpha Kaelen," I said, smiling with calm reserve.

He looked at me with open fascination. Stepping closer, he took my free hand and brushed his lips slowly over my knuckles.

"The pleasure is entirely mine, beautiful Anya," he murmured, never breaking his gaze. "Azkarion has always guarded his treasures well, but I must admit you have outdone yourself. There is something about you… a calm that feels utterly addictive amid all this chaos."

A chill ran through me — not from him, but from the sudden shift beside me.

Azkarion went rigid as a bowstring pulled to breaking point. It felt as if the air dropped several degrees. He pulled me sharply against him, stepping fully between us, his possessiveness so sharp it stung.

"Anya is not a museum piece, Kaelen," he rumbled low — but the sound carried so far that nearby guests turned, alarmed. "And I would advise you to mind your manners if you wish our alliance to stand."

Kaelen blinked, taken aback by the outburst — but instead of fear, his smile turned knowing. He had struck exactly where it hurt.

"Well now… I had no idea the great Alpha of the Hunters was so jealous," he said, holding up his hands as if in surrender. "I was merely greeting your partner. If she has no objection to speaking with an ally, I see no need to bare your fangs at me."

"My Luna has nothing to say to you," Azkarion cut in, his tone deadly cold.

Without waiting for a reply, he took my hand and led me away, striding fast across the hall. I could feel the elders’ and Gideon’s eyes burning into us, but he seemed to care for nothing at all. I did — my heart hammered wildly at the risk we had just taken.

We stepped into a dim side corridor. Azkarion threw open a dark wooden door, pulled me inside, then slammed it shut and slid the bolt home.

The room was almost entirely dark, lit only by moonlight spilling through the tall window. I turned to face him, furious.

"What is wrong with you?" I demanded, folding my arms. "That is the vote you need! You nearly ruined everything over a greeting! You were about to tear the whole plan apart!"

He closed the distance in three long strides, backing me against the wall and planting his hands on either side of my head so I had nowhere to go. His breath came fast, and his grey eyes blazed with that golden fire that always left me speechless.

"Do not speak to me of plans, Anya," he hissed, pressing his face close to mine. "Do not ask me to stand still and watch another man look at you like that — touch your hand — smile as if he has any right to you."

"It was purely politics!" I whispered back, desperate to keep my head clear. "Remember the deal, Azkarion. All of this is fake. I am only your pretend mate!"

"The deal means very little when men look at you like that," he answered, his voice rough and possessive, sending tremors through every inch of me.

He lifted his hand to my throat, wrapping his fingers firmly around it without squeezing, and forced me to meet his gaze. His thumb brushed along my jawline, and my breath caught in my throat.

"My wolf does not understand contracts or alliances," he went on, leaning so close our breaths tangled. "All it knows… all it has demanded since the very first day you walked into my office… is that you belong to this pack. You are mine. And if anyone ever lays a hand on you again… I will destroy them right before your eyes."