Chapter 2

I whirled around, meeting Troy's quizzical gaze. I immediately forced down the panic clawing at my chest and lifted my head with a faint smile.

"Oh, I just remembered how a friend told me about an Alpha who betrayed his Luna. I was warning the silver nightingale not to do the same to me."

He studied my face carefully, as if trying to peel away my expression and uncover a lie beneath it. It was only when he found nothing unusual that he finally relaxed. He pulled me into his arms, fingers threading through my hair.

"I'll never understand those playboys," he said, scoffing. "Betraying your Luna is the same as betraying fate itself—the Moon Goddess will ruin them for it. Don't worry, my Luna. I'll forever stay loyal to you."

His oath echoed in my ears, but that photograph surfaced in my mind. That memory crushed me from the inside out, and my heart ached so sharply I could barely breathe.

I raised my chin and whispered, "And if… I'm just asking hypothetically… If you did betray me?"

He shook his head immediately, possessiveness burning in his eyes. "No way. You're the only gift the Moon Goddess has given me. No one can take you from me."

"And if you did?" I pressed.

He held my gaze, deadly serious. "Then, may the Moon Goddess punish me—may I spend eternity searching and never finding you. You're the other half of my soul. Without you, my life has no meaning."

I smiled and didn't answer him.

Just then, Troy's communication stone flared to life. From the other end came several drunken Alpha voices, laughing loudly.

"Get over here, Troy! We're already at the tavern, just waiting on you!"

Without hesitation, Troy turned him down. "I'm spending my anniversary with Estelle, so nope, I'm not going."

"Come on! You haven't come out in months! If we didn't know better, we'd think your Luna had locked you up!"

"Seriously! Just bring Estelle with you and celebrate at the tavern! It'll be fun!"

Troy frowned and lowered his voice. "She doesn't like noisy places. I'm not going. Nothing is more important than being with her."

He sounded resolute, but the Alphas on the other side refused to give up. They took turns coaxing and teasing, their voices getting louder and more excited.

The back-and-forth dragged on until I finally conceded. "You should go. Don't let me get in the way of your friendships."

He looked genuinely reluctant, burying his face into the crook of my neck and nuzzling softly. "You're coming with me, then. Otherwise, I'm not going."

His friends erupted in laughter on the other end of the communication stone.

"Come on, Luna Estelle! Don't be too harsh on your Alpha! If he keeps staying home, we're going to assume he's turning into a domesticated wolf!"

In the end, I nodded. Only then did Troy finally agree to leave the house.

…

The moment the private room door swung open, the air, thick with smoke, alcohol, and raw pheromones, hit me.

A few Alphas were surrounded by she-wolves, their necks marked with barely hidden bite marks.

I stepped back, and Troy's brows snapped down. The sheer presence of a top-tier Alpha pressed on the room, freezing the air.

The Alphas scrambled, pushing their companions off them, trying to smile it off. "Wow, Luna Estelle is here! Alright, everyone, straighten up now!"

"Everyone, scram! Off you go!"

Once the she-wolves were gone, one of the Alphas clapped Troy on the shoulder with admiration. "Can't deny it—you're a real mate-before-anyone-else man. You don't even glance at another she-wolf. Respect, man."

Troy shrugged off the hand, disdain evident in his voice and face. "I'm a bonded Alpha, and my Luna deserves to feel secure. What do you know, unbonded wolf?"

Laughter and cheers erupted from the crowd, some clapping in approval. He ignored them completely, taking my hand and leading me to the window before covering my eyes.

A touch of frustration crept into his tone. "I wanted to show you this surprise at home, but… Couldn't avoid being dragged out by them. Still, it doesn't matter. Now works just as well."

At his wolf's howl, countless silver fireflies surged from the forest, gathering into a river of light that swirled above us. They danced across the night sky before forming a single line of shimmering words.

"For my one and only, Estelle."

The crowd gasped in awe. "Troy, only you could pull off something this epic! No wonder you got your Luna!"

He wrapped his arm around my waist from behind, his words drifting out with sentiment. "It's been six years, Estelle."

I stared at the glowing words, my mind spinning. It had been six years, indeed.

Six years ago, I was turned from a staunch anti-bonding werewolf into a Luna everyone envied. At the same time, those same years turned the Alpha who once saved my life into a liar who didn't even flinch when he deceived me.

I couldn't keep playing along anymore. "It's late. I should head home first."

Troy wanted to come with me, but a few Alphas grabbed him. "Luna Estelle is too pretty to stay up late, but we haven't hung out together in forever, Troy! Come on, you can't leave yet!"

I pulled my hand from his grasp and said slowly, "The guards will escort me home. You stay."

Before he could argue, I turned and left. Not long after stepping outside, I felt something in my coat pocket—Troy's wallet.

I paused, hesitation pinching my chest, and turned back. As I rounded the corner, I saw his foster sister, Rue Youngblood, entering the tavern.