Chapter 3

Together, Harold and I sliced the celebratory cake, sharing it with the whole room.

Our friends ribbed us, eager to know where our next romantic escapade would be.

Harold finally caved to their relentless curiosity, "Okay, okay, no more questions. We're off to Lunaris Inn later for some stargazing."

Out of nowhere, Selena piped up, "Lunaris Inn, that's the spot for lovers—pricey and oh-so-romantic. It's open just once a month, and our Alpha snagged the grandest suite. They say it's a glass palace that glows wild and beautiful in the moonlight... Talk about a couple goals for our alpha and his mate."

My polite grin was on the verge of cracking.

I was in the dark about such intimate plans, yet Selena was in the know before me.

Needing a breather, I stepped outside, only to overhear Selena gossiping in the garden.

"Anita's hit the jackpot, from a plain Jane omega to the Alpha's darling. She'd be a goner in the woods on her own, but now she's pampered with treasures without lifting a finger."

"Oh, Moon Goddess, where's my perfect match? Someone like Alpha Harold—drop-dead gorgeous, strong as they come, loyal, and tender..." They were laying it on thick, lavishing every compliment imaginable on Harold.

Selena let out a mocking laugh. "Jealous of Anita, that no-good omega? Please, Moonshadow Stones are a dime a dozen. My mate? He's out there in the forest, braving the Silver wolves' lair to fetch me not one, but ten of those beauties."

The other two gasped in awe. "Ten stones! Holy smokes, a regular werewolf would be dead a hundred times over for that. Selena, your guy's a beast, makes Alpha Harold look like a pup!"

From the second-floor balcony, I watched Selena flaunt her shimmering stones, each one catching the moonlight and shimmering with a wolf pattern.

10 stones.

10 times what I had.

A sharp pang hit me, and I shut my eyes, but Selena's bragging cut through the silence.

"He adores me and would lay down his life for a smile. And that's not all—he's also gifted me ten high-energy crystals and a sable fur cloak..."

As Selena ticked off her treasures, my heart sank further. I had crystals too, just one, and sable fur, merely a scarf.

In the garden, the other she-wolves' eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Whoa, who's your mate? Do we even have someone that grand in our pack? You're not pulling our leg, are you?"

"He's a mystery, way out of your league. But hey, he's whisking me away to the Lunaris Inn tonight. Don't believe me? I'll snap a picture for you."

I could not take it anymore. I turned and walked back to Harold.

He pulled me close. "Time to head out, everything's set up at the hotel."

I forced a smile, fighting back tears. "We won't have any trouble with Rogue tonight, will we?"

Harold's lips brushed my forehead in a tender kiss. "No way they're coming back. I just chased them off. I've taken care of everything, so nothing's going to interrupt our perfect night together."

However, as soon as we stepped into the Lunaris Inn, Harold's phone buzzed with an urgent link from the beta. He looked at me, worried about creasing his brow. "Some of our guys got hit with a virus from a Rogue. It's bad... really bad."

I had seen that coming. "Should I wait for you here?"

He hesitated, his voice uncertain. "This might take a while. I'll have someone drive you home."

My heart sank, but I forced a smile. "Don't worry about me. I meant it when I said I'd always have your back. I'm your Luna, through thick and thin."

Harold's golden eyes met mine, filled with remorse. He opened and closed his mouth, struggling to find words, but in the end, he just nodded to an employee to take me home.

That night, I was alone, tidying up and drowning in a mix of calm and despair, waiting for Harold.