Chapter 2

Silence gripped the room. I was stunned; so was the elder.

Every wolf in the Moon Temple locked their eyes on Harris in disbelief.

At the altar, Gwen froze in the center.

She gave Harris a subtle shake of the head, pleading with him to stop.

Harris dropped his gaze to meet mine, his smile curling tenderly as he said, “I’ll do it. I’m practically her family, too.”

Before I had a chance to say anything, Harris brought the microphone to his lips, his voice poised with composure.

“Grace wants you to know how beautiful you are today. Wherever your new pack takes you, stay true to who you are.”

He paused, his grip tightening on the microphone. “If life ever gets too much, the Azure Moon Pack remains your home.

“I—”

Harris chuckled and corrected himself. “We will always welcome you home.”

Gwen smiled faintly, her eyes welling up. “I know. Thank you. I will.”

With the whole pack watching, their eyes locked for a split second before breaking away.

No wolf picked up on the tension between them.

Only I caught a whiff of the bitter notes in the air.

It was like a silent farewell.

The ceremony went on, with the elder reciting the Moon Goddess’ blessing.

I looked at Harris, whose mind was elsewhere, and asked, “That’s not what I wanted to say. Weren’t you listening when I practiced the speech at home?

“I didn’t need you to speak for me.”

Though caught off guard for a moment, Harris was quick to pull himself together.

Hiding the storm of emotions behind his eyes, Harris put his hand on my head, his voice gentle. “You were already bawling before Gwen's ceremony even started. Only the Moon Goddess knows how hard you'd have sobbed if you'd been the one giving the speech.

“I was worried you'd cry so hard your wolf ears would pop right out.”

His banter had always been a constant between us.

He was acting as if the shifting scents I picked up on him were all in my head.

I forced a smile and replied, “I guess I should thank you.”

Harris was oblivious to the sarcasm in my tone or the strain in my smile.

In that very moment, Gwen approached with a glass of Moonsoul wine.

“Grace,” she said, her fingers running along my hair. “Our little pup is all grown up now. I look forward to your mating ceremony with Harris.”

Bile rose in my throat, a violent wave of nausea threatening to bring up my dinner.

My heart was shattered.

Gwen turned to Harris, her eyes reflecting a complex of emotions. “Harris, Grace has been sheltered all her life. I hope you’d take good care of her.”

Harris’ grip on the glass halted, then he murmured, “Of course.”

His response felt like a promise and a farewell.

The heavy scent of grief clung to him, refusing to disperse.

Not one to take strong liquors before, Harris spent the night drowning in one glass after another.

I sat there, quietly observing him.

Harris drank a lot of alcohol, and by the time he returned to our manor, he collapsed onto the sofa, barely conscious.

With his eyes closed, he murmured under his breath, “Gwen, why can’t we be together…”

Sitting on the other end of the couch, I didn’t say a word.

I simply listened quietly as the werewolf bound to become my lifelong mate called out my sister’s name over and over through his drunken stupor.

Just then, a call from the staff member of the werewolf-owned hotel came in.

“Good evening, Ms. Forrest. We’ve received your request to cancel the venue and preparations for your mating ceremony. We just need to verify with you on the cancellation.”

The staff member uttered courteously, “Please note that per venue policy, prepaid fees for canceled ceremonies are strictly non-refundable.”

I stared at Harris in his slumber and responded, “Yes.

“Please proceed with the cancellation. Keep the deposit.”