Zephyrine “You look beautiful.” The voice came just as the jewelries were being placed around my neck, my wrists, and in my hair. The crest, the few warriors, and the carriage had all arrived in the Hue Pack under the full-moon sky, and already I could feel the tension in the air. My brother had been tender, and I had accepted his help. We journeyed quietly, but when we emerged into Hue Pack, I realized Nyroth truly believed this was a real wedding. He had invited the neighboring packs, and all of them were here, joyous for him. However, it seemed the Yadevs hadn’t received an invitation, because none of them came. I had been ushered into the chamber at once, told to change into a wedding gown. But I insisted I would remain in my own. First, if ever I were to wear a wedding gown, it would be for Lycannar. Second, my gown would keep the runes etched into my skin hidden from public eyes. I allowed them to adorn me with the jewels, though, and that was when the voice came. Pamela. Nyroth’s mother. I sat still in the chair, swallowing hard. After all these months, since my rejection, since the revelation of me as Alpha, Pamela and I had never had a face-to-face encounter until now. The maids slipped out of the chamber, leaving us alone. I stared at my reflection in the mirror as she spoke again. “You are beautiful. You fit as the Luna of this pack, my dear.” I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “That’s a lie,” I murmured. Catching her reflection in the mirror, I rose and faced her. “I do not fit as the Luna of this pack. I am a whore. A barren. A rogue who came to feed off your son.” Those were her words, and she recognized them instantly. She swallowed hard, squared her shoulders, and spoke. “No one is above mistakes, my dear Alpha. Even you made a mistake by loving the Lycan King.” I smiled at that. “A mistake?” I shook my head. “The only mistake I made was not rejecting your son the moment I discovered he was my mate.”She went pale, but I didn’t stop there. I stepped closer, my eyes pinned on hers. “The second mistake I made… was keeping that same Lycan King from killing your son when he had the chance. If he had, a night like this would never have come. Would it?” I moved to bypass her, but her shaky voice stopped me. “You will realize soon this is the best decision you’ve ever made. He will be the best for you, and you know it.” She turned her gaze on me. “Being an Alpha in your pack and a Luna in this pack… that’s the best you can get anywhere.” I scoffed. “Being Alpha of my pack and Queen of the Lycan Kingdom, that is the true best I can get anywhere.” She stiffened at that, but I paid her no more attention as I walked out, making it clear that her son was the lesser choice. The highest, and always, was Lycannar. *** I walked down the aisle. Alone. Varyn did not lead me. Instead, he stood at the entrance of the long hall, arms folded across his chest, looking almost bored. Too bored. He hadn’t appeared. Lycannar. And I almost smiled to myself, because I knew he wouldn’t come. Dessyn and I had spoken, and she had promised to deliver the letter. Her gaze had been so sincere, and I could not have been more grateful. I reached the great altar of Hue Pack and turned to face him. Nyroth. Behind him stood Kai, flashing me a smile, one I answered only with a narrow glare. He had been one of the bullies when I lived here as a rogue. “Welcome,” the voice of the priestess rang out, and I swallowed as I turned toward her. Wait. Was it starting now? Was I truly going to be married to Nyroth? “Welcome, everyone, for being here tonight. Under this full moon, we will witness the powerful union of two Alphas. And without further ado, we should…” “Make the speech.” The voice of my brother came from the entrance. I turned to him. He still stood there, arms folded, looking utterly uninterested. “Make the speech, priestess. My sister is the goddess of war. She is the first female Alpha. An Ashmere. Make it long. Let them know.” I understood what he was doing in that moment. He was stalling. This wasn’t a wedding. He was buying time. And it was all the better, because Lycannar would not come, and by the end of this night, I would still be very much single, returning to my pack. I smiled faintly, catching sight of Olivia where she sat. Her eyes were locked on my brother, a small smile curling her lips. I paused. What was that? The question was still on my mind when the priestess prepared to begin. And then… it came. The sound. I froze, straining to listen again. The pounding rhythm of hooves. Horse galloping. My heart thundered against my ribs like never before. Everywhere went still. Silence spread heavy across the hall, broken only by that sound, the horse, coming closer. I whirled around. But to my shock, my brother, who had been standing at the entrance, was gone.