I glance up at her, my hands trembling as I pick up the card. “Sabrina, I—”
“Don’t.” Her voice is cold, cutting through whatever apology or explanation I was about to give. “Just… don’t.”
The air between us is charged with unspoken tension. Sabrina’s kindness, her warmth—all of it feels distant now, replaced by a chill I don’t recognize. For the first time, I wonder if I ever truly knew her at all.
She turns on her heel and leaves without another word, the door slamming shut behind her. I stand there in silence, clutching the invitation, the weight of her words and Kael’s name pressing against my chest.
Tonight, I’ll have to face them both. And I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
My hands tremble as I step into the Pack Hall, every nerve in my body taut. The grand room is alive with tension, every corner buzzing with murmured conversations. Wolves dressed in their finest gather in clusters, the air laced with the scent of power and expectation. I linger near the back, trying to shrink into the shadows as I take it all in.
My eyes find Ronan almost immediately, standing tall among the Shadow Guard. His posture is proud, his uniform crisp, his expression unreadable. My chest swells with pride despite myself. I know how hard he trained to earn that spot, the hours of grueling work, the sacrifices he made to climb out of the same darkness I’m still stuck in. But the pride doesn’t last long. It fades as I glance down at my own dress—a simple, faded piece that once belonged to my mother. The fabric is worn but clean, the best I could manage. It feels like a reminder of my place here, a silent declaration that I don’t belong among these wolves.
Sabrina, of course, looks stunning. She’s dressed in a sapphire blue gown that clings to her curves, her blonde hair cascading down her back in waves, her lips painted the color of a poison-tipped pink rose. She stands beside Ravena, both of them radiating authority and power. For a moment, Sabrina catches my eye, her expression unreadable. Then she turns away, dismissing me without a word.
I pull back slightly, trying to disappear into the sea of bodies. But then Kael walks in.
The room shifts the second he enters, the air thickening with his Alpha presence. His every step commands attention, his tall frame moving with a quiet confidence that sets the crowd abuzz. My heart races as my eyes lock on him, and a surge of electricity courses through me, so intense it feels like my body is vibrating. His scent—earthy and rich, laced with something darker—reaches me even from across the room, and Eira stirs, purring faintly in approval.
Kael’s piercing grey eyes find mine, and the world narrows to just the two of us. His gaze is sharp, unwavering, cutting through every layer of doubt I’ve ever built around myself. My breath catches, my hands trembling at my sides. It’s as if he sees everything—every secret, every fear, every broken piece of me—and still holds me there, steady in his sight.
Before I can think, before I can even move, Ravena grabs my arm, her nails digging into my skin. The sharp pain pulls me back to reality, and I glance up to see her glaring down at me, her lips curling into a venomous sneer.
“Remember your place, wench,” she hisses, her voice low and icy. She twists my arm slightly, just enough to make me wince, her nails biting deeper. “Make one wrong move, and I’ll drag you back to the dark room for good.”
I bite my lip, swallowing the whimper threatening to escape as she releases me with a shove. My arm throbs, but I force myself to stand still, to keep my face blank. The last thing I want is to give her the satisfaction of seeing me break.
Kael steps onto the dais at the front of the hall, commanding silence without saying a word. The crowd quiets instantly, every eye turning to him. His expression is calm, composed, but his presence is a storm, radiating strength and authority. He clears his throat, and the low hum of his voice rolls through the room like distant thunder.
“Tonight, we gather to celebrate not just the strength of Shadow Ridge, but the bonds that make us whole,” Kael begins, his gaze sweeping over the room. His words are deliberate, every syllable measured. “It is a night to honor tradition, to forge alliances, and to embrace what destiny has laid before us.”
Beside me, Ravena straightens, her lips twitching into a satisfied smile. Sabrina steps forward slightly, her head held high, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. She looks every inch the future Luna, her confidence unwavering as she waits for him to call her name.
Kael’s gaze flicks briefly to her, then back to the crowd. “And tonight, it is time for me to name my mate.”
The room holds its breath, the silence so thick it feels suffocating. Sabrina steps onto the dais, her smile widening as she lifts her chin, ready to accept what she’s always believed was hers.
But Kael doesn’t look at her.
Instead, his eyes find mine.
“Talia Hale,” Kael says, his voice cutting through the silence like a blade. “Step forward.”
