y

e like me who had been exposed to luxury during my stay in the Moonf

as who attended the event, each carrying different scents th

d despite my awe, I made sure my

yone reason to gossip about Silvercres

to lower my gaze, to bow

crest's reputation if anyone discovere

s, praying no one would re

dded politely to the host, his

Archer, Silv

to me. "This is

ly. "Welcome, Alpha.

s caught glimpses of familiar faces-f

ang w

the closer we came

n it-only that so

tightening in a way it hadn't since I left Mo

elf. You're im

uldn't

ance, he hadn't signed it-he was suppose

s no way he

nease wou

ightly, glancing at me f

he said casually. "

up at him

expression was unreadabl

dy waiting for my a

tion... He seems to know something, as if t

an say is,

st into the elevator. He pressed the button for the pri

evator

sto

before my mind

unmistakable. The bond snapped taut, roa

e doors fully

arwood. D

He I

his Beta, Darren,

on me, and in that moment, the world seemed to

in this place-so why did I have to

he looked at me, gaze lockin

ntly, tightening like

ded to him. Hated that some

ould speak,

ed smoothly, inclining his h

s narrowed

y briefly before returning to me, sharp and probing, as

pect to se

I," Zane re

ention bore into me, and I felt the wei

ing elevator panel, ground

ll w

I replayed my words in my head, wondering

, as though amused by som

jaw tig

edged with something darker-mockery, posses

ple survive," I

errands for another Alph

ir sh

hen he spoke, his voice

ul, Mo

ped to him, Alph

one's Luna" Zane continued, his

ruck like a

w. About the bond. Ab

t so strange. No wonder he chose me from

see Kyle stiffen, h

mounting as Alpha energy collided-two a

l cold steel pressed against my sp

Archer," Kyle snapped, his

himself between us. The movement w

id, his voice dropping to match Kyle's, "Es

in the elevator

bleeding into the edges,

, clean sound that cut thro

oors

desperate to put space between us befo

ce followed, l

back when you realize

n-harder this time,

tly, just enough to mee

.." I sai

finish, Z

epping out beside me without looki

t turn

since leaving Moonfan

xpensive wines floated in the air-that even for a non-alcoholic l

against my skin. It was the same eyes that used to look at me filled with mockery, disgust,

now-not that Luna who looks like she's attending her

elf-deprecating chuckle. "I suppo

thout hesitation. "There will be

s made m

y m

ys of status-were meant to be shared with one's mate. I had known that long befo

t did

oving forward, his presence steady beside me.

hosen words that meant nothing and everything all at once. I repeat

the way, something

loosened its grip on my shoulders. Wrapped in Za

sa

od in. Forgot that power always watched for weakness. Forgot tha

all it would take for those waiting in

r the drink bar. His breath reeked of liquor that made me step back and frown

banquet and if it wasn't because he was there to stopped this drunk Al

on his lips. "Didn't think I'd see t

d. "You're

forget this familiar scent of you despite tr

pect yourse

ist. "Respect? Did you even do that w

trembling from anger that made me wa

ready patted Renn's hand that grasp my wrist

d released my wrist, making m

phas let their to

eeper than his

react, Zane s

wl that rattled the glasses on the nearby table. "And since when do

?" He laughed, alcohol sharp on his breath. "Do

inished th

e m

choing through the hall. A collective gasp followed. Renn groaned, scramb

ed a hand on the floor,

h," Za

sn't

't need

a dominance. Renn froze mid-motion, his body

ed, his gaze co

d calmly. "Alpha of t

ppled throu

ned from R

His voice broke as he scrambled upright, panic replacing arrogance. "

mained deat

our hands on what was under my protection," he said e

paled and I watched him retreating quickly while

and look at me

espite the effort. "And t

"Next time, don't wait for someone to save

ed. "Understood. I'

und Kyle who was watching us from a distance with a

st second, his grip on the gl

ed awa