hed over my skin like water, smooth and cool with every shift. It looked stunning, maybe more than

clumsy spins where I used to wish my dresses would twirl like the princesses I watched on screen. That younger

her watched closely, their ey

the kind that always carried quiet jud

d already done what she could, and I thought it look

urmured, my voice barely steady

sharply and ro

x it. You didn't plan anything, did

, pressing me down onto the chair. My mother step

s spilling over your hips. You look ridiculous, like a sack of potatoes. If your father didn't need to

ion shifte

she asked. "Can a cow's ea

lingered in my mind about why the pack cared so much about my c

ill lived somewhere inside me, but every sharp word chippe

and worked through it, smoothing and tug

u owe me big for this, Ava. I'm only getting you ready becau

ing more than something weighing them down. Still, for tonight, I had to step into the par

in my head like a prayer while my bod

ng my face from one side to the othe

Moon's sake, Ava, learn how to carry yourself. How do you thin

twelve, and the only thing I owned was a braided friendship brac

. Her hands worked fast and sure, reshapin

houlder. "You'll mess it up. Jessa, be careful with the

sa stepped back, the reflection staring back from the mirror didn't feel like mine anymore

satisfied glance. "At lea

sigh slipped f

's en

se raced, and my stomach twisted tight. For tonight, I had to become exactly what they

s, I woul

tayed at Jessa's side. I followed behind them like an afterthought, the dull shadow trailing behind polish

immering light across the hall, the marble floors mirrored every moveme

corner where I could disappear, but my fath

lready pulling me along towa

greeting. One introduction blurred into the next, names an

teering me deeper into the crowd, and that was when I caught sight of a man observing us. He looked older th

r said, his tone carryin

answered, his voice

oenix and Jessa, then his hand cla

Ava, my y

aid, my voice uneven. "The p

tracing the crescent scar beneath my ear.

"We've been waiting for y

r each other as a wav

itated. "I've never been

ck is proud to host this year's Gala. Having the Blacks

held no fondness for my father or Phoenix. For a fleeting second, a reckless thought crosse

his glass in

Beta Grey," he said, his tone layered

nd my arm, and the strain in hi

d closer, and my fath

reeted, his voice edge

d, glowing in he

he Westwood pack. It's a ple

out his hand. Without thinking, I placed mine in his. He brought it up and brushed his lips against

his voice soft yet shar

speak, my father yan

" he said flatly. "Go spend

to slip away, leaving Kellan and the

None of it made sense. Why was he suddenly paying attenti

still watching me, his gaze fixed and impo

d to ge

rounded me, and for the first time that night, I managed to breathe. Quiet murmurs, hushed laughter, and

hovered above the screen as I set the destination. Moonlight Terrace Hotel. All

, a strong hand closed around my arm, pulling

k hair and eyes that cut straight through me. The fabric of

de me, something unfamiliar

si

mn

it rea

le wolf?" he said, his voice low and r

hold tightened, firm enough to almost hurt. I couldn't move, caught between the instin