nore

lliances were forged, deals were made, and status was put on full display. For the past two years, I

r, I wen

of moonlight on water. It was a simple, elegant sheath of silver-white silk that clung to my body, its clean lines a quiet

clusters of guests. Heads turned. Whispers followed me like th

champagne from a passing waiter, and found a quiet alcove near the Fre

he entrance annou

very air in the room. And on his arm, clingi

e of pink, her hair piled in elaborate curls, diamonds sparkl

a scandal. It was a declaration. A public stripping of my title. The air

und me. His eyes locked on mine across the crowded space. For a split second, I saw something flicker in their

d more importantly, saw the attention I was drawing, a f

tian's arm, pulling him throug

"You look so beautiful tonight. Is that a Jodi

ing a slow sip of my

ulated pout. "Cristian," she cooed, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear.

ire ballroom seemed to be holding its

ssive one. His jaw tightened. He saw my dress, my compos

istakable steel of an Alpha's command. "Give Angelena your

my skull. For a moment my vision blurred white with the pressure of it, my breath catching i

with the force of

f a resource, a friend, a piece of my identity, and handing it to his mistress

so profound it made me dizzy. I opened my

, a calm, steady voice c

lackwood Pack had changed to allow an Alp

lid, protective wall. He hadn't been there a moment ago, but n

he Silvermoon Alpha standing beside me, defendi

palpable wave of pressure that made the air shimmer. "T

dier force that pushed back. "When an Alpha publicly humiliates his Luna, i

dle of the Starlight Gala. The tension was a living thing, a predator

mpered. Her face was pale, and she shrank behind Cristian, her perf

tween me and my husband. A strange, complicated warmth spread through my

in the air. I reached out and my fingers brushed against t

or a second, before turning back to Cristian wit