174 The Other Luna

    bAthena’s /bPOV

    :

    b32 /b

    Finished

    I stood quietly in the corner of the banquet hall, keeping my tea–scented pheromones carefully restrained to avoid drawing attention.

    My mother was an Omega from one of the outlying ns of the Rogue Pack. It wasn’t until she remarried Leslie’s second uncle that I barely managed to squeeze into the circle of the Rogue Pack royal bloodline.

    But no matter how hard I tried, the pureblood werewolves of the Rogue Pack never looked me in the eye. My halfblood wolf, Lia, growled low in my chest, filled with resentment. i“/iiAthena/i, iyou’re /iia /iidaughter /iiof /iithe /iiDark /iiMoon /iin/ii. /iiWhy /iishould /iiyou /iibe /iithe /iione /iicrushed /iiunder /iiLeslie’s /iiheel/ii?/i”

    Tonight was Leslie’s birthday banquet. The honor of the Rogue Pack wrapped her in glory like the Moon Goddess herself, while I was nothing more than a background ornament in the crowd.

    Lia bristled with frustration. i“/iiShe /iihas /iiLars’s /iiaffection/ii. /iiShe /iihas /iiroyal /iiblood/ii. /iiAnd /iiyou have /iito /iiw /iifor /iia /iisingle /iiscrap /iiof /iispace /iiwith /iiyour /iwits ialone/ii!/ii” /i

    When Kirby presented those three relics–iMoon’s /iiTear/ii, /iiWolffang /iiBelt/ii, /iiBloodoath /iide/i–jealousy scorched through me like wildfire.

    iMoon’s /iiTear /icould strengthen a wolf spirit. iWolffang /iiBelt /iwas a symbol of Alpha glory. iBloodoath /ide was a sacred artifact used for mate bonding.

    And yet Leslie just sneered and epted them without a flicker of emotion.

    i“/iiWhy /iiher/i?” Lia roared. “iKirby /iiis /iithe /iiAlpha /iiof /iithe /iiCrimson /iiMoon /iiPack/ii–/iistrong/ii, /iinoble/i, iand /iiunattached/ii. /iiAthena/ii, /iithis /iiis /iiyour /iichance/ii!/ii” /i

    I clenched my jaw, eyes locked onto Kirby.

    He stood at the center of the banquet hall, cedar pheromones swirling like a storm, handsome as a god beneath the moon.

    I knew the mate bond between him and Leslie had already been severed. But his heart still lingered on her.

    So what? If Leslie didn’t want what she was given, I could take it for myself.

    I picked up a ss of red wine and drifted casually toward Kirby.

    The moment he turned, I deliberately bumped into his chest. The wine tipped, and crimson

    b15:54 /bbWed/bb, /bbSep /bb17 /b

    Chapter 174 The Other Luna

    liquid sshed across his jacket in a soft gleam.

    :

    I immediately feigned panic and lowered my head. “Alpha, I’m bso /bsorry! I wasn’t careful!”

    I let my tea–scented pheromones ripple gently, trying to soften the weight of his

    32

    Finished

    presence.

    Kirby frowned, ncing down at the stain. His cedar scent stirred slightly, edged with annoyance. “It’s fine.”

    I seized the moment, speaking softly. “Your jacket’s ruined. Let me take you to the lounge to change–there’s a spare suit there. Oh, I’m Athena, by the way. Leslie’s cousin.”

    Liaughed gleefully in my head. i“/iiWell /iidone/ii, /iiAthena/ii! /iiGet /iihim /iialone/i, iand /iiuse /iievery /iiadvantage you’ve /iigot/ii. /iiYou’re /iithe /iinext /iiLuna /iiof /iiCrimson /iiMoon /iiPack/ii!/ii” /i

    Kirby’s eyes were icy as he looked at me, but he didn’t say no. He simply gave a faint nod. “All right.”

    I swallowed my excitement and led him toward the lounge.

    bLeslie’s /bPOV

    I left Kirby behind and headed toward Eric.

    His suit fit him perfectly, the salty wildness of Frost Pack clinging to his scent.

    His wicked smile glinted with a trace of provocation, his wolf spirit flickering just beneath the surface, and he was holding a bouquet of roses.

    “Roses?!” Asphodel roared. i“/iiThis /iiguy’s /iigetting /iibolder by /iithe /iisecond/ii. /iiLeslie/ii, /iibrace /iiyourself/ii!/ii” /i

    My scalp tingled. The pheromones of nearby guests were fluctuating wildly, and murmurs surged like waves.

    “Is Eric going to propose a mate bond to the Rogue Packdy?”

    “First Kirby’s sacred gifts, now roses–this party’s more dramatic than the Moon Goddess Festival!”

    Not far off, Liana’s pungent pheromones curdled with jealousy. Her face was pale as bone under moonlight.

    bI /bsneered, keeping the regalposure of a queen, eyes locked on Eric as my royal Alpha pheromones stretched toward him with an unmistakable warning.