The moment Adrian and i trek and start at with their chosenpanions, an MINY

Bang banger note. 1 hoping me

meson., Alphins from all options at the

Alphe King Thomas tree from his vest at the head of de naam,manding inmeta nempt back in reveal a face etched with bath wisdom and ruthlessMALE

stood tall and beet chersidered, his call and

The evirmenisi medallion of the Alphe kine gleamed kesinti

abeat, catching the light

For a brief moment, I found myself pictoring Addan wearing that medallion, standing tall

“Distinguished Alphas, his deep voive resonated through the hall, I congratte each of you in mrviving the moond nial.” (Pr eyes, chara at a predators, veeps across the room. Your strength, cunning, and determination have brought you this for–but the fear test

we feast as mals, as brothers and sisters of the moon.”

He mised his crystal ss. To the future of our kind, to the strength of our packs, and to the worthy Alpha who will next wee

I took a small sip of the champagne, thankful when servers began bringing out the first course.

I took a small sip of the champagne, thankful when servers began bringing out the first course. Leon satdiretly across from me. mine. The less I had to speakb, /bthe better.

Adrian leaned closer, Try the smoked salmon, he murmured, serving ba /bportion onto my te before I could respond it’s excellent

Throughout the first course, Adrian continued his attentive careb–/bcutting my venison into perfect bite–sized pieces, ensuring my wine ss and filled, his fingers asionally brushing mine in reassurance.

“How domestic,” a melodic female voicemented from my other side. I turned to find a striking woman with copper colored hair and calcting eyes watching us with amusement. “Alpha Adrian personally cutting bhis /bBeta’s bmeat/b. How… naval”

the first trial.

I recognized her immediately–Alpha Morgan of the Cascade Pack, the woman who had warned me at theke during the

She was the only female Alpha present at tonight’s banquet, with her Beta, a middle–aged man, sitting respectfully beside her.

“Alpha Morgan,” I acknowledged with a polite bnad/b.

Her lips curled into ba /bknowing smile. “You two certainly bdon’t /bbehave like a typical Alpha and Beta. When I saw you dive into thatke after bhim /bduring the first trial, I knew there was more between you then bpack /bhierarchy.”

you for your warning that day,” I said, bgenuinely /bgratefull despite my embarrassment. “I didn’t realer who you were then

Thank you f

Morgan waved ba /bdismissive hand. I simply hate to see any young, beautiful girl in danger.” Morgan looked at Adrian, then turned back to me. “Is he your

1 shifted ufortably under her perceptive gaze,

Weir Famil

family,” bI /banswered her question, acutely aware that

could hear every word.

The word family felt safe–true in its own way without revealing too much. I couldn’t bring myself to call Adrian my mate bor /blover with Loun sitting bdirectly /bacross from us, the mate bond between us thrumthing blike /ba taut wire despite my efforts to ignore it

Adrian, however, bhad /bno such reservations. He and bactuss /bme, bhis /bamber eyes meeting Morgan’s with unwavering confidence.

b“/bbSkye /bis my future Luna,” he stated firmly, his bhand /bseitling possessively on my lower bback/bb. /b

The temperature around our section of the table seemed to drop sermal degrees. I didn’t need to blook /bup to feel Lean’s fury–it crashed against my consciousness through bour /bbond like waves bagainst /ba clif.

b1/3 /bolliThe knife in bis hand bent Flightly under his grip./li/ol

“Khitan,” I mormored, ting my hand on his mm. “My as are healing well. You dos i need ne fin over m? so much. “

bThe /bBath of hurt in his eyes made my chest constrict, but I couldn’t tisk ba /bconfrontatie between him and Leon.

Not bherr /b

Alpha Morgan’s gare darted betieren ut and Leon, her expression shifting in one of delighted realization.

“Oh my,” she chuckled softly. “The plot thickens. A Lima imed by one Alpha while honded to another? You’re going to make this election very bSkye /bAnderson.”

Across the table, Maya ced a perfectly cut piece of sainton on Leon’s te, leaning close to him

“Your favoriteb, /bshe purred.

Leon didn’t even nce at the offering, his eyes boring into mine with an intensity that made my wolf whine in distress.

Maya followed his bgaze /bto me, her expression morphing into bone /bbof /bpure hatred.fn64bf Readplete version only at F?ndNovel/fn64bf

I leaned toward bAdrian/b, my lips nearly touching his ear.

“I told you we shouldn’t havee

After dinner came the dancing. bCrystal /bchandeliers dimmed to create an intimate atmosphere bas /bba /bsmall orchestra began bying/b.

ir and extended his bhand /bto me

Adrian rose from his chair

“Dance with me,

I hesitated, looking at bhis /boutstretched hand. “I should bwarn /byou–during those years I wandered, I worked a lot of bjobs/bb. /bBartender, waitress, men bouncer once. But never a bdancer /b

His smile, warm and reassuring, made my heart Batter. Til teach yourb” /b

Before I could protest further, he led bme /bto the dance floor, positioning one of my hands on his shoulder while his own settled at my waist. his palm burned through the bthin /bfabric of my dress.

“Just follow my lead, he whispered, beginning to move with confident bgrace/b.

The warmth of

For someone so physically powerful, Adrian bmoved /bwith surprising elegance. His steps were bprecise/bb, /bguiding me effortlessly across the floor until I began to rx into the rhythmb. /b

“You’re really good at this, I admitted, impressed by his skill.

*Required course at the Alpha Heir Academy,” he exined with a slight smile. “Before my father died, I was being groomed as Alpha. Dancingb, /bbdiplomacy/b, even proper dining etiquette–all part of the curriculum.“

The mention of his father brought a shadow across his features. I squeezed his bhand /bgently.

“He would be proud of you,‘ I said softly. “Sering the Alpha youve be, the pack you’ve built–be’d be so proudb, /bAdrian.”

The music swelled around us as Adrian pulled me closer, his cheek resting again my temple. For a moment, we moved bas /bone, forgetting the politics, the — trials, and the watching eyes. Just Adrian band /bme, swaying to the music.

Then Alpha King Thomas’s voice broke through the bspell/b.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, ‘bu mut next disce, I invite you all to exchange partners. Tonight we are not riests but friends catetrating out shared heritage. Please, select a new partner for this next walte

Adrian grip on my waist tightened momentarily before he reluctantly stepped back

1 nced around nervously, spotting Leon making his way toward me with determined strides. My heart hammered in my chest–I wasnt ready mnfrontation.

Before Leen could reach the, however, an older man with silver streaked dark halt and familiar amber eyes intercepted me,

“May I have this dance, Ms. Anderson? Maxwell’s polished voice held no room for refusal,