Chapter 54

Violet

The grand doors to the banquet hall swung open, and the hum of voices swelled into a roar. I held my head high, schooling my expression into one of serene confidence as Theodore and I walked in together. The crowns of light still lingered, drawing everyone’s attention. The banquet hall of Midnight Park was nothing short of opulent. Theodore hadn’t spared any expense for it. Crystal chandeliers cast soft, glittering light over the room, and the tables were adorned with Midnight blue and Darkmoon violet linens, all trimmed with silver. I remembered my wedding with Lucas, which had primarily been Darkmoon colors, at my father’s insistence. I had always felt bad about Twining River not being properly represented at the time, but it hardly mattered now.

We walked through the reception hall as all of the guests began to trickle into the ballroom, clapping and clearly happy for us. When we reached the head of the room, he raised his hand to signal for silence. It took a moment, but the murmurs finally died down, leaving an expectant hush in their wake.

“Thank you all for being here to witness this day,” Theodore began, his voice steady as ever. He lifted two glasses of champagne from one of the trays and offered me the first he’d grabbed before turning back to the crowd. “It’s been quite the road to get her, and we are….” He looked at me, smiling and practically glowing with happiness. “Over the moon to share this moment with you all.”

A ripple of laughter filled the room. He tilted his head as if asking me to speak. I was surprised and touched, and I squeezed his hand.

“Today is a day of celebration—not just for Theodore and me but for the Midnight and Darkmoon packs.” I took a slow breath, meeting the gazes of as many guests as I could. “The union between an Alpha and Luna is not just about two individuals. It is about the packs they lead, the lives they touch, and the future they build together. And tonight, we want to mark this new chapter with something that reflects the kind of future we hope to create.” I smiled, allowing a touch of warmth to soften my tone. “That’s why we’ve decided to host the first of many of Midnight’s mating balls here as our reception.”

A collective gasp spread through the room, and I could feel the ripple of surprise, curiosity, and even a touch of excitement.

I lifted my glass. “May the Goddes gift you with a union as blessed as ours.”

They lifted their glasses to cheer, and the band started the music for the dance floor. Theodore and I didn’t dance first instead, we walked around the ballroom, mingling and greeting guests. The music swirled through the air, lively and inviting. The dance floor was already brimming with movement as guests swayed and twirled, laughter and the occasional surprised gasp punctuating the melodies. We weaved through the crowd, mingling as we went. Midnight and Darkmoon needed allies, and tonight was the perfect opportunity to strengthen old ties and build new ones.

“Alpha Kieran, Luna Mabel,” I greeted the leaders of the Silver Pines pack as we reached them. “Thank you for coming. I know it was quite the journey.”

Silver Pines was one of the furthest packs from where Midnight Park was. I hadn’t been sure that they would come, given the journey,

Luna Mabel, a graceful woman with a sharp smile, inclined her head. “It’s a rare pleasure to attend a mating ball of this scale and for such an occasion.” Her gaze flicked between Theodore and me, her smile sharpening. “Though I imagine your union has more layers than most would guess.”

I matched her expression, unbothered by the subtext. “Doesn’t every great partnership?”

Kieran chuckled, pulling his wife closer with a beaming smile. “May your union be as happy as your parents’ had been and as fulfilling, too.”

I thanked him.

Mabel cocked an eyebrow at Theodore. “I don’t suppose your new union means that Alpha Nightshade has plans to start trading more than just military power? I hear the mountains of Midnight are quite rich in natural magical stone.”

I smiled and looked at Theodore, who seemed oddly struck that she would mention it. I let Theodore smoothly take over the conversation, listening with half an ear as I scanned the room.

It didn’t take long for something to catch my eye—a young couple near the edge of the dance floor, standing frozen amidst the motion. They were staring at each other with an intensity that bordered on overwhelming, as though the rest of the world had simply ceased to exist. Slowly, they drifted towards each other.

The woman, dressed in a flowing emerald gown, seemed hesitant, her hands fluttering at her sides as though unsure whether to reach out. The man, tall and broad-shouldered with a slight flush on his cheeks, finally stepped closer. I couldn’t hear their words over the music, but his lips moved in what was undoubtedly an introduction.

“She’s shy,” Theodore said. I looked up at him, amused that he’d noticed them. Mabel and Kieran were watching too.

“He’s nervous.”

“That’s… our daughter,” Mabel said breathlessly.

I smiled, grinning at the thought. The young man was from Midnight.

“I suppose we’ll hold off on talks of business,” Theodore said. “It looks like we’ll have plenty of time in the future to.”

Mabel nodded and the two of them crept closer to the young couple.

“There’s a story there….” Theodore said.

“Their daughter has been to no less than ten different mating balls. They’d bargained that this would be the last one.”

He nudged me. “What a victory for your first night as Luna of Midnight.”

I grinned as he offered me his hand.

“Shall we? I haven’t had a chance to whirl you around just yet.”

“No… you haven’t.”

I placed my hand in his and followed him to the dancefloor. We danced through three songs before Theodore was pulled away and I stepped back just to watch. The air in the banquet hall buzzed with excitement, laughter, and the occasional sound of clinking glasses. Everywhere I looked, people were mingling. A pair of young wolves darted by, their hands brushing as they shared a nervous smile. It made me think of the few mating balls I had attended.

My gaze wandered across the room, and there they were—Lucas and Nora. Standing far too close, whispering to one another. The sight of them turned my stomach, not just because of what they’d done to me but because of the way some of the guests’ eyes followed them, their whispers clear even over the music.

“That’s the ex-husband, isn’t it?”

“Messy, isn’t it? Trading one alpha for another like that.”

“And that woman! What nerve, showing up here after everything.”

It seemed like all they were talking about was Lucas and Nora, waiting for a scene to start. It was the last thing I wanted.

“Violet?” Helena’s voice cut through the noise. I turned to find her watching me, concern written all over her face. “How about some fresh air?”

Without waiting for a response, she gently tugged me toward the edge of the room and out one of the side doors. The crisp night air hit me like a balm, soothing and grounding all at once. Helena gave me a soft smile and a pat on the shoulder before slipping back inside, leaving me alone with the quiet hum of the garden.

I wandered a little farther, finding a secluded bench beneath a flowering tree. Sitting down, I let my head fall back, staring up at the stars peeking through the branches.

The memories drifted through my mind as much as I didn’t want them to. The sound of soft footsteps pulled me from my thoughts. I straightened, my senses sharpening.

“Relax,” came a familiar voice.

The High Priestess stepped into view, her presence as commanding as it was calming. She carried an air of quiet authority that made the garden feel smaller, more intimate.

“What are you doing out here?” I asked, my tone edging on defensive.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied, a knowing smile playing on her lips. “But I suspect I already know the answer. There is never a way to stop gossip when it’s juicy. You’ll just have to wait for it to die out.”

I frowned but said nothing.

She sat beside me, holding out a small necklace. Its pendant shimmered faintly in the moonlight, intricate and beautiful.

“This is for you.,” I cradled it in my palm.

“Is this what I think it is?”

“Yes,” she said. “I figured you would know what it is on sight. You played with your mother’s often enough.”

I chuckled, taking a deep breath. “You… weren’t even at the ceremony I had with Lucas. Why give this to me now?”

She laughed. “The Goddess doesn’t waste her emissaries’ time on unions she does not bless.”

The words struck me harder than I expected, leaving me momentarily speechless.

Lucas and I were mates, weren’t we?