CHAPTER 2

Four days passed faster than the wind. Everywhere I turned, pack members were posting pictures with Celeste.

Ethan had also stayed at the pack house, leaving me alone at his house, where pack members assumed I was a maid.

Today was my birthday, and as usual, I knew I would celebrate alone. Being wolfless got me worse treatment than the omegas.

I was packing away the laundry when someone knocked on my door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Beta Gavin rushed in, breathing heavily.

I jumped up, my heart racing.

"Is something wrong? Did something happen to Ethan?"

Gavin didn't answer. Instead, he shoved a white dress into my arms.

"Get dressed, Luna. We'll be late."

I frowned. Late for what?

Seeing my confused face, Gavin said, "I almost forgot. Three weeks ago, Alpha asked me to bring you to the pack square on this day in this dress."

My heart jumped.

The pack square. A white dress—the kind a Luna wore.

Today was my birthday. Could it be that even without my wolf appearing, Ethan was finally going to keep his promise and reveal our bond to the pack?

With shaky legs, I changed into the dress and followed Gavin.

The closer we got to the square, the louder the cheers became.

Flowers decorated the street. Balloons in my favorite colors, blue and red, lined every corner, and hundreds of pack members gathered around the arena in their best clothes.

I smiled as I pushed through the crowd to get to the front.

Then I saw the stage.

And the giant banner hanging above it.

[WELCOME HOME CELESTE]

My smile dropped.

This... It was never about me?

The crowd's thunderous applause caught my attention.

Celeste had just taken hold of Ethan's extended hand to stand beside him on the stage. He kissed her hand, staring straight into her eyes.

I wiped away the tear that escaped.

"Dear pack members," Ethan announced. "Thank you all for coming here to celebrate the most important woman in my li—"

His eyes caught mine, and he froze.

"Maya..." he murmured.

Many wolves followed his gaze, including Celeste.

Seeing me, she smiled brightly and walked down the stage.

"Maya!"

She wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug.

"I have missed you. Thank you for coming to my welcome-back party," she said sweetly.

Her eyes drifted towards Ethan, and she gave him a shy smile.

"Ethan has taken such good care of me since I got back."

My knees weakened.

"Your mate is a true gentleman."

She knew he was my mate.

"Honestly," she continued softly, "I don't know what I would've done without him. Ethan really likes me."

My nails dug into my palms. I glanced at Ethan, but he looked away and gulped.

I forced a fake smile onto my face. "That's good, Celeste. At least you both are happy."

She smiled and walked back to where Ethan stood.

His guilt vanished the moment he looked back at her.

"Alpha," a voice tore through the air. "When will you mark Luna Celeste? The pack needs a Luna."

Gavin, Celeste, Ethan, and I stiffened, an awkward air growing among us.

Ethan opened his mouth to answer.

A howl tore through the air.

Everyone froze, eyes wide in terror. The next second, more howls filled the air.

"ROGUES!"

Everyone charged in different directions, parents shifting and carrying their pups to safety.

Three large rogue wolves stormed into the arena, taking confident strides like they owned the place.

They bared their teeth, lifting and flinging away the pack warriors that attacked them like they weighed nothing.

I whimpered as one of the warriors' injured bodies landed close to where I was hiding. The largest rogue, who had been slowly walking towards the stage where Ethan was, halted.

A chill swept over me as his eyes turned and zoned in on my neck. My teeth chattered as he snarled and lunged towards me.

Oh no. He must have seen Ethan's mark. Though well hidden, this rogue was definitely powerful enough to sense I was the alpha's mate.

"E-Ethan, help me," I whispered shakily, closing my eyes as it raised its claws.

Seconds later, when nothing happened, I opened my eyes.

A big brown wolf stood before me, blocking the path of the rogue. They growled at each other, no one backing down. Then the rogue made eye contact with me, turned, and ran off with the other two in tow.

I warmed. I knew it. Ethan cared for me.

"Ethan," I called excitedly, hugging him from behind. "You saved—"

My words caught in my throat as the wolf shifted back into his human form.

It wasn't Ethan, but Gavin.

"Luna! Are you okay?"

The panic in his voice made my heart ache.

"I'm fine," I whispered, stepping back from him.

I glanced towards the stage, where Ethan was affectionately hugging a visibly shaken Celeste.

Without another word, I turned and walked off.

I was almost at the house when a hand clasped around mine.

"I'm sorry," Ethan said immediately as I turned.

"For?" I asked, my voice flat.

He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I know today is important to you. I even planned to introduce you as my mate before everyone today."

"Oh."

"I also wanted to come protect you, but Celeste..."

I raised a brow.

"You know she lost her mate. Rogue attacks give her panic attacks. I couldn't leave her side."

Pain tightened my chest.

"I promise I'll make it up to you."

I almost laughed.

"This time, I promise I'll announce our bond during the New Moon Festival tomorrow."

The words should have made me happy.

But after today, and after hearing them ninety-nine times, I felt nothing.

"You promise?" I asked without emotion.

"I promise."

I stared at him for several seconds. Then I forced a smile.

"Okay."

His shoulders loosened. Then he gazed straight ahead for almost a minute. I knew what was happening. He was mind-linking someone.

Celeste.

"Maya, something important just came up. I have to go."

'Of course you do,' I mused.

Before leaving, he turned towards Gavin.

"Please prepare a token for her. Whatever she wants."

Gavin's face paled. "Alpha..."

Ethan frowned. "What?"

Gavin opened his mouth, then closed it.

Because what could he tell his alpha?

That his Luna standing before him was preparing to leave forever?

That this token wasn't a request for jewelry or money?

That token one hundred would cost him his mate?

Ethan went back, and the celebration continued.

Later that evening, Gavin quietly delivered the final document to my room.

Token one hundred.

Signed with the Alpha's seal, an irrevocable document.

My fingers trembled as I opened it. And as I read through it, I smiled, relief rushing through me.

"I am free," I said to the empty room.

"Yes, we are!" a voice answered excitedly.

I froze, my eyes darting around the room.

"Who spoke just now?" My voice shook as I asked.

"Hi, Maya. I am Nyx. Finally here."

My knees buckled, and I slumped to the floor, my heart racing.

Nyx.

I had a wolf.