ight-blooming jasmine, buzzed with the chatter of the pack's elite. This party was merely the prelude, a lavish celebration for her eig

Her mother, Lyra, had delivered the order herself that

flutes from a heavy tray. She ignored the curious glances and whispered comments that fo

hands were steady. Inside, her

bubbling champagne fountain. His handsome f

issed, his voice low. "It's Briar's big day. S

aligning the glasses on her tray. "My job

re impossible," he muttered, before stalki

a small, flower-adorned stage. Briar, in a flowing white dress

ook the microphone. Her voice was soft and breathy, practiced to per

ike brown eyes found

ing with just the right amount of emotion. "Even though she... made

curiosity, and contempt. Briar's words were a masterstroke of cruelty, painting her as m

ge in her mind. But Elara simply bowed her head slightl

thered in a private pavilion at the edge of the garden. Alde

e, an ancient, guttural wolf dialect that was rarely used outside of Alpha councils

ar. "So perfect. She will make a flawless Luna for Alpha Ryker. Not l

s necessary for the pack's stability. El

remble. She moved to her mother's side, pouring t

d to be here," Finn added in the same ton

ught her a simple Omega, a failure who couldn't

were

ting crumbling, ancient texts that the pack deemed too tedious for anyone else. It was meant to be a mind-numbing punishment, but she had turned their d

now. This wasn't just a party. It was a performance. A care

Briar, who always watched Elara with the obsessive focus of a rival, had a memory as sharp as a shard of glass. In the weeks leading up to the incident that sent Elara away, she'd seen a page

st, fragile thread of connection she felt to these people, t

wanted t

burn it all down an

melting into the deep shadows of the garden. She didn't cry

l of the manor and looked up at the f

ds a bitter prayer in her mind. *Are

resolve in her heart, which had been a cold sto