bt. Everybody knew her name, saw her face, and thought all she had to do was wait her turn to be Luna. She carried her r

There were many lovely women. But Chloe had something else. Something that separated her from the rest. She had power. She knew, without saying a word, that her opinions mattered, that people listened when she walked into a ro

t bloodlines in pack history. Chloe had status, tremendous connections, unchallenged authority. All things Araceli didn't. More significantly, she had

ks continued to arrive. Market stalls were crowded with shoppers, merchants shouted their goods, music reverberated through the streets, and excitement buzzed in every nook and

om there to the dining hall, then to the guest quarters to help host the steady stream of guests, then to the inventory storage rooms where supplies had to be counted, organis

e square when a ruckus caught her attention. People instantly moved

e's h

oks bea

itely become

rged from the crowd. Chloe Olivier, always accompanied by companions, walked around the square with an easy confidence, and admiring stares followe

moment's contact, and others made remarks with warm smiles and unreserved praise. She received all the greetings and all the compliments easily, ho

t drawing attention. Fate, however, had other plans. But before she could slip away unnotic

who

ons shifted instantly. Amusement flickered across their

she tried to. The sound of her nam

ace

s hanging around near-by paused their pace, interest on their faces, to see what would happen next. Their gaze r

Araceli reluctantl

friendly, and kind, the sort of expression that im

as she regarded Araceli. "I was just talking about to

s laughed. "Especiall

d knowing looks. Chloe stepped a little closer, her expression pleasant e

st be n

ness about them. It was a question that appeared to be selected with

s are more reali

just where she stood in their eyes. Still, she would not react. Her face was still, her poise unshaken. She had no intention o

et in her arms, tightening her grasp o

in low, hushed voices that tracked her every movement. She could feel them following her, surrounding her, hanging in the air whereve

traight before her, but eyes followed her. She didn't turn around to see who was

, customers, and passing carts across the marketplace. Chloe's smile evaporated immed

s ann

fixed, her stare staying long after Araceli had disappeared. There was something in the enc

e was always simple to brush off, easy to ignore, completely irrelevant. Lately, though, something had been different. It was so slight it was impossible t

. Still, the memory replayed in her mind with an insistence she found increasingly difficult to ignore. She remembered the training grounds, the village square, and those brief moments when Pierce's attention had

e Luna. That objective has put everything else on the back burner. She'd spent years carefully cultivating relationships, building her family's power, and ensuring that she was seen as the perfect f

wide open expanse. The warriors fought with experienced precision, their movements tight and controlled while steel sparkled beneath the afternoon light. Nearby, young wolves tried their might against each other, determined to prove the

hile a lot was happening around him. He had a calm, professional, concentrated face as he listened to the reports and gave orders with quiet authority. He oozed confidence, the

again that he could deliver the best when it mattered, make difficult choices and see them through, regardless of the repercussions. He had n

et her pass, their movements instinctive, courteous. She smiled politely in their direction in acknowledgement, moving with natural ele

of a fut

a Pie

of his name, and a small

hl

he had earned it. Unlike most women in the Alliance, Chloe had never needed to fi

seem

l prepar

d, where workers and visitors continued

becomes more

sound light against the

e it loo

nversation continued naturally amid the steady movement of people preparing for the celebra

ac

was her job, and she focused on it with the same quiet diligence she brought to every task. Even so, she found herself g

ignore. Anyone would notice him. That was all. His presence naturally drew attention, commanding the aren

e swept across the arena, moving past warriors, visitors, and counci

ai

ttled in the pit of her stomach. Pierce returned his attention to the conversation, completely unaware of what had just passed, while Araceli immediately looked away, a flicker of embarrassment cr

uiet at first, but no less dangerous for its subtlety. It settled in the back of

roamed the throng gathering in joyful anticipation. The holy glade was prepared for it, and silver banners hung, twinkling softly in the diminishing light. The Moon S

f months of anticipation, tradition and preparation. There was

istically of the future. Dreams glowed brighter than usual, hopes were more intense, expectancy

de its final preparations for the ritual that was to come. This time when sunset came and the day's work was done

she wanted a moment of solitude away from the commotion and responsibilities of daily life. The trail was quiet under her feet. When she got to the top

he nite air kissed her skin as her thoughts turned in circles, coming back to the same

. Most of those possibilities seemed impossible, little more than fragile dreams she had no reason to believe in. Others felt foolish the moment they crossed her mind. Yet she could

gathering, the happiness of people, the voices rising and falling in the silvery sky. The world arou

ng the same moon and thinking about the same ceremony. Her expression remained unreadable as she stared in

ic

ling, yet the sense that something was wrong refused to leave her. Her instincts would not quiet, and Chloe had learned long ago to respect them. A future Luna trust

aceli moved through the morning crowd, completely unaware that she was being watched. More importantly, she had no idea