a's

red a

epeated, because I needed to hear my

at I was t

ooked into the open bac

led in garment bags and jewe

carried by two omegas at a time because

cognized from a boutique that only

in silver and white, the kind u

about the early ye

y pack function for two years because we

elebration because a supplier nee

e, every debt, until Nightveil finally climbed out of t

n table and telling me we couldn't afford unnecessary

llion dollars on a woman he ha

the invoic

ated. "Luna, I

the invo

office. He came back a few minutes later wi

ight there in

personally saved from ba

tend the pack a line of credit

pen because I negotiated a de

e businesses afloat when Nightveil couldn't pay on time. And now Tristan w

ccount?"

etionary f

had signed off on that budget with me three months ago, sitting across from me at t

ed the

-

later, and his face changed the

er

rs," I said. "On her. On a cere

what it lo

xactly like

sture he always made when he knew he was wron

en a Luna before. The ceremony matters. It's how

e three dresses to every function for two years because we couldn't afford anythin

and the silence told me mor

said. "We were building something

sure we did," I said. "This came out of the border s

id. "I can approve exp

es," I said. "It means you're responsible for every dollar in this

his bigger than

he truth. You don'

I made a mistake? Fine. I made a mistake. But I'm n

," I said. "I'm asking why welcoming her costs more than everyth

o answer

said. "You used to tell me we had to think of t

gs ch

ear

-

way of the guest house wear

omething settled across her face th

d so much," she said. "I don't n

" he said, cross

she said, glancing at me. "I know

d not

houlders. "No one's causing problem

he moved to defend her, before he had even a

oment somethin

st choosing

r before he even c

-

s when

llow's collarbone, a pale b

ped the second

you get tha

"Tristan gave it to me. He said i

and watched the colo

," he

thing of hers I have left. I gave it to you the day we pledge

said. "I didn't think it

think it w

t's just

my mot

"I didn't know where it came from,

he small flicker underneath the concern.

t off,"

" Trista

said again, and I

round the pendant. "Tr

way something that w

" Tristan said, s

to calm down.

t pack money on her ceremony. You let her omega insult me under my own

a, I

d for th

ingers tightening around

not y

were both holding onto the same thin

of it,

llow said, though I had

ed my arm. "S

e moment, and I lost my footing,

the wor

nctively to my stomach a