tend I hadn't seen them. Didn't mean they weren't still o

, just enough to let you know something had shifted while we were gone. The weight of Ce

king like a mess. About not giving them more to whisper about. I pulled on a plain black dress, long sleeves to hide

ered. Just being

Of everything. Of the pack. Of the Ceremony. Of myself. I didn't know what I wanted anymore. To be chos

e out with any confidence. More like a lie I'd

weight. Memory. I hadn't taken it off since Milo gave it ba

it would anchor me, even when

knock at

i

u g

alf-grin. "Look at you. Didn't know you ow

it," I muttered. Bu

r smelled like woodsmoke and too many emotions crammed into one night. People laughed

was identity. Validation. The kind of thing they were taught to want from the t

Milo asked

gged.

e me a

. "It just... sucks. Hoping

t care if it makes sens

chosen and rejected again, what did that say about me? And if I wasn't cho

nd moonlight. Alpha Kade stood at the front, jaw clenched, arms behind his back. I hate

ow what tha

a hand.

one q

the Moon

ke thunder on a still d

like vows. Some smiled. Some cried. Some walked away brok

I did.I watched them, this hollow ache settling in my che

shame. To feel like you were a part

it ha

lia T

n

d. Even though I knew it could

hought maybe I hadn't heard it right. Maybe it

tering, knees stiff. The clearing spu

it

h

e Ro

ered, clean-cut-the kind of guy who looked like he belonged on the cover of something.T

Maybe more than that

d face

nded hi

ook

felt

e air between us, like something waking up. It was re

gers tw

droppe

said. J

at p

arer, more sure:

alked off like

was n

aybe

. My body swayed

ked out of the circle, through the crowd, into the

up. Of cou

. Wa

ant to tal

just walked next t

opped to the ground. Not dram

ruel," I sa

ide me. "It

hat something about m

ich meant he was thinking

see," he said finally. "They see what

r. "So I'm cursed. Is tha

met who still stands after being knocked down m

what if this is all there is? What if this rejection

Then we find a new pattern.

. "That sounds nice. But

re it out. Pi

t through

the t

d. Ins

oo. "You h

. Drew m

epped

om our

m steps. A fac

d straig

rel

slightly in

e you?"

ed at me, like he already knew every q

Someone who kno

the blade d

hat's

e was qu

. Not broke