Kaelen, My Alpha! My mate

en '

efore my pack, before the moon, and swore myself to him. Still, as I got out of bed, som

y way to the tall mirror in the corner of my room. My reflection stared back-pale, glo

outh. It tasted like honey, like desire, like the fire he once lit inside

nterrupte

my loyal maid, her face calm but

y. "It's time for your bath.

t fluttered with nerves.

d make me his. I had left my family, abandoned my birth pack, and crossed illegal lines

letting Helena's hands wash away the remains of sleep and doubt. Outside, I could hear th

cturing him. Kaelen

s barely above the water's su

He will see you soon enough, my Lady. Be patient. He

ond. I didn't just want to be beautiful-I wanted him to look at

, her hands changing me with brushes and dusted shadows. My eye

when she caught sight of m

ered, faking a smile. But

," I said, gett

nitted lace, it shone like moonlight on water. Helena brought it from t

ting the cloth embrace my skin. The

Lady," Helena

hough the lace crushed my

e. The girl looking back wasn't me. She was strong

shing a hand over my hair. "Unle

t's go before my heart

akeup wolf at my sides, we walked slowly down the long hallway, out int

y howled my name.

s I took my seat at the front of the

guard approached, bending low. "My

" I asked. "Why is

us soon. He sends his word." I inhaled sharpl

off. Then turned to Helena. "So

tting a relaxing hand on my shoulder

d've been the first to arrive. That's who Kaelen was-

Wolves of Moonshadow Hollow," he began, "today, we wi

in howls and chant

ed with a grin. "No doubt perfecting his loo

me. Maybe he was just being ca

en

Alpha!" the speaker roared. "Long

here

k and silver, his dark hair slicked back,

"What kept you?" I asked as he reached me, pu

e answered simply

His lips didn't find my face. No

hing his eyes. "Kaele

down beside me wi

ke I had

us, a little nervous. "Shal

he crowd

ept

't move. My hea

center of the stage. He didn't rea

," he said quietly. "I thank

he t

nd I saw it. Emptiness. "There is... something

le

. Every heartbeat felt like

ceremony." The words cut throug

t on. "And all of you here. My heart-

longer belo

lena clutched he

he wind da

haking. "Kaelen ...

take place," he said, louder now.

ing sha

o chaos. Voices sho

Couldn't blink.

but my voice was l

ped down fro

ward from the crowd... a