Mating ceremony.
So their new Luna was bonding with someone. Their cursed Alpha, presumably, though how that was supposed to work when he was trapped in wolf form, I couldn’t imagine.
“I see,” I said. “Well, congratulations to your pack. I’ll contact you again after the ceremony.”
“We’ll look forward to hearing from you.” There was something in Nina’s voice – amusement? Satisfaction? “Though I should warn you, Alpha Cross, that our Luna takes her responsibilities very seriously. She’s quite protective of this pack and its interests. Any trade agreements or visits will need to align with her vision for Shadowmere’s future.”
“Of course. Thank you for your time, Beta Nina.”
I hung up and stared at my phone, that chill growing into full-blown unease.
Something was wrong. I couldn’t put my finger on what, but my wolf was pacing restlessly, whining.
The timing was too coincidental. Aria leaving a week ago, this new Luna arriving at Shadowmere around the same time, the ceremony scheduled for three days from now – right around when Aria was supposed to return home.
But that was insane. Aria was out gathering herbs, not bonding with some cursed Alpha she’d never met.
Except…
I thought about that cold, impersonal text she’d sent. About how she’d stopped responding to my messages entirely. About the broken photograph in her cabin, the expensive necklace I’d given her left behind in the dust.
*I’m ending whatever this was between us.*
Those had been her last words to me before she left.
I’d thought she was just upset, that she needed time to cool down. That she’d come back and we’d work through our issues and everything would go back to normal.
But what if “ending it” had been exactly what she meant?
What if she hadn’t gone to gather herbs at all?
My hands shook as I pulled up Luna Margaret’s contact information. She’d been the one to tell me about Aria’s trip. She would know the truth.
The phone rang six times before Margaret answered, sounding harried.
“Alpha Cross, I’m in the middle of – “
“Where exactly did Aria go?” I interrupted. “You said she was gathering herbs in the Eastern forests. I need specific locations – which forests, which territories.”
Margaret’s silence spoke volumes.
“Luna Margaret,” I said, my Alpha command bleeding through. “Answer me.”
DAMON
“I… she didn’t tell me specifically,” Margaret said finally, her voice strained. “Just that she needed to travel, that it would take a few weeks – “
“Did she go to Shadowmere territory?”
Another damning silence.
“Luna Margaret, I’m going to ask you one more time, and I want the truth. Is Aria in Shadowmere territory?”
“I don’t know for certain – “
“But you suspect.” It wasn’t a question. “That’s why you’re being evasive. That’s why you look guilty every time I’ve asked about her. What is Aria doing in Shadowmere, Margaret?”
“I can’t – you need to talk to Aria directly – “
“Answer me!” I roared, my wolf’s fury finally breaking through.
Margaret made a small, frightened sound. When she spoke again, her voice was barely a whisper.
“She’s fulfilling an old alliance agreement. One that was arranged before Sera returned. My daughter was supposed to bond with Shadowmere’s Alpha, but she refused because of his curse. So Aria… Aria agreed to take her place. To bond with Alpha Kael.”
The world tilted sideways.
Bond with Alpha Kael. The cursed Alpha of Shadowmere.
Aria was the new Luna they’d been talking about.
“When?” My voice didn’t sound like my own. “When is this bonding ceremony?”
“The blood moon. Three days from now. Alpha Damon, please, you can’t interfere – it’s too late. She’s made her choice, signed the contracts. If you try to stop it now, it could cause a territorial war – “
I hung up on her, my mind reeling.
Three days. Aria would bond with another Alpha in three days.
She’d been in Shadowmere for a week – preparing to become their Luna, learning to lead their pack, probably falling in love with the idea of starting over somewhere new.
Somewhere without me.
Without Sera.
Without the constant reminder of how I’d chosen someone else over her time and time again.
My wolf was howling now, clawing at my insides with desperate fury. This couldn’t be happening. Aria was mine – not in the possessive way I’d treated Sera, but in the way that mattered. She’d saved my life. Given up everything for me. Loved me when everyone else had given up.
And I’d thrown it all away for a childhood fantasy that was turning out to be more nightmare than dream.
Sera. Moon help me, what was I going to tell
Sera?
As if summoned by my thoughts, the door to my office opened and Sera walked in, looking much better than she had last night. The color had returned to her cheeks, and she moved with her usual grace.
“Damon, there you are,” she said with a smile. “I’ve been looking for you. I thought we could have lunch together, maybe discuss the upcoming pack gathering – “
She stopped when she saw my face.
“What’s wrong?” Her smile faded. “Is it about the pendant? Damon, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to drop it – “
“Aria’s bonding with another Alpha,” I said flatly. “In three days. At Shadowmere pack.”
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