Chapter 2

Caleb just let out a mocking laugh.

He walked slowly back to me and grabbed my chin.

"Aurora." He leaned in, his voice dangerously low. "Are you kidding me? Everyone in the North knows you're Caleb Cross's woman."

He opened his arms, gesturing to the hundreds of guests.

"Taking your hand is declaring war on the Crimson Moon Pack. You think any Alpha here has the balls to do that?"

A few chuckles echoed from the crowd.

True. The Alphas here might hate Caleb's guts, but no one dared to challenge him.

With my help, Crimson Moon had become the most powerful pack in the North.

Caleb stepped closer, his voice teasing. "If you actually find some wolf with a death wish, I wouldn't mind giving these nobles a show. A deathmatch under the full moon."

Dead silence.

Caleb smiled, satisfied.

He leaned down and dropped a light kiss on my forehead.

"Wait for me like a good girl," he said. "I'll finish the ceremony when I get back."

The next second, his body exploded into black fur under the moonlight.

The massive black wolf launched himself from the altar. His claws tore into the priceless moonstones, the sound of them shattering echoing in the silence.

He bolted into the night, vanishing into the sacred woods without looking back.

The sacred grounds were pin-drop silent.

I stood there, the skirt of my moon-silk dress blowing in the wind.

"...Did the Alpha really just leave?" the Gamma whispered behind me, sounding shocked and awkward.

"Shut up," Marcus hissed. "Don't talk. The Alpha knows what he's doing. We just need to keep the Luna calm. If she throws a fit now, the ceremony is ruined."

"But Lila..."

"Lila is the daughter of the Storm Fang Alpha. Her pack's alliance is worth more than the pride of some figurehead Luna."

Every single word fell clearly into my ears.

I stood alone in the center of the grand altar, surrounded by priceless gems and gold.

Caleb prepared all this just to show off his power.

The irony was thick. All this wealth was now just a stage for my public humiliation.

I looked down at my bare neck.

Last night, I left that moonstone necklace on the table in his penthouse. I left it right there, in the room that reeked of their sex.

A cold smile touched my lips.

Since Caleb cared so much about Lila, I'd gladly take over this grand, expensive ceremony he built for his ego.

A second later, Marcus stepped forward with a perfectly fake apologetic smile, bowing to the crowd.

"Elders, Alphas," his voice was smooth and polite. "Crimson Moon has an urgent matter requiring the Alpha's immediate attention. Please wait a moment. The pack will offer generous gifts to apologize later."

Beautiful.

As expected from the Beta Caleb trained. Even his cover-ups were flawless.

I turned to the Head Elder hosting the ceremony.

His eyes were full of guilt.

"Luna... this..."

I smiled at him.

"Elder," my voice was light and steady. "I'll wait for him."

The Head Elder breathed a sigh of relief. The others did too.

The pack's face was saved, for now.

People started making small talk, trying to ease the awkward vibe.

I turned to look at the altar entrance.

This ceremony wasn't over.

I would wait. But it was no longer him I was waiting for.