“First, the ceremonial den burns down. Now her grandmother’s ‘accident.’ Draven, how many excuses do you need to delay the Moonbinding again?”
A tremor ran through me. My blood turned to frost.
Then I heard Draven’s calm voice—the same Alpha who once swore under the full moon that he’d love me for eternity.
“There won’t be another delay.”
“Wait,” his friend lowered his voice, “you’re really going through with bonding yourself to her? What about your little first moon mate sweetheart?”
Draven’s tone softened—a softness that sliced me open like a claw.
“During the three darkest cycles of my life, Lunessa stayed by my side. I vowed to repay that loyalty.”
“But after returning to the Blackspire Pack and meeting Myrielle again… she’s the she-wolf I always thought would stand beside me. That kind of love doesn’t disappear.”
He exhaled. “Nineteen postponed ceremonies already… that was my selfishness. If Lunessa just behaves and lets the charges against Myrielle go, I’ll fulfill my promise to her.”
I couldn’t breathe.
So this was what lay beneath every delay.
I had once believed fate was simply cruel, that the Moon Goddess had tested us.