Chapter 166
DEREK
I was still wiping the blood off my arm when Elena grabbed her father by the sleeve
“What’s going on?” she demanded.
“There’s been a rogue attack,” he said, low and calm.
I stiffened beside her. “Ell go help.”
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But the Moonstone Alpha held up a hand without looking at me. “I appreciate your willingness to step in,” he said evenly, “but my men can take care of our own territory.”
“But
“It’s a small attack,” he said firmly. “Just a few rogues testing the perimeter, most likely. I’ve sent Mason to handle it.
I glanced toward the drive, where Logan and Chad had already vanished into the dusk. Their absence left a sharp edge in the atmosphere. It felt like the warmth of the evening had been replaced by something colder–terse and
alert.
The Alpha turned, nodding toward the horizon. “It’s a full moon tonight. The rogues are restless. Nothing more.”
He didn’t want my help. That was clear.
Across the courtyard, I could see people beginning to murmur. The firelight flickered over worried faces. Guests were shifting from foot to foot, the easy laughter of earlier replaced with hushed speculation.
Wolves were tuned to conflict by instinct. Even if they hadn’t heard the words, they could feel the change in the air.
The Moonstone Alpha stepped into the center of the gathering, raising his voice just enough. “A minor disturbance,” he announced. “Nothing to be alarmed about Our border patrol caught it early. The situation is under control.”
A few scattered nods.
But uncertainty hung heavy.
Then, like the master strategist she was, the Luna appeared. Not from the shadows, but from the far end of the party, her voice light, sweet, and perfectly projected.
“Well, then,” she called “Since the rogue wolves are restless, I suppose it’s only fair the rest of us dance until we drop,”
Laughter rippled, tentative but real.
She clapped twice. “Musicians! Something warm. Something steady. Let’s fill this space with joy before the moon rises too high.”
The drummers responded instantly, shifting into a slower, rhythmic tune. I didn’t recognize the opening notes at first just a deep pulsing beat layered with strings and soft chimes.
But I knew the way Elena froze beside me.
“What?” I asked.
Chapter 150,
She blinked. “This song They played it at Dawn’s wedding
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I remembered that night too. The tension between us. The strange comfort. The slow, impossible dance.
The Lama appeared at Elena’s side, barely above a whisper. Will you two lead?”
Elena hesitated.
“Please,” her mother added, her voice suddenly gentle, “We need to assure our guests there’s nothing to worry
about.”
Elena’s eyes found mine. Searching. Not for approval, but for steadiness.
I held out my hand.
She took it.
The song unfolded like a memory–slower than the last time, deeper somehow, with the added layer of moonlight glinting off silver leaves and nervous energy humming just below the surface.
Elena’s fingers were warm in mine. Her other hand found my shoulder as mine settled at the curve of her waist. And just like that, we were moving.
It wasn’t a perfect dance.
We didn’t glide across the stones like trained performers. We stumbled once–she stepped on my foot, I nearly knocked over a lantern–but the crowd began to settle as they watched us.
Conversation returned in soft waves. Couples joined us slowly, filtering into the open space, filling the courtyard with light steps and flowing fabric.
But I couldn’t look away from her.
Elena.
Head high, spine straight, her jaw still clenched with the aftershock of the fight–but her body softening as the music carried us.
“You okay?” I asked quietly.
“No,” she said. “But I will be.”
“That was more than just sparring.”
“I know.”
I tightened my hand at her waist. “You shouldn’t have had to stop it.”
“I didn’t do it for him.”
That gave me pause. “Then why?”
“For Aider. For you. For everyone watching.” She glanced around. “This whole night was supposed to be about hope. Unity. The Moonbinding. And Logan–he made it about territory. About posturing”
Chapter 187
