Days had passed, and the weight of my decision lingered like a heavy fog. As Luna, I still performed my duties. The Shadowveil Pack was mine by title, but in truth, it was a pack where I was merely a ghost—a Luna in name only, while the true throne was occupied by another.
Stepping out of my office in the evening, the familiar sight of Alpha Haynes standing outside caught my eye. He was dressed impeccably in a suit, his handsome face framed by the setting sun, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the confident set of his shoulders.
But despite his striking appearance, my heart remained untouched, my wolf silent and unmoved. Since the moment we first met, I felt the mate pull but my wolf was adamant about it. My wolf had been eerily quiet, almost reluctant. Perhaps she had known what kind of life awaited us, had I only listened more closely to her instincts.
I kept walking, pretending not to see him, hoping he would just let me be. But Haynes, ever persistent, quickly fell into step beside me. "It's Beta Ark's birthday today," he said, his voice even. "There's a dinner. Let's celebrate with him."