ra

the distance, its dark gothic

pen as my driver pulled

erald gown sweeping the ground,

near the entrance, greeting the arriving Al

face lit up with a

ping forward to grasp my hands. "I was

a polite, pr

ing her a small wooden box. "I brought you so

ompletely unaware of the storm

the banquet hall, my e

take long

nding near the

delicate, limited-

d to buy last month, but Kael had told

draped ove

oser, my ey

ient Luna Amulet, because

collarbone was a thin, s

t in the bottom drawer of

my seat at the main table rese

ner, an older Alpha from a nei

at me, a booming laugh e

and the lovely Elara going to complete the Marking

ence fell over our s

y put down her fork, f

ly. "Once the pack gets through th

y to correct her, but s

up from her seat at th

wine glass, her hand

erated jerk, she kno

hite tablecloth and splashed heavi

ressed scent of a frighte

n't even

r, his chair scraping loud

knee, pulling a silk handkerchief from his poc

ening to salvage their political alliance, but Kael released a suffocating wave of Alpha aura. The sheer dominance pinned his own m

e cried out softly, her voice pe

me, her eyes wi

ture who survives by begging for sympathy. "I hope Lady Elara isn't mad at me. She didn't

round the tabl

ced that she was sleeping in

ng a protective hand

e, his eyes pl

g a subtle warning. "Today is my moth

e my hands, expecting me to swallow t

m, feeling abs

ness. Just a col

tood up fr

mall evening bag

d to Kael, nor did

gan walking toward the grand stai

, my emerald gown trailing behind me as I ascended the stairs, heading straight for t