Page 13 of Moonlit Fate

His gaze swept over the crowd. He radiated a raw, magnetic pull, commanding attention without uttering a single word. It was clear that Larkin belonged to this world. A world that seemed increasingly alien to my own restless spirit.

He caught me watching him across the room, and for a fraction of a second, there was a silent acknowledgment between us, an understanding that we were two people caught in an orbit not of our choosing. Resistance surged through me like a riptide, but I had to admit the undeniable presence he held.

As I stepped forward, the pack’s attention fixed on me. My father spoke from across the grand meeting hall, his presence as striking as ever.

“Tonight marks the dawn of a new chapter for our illustrious pack.”

I tensed, a silent scream echoing inside my skull as I fought to keep my expression impassive. Anxiety clawed at the fringes of my composure as relentless waves of panic crashed over me. My father looked at me with pride and expectation.

“It is with great honor that I formally announce the mating arrangement between my daughter, Aria Winters, and Larkin Ranger,” he announced. “May this union fortify our ranks and promise a future ripe with prosperity.”

Cheers and howls from the gathered pack filled the air, their jubilant voices vibrating through the hall. The sound was both deafening and distant, much like the earlier thunderstorm. Through the sea of jubilant faces, I caught sight of Seren. She gave me a thumbs-up, a hopeful expression on her face.

I heard her voice in my mind say,“You look so good together.”It only added to the dread that was overwhelming me,

Then Larkin moved toward me with the confidence of a man who had never been rejected. I took his offered hand, my touch that of an automaton’s, devoid of feeling save for the dread that slithered across my skin. His warm grip did nothing to thaw my icy veins.

“You look gorgeous,” he said. “Together, we will lead this pack to greatness.”

His words should have bolstered me, filled me with pride for what we could achieve, but they only intensified the sickening urge to vomit all over his impeccable suit. His breath caressed my ear, making me quiver—not from desire, but from the knowledge that my fate was no longer my own.

The rhythmic pulse of ceremonial music enveloped us. Larkin’s hand at the small of my back was a light touch, his fingers brushing against my dress, yet it felt like he was smothering me with our pack’s entire history. His other hand clasped mine, guiding me in movements that should have been graceful, but made me feel like a clumsy puppet whose strings were chains.

“Smile for me,” he murmured, his voice barely audible against my ear. “You have such a beautiful smile.”

Gross. The words were meant to be tender, but it came across as a demand. Smile, perform, be the perfect alpha female. Be his trophy. I forced my lips into something I hoped resembled joy, but inside, my spirit bucked like a wild stallion.

With each step of the dance, the walls seemed to press closer, suffocating me. The air had thickened, become syrupy and cloying, making it hard to breathe. My chest tightened, panic clawing up my throat with every shallow breath I managed to draw.

In desperation, I looked around at the assembled pack members, seeking an ally. Everyone’s faces were a blur of excitement and pride. No one was aware of the turmoil churning inside me. Seren and Eldan’s supportive words from earlier flashed through my mind, but that support felt distant and disconnected, both physically and emotionally.

“Relax. You’re safe here,” Larkin said, mistaking my distress for nerves. His voice was calm, soothing even, but it was no balm for the wound he couldn’t even begin to comprehend.

“Of course,” I managed to whisper. I tried to focus on the steps, on the smooth, polished floor beneath my feet, desperately seeking something to anchor myself and keep the wave of panic at bay.

Then, amid the screaming of my own thoughts, a voice murmured. A deep whisper that resonated to the very marrow of my bones.

“Breathe.”

I blinked, the command so clear and authoritative, it could not be ignored. I sucked in a breath, the air filling my lungs with sweet relief.

“Breathe,”the voice said again.

My frayed nerves slowly started to knit back together, a semblance of calm clearing my vision and steadying my pulse.

It was impossible. It was completely, utterly impossible. But that voice… I’d heard it before. It belonged tohim. The rogue whose eyes had shone with a feral intensity. How could he be here, in our pack’s most sacred space, speaking directly into my mind? I scanned the crowd, flitting over blurred faces as I sought out the impossible.

He had no place here, in the Silver Claw’s stronghold. But his presence was as tangible as Larkin’s heavy hand resting on my waist.

How? Why? The questions spun a dizzying web in my head, each ensnaring me in confusion and wonder. The rogue was an enigma, wrapped in the mystery of the forest where we met, but this… this was beyond comprehension.

My wolf—the rebellious part of my soul, the part that yearned for freedom—bade me to find him. And so I continued my search, scanning the throng, desperate for a hint, a sign, anything that might explain the inexplicable.

My anxiety started to rise again, this time overwhelmed by the bodies around me as I searched for the man who had left me feeling partially unhinged. The voice echoed from the confines of my mind again.

“Breathe,”his voice once again cut through the chaos.

I followed his lead and inhaled deeply.

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