ckwood Manor buzzed like a kicked beehive the day before the ceremony.


    Delegates from different packs kept rolling in-carriage bells ringing, voices


    chattering since dawn.


    Tomorrow, I''d officially be ke''s Luna. For real this time. Forever.


    "Ready for this, dear?" Victoria''s voice came from behind me. ke''s mother


    glided into the room carrying some fancy box, all grace and polish.


    Honestly? Not sure I''ll ever be." I turned to face her, trying to keep the shake out


    of my voice. "Feels like I''m dreaming."


    Victoria moved closer with that born-and-bred nobility thing she had going.


    "Being Luna''s not just about wearing a pretty crown," she said, polite but clearly


    sizing me up. "It''s serious business. I''ll be watching to see if you can actually


    handle it."


    She said that, but something flickered in her eyes-like she''d already made up her


    mind and just wasn''t ready to admit it yet. ke had told me she knew the whole


    Jackson story now. Same look he''d described.


    She popped open the box. Inside was this gorgeous silver-blue dress that caught


    the light like captured starlight. "Traditional Luna ceremony gown. Had it specially


    designed for you. Every Morgan Luna has worn some version of this dress." She


    paused. "Including me."


    I touched the silk, feeling the weight of all that history. "Victoria, I''m scared I''m not


    good enough for all this tradition. Not good enough for ke''s choice."


    "Hmm." She studied me like I was a puzzle. "That remains to be seen. But..." Her


    voice softened just a hair. "ke''s never been one to rush into things. If he


    picked you, there''s got to be a good reason."


    The door burst open. Sophia and E walked in, arms full of wrapped gifts.


    "My girl''s about to be Luna!" E shouted, bouncing on her toes. "From scrappy


    little fighter to Alpha Queen. Look at you go!"


    I couldn''t helpughing. "Keep talking like that, and I''ll stick you in the back row


    tomorrow."


    "Like hell you will! I''m sitting front and center to watch this whole thing!" E


    dumped her gifts on the table and wrapped me in a bear hug. "Seriously though,


    Ava. I''m so proud of you."


    Sophia stepped forward with a small velvet box. "I''ve got something for you."


    I opened it and nearly choked. Inside was this incredible ne-silver chain


    with emeralds that matched my eyes perfectly.


    "Sophia, this is way too much..."


    "It''s the Morgan family ne," Sophia exined, her voice going all serious.


    "Every Morgan woman wears it on her wedding day. Dad was gonna give it to me


    for the Jackson wedding, but... She paused, then smiled. "I had it redesigned with


    the emeralds. It belongs to the real Morgan Luna now."


    My throat closed up. "Sophia..."


    "My choice," she said firmly. "You saved my life. Now you''re marrying my dad,


    bing Lucas''s mom. This ne is yours."


    E was tearing up beside us. "Damn it, you two are gonna make me ruin my


    makeup."


    The three of us hugged tight. Six months ago, I never would''ve imagined this


    moment.


    "Speaking of changes," E''s voice got wobbly, "I need to tell you guys


    something. After the wedding, I''m heading to the human world with my


    sister. Her modeling career needs an assistant, and I want to see what''s out


    there."


    My heart dropped. "E..."


    "Hey, don''t get all weepy oit me," E said warmly. "It''s not forever. Just an


    adventure."


    I''ve got news too," Sophia jumped in. I''m going to Northern Lights to study with


    Lyra. She invited me to be her apprentice, leam priestess work. I''ve always been


    curious about those old rituals."


    "So after tomorrow, we''re all splitting up?" I asked.


    "Just for now," E said firmly. "We''ll always be friends, no matter where we end


    up."


    Late afternoon brought the Northern Lights delegation. Lyra swept into the manor


    with that signature grace, silver hair catching the sunset like spun moonbeams.


    "Ava." She approached carrying a tiny crystal bottle. "Moonlight blessing. Northern


    Lights tradition. Use this during tomorrow''s ceremony for extra protection from the


    Moon Goddess."


    "Thanks, Lyra." I took the bottle, noticing something sad in her purple eyes. "You


    okay?"


    She went quiet for a bit, then said, "Ava, did you know I had a fated mate once?


    An older man, like yours."


    I stared at her. "You had a fated mate? Everyone says you never found one."


    Lyra''sugh came out bitter. "Found him. Rejected him."


    "Why?" I asked softly.


    "He was human," Lyra''s voice got distant. "Back then-before cars and phones


    becamemon-werewolves barely tolerated humans. I thought our worlds were


    too different. She sighed. "If I''d just waited twenty years... times changed. Wish


    I''d had more guts back then."


    I felt the pain in her words. "Is it toote now?"


    "Who knows?" she said quietly. "Maybe. Maybe some mistakes can''t be fixed."


    ke''s POV


    Men''s prep work was usually simple, but tonight felt different. I stood in my study


    with Lucas, Tyler, and William, going over tomorrow''s ceremony details onest


    time.


    "Dad, I''m so excited!" Lucas bounced on his toes, practically vibrating. "I get to


    carry the family ne, right? The


    Ava?"


    ophia redesigned for


    "That''s right, little wolf." I ruffled his dark hair,


    William pped my shoulder. "ke, I still don''t know how to thank you for


    everything. Not just clearing my name, but weing Ava into your family.


    Giving her the love she deserves."


    "She chose me too," I replied. "I''m the lucky one here."


    Tyler cleared his throat. "Boss,test report on the Hayes cleanup. Remaining


    family members are cooperating. Most im they knew nothing about the


    conspiracy."


    "Keep monitoring, but treat them fairly, I instructed. "We''re not looking for


    revenge, just security,''


    When night fell, I found myself on the balcony overlooking the manor


    grounds. Tomorrow would change everything-not just for


    but for both our packs. The alliance between Silverpeak and Shadow Creek would


    be sealed through our bond.


    "Nervous?"


    I turned to find Ava walking up, glowing in the moonlight. My chest tightened with


    love and anticipation.


    "About tomorrow? Nah." I pulled her into my arms. "About deserving you? Every


    damn day."


    Sheughed, standing on her tiptoes to


    Toote to back out now, Alpha King."


    "Never," I murmured against her lips. "Ava, about tomorrow''s ceremony. I''ve got


    some special surprises nned,"


    "What kind of surprises?"


    "You''ll see. I smiled mysteriously. "But I promise they''ll be perfect."


    She leaned into me as we stood there, looking out over our territory.


    "ke," she said quietly, "Lyra told me something today. About her past."


    "Yeah?


    "She had a human fated mate once. Rejected him because of the times." Ava''s


    voice was


    thoughtful. "She seemed really torn up about it."


    I considered this. "Maybe we can help her find him. After the ceremony, when


    things settle down."


    "You''d do that?"


    "She helped save your father. It''s the least we can do."


    Ava smiled at me-that brilliant smile that made everything else fade away. "I love


    you, ke Morgan."


    "Love you too, future Luna Rivers-Morgan."