Bonus Chapter 14
The first thing I notice after arriving at the much-hyped Black Moon festival is the level of preparedness among the people there. This pack takes its festival very seriously; everyone is dressed in their finest clothes.
I stayed in my corner, hidden from everyone behind a tree until Allie showed up and rescued me, taking me to sit at an empty table where the Beta’s fated mate was. However, she left immediately after we sat down, giving me a tight smile…
Everyone is dancing and drinking and happy and the only thing I can think of is that I wish I was having fun with my fated mates as well.
Alpha Ethan sits on the other side of Allie, and places his hand on her leg possessively while talking to other members of the pack.
Mama was right about the Black Moon, I can really feel something powerful, stronger, more intense, a pull that I can’t explain.
It’s good, but... this maximizes the anguish in my heart.
Especially when on the other side, far away, I spot Lily talking to some people. She was talking with Cedar earlier, and I wanted to go over there, but the look she gave me made me sit back down in my chair right away. Now I’m here, clenching my jaw as I see her laughing at the other she-wolves in the pack. Strong and beautiful she-wolves.
Stupid she-wolves. Stupid she-wolves wearing stupid tiny dresses.
I move my gaze. Not so far away from me, sitting with Theo at another table, is Azrael.
Moon Goddess, help me! He is so handsome! I know he is an Alpha, but today, seeing him dressed like that and sitting like that, Goddessdamn it. He *exudes* that he is an Alpha.
I sit straighter as I notice a gorgeous, tall she-wolf in a dark purple dress approach Azrael, a goblet of wine in her perfectly manicured hand. The chatter at my table fades as my focus sharpens on the woman climbing the two steps toward him, her every movement is captivating.
My heart starts racing.
Theo and Azrael’s attention turns to her as she bends low and places the goblet in the middle of their table. Then, she takes the ring off her left hand and places it next to the goblet with a smile on her face.
After that, the three of them speak; I can’t catch their words, though. The music is pounding, and although his table sits a little farther away from mine, his is a little bit elevated above the rest like it’s meant to command attention. I thought Alpha Ethan and Luna Allie would sit there, but they are too busy talking with everyone.
Even though I can’t hear them, I can spot her smile widening at whatever Azrael says and the tilt of Theo’s head.
Something knots in my stomach as I watch them.
I take a sip of my already second glass of wine. It’s a good one. I’m not used to wine tasting so well.
But the taste isn’t helping this ugly feeling in my gut.
She’s exactly the type of woman I’d imagine an Alpha like him would choose if he had a chance, just like Lily is—elegant, tall, rich, and everything I am not.
They are not at all a complicated witch.
They speak for a short time, but it feels like ages passed before she bows her head, puts her ring back on, and joins the party again. Her goblet was left on their table, though.
As if her exit signals her turn, another gorgeous woman steps confidently toward their way. I recognize Briar instantly—the bold silver of her dress as striking as her wolf when I saw her shifting to help Luna Allie earlier, one wolf too pretty to let slip from memory.
Briar places her goblet of wine on the table with a smirk before she removes the stone-studded bracelet from her wrist and places it beside Theo’s hand. Just like the other woman in the dark purple dress, she looks at the bracelet expectantly before they begin to talk. I take a slow sip of wine as I watch, confused by what’s happening.
The unease in my stomach coils tighter, contrasting with the sweet wine I’m sipping. My gaze lingers on Briar’s hand as it reaches out to rest lightly on Theo’s shoulder. They look striking together.
“It’s a custom, Pumpkin,” Allie says, her words almost lost in the music. I glance at her, sitting next to me.
I raise an eyebrow, my stomach tightening. “What does it mean... exactly?” I ask, already regretting the question but needing the answer like I need air.
“Like I told you, the Black Moon festival is a time of change, renewal, and celestial energy. I think you are the only one here who can feel the Moon like I feel. We can’t see the Black Moon, but we can *feel* it. The Moon’s energy affects everything like… life-changing desires.”
“What does it have to do with...” I swallow hard. “The custom you said?”
“Well, the Black Moon Festival is a great opportunity for the unmated wolves to show their interest in one another. *Choosing*, in other words.”
I took another sip of wine, the sharp tang of it lingering longer than usual as I tried to ignore the tightening in my chest. Unlike the women before her, Briar takes her sweet time to talk to them.
I swallow, then set my glass down with a little more force than necessary. “This Custom doesn’t make sense to me.” I cross my arms.
Allie follows the direction of my eyes. “Did you see that some she-wolves showed something shiny to them?”
I nod. I’m beginning to feel my eyes sting.
“That’s exactly what the custom is. They bring a shiny piece of jewelry from their outfit and wine to someone they’re interested in. If the jewel shines even in the absence of moonlight, it means that the Moon Goddess blesses the bond for the rest of their lives, even though they aren’t fated mates,” the Luna explains.
My wide eyes turn abruptly to her. “What?”
Choosing?
Her words echo in my mind.
*It means that the Moon Goddess blesses the bond for the rest of their lives, even though they aren’t fated mates.*
Nooo!
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