Chapter 60

***Alicent***

“Try this one,” she says, handing me a sleek black dress with a neckline that feels daring just to look at. “Elegant and just a touch mysterious. It’s perfect for tonight.”  
The velvet fabric of the gown Vi hands me is cool against my palms. Vi’s closet room smells faintly of rosewater and polished wood, the scent swirling around me as I stand up from the velvet stool near the gilded mirror. Dresses in every shade imaginable hang neatly on gold racks, shimmering under the soft glow of the chandelier above. The whole space feels like a boutique instead of a room in someone’s house. 
I’m already wearing a diamond necklace that Vi insisted on, claiming it was mandatory to wear something sparkly. I glance at the dress, then back at her. She’s already halfway into her dress, a shimmering black one with tiny silver stars embroidered along the hem. “Why is everyone in town so worked up about this festival, anyway? I thought it was just another small-town tradition, but people are acting like it’s... I don’t know, life-changing.”  
Vi pauses, her perfectly manicured hands adjusting the straps of her dress. She gives me a knowing smile. “How can I explain this to you,” she says, tilting her head like it was a big secret. “You don’t know anything about the Black Moon Festival?”
“Nope!” I admit. “Is it a town thing? A Moon-worship thing? Both?” I hold the dress against myself in front of the mirror. It’s stunning, sure, but the mystery around this event is starting to get to me. Is it part of their religion? “Just that everybody’s been excited about it.”  
She chuckles, and then bites her bottom lip. “You’ve heard of a Blue Moon, haven’t you?”
“Two full Moons in one month?” I ask. “Yeah.”
“Good. The Black Moon is similar. It’s a rare event. It’s when the Moon disappears entirely—a special kind of New Moon that you can’t even see. That’s why it’s called ‘black.’ Tonight, we’re lucky enough to experience one.”
I blink at her reflection in the mirror. “An *invisible* Moon? And we’re celebrating it?”
She nods, unfazed by my skepticism, and walks over to the vanity to clip on a pair of diamond earrings. “Exactly. It only happens under certain conditions, like when there are two New Moons in one month or four in a season. It’s a lot to get it, I know, but the thing is, it’s rare! Powerful. People around here believe that, uh, it’s a time of change, renewal, and celestial energy.”  
“Celestial energy,” I repeat under my breath, fiddling with the zipper on the dress. “Sure, that sounds... plausible.” I give her my best smile.
Vi smirks like I know nothing before going on. “Don’t worry. You don’t have to believe it to enjoy it. Although you can’t see the Black Moon, you can *feel* it. The Moon’s energy affects everything—tides, *animals*, even the soil. The first part of the festival, and the only part that you’re allowed to attend to, is about community, life-changing desires, stargazing, and planting intentions—literally and figuratively.” 
I tilt my head. “Planting?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.  
“Yes, planting,” she says, her voice taking on a slightly reverent tone. 
“So, this is a farming festival?”  
She shakes her head, her curls bouncing. “Not just farming, Allie. It’s about connecting with the universe. The Moon’s gravitational pull affects everything, including the moisture in the soil. This is the time to symbolically plant vegetables that grow above ground as they will flourish under the Black Moon’s energy. It’s, uh, ancient wisdom. Tomatoes, beans, cucumbers... They, uh, all thrive under the Moon’s invisible blessing. Yeah.”
It’s the first time that I’ve ever seen Vi rambling. 
I stare at her, trying not to laugh. “Right,” I say. “So, let me get this straight. We’re all dressed up to celebrate an invisible Moon, and... what? better cucumbers?” I can’t help but chuckle, and Vi barks out a laugh.  
“Goddess! It’s not just about cucumbers. It’s about recognizing the Moon Goddess’s power, there’s more to it, but you’ll get it when we get there. And, of course, it’s an excuse for us to dance under the stars and sip wine while we do.” I shake my head, smiling. She goes on, “The Black Moon coincides with meteor showers, and with no Moonlight to block out the stars, it’s the perfect time for stargazing, you know.”
“That does sound pretty,” I admit, slipping on the shoes.
I glance at her as she adjusts her earrings. She’s so earnest about this like she really believes the Moon is out there sprinkling energy over all the Blackmoon. It’s charming, really. If you ignore all the cult flags.
Yet, I tease, pulling the dress over my head. “Celestial energy... And you’re not even the slightest bit embarrassed to say all of this out loud?” 
Vi laughs again and smooths down the front of her gown. “Why would I be? The Black Moon Festival is part of who we are here. That’s why this place is called Blackmoon. You joke, but the Black Moon is powerful. You won’t see the Moon itself, but even *you* will feel the subtle energy radiating from the Black Moon. The New Moon is different from the Full Moon, and it’s not just because of the moonlight. We werewo, uh, I mean, the members here appreciate its beauty, its mystery, and its energy that the Moon Goddess blesses us with. It’s part of who we are. And tonight, it’s part of who you are too.”  
“Why can’t I attend the second part of the Festival?”
“Because it’s only allowed for Blackmoon members.”
“But you said I’m part of it, too.”
“Uh, I’m sorry, Allie, I really am, but you can’t participate. Actually, few outsiders are allowed to attend the festival,” Vi explains, but that doesn’t make any sense to me.
“I thought I wasn’t an outsider,” I say, avoiding her gaze.
“Allie... It’s not that, it’s just... Goddess! How can I put this into words? Um, you—”
“Don’t worry, Vi,” I interrupt her. “I won’t get in your way.”
“Allie, that’s not what I meant,” Vi says. I look at her and she has a pleading look.
“It’s okay, Vi, really,” I say with a smile. “It seems like a very, uh, community-family-friendly and exclusive event. Thanks for inviting me, even if it’s just for the first part,” I say, even though I’m dying to know what happens in the second part of the festival and sad for not attending it.
I catch sight of myself in the mirror. The dress fits like a dream, and for a moment, I forget all my snark. A small smile tugs at my lips. “Let’s go dance under this invisible Moon of yours,” I say, turning back to her.
Vi grins, grabbing her clutch. “Trust me, Allie. Tonight, you’ll see the magic—even if you can’t see the Moon.” 

🐺 🐺 🐺

I notice a gorgeous, tall woman in a dark green dress approach Ethan, 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 deliberate and captivating. Ethan’s attention turns to her as she bends low and places the goblet on his table. Then, she takes the ring off her left hand and places it next to the goblet with a smile on her face. Then they speak; I can’t catch their words, though. The music is pounding, and his table sits farther away from mine and elevated slightly above the rest like it’s meant to command attention. Or he’s just trying to be the center of attention. Even though I can’t hear them, I can spot her smile widen at whatever Ethan says. 
Something knots in my stomach as I watch them. I take a sip of my already second glass of wine. It could also be the alcohol irritating my stomach since I’m not a regular drinker. 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 his table, though.
As if her exit signals her turn, another woman steps confidently toward his way. I recognize her instantly—the bold dark red of her dress as striking as the sharp shove she gave me, one too forceful to let slip from memory. Kelly 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 Ethan’s hand. Just like the other woman in the dark green 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, more bitterly than the wine I’m sipping. My gaze lingers on Kelly’s hand as it reaches out to rest lightly on Ethan’s shoulder. They look striking together. She’s exactly the type of woman I’d imagine he’d choose—elegant, tall, rich, poised, and everything I am not.
“It’s a custom,” Vi says, her words almost lost in the music. I glance at her, sitting next to me. I half-expect her to be joking. 
I raise an eyebrow, my stomach tightening. “What is it, exactly?” I ask, already regretting the question but needing the answer like I need air.
“Like I told you, for us, the Black Moon is a time of change, renewal, and celestial energy.” Vi raises an eyebrow before continuing. “You can’t see the Black Moon, but you can *feel* it, Allie. The Moon’s energy affects everything... like life-changing desires.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, the Black Moon Festival is a great opportunity for the unmated, I mean, the singles, to show their interest in other singles of their *choosing*.”
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, Kelly takes her sweet time to talk to Ethan.
I swallow, then set my glass down with a little more force than necessary. “Why does this happen and why today? This Custom doesn't make sense to me.”
“Did you see that some females showed something shiny to Ethan?”
“Yes.”
“Well, 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,” Vi explains.
My eyes turn straight to Ethan and Kelly. Even though I don’t believe it, my heart races a little too fast to know if Kelly’s bracelet shined under the Black Moon. When I see her putting it back on, I feel my body calm down. 
I frown. “What about the wine?”
“If the jewel does not shine, and the person who got the wine is interested, they can drink the wine at any time tonight. If this happens, it means that they are interested in the person just for the night.”
Despite my skepticism, my heart races again when I recall that Kelly’s goblet is still on Ethan’s table, as are the other women’s.
It is even worse than I thought. I know that Ethan is single, and he can have his pick of the single woman not just in the Blackmoon but in his nightclub and, hell, in the whole of Summerville city. But I can help this feeling inside me. I scan the place, my gaze landing on the owners of the goblets on his table, mingling amongst the crowd. A man like him has most likely enjoyed the company of some of the women here who offered him their wine. 
Vi starts talking with someone besides her. My gaze shifts to Ethan once more. I can see that he’s polite to all of them. I watch as his table becomes crowded with goblets, and one woman after another comes up to him, showing him their sparkly stupid things, talking to him, touching him.
*He is mine!* I thought suddenly. 
After another woman leaves Ethan’s table, our eyes meet, and even from afar, I can see what is in them. His subtle smirk just confirms my suspicions.
Bastard. He thinks he is a king sitting on that throne. 
Even though the Moon isn’t shining, the few artificial lights are enough to know what’s going on. Everything here is perfect; they really thought about every single detail. Also, Vi was right, the sky is breathtakingly beautiful. The stars are so bright that it seems like I can touch them with my fingertip if I raise my hand.
Dancing has begun. My heart races with the sound, and before I know what I’m doing, I’m standing from my seat at the table, grabbing my goblet. I catch Vi’s half-smirk next to me as she tilts her head before I make my way to the bastard night king.
Everyone looks at me, surprise flickering across their faces, but there’s something else in their eyes—something knowing as if they all share a secret that I’m the only one left out of. I don’t know if it’s this Black Moon, but I can *feel* them.
A part of me feels like a fraud, carrying my goblet like I believe in their religion even though I do not.
But I keep going, threading through warm bodies until Ethan is in perfect view once more. 

🐺 🐺 🐺
***Alpha Ethan***

I can’t believe what my eyes are looking at.
Little Dove approaches my table just like all the females who offered me their goblets and presented their jewels to the Moon Goddess above us. But unlike all of them, my heart races just for her.
Every Black Moon Festival, the unmated in my pack let me know their intentions to be Luna. They present their jewels to the Moon Goddess, seeking her blessing for a bond with me so that I can choose them as my chosen mate. 
My Luna. 
But no jewel ever shone. 
Most of the females approach me to wish that my curse be broken soon, hoping I’ll eventually recognize them as my fated mate. They all have a good heart. I’ve never felt any other bad feelings from them; maybe it’s because they all know that this custom is symbolic since I will never choose a mate, and I will never give up on breaking my fucking curse.
Kral growls in my mind when I take a look at Little Dove’s body. Fuck, she’s so fucking beautiful.
Little Dove suddenly places the necklace she was wearing earlier on my table. I didn’t even notice when she took it off. And then she squeezes her goblet beside it, right at the edge.
Sitting on my chair, I glance at the necklace briefly before looking at her, but then my eyes widen as I glance back at it. Maybe I’m just tired, but I could’ve sworn I saw a tiny spark in her necklace.
“You know how I feel, Ethan. And I know how *you* feel. If you aren’t brave enough to admit it, I do for both of us,” she says boldly before leaning in and kissing me.