Rosalie had only confided in Zeila about her love for Tristan.

Three weeks after Rosalie's birthday, she turned eighteen, but she hasn't yet met her mate. Zeila and Rosalie grew up together, and there was no secret between them. They knew everything about one another. Zeila's was Beta Maddox, Alpha Nolan's Beta.

In lycan form, Rosalie arrived at the cave where they frequently camped during school breaks.

Her wolf, Reign, flung herself onto the warm concrete and put her paws in the air to rub her back delightfully against the large stone. Her wolf could lie out there in the sun like that for hours because she loved being outside.

She knew Zeila had arrived when she noticed movements in the bushes. They hugged each other as they transformed back into humans. The last time she had seen her was a few days ago. Zeila was part of the team responsible for setting the scene for the birthday ball that was being hosted tonight in the ballroom.

She said, "He is here, Zeila," stating what she already knew. Zeila immediately deduced what was going through her head, as usual.

Zeila took a seat next to Rosalie on the stone, and the two of them gazed up at the light blue sky. "I noticed him smoking one cigarette after another while standing by himself on the patio, looking almost unhappy." Zeila said calmly, "His eyes scanned all over the whole place several times, I knew he was looking for you."

"Rosa, are you certain that the mate bond is actually broken? You two still appear to be infatuated with one another. You realize that even though he is your sister's boyfriend, it's okay to declare that you are his fated. Everyone submits to the Moon Goddess' judgment: Stan is not the right one for Kris. Rosa, you are his Luna," she emphasized.

Rosalie gave a heavy sigh.

"At the moment, I'm not sure what I feel for him. Stan marked Kris after we rejected each other, thus I should view him as my brother-in-law or the Alpha of Blue River. But it isn't even happening that way. Our continued attraction to each other refuses to fade away." She said in desperation, "And Kristine believes there is a relationship between her mate and me."

"They will be here for the whole week. Since they'll be hanging around in the main building at the pack house, avoiding him will be harder. But then, if I avoid family gatherings, people will notice and the stories will start up again. This will not go well. I don't know how to prevent this."

"Zeila, there's no way I would mate with my sister's boyfriend. I can't base my happiness on Kristine's misery; it just doesn't feel right. She gestured to her, "Imagine how embarrassing it will be for my family when I come home with Stan as a mate."

"Kris would also never accept and the peace would be ruined right away. On the other hand, Tristan was invited into my parents' home for years as Kristine's mate, and we shared dinner together at the table where they were both incredibly romantic. Stan even had more overstays. Come on, Zeila, switching his attention abruptly between the two daughters would be quite embarrassing." Rosalie reasoned.

Zeila approved after taking Rosalie's point of view.

"Of course, it would make me feel nauseous as well. Definitely feels wrong, not good," Zeila muttered in disapproval, gripping her throat to show how disgusted she was."

She was curious, "So what are you going to do now? You'll have to deal with them, you know. You can't avoid them for too long. And I worry that tonight, Rose will already be the time for you to face them. The event plan says that you will all approach the stage as a family, walking hand in hand. I did succeed in making arrangements for you to hold your father's hand while Kris and her mate walk beside your mother." She paused.

Then she continued, "However, you will still need to welcome both of them as a family in the sitting room before that can happen." Zeila said in a soothing, soft manner, obviously feeling sorry for her.

"Yes, I'm getting ready for the meeting psychologically. Thankfully, Reign concurs with me; she is eager for the Stan moment to come to a finish. There is no use in thinking about the past because he has marked Kris and is now out of our grasp." She answered as Zeila got up and grabbed her arm.

"Ok, here's what's going to happen, I'll help you prepare for the ball by joining you in the packhouse. Next, we will help one another with our makeup and dresses." Zeila said, "I'm sure it will help you de-stress and get ready to meet Tristan and your sister."

Rosalie, ecstatic, threw her arms around the neck. She said, "Really? You, baby, are the best friend anyone could ever have," with gratitude. "I'm grateful, Zeila. I am so thankful that the Moon Goddess sent me you as a lovely companion. What the hell would I do without you?!"

"Oh please, Rosa, you would have probably chosen a mate or found your second chance mate. It would definitely be another alpha because our pack has produced the majority of all the Lunas in this region. An Alpha's daughter would be no less." She laughed and undressed. Before they ran back, she packed them up so her wolf could carry them with her mouth. Rosalie pushed her amiably from behind.

Once more, Rosalie teased her bestie. "Don't even think about it. I'll be stuck to you in this pack forever. I'll always be here with you, no matter what," She gave her a wink. Both of them turned and ran in the direction of the pack house.

There would be no getting away from her ex-mate and sister tonight. Every pack in the vicinity was aware of the odd mating of the Alpha's daughters, so all eyes would be on her. While some were merely holding out for a great juicy story to come along, others were sincerely worried about the Alpha family's welfare.

In addition to telling her sister that her place next to Tristan was certain, she had to affirm the Silver Moon Pack that she and Tristan were absolutely fine.

Rosalie sauntered into the spacious living room where her family had assembled.

Rosalie caught a glimpse of Tristan getting up right away, which caused his mate to give him a stern look. For an instant, she disregarded the couple and faced her father instead. "A very wonderful birthday, my lovely father and Alpha," she grinned broadly.

She approached him, arms extended, and he gave her a nice, tight hug. "Thank you, my child. The presence of both my daughters here with me makes me the happiest man already; that is a priceless gift," he murmured in her ear. "And you, my daughter, look amazing."

"My dear father, you too are incredibly handsome." She said, "Mom should take care not to lose you tonight; you could get abducted by some ambitious females." She approached her mother and spent a considerable amount of time congratulating her on her mate's birthday.

In reality, she was buying herself some extra time before she had to deal with her sister and her former mate. She also acted as though she wasn't very excited to meet them, Tristan in particular, given the lengthy wait. However, she was positive that everyone in the room sensed her sister's hateful gaze. Finally, she turned to the couple to greet them.

"Hey, Kristine! It has been a while! I'm so happy you managed to free yourself up to attend Dad's birthday celebration," she fiercely remarked. "Both you and your mate are welcome to Silver Moon once again. After all this time, I'm sure the pack is glad to see you again." Rosalie kissed Kristine on both cheeks and took her by the shoulders before bringing her close to her.

After a few moments to process the shock, Kristine pulled her away with just enough force to avoid her falling, to prevent her from falling into the arms of her mate.

"Rosalie," she said rigidly in greeting. "Good to see you once more. Also, I think my long absence from the pack should be a little expected. I'm a Luna and I have so many responsibilities, therefore, I'm always so busy. My Alpha is also quite clingy. He doesn't let me leave his sight." She leaned close to her mate to emphasize her deep meaning. She could no longer neglect the fact that Tristan was present.

"That's fantastic," Rosalie grinned in response.

"Stan, hi, it's good to have you here. I hope all is well with you and your pack." She held out her hand for a handshake, asking in a courteous but distant manner. However, he grabbed her hand to draw her up against his chest rather than taking it. She could still feel the sparks at their point of contact, but they dissipated fast.

"Rosalie! You've come a long way! Look at how much more gorgeous and womanly you've grown in just the last three years since I last saw you," he said foolishly. Behind him, there was a deep growl, and her eyes fell on Kristine, whose face was flushed with rage. Rosalie could completely understand how her mate's remarks had sparked her jealousy. No female would like to hear her mate compliment another woman, saying she is beautiful. Kristine did not take her eyes off the both of them and kept fuming.

Rosalie and Reign both braced themselves to avoid the physical touch.

She replied calmly now, refusing to allow any lingering connection or attraction to overcome her. Taking three steps out of Tristan's arms, she gave him a small smile. "Many thanks, Stan. Both Kristine and you look amazing. I wish I had unlimited time to work out at the gym. However, you two look amazing as one."

She sensed her father's presence behind her.

It was obvious that he was attempting to diffuse the awkward situation Tristan had created with what he said. "How about we wait outside the door for Beta Maddox to summon us to the stage? He says, "I can hear the music, they're about to call us in."

Rosalie was the youngest daughter and was positioned at the hand of her father, who was standing next to her mother, as they all lined up as directed. Kristine stood with her mate's hand in hers, to her mother's right.

They immediately heard the beta announce their presence.

All five of them entered the passageway that ended at the podium. She nodded to her pack members and expressed her gratitude to them for coming, a broad smile plastered across her face. The pack sang the customary "happy birthday" song as they made their way down the red carpet to the podium as a family, with the customary background music playing.

Her gaze swept across the first three rows of guests' seats. Every Alpha, along with his Luna, and perhaps the Beta as well. Nearly every pack in the vicinity were their allies. When it came to facing off against opposing packs, her father was a ruthless and ferocious fighter but he was also quite friendly with other Alphas who shared his views.

Luckily, there weren't as many vicious ones as there used to be, so practically every Alpha in that sector was there.

Everyone was staring at them when they went on stage and the song stopped.

Naturally, her father was the focus of interest, being the celebrant. However, she was aware that events such as this were utilized by single Alphas to search for their mates. Inquisitive gazes studied her neck, finding with satisfaction that the mate's mark was absent.

Rosalie spotted several misty eyes; the Alphas were debating whether or not she was their destined mate with their wolf. They expressed disappointment on their faces after learning that their quest would not be fruitful this time too, and they accepted this reality. Nevertheless, some persisted. They were still attracted to her and now regarded her as their chosen mate.

She then communicated to the unmated that she was unavailable by releasing a small amount of her Alpha energy. She was shocked to hear a terrifying growl emanate from her mother's other side. It was Tristan

She scowled, displeased.

She was certain that this would start another round of rumors, as the visitors and pack had undoubtedly heard it too. Being associated with Tristan in that manner was the last thing she wanted at that moment.

For crying out loud, he was her sister's mate! It was time for him to give up and fight the remaining remnants of his affection for her. As an Alpha and a mature man, Tristan was aware of the potential consequences of conflict within the Alpha family better than anybody else.

Except he had something else in mind and was doing all these intentionally. She pondered.

It was finally time for the family to take to the dance floor, which Rosalie had been looking forward to since the beginning of the party, after the speeches in which her father thanked the pack heartily for their trust in him and the elders commended him for his commitment and diligence on behalf of the pack, ended.

She was excited and was waiting eagerly to spin across the dance floor with her father.

Naturally, her mother performed the opening dance.

She observed as her mother whispered tender words to her father while beamingly staring into his eyes. They met after her father had already given up on finding his fated mate; they were each other's other halves. Her mother was nineteen, and her father was already twenty-two, four years late.

As a result, they did not hesitate to begin a family. Kristine was born the year they mated, and three years later, she arrived. Her father never bothered about the absence of a son and heir. The succession continued to belong to the Alpha family because his brother had at least four sons.

Kristine, as the oldest daughter, danced second after her mother and father.

She made it brief. Rosalie then rushed into her father's arms as soon as Kristine left. Knowing she was eagerly awaiting her time, he gave a smile. She did, in fact, constantly complain to her parents about the disadvantages of being the youngest child in the family. They tried to persuade her to concentrate on the benefits while offering her consolation and laughing it off. "I knew you couldn't wait to grace the dance floor with this old man, my darling." he quipped.

"And we're finally here" She gave him a shy grin and put her hand on his shoulder. She and her father clicked on the dance floor and had a nice dance together.

He started teaching her the proper steps at a young age, as neither her mother nor Kristine was ever interested in dancing. A tap on her shoulders followed.

Looking back, she noticed that it was Tristan who was standing there. "Rosa, can I have a dance with you?" said the man. "You're aware that Kristine isn't so good at dancing and you are a better choice at this moment." Her father gave her a curious glance and then released her hand.

Tristan didn't seem to be sensitive to the strain within the pack, which was starting to irritate her. "I don't think that's a brilliant choice, son." Now her father said politely. "That may not go over well with Kristine, and the pack may have an awful explanation for it." He gestured to Tristan, saying, "Alpha Tristan, we're simply trying to avoid all kinds of drama."

However, the Alpha only gave a dejected nod.

"With all due respect, Alpha. I think everyone will calm down when they witness us all together as a family and realize that there is no ill will between Rosa and me and that my mating with Kristine is unquestionably complete," he said. "This dance could help in avoiding dramas in the future and bringing peace to the family."

Her father, who was still not quite persuaded, gave Tristan a cold look and held him solely accountable for the result. Even though Tristan leads a sizable pack, Silver Moon is still quite larger than most of them thanks to their superior fighting skills, greater number of warriors, and cutting-edge technology. No one dared to meddle with them because of this, but her father was also more interested in developing friendships than in taking over territories aggressively.

With courage, Tristan turned to face her father and gently took her hand from his.

An acoustic soul melody took over the current music. Putting a hand on Tristan's shoulder, she ensured that a tidy gap was between them. "What are you doing, Tristan? Nobody cares if we prove anything or not. Reassuring the pack can only be achieved by being close to your mate and ensuring she's happy. Protecting her." She gave him an indifferent look and said, "You shouldn't be bothered by anything that's going on with me."

She made an effort to appear normal in his arms, as she was aware that a lot of people were staring at them and she knew this without even having to look around. Everyone was curious to know if the Alpha family was involved in a romantic triangle. Tristan was aware that the fall of the pack may potentially be attributed to that shame. Rosalie was starting to question whether there was more to his acts than meets the eye.

"Rosalie, I apologize, but Bruce was becoming agitated. He pushed me to come talk to you. You are aware that he and Reign always got along well," he said. "I promise not to do anything that will damage mine or your reputation." He sighed, "A conflict is the last thing I need right now."

Her gaze moved over his face, trying to determine whether or not what he had just said was true. She relaxed in his arms, not lowering her guard, when she sensed no pretending.

They conversed amicably like two longtime friends while dancing for almost twenty minutes.

She felt a sense of relief when groups in the ballroom around them carried on with their chats; nothing unusual was going on. Tristan returned to his mate after giving her a small bow when they eventually decided to stop. She turned and moved toward the food area, which had been tempting her to come to them.

"Waoh, bestie. That was audacious. However, you just shut so many mouths with that dance." Zeila leaned down to whisper, "Guaranteeing the pack that everyone is accepting of the circumstance." Rosalie pivoted and gave her a fleeting embrace.

"Indeed, that was quite unexpected. He stated that he had nothing negative in mind and that he simply wanted to talk to my wolf once more. But you already know that Bruce and Reign were great buddies even before now. It appears that nothing has changed on that front," she said. "Nevertheless, it is a good thing that were were able to reassure the pack that everything is fine and we're still united as a family."

Zeila slowly nodded her head. "Do you believe that now is the time for us to focus more on finding our partners? You still have your second chance mate out there and finding him would dispel any lingering uncertainty in the pack," she thought to herself. "Plus, I'm getting older. Or perhaps I ought to consider donating my uterus," she pondered.

Rosalie glanced at her, startled; nobody could claim they were already heading for the cemetery at twenty-one. However, Zeila suddenly started giggling, and she fled before she could get hold of her and give her a hard shake.

Kristine was not at all convinced, but the pack was. She began to devise plans in her mind.