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.

It meant a lot to Rosalie that Kristine had given her shady looks when they were having breakfast, during their family time, and the day before the ball. Her sister detested her since, although she was marked by Tristan, she now thought her sister was her enemy and knew that he was actually yearning for her. However, Rosalie fulfilled her obligations, so she wasn't at fault for that. In order for Tristan to remain with Kristine, she had accepted his rejection without question.

Rosalie made the decision to avoid Tristan in order to stop her sister's mood from getting worse and spoiling their time together. Whatever was remaining from the bond was what made her want to give in to the need to see him knowing that they had no future together.

She witnessed him smoking repeatedly on the balcony of the apartment he shared with Kristine late last night. It appeared that he was under stress. His quick glance in her direction was a surprise to her as she was admiring him. With enough time, she was able to vanish behind the curtains, and she was positive he missed her. These brief moments were grasped by her to adore him remotely, but she dared not express her feelings to him outright so as to avoid starting a relationship.

"Maybe tomorrow, Rosa, you could go with your sister to the mall? I can't reschedule the Luna meeting I have tomorrow and she needs to get a few things," her mother said from the chair she was sitting on.

Looking up, she could see right through her eyes what she was planning. She wanted her to spend time with Kristine so they could work out their issues. Comforting Kristine and determining whether their relationship could be revived was exactly what she also desired. The event involving Tristan has undoubtedly caused them to grow apart even though they were never close.

Rosalie nervously answered, "I'd happily go with her if she wants me to." She turned to face Kristine.

She returned the stare, but it was a menacing look. She blurted out, "Why do you want to go out with me?"

"I myself could use some new things. Rosalie informed her, "I want to buy more clothes because I need to change some clothes in my wardrobe."

She nodded after a few moments of her eyes being fixed on her. "All right, get set early. She remarked to her, "I want to return before my mate starts getting worried about me."

Rosalie grinned broadly, glad that the sisters could now work together once more. She taunted her, saying, "Kristine, it's not like you're going away forever. And don't forget you've lived here all your life and this is your home too."

Her eyes glowed with anger, and then, much to their relief, she began to laugh.

"That is accurate. I feel like Stan spoils me too much in the pack. I even have an office adjacent to his place, so I don't often leave the pack home," she said.

"As you can see, I'm growing less accustomed to his absence. She said, "I don't want to feel lonely," Kristine said in an offensive way. Rosalie listened to her words, stunned.

"Are you no longer doing the things you enjoy? Things like training. You were capable of becoming a skilled fighter. You even trained the teenage group and had excellent fighting skills. Did you really abandon everything?" She asked.

She arrogantly flipped her hair back and gave her another haughty glare.

"I no longer want to be a warrior. Remember that I am now the Luna? I don't have to do that myself since Stan has an entire army to protect me," she replied. Rosalie chose not to go into further detail because it was clear that she was making every effort to remind her that Tristan belonged to her. She kept eating silently from her plate, ignoring the conversations going on around the table. Tristan and her father discussed the routine pack business, while Kristine and her mother discussed the newest trends in fashion.

As soon as they were all done, they stood up.

"Rosa, how about we head to the garden and harvest some fresh flowers? Her mother asked, "I really need to plant new ones and replace some old ones," and before she could respond, her mother grasped her hand. Stepping out of the pack house, they made their way over to the garden she had personally planted. The gorgeous flowers, arranged in a row of various colors, floated in the breeze.

She strode across the rows with pride. She turned to her when they had moved away enough that the pack house could not hear what they were saying. "I realize that now that Tristan is here with Kristine, there are occasionally awkward moments, Rosa. But after waiting three long years, your father is overjoyed to have her with him at last."

"I also see that you are simply being courteous to Tristan and preventing an escalated situation. But tomorrow, please attempt to make Kristine feel more comfortable. You don't have her trust. However, your father feels that now that she has her partner, he should be allowing her to visit more frequently. He desires to be a part of her life."

She gave her an almost beseeching look.

Rosalie took her arm in hers. "You don't need to worry about anything, mom. I'm done with Stan. Kristine is his Luna. That chapter is closed." She attempted to comfort her mother, saying, "Who knows, perhaps the Moon Goddess will take pity on me and give me another chance to find a mate soon, a second chance mate." With a heavy sigh, her mother pecked her cheek.

"You are the best thing that can even happen to a parent. I'm sure that things will turn out well for you. I knew you were unique even before you were born." She drew her into her embrace and gave her a forehead kiss.

Rosalie was ecstatic as she took her mother's hand and continued into the garden.

She found a pair of gloves and scissors in a cabinet in the middle of the field and used them to cut the most exquisite flowers she could find. When they had gathered enough, she assisted her in carrying them to the pack house, where flowers were arranged in all the frequently visited locations and ceramic vases.

As she stepped into the elevator that led to her apartment, her mother reminded her, "Keep in mind what I requested of you tomorrow while you are with Kristine." As the elevator doors closed, she grinned and raised her thumb.

Rosalie showered as soon as she got into her quarters to remove the sweat and filth. Despite wearing her pajamas, she chose to enjoy a glass of juice before turning in for the night. Taking her drink outside to the terrace, she watched Tristan as he was about to come out onto his. She immediately turned around and headed for her bed before he could detect her presence.

****

The next day

"Rosa, I'll leave you behind if you don't finish up quickly." Kristine yelled, as she emerged from the packhouse and headed for the waiting car.

Rosalie snatched up her purse and rushed after her. She gave her an irritated expression when they got to the back seat of the Mercedes Benz.

"What were you doing and why the hell do you keep wasting my time? Why do you always talk endlessly as though there's an audience for your gibberish? You kept me waiting like an idiot while you were talking about your nonsense. Do you honestly believe that I don't have better things to do rather than wait for you?" She chastised her.

Startled, Rosalie suddenly fixed her gaze on her. *You were waiting for me? I saw you heading toward the car just now. And we both got in together. Why do you make such big claims?" Suppressing an annoyance, she reminded her.

She could imagine some gloomy hours spent in her company if this was how she was going to behave for the entire day. Kristine didn't appear to have any intentions to mend their relationship or put a stop to their rivalry. Rosalie had done nothing so far that would lead one to question her, much less make any accusations against her.

"You seriously need to calm down, Kristine. You are intentionally placing needless distance between us. You haven't been here for three years; our parents are in pain. You are dad's favorite child, as you well aware." She added quietly, "He felt so bad when you left and felt like he had let you down."

Kristine now turned to face her directly. She yelled at her, "Maybe if you keep your eyes off my mate and start looking for your own, it'd be better for everyone."

"You're in Stan's arms the moment I turn to look away. He's either staring at you, or you're averting his gaze. Do you really think that I'll present him to you on a silver platter? You're nothing more than a filthy slut in need of attention!" Her tone surprised Rosalie; she had never heard Kristine that abrasive. And she had never received such impolite treatment before.

"Kristine! Why are you speaking to in such manner? Did you seriously just call me a slut? Really?" The sound of the hateful term nearly made her choke.

Her temper flared at her smug expression. "May I remind you that I gave up my mate so you could become the Luna of his pack and not be left behind?" Rosalie angrily retorted to her.

"You were aware of the risks when you made the decision to give yourself to Tristan. The Moon Goddess did not decide in your favor, and you are not his destined mate. Before Tristan, you could have met your mate. And how did you anticipate making your decision at that time?"

She continued, poised for an argument, she said, "You are so self-centered that you are unable to recognize that I am the reason for your happiness."

Kristine was almost determined to confront the reality.

Is that all you have got, sister?" Kristine snarled. "You are simply envious of me." She said, "You wanted to be the Luna of the Blue Rivet pack and be by Tristan's side, but now that he's marked me, you can't accept that there's no going back and that you've lost and you want him back. Do you really believe that I'm blind to the lustful glances you give him whenever he gets close?"

She moved her face toward her and grasped her by the chin. Her face contorted with rage, all she could read in her eyes was extreme loathing. Now she was a looking like a demon in front of her, nothing remained of her beauty.

"Let it sink in, bitch, once and for all. Tristan belongs to me. Your opportunities are lost. Nothing can be done now that he's marked me." She gave a sardonic smile, "except you want to be his mistresses, your sister's mate mistress."

"It appears that it will be make you deliriously happy." Rosalie laughed, "Your life will be a bed of roses."

Thank goodness, they were at the mall already. Being with Kristine was becoming intolerable for Rosalie. There was nothing that could reason with her; hatred had consumed her.

She pulled the car door open and leaped out. Now her day was ruined perfectly. Her parents, who were eager for her and Kristine to work things out, were her sole worry at this point. However, it didn't appear to be the case anymore; her sister didn't require her relationship.

She moved toward the thick forest behind the building after losing interest in the mall. She took off her clothing and shifted behind a tree. Now that Reign was in charge, she could unwind; all she had to do was take a good run to clear her system of Kristine's poisonous remarks.

Her better half said, 'Let's go, Rosa. Screw that bitch! Nothing positive can ever come to people like her. She is torn apart by jealousy,' her wolf cursed, and got ready to run.

She ran across the woodland in an attempt to let go of the annoyance that Kristine's statements had given her. She ran through the jungle for an hour before coming upon a creek that was running with clean water. After quenching her thirst, Reign took a seat up against a tree.

Rosalie started somberly, 'Reign, we might have given Kristine a reason to doubt us. When they got to the hill, we proceeded to wait for them and, when we thought Tristan was there alone, we also watched him. It must have been known to Kristine through their mate bond. Tristan is clearly still infatuated with me since he tries to get close to me all the time. I look around and there he is, standing there. And Kristine would definitely feel uncomfortable with that."

She reminded her wolf, "as wolves, we are very possessive."

Then she heard the noise from behind.

Dry branches snapped as though someone was approaching her cautiously. When Reign turned around, she noticed four sets of ferociously focused eyes staring at her.

Furious rogue Lycans! And they were huge ones.

They hurried toward her after emerging from their hiding spot, sensing that she had discovered them. Reign responded right away. She sprang up quickly and ran farther into the jungle. She was completely lost in her own world. Even though Reign was an Alpha Lycan, the four that followed her were anything but little, as evidenced by the solid steps of their paws. Though she knew she would not stand a chance against these four enormous animals, she would not surrender without putting up a strong fight.

Subsequently, she felt a forceful hit on Reign's back, which caused her to lose control and fall onto the ground. She repeatedly tumbled over, but she got back up to carry on with her escape. However, she was hit once more, and this time, there was no turning back.

The four of them gathered around her. One of them transformed into his human form and fixed her with his ominous, black eyes.

"Shift!" he gave her the order. An order from a lower rank was opposed by the Alpha within her.

"Shift, right now. Don't force me to say it again. I'm not very good at patience" His growl reverberated through the jungle.

She shifted only out of sheer terror.