The ivory envelope sat on my desk like a ticking bomb. I recognized the silver wax seal of the Silvercrest Pack immediately—their annual full-moon banquet invitation had arrived. My fingers hovered over it, reluctant to break the seal and confirm what I already suspected.

When I finally opened it, my suspicions were confirmed. There, listed among the attending packs, was 'Shadowmoon Pack—Delegation led by Alpha Ryan Matthews.'

Selene stirred restlessly within me. *Mate*, she whispered. I silenced her with practiced mental discipline.

"It's just one night," I murmured to myself, tracing the embossed lettering. "We've survived worse."

Elena, our Head Healer and my closest confidante, knocked softly before entering my office. She took one look at the invitation in my hand and her expression softened with understanding.

"You could send a representative," she suggested gently.

I squared my shoulders. "And let him think I'm hiding? Never."

* * *

The Silvercrest Pack's grand hall glittered under hundreds of crystal chandeliers, the full moon's light streaming through the massive glass dome overhead. I'd chosen my outfit carefully—a midnight blue gown that hugged my curves before flowing gracefully to the floor, professional enough for a Beta but striking enough to make a statement.

I felt Ryan's presence before I saw him. Selene recognized his scent instantly—pine and midnight rain, now tinged with the deeper notes of Alpha power. I deliberately kept my back to the entrance where the Shadowmoon delegation had just arrived, focusing instead on my conversation with the River Valley Pack's Beta.

"Victoria Sterling," a deep voice interrupted our discussion. I turned to find Alpha Marcus Blake standing before me, his hand extended in invitation. "Would you honor me with a dance?"

Marcus was everything an Alpha should be—confident, powerful, and remarkably free of the arrogance that plagued so many in his position. His reputation for fairness was matched only by his pack's prosperity.

"I'd be delighted," I replied, accepting his hand.

As he led me onto the dance floor, I caught a glimpse of Ryan from the corner of my eye. He stood rigid among his pack members, his jaw clenched as he watched us.

"You've made quite an impression at the council," Marcus said as we moved effortlessly across the floor. His hand rested respectfully at my waist, his movements sure and controlled. "Not many would dare question an Alpha so publicly."

"Truth doesn't require rank," I replied, allowing myself a small smile.

Marcus laughed, the sound warm and genuine. "And that's precisely why you're the most respected Beta in seven territories. Your strength is remarkable, Victoria."

For the first time that evening, I felt Selene relax slightly. There was something comforting about Marcus's presence—his wolf recognized my strength not as a threat but as an equal.

"The Moonstone Pack is fortunate to have you," he continued, spinning me in a graceful turn. "Any Alpha would be."

The implication wasn't lost on me, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks. Before I could respond, the air around us suddenly thickened with a powerful, agitated aura.

"Mind if I cut in?" The voice was low, almost a growl.

Ryan stood beside us, his gray eyes stormy with barely contained emotion. His Alpha aura pulsed around him, pushing against Marcus's in a primal display of dominance that made nearby dancers step back.

Marcus raised an eyebrow, his arm still around my waist. "I believe that's for the lady to decide."

Ryan's jaw tightened, his gaze fixed on me with an intensity that made my breath catch. "Victoria," he said, my name a command and a plea all at once.

Selene surged forward within me, responding to his call with such force that I nearly stumbled. Five years of carefully constructed walls threatened to crumble under the weight of his presence.

"Alpha Matthews," I managed, my voice cooler than I felt. "This is hardly the place for a scene."

"Dance with me," he insisted, extending his hand. It wasn't a request. "Please."

That single word—please—hung between us, laden with five years of unspoken history.

Marcus watched the exchange with knowing eyes. "Another time, perhaps," he said to me with a gracious nod, stepping back.

Before I could protest, Ryan's hand closed around mine, sending a jolt of electricity up my arm that made Selene howl with recognition.

And just like that, I was in the arms of the man who had broken me.

Ryan's hand at my waist burned through the fabric of my midnight blue gown. Every nerve ending in my body seemed to awaken at his touch, betraying the indifference I'd worked so hard to project. The music swelled around us as he guided me across the dance floor with practiced ease, his movements fluid and confident—so different from the uncertain Beta who had rejected me five years ago.

"You look beautiful tonight, Victoria," he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I kept my expression neutral, though Selene paced restlessly within me. "I'm surprised you noticed, given how busy you've been building alliances."

"Is that what this is about?" His grip tightened slightly. "The territory proposal?"

"This isn't about anything," I replied coolly. "We're merely fulfilling social obligations."

Ryan's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking beneath his skin. "Five years, and that's all you have to say to me?"

"What would you prefer?" I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as we turned. "That I thank you for the valuable life lesson? For teaching me that fated mates are just another Moon Goddess fairy tale?"

His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as his Alpha aura pulsed around us. "You have no idea what happened—"

"I was there, remember?" I cut him off, my nails digging slightly into his shoulder. "Front row seat to my own rejection."

The music ended, and I stepped back immediately, breaking contact. Around us, pack members pretended not to stare, but I could feel their curious gazes, sense their whispers.

"Victoria—" Ryan reached for my arm.

"Beta Sterling," I corrected him sharply. "That's my title, Alpha Matthews. I suggest you use it."

Something flashed in his eyes—pain, frustration, perhaps both. "We need to talk. Privately."

"We have nothing to discuss." I turned away, making my way toward the refreshment table where Marcus stood watching our exchange with undisguised interest.

"Everything okay?" Marcus asked, offering me a crystal glass filled with deep burgundy liquid.

"Perfectly fine," I lied, accepting the wolfsbane wine gratefully. The potent drink burned pleasantly down my throat, immediately dulling the ache in my chest where Selene continued to whine for her mate.

Marcus refilled my glass with a knowing smile. "Wolfsbane wine—strongest in the territory. It helps with... difficult encounters."

I took another long sip, grateful for the warmth spreading through my limbs. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone paying attention," he replied, his eyes kind. "And I've been paying attention to you all evening, Victoria Sterling."

Three glasses later, the grand hall had taken on a pleasant, hazy quality. The crystal chandeliers fractured the moonlight into thousands of dancing prisms, and the constant hum of pack politics seemed far away. Even Selene had quieted, lulled by the wolfsbane's potent effect.

"You should slow down," Marcus cautioned gently as I reached for a fourth glass. "Wolfsbane affects even the strongest wolves."

"I'm perfectly capable of knowing my limits," I insisted, though my words came out slightly softer than intended, my usual sharp edges blunted by the wine.

Across the room, I caught Ryan watching me, his expression unreadable. When our eyes met, he didn't look away. The intensity of his gaze sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

"Excuse me," I murmured to Marcus. "I need some air."

I made my way toward the terrace doors, my steps less precise than usual. The room tilted slightly, and I realized too late that the wolfsbane had affected me more than I'd anticipated. My foot caught on the hem of my gown, and I stumbled forward, bracing for impact—

Strong arms caught me before I could fall, the familiar scent of pine and midnight rain enveloping me. My body recognized him before my mind could protest, instinctively leaning into his embrace.

"I've got you," Ryan murmured against my hair, his arms steady around my waist as he guided me away from the curious onlookers. "Let's get you some air."

Selene surged forward at his touch, breaking through my weakened defenses with a joyful howl that echoed through my mind: *Mate*.

And in that moment, with the wolfsbane wine flowing through my veins and Ryan's arms around me, I couldn't remember why I was supposed to push him away.