The guards forced her to her knees on the cold marble floor, and the weight of hundreds of eyes pressed down on her like broken glass. Whispers swirled through the courtroom—cruel, judging, hungry. Seline kept her chin high, her silk dress hanging in ruins around her shoulders, her bare feet biting against the stone. Then she saw him.
Leo sat on his throne, golden hair catching the morning light like a halo. Her mate. Her Alpha. The man she had loved with everything she had, now looking at her with nothing but cold fury in his liquid gold eyes.
“Luna Seline,” his voice carried through the hall, rich and commanding, “you stand here today to be tried for the crime of murder. ”
The accusation hung in the air like poison. “You are accused of poisoning Bella, my consort, and our unborn child. My heir.
”
His voice cracked on the word heir. The only sign he felt anything at all. The whispers exploded into murmurs. Seline caught fragments—she was always jealous, couldn’t give him children herself, probably went mad with envy.
They all believed it. Her pack. Their allies. Worst of all, her mate.
“How do you plead, Luna? ”
Seline opened her mouth, tasting copper and tragedy on her tongue. Six months ago, Seline had traced the rim of her third cup of coffee, gone cold after two hours of waiting. The morning sun streamed through the dining room windows, casting long shadows across the untouched place setting across from her.
Her mate’s place. Empty. As always. She had specifically requested this meeting, emphasized its importance.
She’d prepared all of Leo’s favorite dishes herself, even worn a pink gown—a color she abhorred but which Leo found fetching. All for nothing. “My Luna? ” Sarah, her private secretary, approached with an armful of papers.
“The florist needs your final approval on the centerpieces for tonight’s diplomatic dinner. ”
“Has there been any word from the Alpha? ” Seline asked. Sarah hesitated.
“I’m afraid not, my Luna. ”
Of course not. But there was more bad news. Alpha Michael had sent his regrets—he wouldn’t be attending the dinner arranged specifically to address the growing tensions between their packs.
He was sending his younger brother instead. Seline closed her eyes briefly. “Where is my mate now, Sarah? And please, don’t spare my feelings.
”
Sarah shifted uncomfortably. “The Alpha was last seen heading to the east wing. Tending to Lady Bella. ”
Tending to Bella.
Of course. “If the mountain won’t come to Muhammad,” Seline said, rising from her chair with practiced grace. Bella’s voice carried through the heavy oak door of Leo’s office—light, breathy, girlish. Seline’s steps didn’t falter as her throat tightened.
She opened the door without knocking. It was her right as Luna. The scene before her struck like a physical blow. Bella perched on Leo’s desk, wearing nothing but a familiar blue shirt—the one Seline had tailored in London for Leo’s birthday last spring.
She was holding a strawberry to Leo’s lips, and he watched her with undisguised fondness. A look Seline hadn’t seen directed at her in years. “Alpha, we need to discuss tonight’s arrangements,” Seline said, forcing her voice steady. Leo’s jaw tightened.
“What about them? ”
“The matter requires privacy. ”
“Bella is very private,” he purred, his hand sliding possessively up the girl’s thigh. The bond between them thrummed with his want.
Not for her. Never for her anymore. “It’s about the panther alliance. Alpha Michael won’t be attending.
He’s sending his brother. ”
Leo’s expression shifted from disappointment to fury. “These arrogant cats. Sitting on resources both our packs need, and for what?
Their precious heritage? ”
“The panthers are declining in numbers,” Seline reminded him carefully. “Their caution is understandable. ”
“I suppose this is my fault too,” Leo growled.
“If I hadn’t trusted you to handle the negotiations like a fool—”
“I’ll focus on the emissary tonight. I’ve already adjusted the seating arrangements. ”
“No. ” Leo’s smile turned cruel.
“I think someone more neutral would be better. Someone young and charming. Bella will handle the emissary tonight. ”
The humiliation burned hot in Seline’s chest.
A mistress, barely eighteen and completely ignorant of pack politics, handling delicate diplomatic negotiations? It was unprecedented. Leo knew this. He wanted to hurt her.
Seline merely nodded and left his office, her head high, mind swirling with contingency plans. Bella leaned against the wall outside, still wearing nothing but Leo’s shirt. “That took forever,” the girl observed. Seline barely spared her a glance.
But as she began to walk away, Bella’s voice caught up with her. “Wait up, Seline. I think you and I need to talk. ”
Seline’s diplomatic smile froze on her face.
No one in the pack addressed her with such familiarity. It was a blatant challenge to the hierarchy, to everything their society stood for. “I’m afraid I have preparations to oversee,” Seline tried to excuse herself. But Bella wasn’t about to let her go.
“We barely spend any time together, and it makes me so sad. You and I are practically sisters after all. ”
Seline raised an eyebrow. “Sisters?
”
Bella blinked innocently. “Why, of course. Do we not share everything as only true sisters would? Our mate, our pack?
”
The sheer audacity stole Seline’s breath. “You cannot truly share a mate,” Seline said gently, extracting her hand. “A mating is formed between two people, not three. ”
Bella shook her head with earnest determination, lowering her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.
“I know it must be hard, being unable to give Leo an heir. The pressure must be terrible. ”
Seline swallowed a gasp. “You may be barren, but I’m not.
I will give Leo an heir, so you don’t have to worry, all right? ”
Pain bloomed in Seline’s chest. Was this calculated cruelty or the clumsy enthusiasm of youth? “Lady Bella,” Seline said carefully, summoning her patience, “should you bear Leo a child, it would be illegitimate and therefore not an heir to the pack.
Only the Luna can bear an heir, and there can only be one Luna. Which is me. ”
Tears welled instantly in Bella’s hazel eyes. “My baby would be just as special, just as loved as yours would be.
”
Seline gentled her tone further. “This isn’t about love. I’m quite certain the Alpha would cherish any of his children. But in terms of legitimacy and succession, only the Luna’s offspring can inherit his position.
”
Bella sniffled, dabbing at her eyes. For a moment, her vulnerability seemed so complete that Seline almost reached for her. Then Bella’s lips curved into a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “We’ll see about that.
”
That evening, the moment Seline’s hand touched the ornate double doors of the grand ballroom, her wolf’s instincts screamed danger. Something was wrong. Two hundred pairs of eyes snapped to her as the doors swung open. The grand ballroom had been transformed—crystal chandeliers, tables draped in cream silk, every detail she’d personally overseen.
But no one was admiring her careful planning. They were watching her. Waiting. The whispers started like autumn leaves skittering across marble.
Seline caught fragments as she passed—”losing his interest,” “probably barren anyway. ” Those cut like claws. Then her gaze found the head table, and the bottom dropped out of her stomach. On Leo’s left, in a place of honor, sat Bella.
The girl wore pink silk that clung to every curve, practically sitting in Leo’s lap and feeding him morsels from her plate with her fingers. He watched her with undisguised hunger. Mistresses were rarely invited to diplomatic functions, let alone seated beside the Alpha. This was unprecedented.
This was deliberate humiliation. Through it all, Leo hadn’t even bothered to stand in greeting, hadn’t so much as glanced in her direction. “They say the Luna of the Silver Wolf Pack is as beautiful as she is cold,” a voice cut through her thoughts. “I see they were right on both counts.
”
Seline turned, a diplomatic deflection ready on her lips, and found herself momentarily speechless. The man before her was devastating in his beauty. All lean grace and contained power, dark waves falling carelessly across his forehead. And his eyes—dear goddess—were the deep blue of twilight, crinkled at the corners with barely suppressed mischief.
“Cat got your tongue? ”
Seline found her composure. “Forgive me, sir, but since we’ve yet to be properly introduced, I’m not quite sure how cold I should be when putting you in your place. ”
His grin brightened as he executed a formal bow.
“Allow me to fix it then, my queen. I’m here on King Michael’s behalf, representing the panther pack. And please, feel free to always put me in my place in whatever way you see fit. ”
“You must be Jace Deo.
”
“How kind of you to make the trip in your Alpha’s stead. We are delighted to have you. ”
“Delighted when you were expecting Michael? ” He laughed.
“People are usually quite miffed at the switch. ”
Seline studied him, unable to read whether his playful tone masked mockery or genuine warmth. She moved to step away, suddenly remembering her predicament. Leo still hadn’t acknowledged her presence, and Bella’s tinkling laugh carried across the room.
In a split-second decision, Seline turned back to Jace. “Come to think of it, how would you like to get better acquainted now? ”
His eyebrow lifted. His gaze flicked briefly toward Leo before returning to her.
“Why, my queen, I’d be honored. ”
With a subtle gesture, Seline signaled for her chair to be moved beside his. The servants complied. Now Leo deigned to look at her.
Their eyes met briefly—his expression unreadable, distant—before he offered a perfunctory nod of greeting. All the while, his hand settled possessively on Bella’s thigh. Once everyone was served, Leo raised his glass. “Distinguished guests, we are honored tonight to host an esteemed member of the panther shifter pack.
”
“The honor is mine,” Jace replied smoothly. “And I’m particularly delighted that the Alpha has lent me his Luna for the evening. ”
Fresh whispers rippled through the crowd. Leo’s jaw clenched.
“As is our tradition, we’ll begin with this evening’s opening speech from the Alpha and closing address from the Luna. ”
But before Seline could rise, Leo turned to Bella with exaggerated gentility. “Darling, would you do us the honor? ”
The pain was swift and sharp, like a blade between her ribs.
Bella ducked her head in a parody of demure grace before beaming like a child given a special treat. “Welcome, everyone! We’re so happy to see you all here tonight to celebrate with us! ”
“Excuse me.
” Jace’s voice cut through the stunned silence, smooth as silk. “Shouldn’t the Luna of the pack give the speech? ”
The room erupted in murmurs. Seline sat caught between mortification and dread.
Leo rose slowly, keeping Bella’s hand firmly in his. “Before the speech, there’s an announcement I’d like to make. ”
Seline’s stomach plummeted. She let none of it show.
“As many of you know, Bella has become very dear to me. Tonight, I wish to officially recognize her as my consort. ”
The scent of shock rippled through the crowd—sharp, acrid. But beneath it lay something worse: anticipation.
The metallic taste of opportunity as pack members calculated what this meant for their own positions. “I’m so honored,” Bella gushed, managing to sound both innocent and victorious at once. “I promise to serve the pack with all my heart. ”
“I expect everyone to treat Bella with the respect her new position demands,” Leo added, his eyes sweeping the room before landing meaningfully on Seline.
She met his gaze evenly, though her wolf howled in protest. The position of consort hadn’t existed in their pack for generations—not since the Dark Ages when Alphas kept harems. To resurrect it now, for this slip of a girl. “Of course, Alpha,” Seline murmured, loud enough for those nearest to hear.
“Whatever pleases you. ”
“The new consort seems to be taking it well,” Jace observed beside her, his voice pitched low. “If you wish to pay your respects, don’t let me stop you. ”
“I said nothing about paying respects.
Merely observing an interesting political maneuver. Though I wonder if your Alpha realizes exactly what kind of precedent he’s setting. ”
Before Seline could respond, the music swelled and couples began to fill the dance floor. Bella was at the center of it all, her movements more suited to a nightclub than a diplomatic function.
“My Luna. ”
Leo’s voice washed over her like summer thunder. His scent hit her then—pine and raw power, now tainted with traces of Bella’s perfume and the sharp spice of his earlier arousal. “Would you honor me with a dance?
”
The invitation was a command. They both knew it. Just as they both knew every eye in the room was on them, hungry for any sign of discord. They moved together with the ease of long practice, though the space between them felt vast.
“The arrangements tonight are exquisite,” he said conversationally. “You didn’t have to exile yourself to Jace’s end of the table. ”
“This dinner is primarily for the panthers, if you recall. We would both do well to focus on improving that relationship tonight.
”
His fingers tightened slightly at her waist. “And what do you make of our feline friend? ”
“He’s difficult to read. Not as openly hostile as Michael, which is something at least.
”
“Jace isn’t the Alpha, is he? He probably knows better than his brother how he should behave. ”
Seline held back a grimace. “It has nothing to do with power.
I’m not exactly sure he knows how to behave. He seems to have trouble taking anything seriously. ”
Leo’s gaze met hers. “Did you find him attractive?
”
The question caught her off guard. “I haven’t noticed. ”
His laugh held no warmth. “The perfect Luna, as always.
Tell me, do you ever let that mask slip? ”
“Did you expect anything less? ”
His attention drifted to where Bella danced, her movements growing more provocative with each glass of champagne. His scent spiked with arousal.
“She’s so young,” he murmured, more to himself than to Seline. “So innocent. Completely oblivious of her effect on men, of the power she holds. ”
Seline thought of Bella’s calculated smile in the hallway earlier.
She held her tongue. As the music drew to a close, Leo’s lips brushed her forehead—a gesture that felt more like marking territory than affection. But just as he was about to walk off, he turned back to her. “You can be quite oblivious yourself, Seline.
Remember that. ”
His expression was unreadable. Then Bella’s laughter rang out again, and Leo was gone. Abandoned at the edge of the dance floor, Seline straightened her shoulders and turned to the task at hand: working the room, soothing ruffled feathers, ensuring tonight’s shock announcement didn’t destabilize the pack’s delicate political balance.
Hours passed in careful navigation of politics and pride. Seline’s feet ached in her heels, but she didn’t let it show. She was almost satisfied that she’d contained the worst of the political fallout when movement on the dance floor drew her attention. Leo and Bella danced—he plastered against her back, she with her head thrown back against his shoulder, lips parted, eyes half closed.
The scent of their mutual desire carried even across the crowded room. “My Luna. ” Sarah materialized at her elbow, ringing her hands. “There’s a situation that requires your attention.
”
“Not now, Sarah. I’m in the middle of damage control. ”
“My Luna, it’s about Lady Bella. The Alpha specifically requested—”
“Is she drunk again?
”
“No, my Luna. It’s… it’s—” Sarah flushed scarlet. But before she could finish, Seline noticed the trade minister’s eyes widen in shock, fixed on something behind her.
The scent of aggressive male desire hit her nose just as she turned. Two Alphas from neighboring packs had Bella corralled between them, their postures predatory. And Bella seemed oblivious to the danger, giggling as she swayed between them. Her bodyguard—a tall blonde man with a slightly crooked nose—stood nearby, but his dark eyes were glazed with barely contained need.
“You smell divine, little one,” one of the Alphas growled, leaning too close. The guard’s answering snarl carried more possessiveness than professional concern. That’s when Seline caught it. Beneath the champagne and perfume, an unmistakable sweetness that made her blood run cold.
The scent of impending heat. Already other wolves were noticing too. Nostrils flared, pupils dilated, postures shifted from casual to predatory. Whispers erupted like wildfire.
Elder wolves shepherded their younger packmates toward the exits, shooting disapproving glares. A heat in public was more than a faux pas. It was dangerous—risking territorial disputes, challenge fights, even blood feuds. How had Seline not noticed earlier?
More importantly, how had Bella not noticed the signs? The fever that built for days, the heightened emotions, the overwhelming scents. Every young wolf was thoroughly educated about their cycles precisely to prevent this. Unless Bella was too young and inexperienced to recognize them.
Unless this wasn’t her first. Seline moved without conscious thought, her authority radiating from every step. “Bella. There’s an urgent matter we must discuss.
”
She reached for the girl’s arm, but Bella jerked away. “I’m having fun! Everyone wants to dance with me! ”
Seline drew herself up to her full height, letting her power flow freely.
“The lady is coming with me. Now. ”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. Even the young unmated Alphas froze in place.
“Seline, why do you always have to be so—”
“I am your Luna, and you will come with me this instant, or I will have you carried. ”
One of the young males bristled, pushing closer. “We don’t take orders from—”
Seline’s laugh was cold as winter. “You don’t take orders from me?
In my territory? At my mate’s gathering? ”
Her wolf prowled just beneath her skin, and she let them see it in her eyes. One by one, the Alphas lowered their eyes, tilting their heads.
“My apologies, Luna. ”
Only Bella’s guard remained rigid, his protective stance growing more possessive by the second. “She’s my charge. I’ll escort her.
”
“You will step aside. Your judgment is compromised. ”
“I would never—”
“Your scent betrays you. ”
Two guards materialized at Seline’s command.
The bodyguard’s muscles bunched as if to resist, but Bella’s needy whimper at the display of dominance seemed to shock him back to awareness. “Restrain him,” Seline ordered discreetly. Then she wrapped an arm around Bella’s waist, supporting the girl who suddenly seemed unsteady on her feet. “You’ve ruined everything,” Bella complained as Seline guided her through the halls.
“Everyone was having such a wonderful time until you got jealous about Leo’s announcement. ”
“You’re in heat. If I’d left you there another minute, we’d have had a riot on our hands. ”
Bella froze mid-step.
“What? No, that’s impossible. I can’t be. You’re lying!
You did this somehow to embarrass me! ”
Seline suppressed the urge to shake sense into the girl. By the time they reached Bella’s chambers, she was burning with fever, her earlier belligerence melting into pitiful moans. “Since this is your first heat,” Seline explained gently, “and you’re unmated, it falls to your Alpha to decide who will help you through it.
”
“No one,” Bella gasped, grabbing Seline’s wrist with surprising strength. “No one but Leo. He’s the only one. He loves me above all others, he told me so.
”
The door crashed open before Seline could respond. Leo filled the doorway, his scent a storm of protective fury. “What happened? Why wasn’t she being watched?
”
The accusation in his voice was clear: this was somehow Seline’s fault. Bella whined, high and needy, and Leo’s entire demeanor changed. He was at her side in an instant, gathering her close, cooing soft reassurances. His protective gestures quickly turned hungry as Bella’s heat scent spiked.
She arched into him with a desperate sound, and Leo growled, deep and possessive. The wave of raw desire that crashed through their mate bond nearly brought Seline to her knees. She turned to flee. Protocol be damned.
The sight of her mate responding to another wolf’s heat was more than she could bear. “Seline. ”
Leo’s voice stopped her at the door. He was shielding Bella from view with his body, his eyes wild with barely contained need.
“No one comes near these chambers until further notice. No one. ”
She managed a nod before escaping into the hall, her mate’s arousal still burning through their bond like acid in her veins. The walk to her quarters passed in a blur.
Seline barely made it inside before her composure cracked, a sob catching in her throat. She pressed her forehead against the cool wood of the door, fingers splayed across its surface as she fought for control. A soft knock made her jerk upright. “My Luna?
” Sarah’s worried voice carried through the door. “The guests, my Luna. With both you and the Alpha absent, things are getting out of hand. Some are demanding explanations, others are making threats about broken protocols.
And the more aggressive ones—”
“Every person down there represents vital alliances, trade agreements, political connections,” Seline said, already moving toward her dressing room with renewed purpose. “We cannot afford to slight a single one. ”
She changed into a midnight blue silk gown—a calculated risk. The neckline dipped just low enough to draw attention, the fabric clinging to her in ways her usual conservative choices didn’t.
Her tactic worked. The ballroom hushed as she entered. Seline walked to the center of the room and lifted her champagne glass, waiting for the remaining murmurs to fade. “Distinguished guests, I want to thank you all for joining us on this momentous evening.
Our pack has always valued its alliances above all else. In times of change, it is these bonds between us that remain our greatest strength. ”
She paused, letting the weight of her next words settle like steel beneath silk. “And we do not forget those who stand with us, just as we do not forget those who might question our strength in moments of transition.
”
The threat landed precisely where she intended. Several of the more vocal critics shifted uncomfortably on their feet. “To our continued prosperity, and to the bright future we will build together! ”
The applause that followed was enthusiastic, if slightly nervous.
But as the clapping died down, Seline’s heart sank. Traditionally, the Alpha and Luna’s last dance marked the evening’s end. Obviously, her Alpha wasn’t here. Now she looked like a fool once more.
“I believe you’ll be needing a new partner. ”
Jace cut an impressive figure in his perfectly tailored black suit, his blue eyes gleaming with something that might be mischief as he extended one elegant hand toward her. “How fortunate that you’re available,” Seline replied carefully. His fingers closed around hers—long and elegant, yet marked with the subtle calluses of a warrior.
Her wolf stirred at the contact. His skin ran cooler than a wolf’s should be, a reminder that he was something else entirely. Something dangerous. Undeniably alluring.
“Shall we discuss the true reason why your brother couldn’t make it tonight? ” she murmured as he drew her into position. “I rather thought the exchange of resources we’ve been offering your pack would have been enough to entice him. ”
Jace let out a genuine laugh.
“And here I thought we’d be exchanging empty pleasantries. I see you don’t waste any time, my queen. ”
“I don’t know how much time you’ll be affording us. ”
“I’ll be here a while, I assure you.
Your pack has made quite an impression. ”
Around them, the crowd watched with barely concealed fascination as her partner executed a perfect dip. Seline heard a couple of gasps, acknowledging the controlled strength in the arms supporting her. “I must apologize for my mate’s absence.
”
“Will he be unavailable again soon? ”
His voice dropped lower, somehow. “I doubt that, given the situation he’s attending to. ”
Seline tensed at the implication, which Jace noticed immediately.
His scent enveloped her—soothing and apologetic. Different from a wolf’s scent. No forest or earth, but something darker. Sandalwood and midnight air, with an underlying note of danger that made her wolf sit up and take notice.
“Don’t misunderstand, my queen. I couldn’t care less what your Alpha gets up to. He’s not the one I find interesting here. ”
The words caught her off guard.
That devastating half smile playing at the corners of his mouth didn’t help. “Truth be told,” he added as the music began to fade, “I find your Alpha’s new consort even less interesting than he is. His infatuation with her truly is baffling. ”
He brought her hand to his lips, the kiss barely a whisper against her skin, yet feeling like a brand.
“For the leopard shifters,” he said, turning to address the crowd, “I must express our deepest appreciation to Luna Seline and her pack for this extraordinary evening. Your hospitality and grace are unmatched. ”
The applause that followed was thunderous. Later, as the first firework exploded overhead, painting the garden in gold, Seline found herself standing beside Jace on the terrace.
The night air carried the sweet scent of late-blooming jasmine. “You’re still here,” she observed. “Where else would I be? ”
“Is it true that leopards need their true mates to bear more leopard shifters?
”
“Quite. And my dear brother is adamant about maintaining the royal bloodline. His devotion to tradition truly is rather exhausting. ”
“What are the chances of your brother finding the one?
”
“Slim to none. Though we do have certain advantages in our search. ”
“Advantages? What do you mean?
”
As another firework bathed his face in blue light, Jace smiled. “Exactly what I said. ”
Seline held back a frown at this calculated disadvantage. “It must be difficult, waiting for someone you might never meet.
”
“Better that than to mate with someone unfaithful who shares another’s heat. ”
The words hit like a physical blow. Seline was sharply reminded of what Leo was doing now, who he was with. Finding nothing nice to reply, her mood soured, she aimed to leave.
But Jace caught her wrist. “If you felt venom in those words, it wasn’t aimed at you. Rather, it was for the fool who doesn’t know how to properly honor his mate. ”
Seline stilled.
“Our marriage was arranged. Neither the Alpha nor I had much of a say in it. And as a result, our union always lacked a certain… well, passion, I suppose.
”
“Well, well. ” Jace’s considering nod was almost comical. “Some men just don’t know how to please a woman. ”
The laugh burst out before she could stop it.
“It has nothing to do with that! ” she protested. “Oh, don’t try to deny it now. Since you’ve laughed, I know the truth.
” His grin was infectious. “Truth is important between friends, my queen. And we are going to be friends, aren’t we? You and I?
”
“If it pleases you, I suppose I could try. ”
Jace’s smirk turned downright catlike. “Lovely. How about we exchange truths right now?
You start. ”
“Why should I start? ”
“Because I’m shy, obviously. ”
“You’re never shy.
”
“I’m thinking… I was grateful you asked me to dance earlier. How’s that? And I wasn’t grateful because I was hoping to speak diplomacy.
Although I hope we do get to that. I was grateful because, as you must have guessed, with my mate being absent—”
Jace briefly grasped her fingers. When he let go, hers felt cold. “Your turn,” she said rather awkwardly.
“Share your truth. ”
“Well, in that case, my queen, I must confess I find fireworks rather tacky. ”
Seline’s eyes snapped back to his face. “That wasn’t much of a truth.
”
Jace’s laugh rang out bright across the garden, drawing curious glances. It was such a delighted sound that Seline found she didn’t mind as much as she should. For the first time all evening—if not in years—something felt real. She’d forgotten what that felt like.
She hoped she forgot it again soon. One could grow dangerously used to it. In the sky above, another explosion of light and color illuminated the night. And unknown to all, Bella had less than six months to live.
The morning sun lit up the castle gardens as Seline walked between the rose bushes. The air smelled sweet from the flowers, mixed with something more exciting—sandalwood and night air. She couldn’t help but smile, knowing exactly what that meant. “Fancy meeting you here, my queen.
”
Jace leaned against a marble column, looking as amazing as always. His dark blue eyes sparkled with trouble. “Indeed. What an unexpected surprise.
Almost as unexpected as yesterday morning, and the morning before that, and every morning for the past two months. ”
“Pure coincidence, I assure you. Though I can’t help but notice you keep showing up as well. ”
These meetings had become the best part of her day.
Something she avoided thinking about. “You seem lost in thought this morning,” Jace said, walking beside her. “Contemplating your many charms. ”
“Contemplating your many deflections, more like.
”
“Speaking of deflections, what will people say when they see their Luna smiling so much at a mere diplomatic envoy? The rumors are already quite creative. ”
Seline’s smile faded a little. The whispers had gotten bolder, everyone gossiping about what was going on between her and Jace.
Leo, surprisingly, didn’t seem aware. After emerging from Bella’s rooms, he’d thanked Seline for maintaining diplomatic relations. “How is your brother? ” she asked, changing the subject.
“Any improvement? ”
Jace’s face closed off a bit. The real reason Michael hadn’t come to that important dinner two months ago wasn’t political. He was sick.
“Michael is… he’s Michael,” Jace’s usual smooth voice broke a little. She could smell his worry. “Whatever support your pack needs, you shall have it,” Seline said softly, touching his arm.
“Surely not from your darling mate. That Alpha has been remarkably absent from our negotiations, though I suppose he has his hands full. ”
“You have my full support, as a friend. ”
“A friend?
” Jace’s smile turned playful. “And here I was hoping I’d earned a promotion to something more by now. ”
“Surely I can aim for the position of Best Friend by now? ” he added.
“What did you think I meant, my queen? ”
“You’re ridiculous. No wonder your brother sent you here. He must have needed a break from your endless jokes.
”
She regretted the words immediately when Jace’s smile dimmed. “Jace,” she touched his arm again, gentle but firm. “If you need to go home, the trade talks can wait. Family comes first.
”
For a moment, real emotion crossed his face—thankfulness and fear and something else she couldn’t quite name. But before she could ask more, she heard multiple heels clicking on stone. Her wolf bristled. “Selene!
” Bella’s voice rang out, dripping with fake surprise. “I didn’t expect to find anyone here. ”
Bella walked toward them with her usual group of ladies-in-waiting spread out behind her, not a hair out of place. “Well, where did you think we’d been, then, Alpha’s consort?
”
Something in Jace’s tone made Bella’s smile falter slightly. She recovered quickly. “Oh, the Alpha has been so appreciative of his Luna’s hard diplomatic work! Though I can’t help but wonder why these endeavors must take place here of all places.
”
“Isn’t this where lovers traditionally meet for their secret rendezvous? ” one of the ladies-in-waiting picked up her cue immediately. “Some might think that,” Bella added, her voice dripping with false sympathy. “But I know better.
Our Luna would never do something so desperate. Would you, dear sister? ”
Seline’s wolf surged forward at the familiar form of address, demanding she put this upstart pup in her place. But centuries of protocol held her back.
“My, my. ” Jace’s voice cut through the tension like silk over steel. “You seem remarkably well informed about lovers’ meeting spots. Personal experience?
”
The lady-in-waiting stammered, blushing. “Have we offended you? ” Bella turned to Jace, reaching for his arm. “Tell me about your pack.
I’ve never met a leopard shifter. Fascinating. ”
Something possessive coiled in Seline’s chest as Bella fluttered her lashes at him. “First lesson about leopards,” Jace’s voice dropped dangerously.
“We don’t appreciate strangers’ touch. ”
Bella jerked back, shocked at the rejection. “My Luna! ” the lady-in-waiting protested.
“Surely you won’t let him speak to her that way when she’s so precious to our Alpha? ”
“I’m not Jace’s Luna,” Seline cut in with steel, “nor do I control him. Strange, though, that the Alpha trusts you to escort someone so precious. ”
The lady-in-waiting paled, remembering her place.
“Hope you’re recovered from your indisposition,” Seline turned to Bella. “Heats can be draining. ”
The reference to her very public heat made Bella’s cheeks flood with color. For once, the girl seemed to have nothing to say.
“If you’ll excuse us, we have diplomatic matters to attend to. Good day, Alpha’s consort. Ladies. ”
Seline swept past them, Jace falling into step beside her.
His scent carried approval and something warmer she chose not to analyze. “I didn’t realize the rumors about us had gotten quite so pointed,” Jace said once they were safely out of earshot. “Though now we know their source. ”
Seline said nothing, her mind racing.
Bella’s performance had revealed more than mere jealousy. It showed confidence—the kind that came from knowing one’s position was secure. “I’ll speak to Leo about this,” Jace declared, his voice carrying an edge she rarely heard. “This behavior toward you is unacceptable.
”
“No. That would only make things worse. Leo would blame me for embarrassing his consort, paint our relationship as inappropriate. We can’t risk the diplomatic progress we’ve made.
”
Jace studied her face for a long moment before inclining his head. “As always, my queen proves wiser and more measured than I. ”
Seline managed a small smile. “She’s just a child acting out.
She cannot harm me. ”
As evening fell and Leo’s birthday celebration brought shocking news, she would remember that thought and wonder how wrong she’d been. The Grand Plaza Hotel stood tall against the dark sky, its lights glowing like gold stars against white marble and shiny windows. Seline waited at the entrance in her emerald green silk dress, the warm light pouring out from inside.
She smelled Leo before she saw him. Pine and power, with something else. He was angry. “We need to discuss your behavior this morning,” he said right away.
“My behavior? ”
“Bella was quite upset. She came to me in tears, speaking of your hostility. ”
“I was not hostile.
You just stood by while that leopard insulted her. ”
“I can hardly control Jace’s actions. ”
“Ah, yes, Jace. I’ve been hearing interesting rumors about you two.
”
“Rumors started by your consort, no doubt. ”
“Don’t be ridiculous. As if Jace would be interested in you. He’s young, full of life.
You’re—” he looked her up and down, making it clear what he thought. “If you have a point to make, Alpha, make it. ”
“My point is that I expect you to be nicer to Bella. I’ve told you before, she’s special.
I didn’t know you to be cruel. ”
“Cruel? The word tastes bad in my mouth. Don’t play dumb either, it doesn’t work for you.
”
As soon as they walked through the doors, Seline’s senses were overwhelmed. Crystal chandeliers hung everywhere, fountains flowed with champagne, tables packed with fancy foods. Everything looked way too flashy—exactly the kind of showing off Leo usually hated. But then the crowd parted like the Red Sea, and there was Bella in a dress that made Seline’s breath stop.
Liquid gold wrapped around every curve, cut so low in the back it was almost shocking. Around her, her friends fluttered like excited birds, whispering and giggling. “Do you like my dress? ” Bella threw herself into Leo’s arms with a happy squeal.
“Gorgeous,” he growled, so quiet only shifters could hear it. “I wanted to wear it while I still could,” Bella announced much louder. “Soon I might not fit such tight things. ”
Spotlight.
I prefer you and nothing at all. Seline forced herself to stand tall while everyone looked at her with pity. Some didn’t even try to hide what they were thinking. After all, what kind of Luna lets her mate act like this?
She caught movement across the room. Jace raised his champagne glass to her with a friendly wink. Something tight in her chest loosened just a little. “My people,” Leo’s voice carried easily through the crowd.
“Thank you for joining us tonight. And thank you to my beautiful consort for arranging such a spectacular celebration. ”
Seline’s brow furrowed. This level of ostentation would normally irritate him.
Instead, he seemed almost pleased. “Though I must confess,” he continued, “I’ve already received the greatest gift imaginable this year. ”
His smile grew predatory. Triumphant.
“I am to be a father. ”
The words hit Seline like a slap. She felt everyone turn to stare at her, waiting to see what she’d do. “Come, my love,” Leo extended his hand to Bella.
“Let everyone see you, the mother of my son. ”
The girl practically floated to his side, basking in the attention as Leo dropped to one knee before her. “My miracle. How did I get so lucky to find someone so pure, so perfect?
”
Each word stabbed into Seline’s heart. Memories flooded back—years of hoping so hard, followed by crushing sadness. The quiet pain of watching her cycle start each month. Of dealing with Leo getting more and more angry.
Of having no space to be sad herself between his disappointment and everyone judging her. “Seline. ” Leo’s voice cut through her thoughts. He was still kneeling before Bella, but his eyes locked onto hers with dangerous intensity.
“Aren’t you going to congratulate your sister? ”
The threat in his tone was clear. She knew what he expected. What they all expected.
The perfect Luna, gracious even in humiliation. “Congratulations,” she managed, the word tasting like ash. Bella practically glowed with triumph. “I’ll be counting on you to help look after her,” Leo added, his tone making it clear this was not a request.
“After all, what could be more important than the future of our pack? ”
Our pack, Seline thought to herself. Like she had any right to call it hers anymore. Like she ever did.
Seline escaped the party, though every step brought stares—curious, judging, mocking, and worst of all, pitying. None of it felt real. She’d spent years telling herself that if she couldn’t have a baby, it wasn’t the right time. When hope hurt too much, she’d buried those feelings deep.
But now those walls were breaking down, and the truth hit her. She’d never be a mother. She never got pregnant. And now her mate barely looked at her, let alone touched her.
What hope could she possibly have left? She didn’t realize she’d made it to the hotel’s roof garden until the cool night air hit her face. But the quiet didn’t last long. A familiar scent—sandalwood and night air—told her of Jace’s arrival.
“I can’t truly understand,” he said softly, “for it’s not like I could bear a child myself. But I do know what it’s like to worry you’ll never be a parent. ”
Seline turned to look at him, surprised. “Some pack members are allowed to mate outside our kind,” Jace explained.
“But as the Alpha’s brother, the spare heir, I’m expected to produce pure-blooded leopard children. ”
“Which means your King refuses to let you be with anyone but your fated mate. ”
Jace’s mouth became a straight line. “Precisely.
”
“Is it not what you want? ”
“I wouldn’t mind fathering a child who wasn’t pure leopard. I wish I had the autonomy to choose. But obligations…
”
“I have mine, just as you have yours, to serve this pack,” Seline whispered, “no matter what. ”
The words tasted bitter now. She resisted the urge to let her forehead rest on his broad shoulder. God knows she could use the support.
“Every month, I’d tell myself, maybe this time,” she whispered, holding back a shaky laugh. “I’d even convince myself I felt different, you know. That there were symptoms, signs. And I’d think, this time, surely this is it.
This is the moment I become a mother. ”
“Seline—”
“Eventually, I couldn’t bear it anymore. The hope, the crushing disappointment. Even lying with him became—” she shook her head.
“Not that I was ever particularly enthusiastic to begin with. ”
“You’ll be a mother someday,” Jace said with surprising conviction. “I’m certain of it. ”
“Perhaps.
Just like I hope your fated mate is closer than you think. ”
“I doubt that. ”
Jace’s expression turned thoughtful. “We leopards, we’re born with our soulmate’s name marked on our skin.
We call them soul marks. ”
Seline sat up straighter. “I’ve never heard of this. ”
“It isn’t something we advertise.
It comes a bit awkward, having somebody else’s name tattooed over your body when you’re, you know, naked with someone else. ”
Heat flooded Seline’s face as she pictured it. Jace’s body marked with mysterious writing, his soulmate’s name written somewhere private. Would it be on his chest, over his heart?
Or maybe across his hip? “There you are! ”
Bella’s voice shattered the moment. She appeared through the garden archway on Leo’s arm, her golden dress catching the light of paper lanterns.
The Alpha’s eyes immediately fixed on the scant space between Seline and Jace, his nostrils flaring slightly as he took in their proximity. Jace, rather than creating distance, shifted subtly closer to Seline. And smirked. “I was just telling Leo,” Bella continued, “how wonderful it will be, having Seline as an aunt to our baby.
”
Her smile brightened. “And of course, Jace can be uncle. We should all go out together sometime. A double date would be so fun, wouldn’t it, my love?
Since everyone knows about Seline and Jace anyway. ”
Leo’s growl cut through the night air. “My Luna knows exactly what I expect regarding her fidelity. ”
Bella’s confidence faltered.
“Fidelity? ” Jace drew the word out, his casual tone belied by the predatory grace with which he shifted his weight. “If you can have a consort, surely Seline is entitled to the same privileges you enjoy. ”
Seline’s heart stopped.
She tried to catch his eye, but Jace’s attention was fixed on Leo, his smile carrying all the deadly playfulness of a cat with a mouse. “Seline is my Luna,” Leo snarled, each word heavy with Alpha command. “Nobody else will touch her. ”
“Why would she even think of straying,” Jace’s voice turned silk-smooth, deadly, “when you’ve done nothing but flaunt a poor replacement in her face?
”
Seline grabbed Jace’s arm in warning, but it was too late. Leo’s fury exploded outward, his power pressing against their skin like a physical force. Waves of Alpha dominance rolled off him. “There is no replacement!
” he roared, his voice more wolf than human. “This changes nothing! She is my mate, my Luna! She belongs to me!
”
Jace’s own power rose, his smile feral, all teeth and predatory intent. The two males circled each other, neither willing to back down. Any moment now, someone would draw first blood. “Enough!
” Seline’s voice cracked like thunder. “I won’t stand here and watch this ridiculous display of male posturing! You would know through our bond if I’d taken a lover, Alpha, just as I’ve been acutely aware of your activities. As for you, Jace, I can speak for myself with my Alpha!
”
Bella burst into tears, reaching for Leo. “Alpha, please! ”
When he didn’t reply, she doubled over, clutching her stomach. “Something’s wrong.
The baby! ”
“How convenient,” Jace rolled his eyes, though wincing when Seline elbowed him in the stomach. All other concerns forgotten, Leo swept Bella into his arms. “Hold on, little one,” he murmured, already turning toward the stairs.
His gaze locked with Seline’s one final time—a clear warning. Seline watched him disappear, faint tremors running through her. Only once he was gone did she whirl on Jace. “What were you thinking?
Starting a war between our packs? Do you have any idea what you’ve done? ”
Jace’s smirk finally faltered. “I was thinking,” he said slowly, “that someone needed to show that idiot what he stands to lose.
”
“That wasn’t your right! ”
“No? ” His eyes flashed dangerously. “Then whose right is it?
His, to parade his pregnant mistress in front of you? To demand your fidelity while he—”
“Stop! Stop it! ”
Seline whirled away from him, storming down a path that led away from the party.
Music and laughter faded behind them as she pushed deeper into the hotel’s sprawling grounds. But his scent followed, wrapping around her like silk and shadows. “You shouldn’t have provoked him like that. ”
“Neither should you.
”
“I won’t stand by and watch him treat you this way. And neither should you. ”
Outside the hotel, she tried to push past him toward a secluded grove of weeping willows, but he caught her arm, spinning her back to face him. “Why aren’t you angry with him?
” he demanded. “Why am I the villain here when he’s the one who—”
“Because he’s the Alpha! ” The words tore from her throat. “I’m bound to him, to our pack.
Whatever I feel doesn’t matter. Don’t you see? For everyone’s sake, I have no choice but to make this work. ”
“And he does not?
” Jace snapped, stepping closer. Seline’s back hit a tree trunk. “Why does it all fall on you, Seline? Why aren’t his obligations to the pack as sacred as yours?
”
The question struck too close. “My queen,” he breathed, “you deserve so much better than this. ”
“Better than this? You assume to know what I deserve.
”
“Am I not your friend? ”
“I suppose you think you’re being a good friend right now? ”
“Yes,” Jace whispered, the word ghosting across her lips. He inched closer.
“Actually… ”
His hand slid into her hair as he pulled her against him. “No! ”
And then his mouth claimed hers.
Her wolf howled in triumph as his scent mingled with hers. The kiss was fire and starlight, need and desperation. Then she stepped away and slapped his face, hard. Seline stumbled through the hotel’s marble lobby, her composure fracturing with each step.
His taste still lingered on her lips like a brand. Even now, she could feel the phantom press of his hands, the way his fingers tangled in her hair, how perfectly she fit against him. As if she’d been holding her breath for years and finally, finally remembered how to breathe. The night doorman hailed a cab, and she practically threw herself into it, needing to escape before Jace followed, before she lost what little resolve she had left.
What have I done? Rain began to fall, droplets racing down the cab’s window like tears she refused to shed. She pressed her forehead against the cool glass, watching the city blur past. How could she have been so weak?
She’d sworn an oath of fidelity—not just to Leo, but to the pack. Their people depended on stability, on the strength of their leader’s bond. If that bond shattered completely, if neither of them upheld their vows, what example did that set? What chaos might follow?
The mansion loomed ahead, windows gleaming like judging eyes. Sarah waited at the entrance, concern etched across her features. “My Luna, is everything—”
“Not now. ”
Seline swept past her, past the cluster of staff hovering anxiously in the foyer.
Her bedroom door closed behind her with a final-sounding click. Only then did she allow herself to break. The first sob tore from her throat like something feral. How was she supposed to stay away from him?
Jace, with his knowing smirk and gentle heart, who made her laugh when she’d forgotten how, who looked at her and saw Seline, not just the Luna’s mask she wore. What did she have left without him? A mate who paraded his pregnant mistress before their entire society. A rival who played at being sister while delighting in her humiliation.
A pack whose loyalty shifted like sand, whispering behind their hands about their barren Luna. And all this, a life without children, without friendship, without Jace. “Enough,” she murmured. Seline forced herself to stand.
She wasn’t chosen as Luna for her ability to wallow in misery. The pack needed her strength now more than ever. Steam filled the bathroom as she stepped into the shower, washing away his scent, his touch, the memory of how alive Jace made her feel. When she stepped out, wrapped in thick terry cloth and Luna once more, the scent of leather from her bedroom made her freeze.
Leo sat in the shadows by her window, moonlight catching on the whiskey bottle dangling from his fingers. Loose tie, wild hair. A stranger in her private sanctuary. “Why are you here?
Shouldn’t you be with Bella? ”
“The baby’s fine. ” He took a long pull from the bottle. “Touching how much you suddenly care.
”
“You think me so cold as to be indifferent to the well-being of an unborn child and its mother? ”
“I don’t know anymore. ” His words slurred slightly. “Who even are you, Seline?
I used to know. But now… ”
His scent grew darker, more feral. “You said earlier that I’d feel it through our bond if you took a lover.
For one heartbeat—” hope flared within Seline. Did Leo finally understand what he’d put her through? But no. His eyes gleamed with accusation.
“You never felt quite so elated when I kissed you. Well played, Luna. I felt every moment of it, every sensation. You wanted me to feel it, didn’t you?
”
The realization of what he was implying made her stomach turn. He thought she’d kissed Jace to make him jealous. To get his attention. “Perhaps,” Seline said carefully, “Jace is simply a better kisser.
”
Leo’s growl held something darker than anger now. “Is that what you think? Have you forgotten what it feels like with your Alpha? You should have just said you missed me.
” His hand slid up her arm. “No need for games, my Luna. I’m here now. ”
The endearment made her skin crawl.
“Let me remind you what a real man can do. We could start right now, show that leopard what you really belong to. ”
“Shouldn’t you be with Bella? She needs rest after—”
“Shh.
” He pressed a finger to her lips. “Don’t talk about her. This is about us. About what you want.
”
“What I want? ” A laugh bubbled up in her throat. “You haven’t cared what I want in years. ”
“That’s not true.
” His hands framed her face. “I’ve always wanted you. You’re the one who turned cold. ”
The accusation would have devastated her once.
Now she just felt tired. When his mouth claimed hers, tasting of whiskey and misguided pride, she felt nothing. Just a bone-deep weariness and the clear understanding of what needed to be done. She kissed back just enough for Leo to be pliant when she guided him backward toward her bed.
Alcohol made him stumble, but he still managed a low, triumphant chuckle as he sprawled onto the mattress. “Show me,” he growled, attempting to pull her down with him. “Show your Alpha how much you want him. ”
“I think what the Alpha needs is sleep.
”
“Sleep can wait. Need to remind you who you belong to first. ”
Seline stilled his wandering hands with practiced ease. “Wait for me here.
Let me change into something more appropriate. ”
His growl of approval followed her to her dressing room. By the time she returned, fully clothed in silk pajamas, Leo was half asleep, mumbling about all the things he planned to do to her. Seline sighed, settling beside him.
Once, his possessive display might have thrilled her—proof that he still wanted her, still cared. Now she just found it ridiculous. “Would you rather it was Jace? ” Leo slurred, surprising her.
He’d rolled to press his face against her thigh, hands fisted in her silk pants. “I want him gone from my territory by morning. ”
Seline said nothing, though her wolf whimpered at the thought. “Did you hear me, Luna?
”
“As you command. ”
Leo stared at her for a long moment, as if making sure his victory was total. How fitting, she thought, that even now he took up space that should be hers, demanding comfort while giving none in return. “If he isn’t gone,” he murmured, eyes glassy, “I’ll have him killed.
Michael be damned. ”
“I know. ”
She rose to leave, but he pulled her back down, resting his head in her lap like a demanding child. Seline’s fingers combed through his hair mechanically as his breathing grew heavier.
She knew Jace would have to leave. Leo wouldn’t let this challenge to his authority stand. The thought made her chest ache. She closed her eyes, imagining darker waves sliding through her fingers, midnight blue eyes looking up at her with that dangerous sparkle.
But when she opened them again, it was just Leo, finally passed out in her lap. Seline slowly rose from the bed, away from Leo, unable to stand his touch a moment more. She sighed, gazing out her window. By tomorrow, everyone would know the Alpha had spent the night in the Luna’s suite.
By tomorrow, Jace would be gone. By tomorrow—
Wait. There was movement in the gardens. A silhouette dressed in white, moving through the foliage.
Sneaking. Seline’s wolf stirred, protective instincts rising. She should care. This could be an enemy, a spy.
But then the figure stepped into the moonlight, and Seline recognized her. It was Bella. Bella, who was supposed to be asleep in her room. Bella, who was looking around like she was expecting someone.
Bella, who unknown to Seline yet, only had a few months left to live. Seline narrowed her eyes. Bella moved with a grace too practiced to be accidental, her bare shoulders gleaming as she paused to glance over her shoulder. What is she up to?
Seline moved to the hidden servants’ passage behind her wardrobe, her pulse quickening with every quiet step. The cool stone walls of the tunnel pressed close around her as she descended, emerging near the rose garden. Bella’s scent—always sweetly cloying—was absent. Seline breathed deeper, catching faint traces of vanilla and something artificial beneath the void.
As if Bella had deliberately masked herself. Clever. But not clever enough. She followed the faint trail, her steps light and soundless, when movement above caught her eye.
A shadow darker than the night itself flowed across the mansion’s roof with liquid grace. Seline’s breath caught as she realized what she was seeing. A leopard. Massive and sleek, moving against the midnight sky.
The great cat paused at the roof’s edge, moonlight catching in its fur. Even from this distance, Seline could see how the silver light traced each powerful line of muscle, how it glinted off eyes that seemed to hold fragments of twilight. The leopard’s gaze found hers, unerring. She would know those eyes anywhere.
Jace. With fluid grace, the leopard launched itself from the roof, landing on a nearby oak branch without a sound, then descending the trunk in a controlled slide that spoke of years of practice. When its massive paws touched the ground, Seline found herself holding her breath. She’d seen other shifters in their animal form before, of course.
But this—this was different. Jace moved like living shadow, each step precise and deadly. His shoulders easily reached her waist, his sleek coat rippling with barely contained power. As he approached, she caught his scent.
Sandalwood and midnight air, unchanged even in this form. “Evening, my queen. ”
Seline startled as his voice echoed in her mind, rich with that familiar hint of amusement. “How are you doing this?
Telepathic bonds usually only work between packmates or mates. ”
The leopard’s whiskers twitched in what she swore was a smirk. “Leopards have always been better at mind-to-mind than wolves. One of our many talents.
”
“What a coincidence, running into you, my queen. ”
“Is it a coincidence? ” she asked softly. “No,” he admitted, his mental voice lacking its usual playful lilt.
“Not at all. ”
Seline never thought she’d find so much wrongness in the set of a great cat’s shoulders, in the way his ears flattened slightly. Wrong for its bitter sweetness, and wrong because it might be the last time she saw him at all. Even now, his presence made her heart skip.
“Why did you have to kiss me? ” The words escaped, heavy with regret. The leopard’s ears pricked forward. “That bad?
”
Seline snorted. “You know that’s not what I meant. ”
Emotions hung in the air between them—Seline wanting to confess that he made her feel herself again, that his presence had become the favorite part of her days. Instead, she said, resigned, “Leo wants you gone by morning.
”
The leopard went still, every line of his powerful body tensing. His tail lashed once, sharp and agitated. “He felt it,” she explained hurriedly. “Our kiss.
Through the bond. ”
“Felt what? ”
“Our kiss. ”
Jace said nothing for a long while.
He paced a tight circle, his movements fluid despite his obvious agitation. So close, and yet the furthest he’d ever been. The impossible weight of duty standing between them. “I’ll take comfort in you acknowledging it was our kiss, at least,” he said eventually, sounding resigned.
“You should leave tonight. It would be safer. ”
The leopard’s muscles bunched as if to move toward her, but she took a step back, though every fiber of her being screamed to do the opposite. “It doesn’t have to be like this,” his mental voice was rough with emotion.
“It does. You know it does. We cannot risk conflict arising between our packs over… passing.
”
“I assure you, there’s nothing passing about my feelings for you. ”
Seline lowered her gaze. “We must think of our people. This is not about us.
It’s never going to be about us. ”
“I don’t have to leave right away. You speak of our people, but haven’t we done good, working towards an alliance between our packs? ”
“An alliance which is close to crashing down before it was ever even set.
”
“You don’t know Leo like I do. He doesn’t have a bad heart, but he’s impulsive. If you offend his pride any further, he could very well declare war on your pack. Would you really subject your people to that?
”
The leopard’s tail lashed in agitation as the truth of her words sank in. “So we let the bully win? Is that what you suggest? ”
“Please,” her voice cracked slightly.
“Don’t make this more difficult than it already is. ”
The great cat’s muscles went rigid, but he briefly closed those twilight eyes, as if resolving himself to what Seline was asking of him. “One minute,” he murmured in her mind. “Give me one minute.
”
When she didn’t refuse, he moved closer. Though he didn’t touch her, he lifted his massive head to her neck, breathing her in as if committing her scent to memory. Seline’s eyes fluttered closed, fighting back tears as his presence surrounded her. Sandalwood and midnight air.
Everything she could never have. “Is this truly what you want? ”
“Yes,” she whispered, the lie tasting like ashes. The leopard straightened.
The loss of his warmth was immediate and devastating. “Very well,” he projected, inclining his noble head. “I will do as my queen commands. ”
As he turned to leave, she found her voice one last time.
“I hope you find your fated mate, Jace. ”
He stopped, his powerful form rigid in the moonlight. “Seline,” his mental voice caressed her name. “I wish it was your name I’d been marked with.
”
For a moment, she thought he might turn back. Instead, he melted into the shadows like mist, leaving nothing but the lingering scent of sandalwood and midnight air. As if he was never there at all. Seline stood frozen, each heartbeat an exercise in not running after him.
When she finally moved, it was to seek Bella’s trail again. Not because she particularly cared what the girl was doing anymore, but because she could not bear to return to her rooms where Leo slept. Not with the ghost of Jace’s almost-touch still burning on her skin. The garden gave way to the forest, shadows deepening around her.
The air shifted, carrying a tantalizing mix of musk, sweat, and something sharper. The unmistakable tang of—
Seline froze. Desire. Then she heard it.
A low, breathless gasp broke through the quiet, followed by a deep masculine chuckle. The sound sent a ripple of unease down her spine. Through a tangle of branches, she saw Bella pressed against the rough bark of an ancient oak, her white dress rucked high on her thighs. A man was with her, holding her up, his hands fisted in her golden curls.
Seline stiffened. This was Bella’s bodyguard. Ian. “Your precious Alpha may have money,” Ian taunted, “but does he make you feel as good as this?
”
“Shut up and hurry,” Bella whispered. “Before someone—”
Her words dissolved into appreciative sounds that made Seline’s cheeks burn. “Leave him,” Ian growled. “Be with me instead.
”
“And what? ” Bella laughed breathlessly. “Trade everything I’ve worked for for your penniless ass? ”
“You’re just his mistress,” Ian groaned, sounding closer to the edge.
“Not even his Luna. ”
The wet slap of flesh against flesh made Seline’s stomach churn. Bella’s sharp, pleading cries followed her like a curse as she forced herself to move slowly, carefully. Then Bella’s voice cut through the haze like a blade.
“For now,” Bella laughed, soft and cruel. “But that won’t last. Just wait and see. I’ll be Luna soon enough.
”
The words hit Seline with the force of a physical blow. What does she mean? Her nails bit into her palms as she stepped back. A twig snapped beneath her foot, shattering the stillness.
The sharp crack reverberated through the quiet night like a gunshot. Seline froze, her breath caught in her throat, heart pounding so loudly she feared it might betray her. For a moment, there was nothing. Just the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of Bella and Ian’s voices.
They hadn’t heard. Not yet. Move, her wolf urged. Seline took a cautious step back, testing the ground for noise.
Nothing. Another step. Her body was taut with tension as she slid silently into the cover of the underbrush, her movements careful and deliberate. Her heart raced as she weaved through the forest, the damp earth soft beneath her feet.
But then something changed. The air grew heavier. The forest unnaturally still. She stopped, her instincts screaming.
The hair on her arms rose as her wolf growled low in her mind—a warning. She turned slowly, pulse spiking. The shadows around her seemed thicker now, shifting, closing in. Then she heard it.
A soft, deliberate crunch of leaves behind her. A low snarl rumbled close enough to send a chill down her spine. She pushed harder, her legs burning as she sprinted through the trees, dodging branches that clawed at her hair and dress. Then strong arms encircled her from behind, her body slamming to a halt, trapped in an unyielding grip.
A hand clamped over her mouth, rough and calloused, stifling the scream that rose in her throat. “Well, well. What do we have here? ”
“Unhand me!
” Seline’s voice carried her full Authority as Luna, even muffled by his palm. Ian’s laugh held no warmth. “So you can run straight to the Alpha with what you’ve seen? I think not.
”
Bella emerged from the shadows, her dress askew, lips swollen. Something calculating gleamed in her eyes as she took in the scene. “My, my. I didn’t think you were such a voyeur, Seline.
Though I suppose with no one to entertain you these days—”
“Actually,” Seline’s calm cut through Bella’s mockery, “your Alpha is currently passed out in my bed. ”
The color drained from Bella’s face. “You wouldn’t dare tell him! ”
“Or I’ll tell him you hired Ian to assault me,” Bella’s words burst out, triumph blazing in her eyes.
“To terrorize his precious consort. ”
“As if anyone would believe—”
“I’d crack under torture,” Ian interrupted, his voice low and dangerous. “Tell them exactly how you approached me, offered me money to sully the Alpha’s consort. ”
Ice flooded Seline’s veins.
Ian wasn’t just threatening. He meant every word. “I may be desperate for coin,” he continued, “but what’s your excuse, Luna? Paying to harm an innocent woman?
How despicable. ”
“You’d really do this? ” she asked quietly. “Even knowing she’s carrying another man’s child?
”
His grip tightened painfully. “I’d do anything for Bella. And our child. ”
Horror crashed through Seline as she met Bella’s gaze, finding only smug satisfaction there.
“See you at breakfast tomorrow, sister. ” Bella stepped close, patting Seline’s cheek with mock affection. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And stay away from Leo.
I don’t like sharing my things. ”
Ian released Seline with a rough shove, already moving to Bella’s side like a loyal guard dog. They disappeared into the shadows together, leaving Seline alone with the weight of what she’d discovered. Though that weight was soon to come crashing down.
And Bella would lose her life in the process. Four months passed like honey dripping from a spoon—slow, sticky, and impossible to rush. The seasons turned, leaves falling golden from the trees. Seline still woke each morning with the ghost of sandalwood and midnight air lingering in her dreams.
Today, the gardens had been transformed into a pastel wonderland for Bella’s baby shower. Gauzy fabric draped between towering flower arrangements, crystal chandeliers hanging impossibly from tree branches. Tables groaned under the weight of elaborate cakes and delicate pastries, each crafted to match the pink and cream color scheme Bella had specified. Seline surveyed the gathering, noting the smaller-than-expected turnout.
Bella’s mood had grown increasingly sharp as each hour brought new excuses from invited pack members. Even now, her smile held an edge as she turned to Seline with eyes wide with practiced innocence. “This is too much, Seline. You should have told Leo not to spoil me so.
”
Behind her, Ian loomed like a storm cloud, his scowl deepening with each simpered word. Seline doubted he enjoyed watching Bella play happy family with Leo any more than she enjoyed arranging it. “Perhaps Luna Seline likes to live vicariously through you, my lady,” Fiona’s voice carried deliberately across the garden. “After all, she’s never going to have a baby shower held in her honor, will she?
”
Bella’s face crumpled into an expression of exquisite concern. “Well, if you think doing this for me helps her feel better, then I guess I shouldn’t worry about how much of our charity budget went into this instead of to the orphanages. ”
“No budget was cut, Lady Bella, I assure you,” Seline sipped her tea, letting the scalding liquid burn away her retort. “Please enjoy your party free of guilt.
”
Bella’s answering smile was all edges, sharp enough to draw blood. Her supposed concern for orphaned children rang as hollow as everything else about her. Seline scanned the crowd for Leo, unsurprised by his absence. She’d barely seen him these past three months, though the ache of his neglect paled in comparison to the constant hollow beneath her ribs where Jace’s laughter used to live.
“The baby will give hope and joy to our pack,” she reminded herself, watching Bella pat her swollen belly. Even if its parentage was not what everyone believed. Sarah approached through the crowd, her expression grave as she handed Seline a thick envelope. “For you, my Luna.
To open in private. ”
Seline frowned. If this was private, why bring it here in the public eye? Sarah knew better.
The matter must truly be urgent. She glimpsed down at the letter, fingers tracing the leopard pack’s seal. Red wax, perfect and unbroken. Seline’s heart stuttered.
“I will be just a moment. ”
She excused herself, finding a quiet corner beneath a weeping willow. The expensive paper felt heavy, formal, and final in her hands. This is a death notice.
She had seen enough of them in her role as Luna. The formal seal. The careful calligraphy of her name. This is how they announced death.
But why would they notify her, unless—
Her throat closed around the thought. “Just do it,” she commanded herself. But her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. She broke the seal with unsteady fingers.
“We regret to inform you,” the first line read. The words blurred before her eyes. She couldn’t read further, couldn’t bear to see the name that would shatter her world. The thought of a most precious face forever still, of twilight eyes closed, that quick silver smile silenced—it stole her breath.
“My Luna? ” Sarah’s voice broke through her spiral. “The Alpha hasn’t been informed yet. ”
Seline didn’t reply, her mind swirling with thoughts of him.
Jace. They hadn’t spoken since that moonlit night when she’d sent him away. But she’d sustained herself imagining him happy, throwing that devastating smirk at his older brother. Maybe even finding his fated mate.
“My Luna, perhaps you should warn him. About Alpha Michael’s death. Your mate will be expected to comment. ”
Michael.
The name didn’t register at first. But then—
Oh. Seline frantically scanned the rest of the letter. Indeed, it announced the passing of the leopard pack’s Alpha, after his long illness.
Relief made her dizzy. Jace must be devastated. “Alpha Michael had no heirs,” Sarah pointed out carefully. “Which means his younger brother will inherit the title.
Given his strained relationship with Alpha Leo—”
“Yes. Yes, I’ll speak to him. ”
Seline steadied herself against the willow’s trunk. Her heart raced with a complicated mix of relief and grief.
Not for Michael, if she was honest, but for the pain Jace must be feeling. Jace. No, Alpha Jace now. How was he handling this?
Losing a brother and inheriting a pack worth of troubles in one breath? She should write to him, let him know her heart was with him in this difficult time. Her footsteps echoed in the empty corridor as she headed toward Leo’s office. Voices drifted through Leo’s partially open door.
He wasn’t alone. She recognized Kendrick’s measured tones. “Does Luna Seline know about this? ” the Beta asked.
Leo’s answering growl carried clear warning. “I’d like the matter clarified before I tell her. ”
Seline paused, frowning. Something in their tone made her wolf’s ears prick forward.
“As it stands, Alpha,” Kendrick continued carefully, “I’ve never heard of mating being broken without the second party’s approval. ”
“You mean there’s no way around getting Seline on board? ”
Broken bonds. Surely they weren’t talking about—
“Seline would have to accept your rejection and reject you back.
”
“I will speak to her. It’s probably best I let her know about this first, before telling Bella. ”
“You don’t think Lady Bella will want to replace Seline as Luna? ”
Leo’s snort carried through the door.
“Bella will do what I think is best. I’m not worried about her. But making Seline understand this is what the pack needs, that it’s necessary to make my child an official heir—”
“You really think she has no idea? That she doesn’t suspect?
Seline has eyes and ears all over this place. ”
Leo’s voice rose. “If she doesn’t know of my intentions already, she will soon. Then the sooner you speak with her and secure her approval, the better.
”
Footsteps approached the door. They were coming. They’d see her. Seline fled, knowing her scent would betray her presence anyway but needing these precious moments to process.
Her mind whirled. Pack stability. The alliances she’d cultivated. The thought of Bella wielding a Luna’s power.
But her heart—her heart swelled at the idea of freedom. Freedom meant being able to see Jace again. There was nothing to stop the elation from growing in her chest at the thought. But such elation was not meant to last.
When Seline returned to the gardens, its tranquility had shifted into a sea of chaos. A small crowd had formed around what used to be the centerpiece of the celebration—Bella’s seat. “And then it was you! ” someone screamed.
Seline recognized Fiona’s voice, crazed and wild. The crowd spread apart as Seline approached, wide stares falling onto her, freezing her in place. That’s when she smelled it. The unmistakable, cloying scent of death.
Someone had died. Bella lay at the center of the crowd, her head on Ian’s lap, face pale and still. In her hand was the silver cup chosen carefully by Seline, glinting accusingly in the afternoon sun. “It was you!
” Fiona screamed again, pointing right at Seline. “She touched that cup and collapsed! You killed her! ”
Seline’s mind finally registered the truth as the fleeting glances of the surrounding crowd found her.
Nobody planned to defend her. Not the guests, not the staff, not her friends or Bella’s. And certainly not her mate, whose thundering roar suddenly cracked through the air like a whip. Leo gathered Bella’s lifeless form in his arms, her golden head lying against his chest.
“No one leaves,” he commanded, his voice raw. “Guards, bring the Luna. The rest stay here until questioned. ”
In the healer’s chamber, the head healer barely needed a moment.
One glance at the blackened corner of Bella’s lips told the story. “Poison. I’ll need a few hours to determine which one. ”
Leo dismissed everyone but Seline.
His pacing was like a caged animal, grief and fury rolling off him in waves. “I’m sorry for your loss,” Seline offered quietly. Because she was, at that. Leo whirled on her, eyes crazed.
“Did you do it? ”
“Did I—” Seline frowned. Was he joking? “Did you?
” he barked, thunderous. “How can you even ask me that? Why would I even do something like that? ”
“Because you knew.
” Leo’s laugh held no warmth. “You knew about my plans to reject our bond, didn’t you? ”
“I knew about them,” Seline kept her voice steady, “but I wouldn’t kill Bella over it. Or anyone.
”
“Of course not. After all, the cold-headed Seline is always above it all, isn’t she? How could I even think you’d care about our broken bond? ”
Her fingers curled into fists.
“Why is it that I can do nothing right with you? I accept your decision, I’m cold and unloving. I don’t accept it, I’m a murderer. Well, which is it then?
”
He looked like he wanted to retort, without a clear idea as to what. “All I’ve ever done is be loyal to you, to this pack. I’ve stood by you, supported you, I was the perfect Luna—”
“And what if I wanted a mate instead? ” The words exploded from him, years of resentment behind them.
“Someone warm, someone loving, instead of a cold, calculating woman who undermines me at every turn? ”
He turned to Bella’s lifeless form, his face crumbling. “She was loving,” he murmured, caressing her cheek. “The way she looked at me.
The things she’d say to me. ”
Understanding crashed through Seline like ice water. All these years, all this time, she’d worked to help him achieve his goals. She’d been wounding his pride.
Her quiet competence had made him feel unnecessary. By standing beside him instead of behind him, she’d threatened the very thing he needed most—to feel powerful, needed, in control. What a fool I’ve been. All she’d needed was to smile prettily, to pretend his every decision was brilliant beyond her comprehension.
To rule while pretending she didn’t. To help while feigning helplessness. To speak truth only in the form of praise. “I was going to reject the bond for just a year,” Leo continued, running a hand through his hair.
“Just long enough to legitimize the baby. Then I’d have taken you back. ” His eyes met hers, almost pleading. “I know you’re the better Luna.
I also know you’d do anything for this pack. And that includes murder. ”
The word tasted like ash in Seline’s mouth. “The murder of a woman and her unborn child?
You really think me capable of this? ”
How could a decade of dedication earn her nothing but suspicion? “If not you, then who? Who would dare attempt something like this on my territory?
Who could even begin to succeed in harming my consort under my watch? Who, but you? ”
Seline’s mouth snapped shut. It was all becoming clear now.
This wasn’t about her at all. Like everything else, this was about Leo’s ego. He needed the formidable Luna Seline to be the culprit because the alternative—that his consort was murdered under his protection—made him look weak. Better to believe his brilliant, cunning mate orchestrated this than admit he failed to protect what was his.
“We don’t even know what killed her yet. There’s no proof—”
“Your cold truly knows no bounds, does it? ” He cut in. “She’s barely cold, and already you’re strategizing.
”
“My level-headedness doesn’t make me a killer, Leo. ”
Something in her voice must have reached him, because his shoulders slumped. “You’re right,” he whispered, suddenly looking old. “It’s just—she was so young.
And the baby. ”
“I am sorry,” Seline said softly, meaning it. For a moment, understanding passed between them—a glimpse of the partnership they might have had if pride and duty hadn’t twisted them both. The door burst open.
“Alpha! ” A guard’s voice shattered the moment, his face ashen, hand trembling as he held out a delicate crystal vial. “We found this hidden beneath the Luna’s floorboards. ”
From across the room, Seline caught the acrid scent of nightshade.
The healers confirmed it was the same poison that killed Lady Bella. And there was more. A leather-bound journal. Its pages marked with precise notations about toxins and their effects.
“This was in the Luna’s room too. ”
“No,” Seline whispered, shaking her head. “I’ve never seen this before in my life. Leo, you have to believe me.
”
But Leo’s eyes had already turned to molten gold, his wolf rising with murderous intent. “Seize her,” he ordered, his voice brimming with anger and something dangerously resembling triumph.
