"That's fine. We'll deal with it when we have to," he said.

"You're so nonchalant and casual about who my dad is."

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not too worried about a Beta. Your Alpha though...."

"Conrad. He can be intense."

I walked away from Aiden towards a large, flat rock that jutted out into the lake. I sat on it while dangling my feet over.

Aiden climbed up beside me, laying down while staring up at the moon. "Isn't it crazy how the Goddess creates such chaos for us sometimes?"

I sighed and looked down at him. His bright green eyes stared up towards the skies. "I thought it weird that I hadn't found my mate yet in Dark Moon. I thought maybe the Crimson Moon Tribe or the Night Fall Runners. I mean hell, even the Moon Shadow pack. Never in a million years would I have thought Silver Moon. Especially not you."

"It makes sense why I haven't been able to find my mate either. We never looked at the Dark Moon pack," Aiden said.

"What do we do?"

"There isn't much we can do. We can do the proper thing and have a marking ceremony. You become my Luna."

"Luna," I said breathlessly. "I'm not what a Luna should be, Aiden."

"What? Why would you think that?"

"I don't know."

"Tell me."

"I've just always been told that I'm weird and not worth much."

"Whoever told you that is stupid." He shook his head in disbelief.

"I don't know. I guess."

"Would it make you feel better if I rejected you? Break our bond before it's made."

I was surprised by how much that hurt. My heart ached at hearing him say that.

"Is that what you want?" I questioned.

Aiden pushed himself up so he was resting on an elbow and staring at me. His piercing blue eyes stared right into my soul. "Never." He reached over to me with a hand and ran his hand through my hair. "I've been waiting for so long for you."

He gently cupped my face in his hands, his touch sending shivers through my entire body. The atmosphere seemed to thicken, as if time slowed down to allow us to savor the impending moment. His thumb traced the contour of my check, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake.

My breath caught, as my heart echoed the rhythm of the moonlit night. Aiden's gaze lingered on my lips, and in that shared silence we had, the world around us faded into the background. The anticipation hung heavy, an invisible thread connecting our very souls.

Finally, he closed the distance between us. Our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss. It was a dance of desire and want. An animalistic need and craving.

My eyes fluttered closed as the world dissolved around us. The sensation of Aiden's lips against mine felt like the most real thing I'd ever had.

As our kiss deepened, I felt a rush of emotions swirl within me, overwhelming yet exhilarating. Aiden's touch ignited a fire within my body, consuming any lingering doubts. In that moment, there were only the two of us.

His lips moved against mine with a gentle urgency, each brush sending waves of electricity coursing through my veins. The world melted away, leaving only the sensation of his embrace and the sweet taste of his kiss.

"We'll figure this out, Elara. I don't care what it takes," Aiden murmured against my lips, his voice filled with determination.

But even as he spoke, the weight of our predicament bore down on me like a heavy burden. "Aiden, our packs are at war. There is no way that Alpha Conrad is going to just let his Beta's daughter go to Silver Moon."

"He can't stop you. He doesn't get to stop a mated bond," Aiden insisted, his words laced with conviction.

I took a deep breath and looked down at the ground, uncertainty gnawing at my insides. The prospect of defying my father and Alpha Conrad filled me with dread, yet the pull of our bond was undeniable.

"I just don't know if I can do it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

But as I glanced up into Aiden's eyes, I saw a flicker of determination reflected back at me—a reminder that our love was worth fighting for, no matter the obstacles that stood in our way.

"We'll face this together, Elara. I promise," he vowed, his voice a soothing balm against my doubts.

I nodded my head, knowing that we were about to face a major uphill battle.

"I'll talk to my father when I get home."

Aiden shook his head. "No. When I get back I'll have my assistant organize a meeting between Conrad and I. I'll come to your pack tomorrow."

I nodded my head. "Okay."

Aiden's eyes softened with affection, his gaze locking with mine in a silent vow of solidarity. "We're stronger together, Elara. I'll do everything in my power to protect you and our bond."

"I have to get home before anyone realizes I'm gone."

"I'll see you tomorrow."

I stood on tip-toe and kissed his cheek softly before rushing back through the woods.

When I finally reached the edge of our territory, I paused, steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation with my father and Alpha Conrad. The weight of my decision hung heavy on my shoulders, but I knew I couldn't turn back now. Our love was worth fighting for, no matter the cost.

The sun was just starting to come up over the horizon. I hurried across the yard and up the back steps, pausing at the back door. Peering into the back door, I looked for any sign of anyone but everything was still.

Creeping through the kitchen, I made my way up the stairs and into my room. Sitting on my bed, my heart raced. The entire world felt like it was a swirling mess and I didn't know which way was up.

"You're up early."

I turned to see my mom standing in my doorway. I nodded my head quickly.

"You okay?" she asked.

"Um, yeah. I'm fine."

"Okay. Well, breakfast will be ready in just a bit."

"Sounds good, Mom."

My entire body was shaking.

When is Aiden making the call? Will I still be here tonight?

I got up and went into my bathroom, climbing into the shower. Standing there as the water flowed over my body, the smell of bacon and eggs drifted into the room. My stomach growled as I washed my hair and cleaned the mud off my legs from being in the forest.

Thank Goddess Mom didn't see that.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered the sound of my mother's voice calling me down for breakfast. With a quick nod, I assured her that I was fine, masking the turmoil that churned within me beneath a facade of calm.

But as I sat at the kitchen table, picking at my breakfast, the weight of our uncertain future pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket.

"What is your malfunction?" Morgan snapped at me.

"What?"

"What. Is. Your. Malfunction?"

"Morgan, stop," Dad said.

"I will when she snaps out of whatever her problem is. Weirdo."

"Morgan, enough."

"Whatever. I've lost my appetite anyway." She pushed her plate away and stood from the table.

I just stared down at my eggs, pushing them around as she left the dining room, grabbed her purse, and left the house.

"Well, what is wrong?" Dad asked.

"Nothing. I'm fine."

"Elara, I know when something's wrong so don't lie to me."

"I...well, what I mean to say is..."

I was interrupted by a frantic knocking at the front door. Turning to look at it, I watched Harry open it while walking past.

"Yes?" he asked.

I heard a soft and hurried whisper from the other side. I couldn't make out who it was, but the other person was definitely a man. Harry glanced back at me before taking a piece of paper.

"Thanks."

He shut the door and came over to where we sat, staring at me as he handed the piece of paper to our father.

My stomach churned as Dad read the paper before getting up.

"Elara. You might want to put something nicer on."

"Why?" I asked hesitantly.

"We've been summoned to Alpha Conrads."

"Both of you?" Mom asked. "Why would Alpha Conrad need to see Elara?"

"I don't know. He didn't say in the note. Did the messenger say anything, Harry?"

He just shook his head.

"I'm going to go change." I stood and made my way back upstairs afraid the jelly that replaced my legs would give out at any moment and I would fall on my face."

Standing in front of my closet I just stared at the clothes. I'd only met Alpha Conrad a handful of times, but he wasn't who I wanted to dress up for. Aiden would be there.

"What is this all about?" Harry asked from behind me.

"I don't know."

"Don't lie, Elara. I know when you're hiding something."

"No. I'm not."

"Then why is Alpha Conrad asking to see you?"

I shrugged my shoulders at Harry.

"You went into the woods last night."

I didn't look at him. Instead, I pulled out a black pencil skirt and a green shirt. Green usually looked nice with my red hair.

"You can't avoid the question forever."

"I can for now," I mumbled, pushing him out of my room. "I have to change."

Harry pushed his reddish brown hair out of his amber eyes and sighed heavily.

With trembling hands, I smoothed out my clothes and tried to compose myself before heading back downstairs to join my family. But as I descended the stairs, the atmosphere in the house was tense, the weight of the impending meeting with Alpha Conrad hanging heavy in the air.

Dad stood by the front door, his expression unreadable as he clutched the paper in his hand. Mom hovered nearby, her brow furrowed with concern. Harry watched me with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity, his eyes silently questioning what was to come.

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the rising tide of anxiety that threatened to overwhelm me. My only hope was that Aiden would already be there and I wouldn't have to face everyone alone.

Thank Goddess Morgan wasn't here for any of this.

"Are you ready?" Dad asked.

"No, but do I have a choice?"

"Not really."

Mom kissed my cheek as we left. The ride to Alpha Conrad's estate was silent. My heart dropped a bit when I saw there were no other cars in the driveway, which meant he called us earlier than Aiden said he would be here.

A sense of unease settled over me like a heavy cloak. As we were ushered inside, the imposing figure of Alpha Conrad loomed before us, his expression inscrutable as he regarded us with a piercing gaze.

"Beta Alexander, Elara," he greeted, his voice cold and formal. "Thank you for coming on such short notice."

Dad nodded respectfully, but I couldn't tear my gaze away from his steely eyes. Something about the way he looked at me sent a shiver down my spine, filling me with a sense of foreboding.

"What did you need to see us about, Alpha Conrad?" Dad asked, his voice steady despite the tension-filled air.

Alpha Conrad's lips curved into a chilling smile, sending a shiver down my spine. "I believe you know exactly why I've summoned you here," he tore his gaze off my father and stared at me. "I think it's time we had a little chat about your daughter's recent activities and why Alpha Aiden is on his way here to discuss her."

My heart skipped a beat as dread washed over me, the weight of Alpha Conrad's words sinking in like a lead weight in my chest. Dad looked at me with confusion and I felt like I was about to pass out.

"What is Alpha talking about?" Dad glared at me.

I was about to speak but Alpha Conrad cut me off. "I got a call this morning, ridiculously early, from Alpha Aiden's assistant wanting to set up a meeting for this afternoon regarding your daughter. At first, I thought he meant Morgan, which made sense. She's older. She's far more attractive. She's a lot more social and outgoing. But then he said Elara."

Rude. I thought to myself. Sure I wasn't the tall, svelte blonde Morgan was, but I wasn't the ugliest wolf in the pack.

Alpha Conrad's hair was a dark, lustrous mane that fell in waves around his face, framing his strong jawline and adding to his air of power and authority. Every movement he made was deliberate and calculated, as if he were always one step ahead of everyone else in the room. This time was no different.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Dad asked. "Why would the Alpha of Silver Moon be asking about Elara?"

"He thinks Elara is his mate."