Celebrations at the Cowrie Cabana always drew quite a crowd, but the Blue Moon Ball was something special. Howling laughter echoed down the hallways as werewolves from dozens of packs mingled with each other. Despite gathering clouds and the distant rumble of thunder, vendors selling everything from moonstone charms meant to earn the wearer the Goddess's favor to freshly grilled meat skewers glistening with fat filled the courtyards.

On any other day, Brooke would have partied alongside them until singing stole her voice and dancing covered her feet in happily earned blisters. Today, she ached for it all to be over, yet she also wished the night wouldn't end.

Her family didn't get it. Her mom had offered to give her the day off so she could slip into the sea, and her dad had promised to cover for her if any of the guests asked where she'd gone. But she didn't want to escape beneath the waves. All she wanted was to help Jasper enjoy what little time they had left together as best she could.

Brooke carried a platter of miniature beef wellingtons into the ballroom. A dozen other selkies wove through the crowd offering everything from spoons filled with ceviche to a variety of cocktails that filled the air with the sweet scents of mango and papaya. No one glanced Brooke's way for longer than it took to pluck a meat-filled pastry from her plate, leaving her to wander aimlessly and watch the guests dance.

The werewolves waltzed across the dance floor in time to the band's music. Though the room was far fuller than the last time she'd seen anyone dance in it, Brooke's heart ached with an overpowering emptiness. There was no hand resting on the small of her back, no steps synchronizing with hers, and no kiss filling her with warmth she couldn't even begin to describe.

Not long after a group of Betas grabbed most of her hors d'oeuvres, a finger tapped her shoulder.

Brooke's heart fluttered. Could it be...?

No. The face that greeted her when she turned around was not lined with carefully manicured sideburns or tanned by hours spent in the sun. Instead, this werewolf peered at her through a pair of wireframe glasses. Even among dozens of different perfumes, the sharp scent of pine rolling off him made her nose burn. "It'd be a shame for you to waste the whole night doing nothing but passing out food," he said. "Mind if I take you for a dance?"

Huh, that was weird. While a few guests had tried to flirt with Brooke before, they usually saved it for when they were alone, not in a huge crowd. At least she had an easy excuse to turn him down. "Thanks for offering, but I need to get these handed out."

"I can take care of those." The werewolf snatched the last two wellingtons. Flaky pastry and morsels of meat disappeared in an instant, leaving only his fanged smile. "Now, why don't you let me take care of you?"

A muscular arm pulled her close to his chest. Too close.

"Let me go," she said firmly. Trembling fingers gripped the serving platter like a shield. She couldn't make a scene—not without drawing even more unwanted attention to herself—but she'd sooner swallow sand than dance with this creep.

"Why? So you can go crying to your Alpha?" His lips twisted into a smirk. "No wonder the Goddess didn't make you his soulmate. You should consider yourself lucky I'm even talking to you."

He leaned forward, his pine scent clogging her nose.

Brooke stomped on his foot, making him release his hold on her with a yelp. "In case you haven't noticed, I'm a terrible dancer."

She darted into the crowd, breathing a sigh of relief as his growled curses faded behind her. Thank the Goddess she'd gotten away.

Her relief didn't last long.

Instead of dancing or sharing drinks with other werewolves, dozens of guests now stared at her. The back of her neck prickled as their gazes followed her through the crowd along with their whispers.

"That's the one Cedar Pack's Alpha was with? She's a lot bigger than I expected.

"Can't say I'm surprised. Not like he cares about whether someone would be a good lay."

"A money-grubbing leech, that's what she is. Why else would she chase after someone like that?"

Brooke's face burned. Anger. Embarrassment. Longing. Emotions surged inside her like currents competing to suck an inexperienced swimmer below the waves.

And she was drowning.

At last, she slipped out of the ballroom. The doors silenced the revelry behind her with a firm thud, leaving her with nothing but the steady drumming of the rain and her aching heart.

Only when she found solitude near one of the lesser-used entrances to the travel tunnels did she set down her serving platter, letting out a rattling exhale. She couldn't cry. Not until all this was over.

A plastic capsule flew out of the travel tunnel, with Marina leaping out behind it. She removed her sandy brown sealskin with one smooth motion before tying it under her apron. "They finished yours off already?"

"One of the guests wanted...something else." That was all Brooke could make herself say. Bile burned in her throat at the thought of what the werewolf had been after.

Marina's eyes widened, her expression darkening like storm clouds. "Who was it?" she said, cracking her knuckles. "It sounds like we need to have a chat."

"Some guy who smelled like a thousand pine trees. I didn't really get a good look at him before I got out of there." All that mattered was he wasn't Jasper.

"I'll find him." Marina's muscles twitched as if she was ready to drag him out of the resort herself. "Someone needs to teach him some manners."

"Goddess, I wish Jasper..." Brooke trailed off with a grimace. She was supposed to be focused on making sure his wedding day was a happy one, yet here she was wishing he'd swooped in to save her. Right in front of one of the people who'd told her not to make things difficult for him, on top of it.

Here came the I-told-you-so. The lecture about how everything she did reflected on the Cowrie Cabana. The warning not to screw up even more than she already had.

Marina's voice softened. "Sorry things didn't work out with him. He seemed nice."

"He was." Brooke wiped at the traitorous tears slipping down her cheeks. "Sorry, I know you told me I shouldn't let myself get attached, but..."

"Hey, I saw how he looked at you. You went together like a clownfish and an anemone." Marina glanced down the corridor leading toward the ballroom before lowering her voice. "Jasper and Gwen won't be arriving for a bit since the Alphas want them to make a grand entrance. If I can get him alone for a minute, I should be able to have him come over here so you can at least say goodbye."

Brooke threw her arms around Marina, hugging her so hard her sister staggered backward. "Thank you so much!"

"Don't thank me until I actually manage to get him here. At least, not for that." Marina eased out of her hug before kneeling down and opening the capsule she'd brought with her, holding out a tray full of chocolate-covered strawberries. "These are for the guests, but you can take one if you want."

She didn't have to tell her twice. Brooke moaned softly as rich chocolate melted across her tongue alongside a burst of sweetness. "I swear chocolate can make anything better."

"I had a feeling that would cheer you up." Marina arranged the rest of the strawberries on a platter. "I'd better head back into the ballroom before people's stomachs drown out the music. You go ahead and take a breather while I track down our guest of honor. Just make sure you leave the travel tunnel open since we have so many folks bringing stuff for the ball."

After her sister left, Brooke licked the last of the chocolate off her lips with a sigh. Once again, she'd been told to stay out of everyone else's way. Of course, Marina hadn't used those exact words, but she didn't need to. With the rest of the selkies at the resort running around making sure all the guests enjoyed the Blue Moon Ball, she was the only one sitting around doing nothing but moping.

Maybe it would be better for her to follow the Call of the Sea. With each passing moment, her skin itched with the urge to dive beneath the waves. The ocean would swallow her tears, giving her a quiet place to cry alone.

But she didn't want to be alone. She wanted Jasper.

Laughter and chatter burst from the ballroom, fading just as quickly as the door shut again. Footsteps approached the alcove where Brooke and the travel tunnel hid.

She took a deep breath and wiped her cheeks, praying to the Goddess she didn't look like a complete wreck. This could be her last chance to talk to Jasper. She had to make it count.