Finally, the day for the Luna ball arrived.

From the early hours of the morning, the halls had been filled with servants rushing from one end to another, carrying trays, and adjusting fabrics. Guards got repositioned, and voices were overlapped in a constant hum that never quite settled. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

By evening, the castle was something else entirely.

The gates stood open, and they kept opening. High-ranking wolves draped in power and old names walked in through the gates.

Beneath them, traders, and merchants followed.

People from all classes of the werewolf rank walked in. People who would never stand close to the throne all walked in.

The white lilacs stood out, soft and beautiful, but now they were surrounded by movement.

Music floated through the air, low, elegant, and measured.

Aire stood upstairs. She hadn’t moved in several minutes, as she simply scanned the hall beneath her, and watch everyone.

Her reflection stared back at her from the glass hand railing she rested her delicate hands on.

For a moment, she didn’t recognize her reflection. The soft ivory deep blue gown she wore flowed down her body.

She looked so impossible to ignore.

It hugged her in the right places, falling in delicate layers that caught the light with every small shift she made. The fabric itself looked almost weightless, like it didn’t belong to the ground at all.

Her hair was carefully arranged and threaded with small pearls. The pearls were placed just enough to catch the light when she moved.

Aire lifted her hand slowly. Her fingers brushed against one of them. She didn’t know what to say about the beauty of the place.

Behind her, Madam stood.

Mabel stood beside her, her expression softer, but no less observant. She was extravagant as well.

"You look as you should," Madam said softly.

Aire swallowed. Her chest felt tight. Too tight.

"Are you ready?" Mabel asked gently.

’No’ Aire wanted to say, but she nodded anyway.

Mabel took her arms and walked her down the grand staircase. The walk to the hall felt longer than it should have.

Each step heavier than the last.

She could feel their eyes everywhere. The closer she got, the louder the storm in her became.

The voices, laughter, and music increased.

Eyes turned to her, one by one. Then suddenly, all eyes rested on her.

Aire stepped forward, and the room stilled. They stared at her in awe mixed with suspicion.

She looked around softly, for Xender, Alariv, or Nate. However, she saw none of them around.

Aire kept walking, even when her chest felt like it might split open.

King Elijah stepped forward the moment Aire made it to the last stair. His presence and authority cut thorough the room.

His gaze swept across the room, sharp, warning, and unforgiving. And just like that, everyone straightened their spine, and respected themselves.

Aire breathing softened at the thought of King Elijah protecting her here tonight. Or perhaps, he was protecting what she represented.

King Elijah took her hand, and walked her to the Luna seat positioned right before the hall. The seat was silver, with a she-wolf at the crown of it.

Aire took her seat, and everyone bowed before her.

Then, one by one from every houses, families, and names she didn’t fully recognize presented themselves before her, and paid their respects.

They did not bow deeply, or submissively. However, it was enough to acknowledge her.

The house Randall came before her, and bowed. They stood before her for half a second, then all bowed at once before her. "We stand with the crown. Our loyalty remains unchanged. Our house and park as a whole offers its support." The said in unison.

Every other houses came forward, saying the same word, and performing the same act.

Aire nodded when she needed to, spoke when expected, and listened when required. But inside, she felt like she was standing in the center of something she couldn’t fully see.

Her heart wouldn’t slow down.

It feels like it’s going to burst. She inhaled slowly, and went on.

Across the room, the Alphas finally showed themselves among the other wolves, with their eyes on her.

If they were proud, they didn’t say it, but their eyes were unable to hid the glint of pride they felt towards her.

They spoke with others, while making sure they watched Aire, and listened to her surrounding.

Aire felt them immediately

First, she felt the pull again. Aire looked around, and found each of them across the room.

In duty, she forced her gaze away to settle on the last family pledging their alliance to her. As she pulled her eyes away from the Alphas, her gaze found Hannah before the families before her.

She was standing near the far side of the hall. She was drapped in a gown far too elegant for their household.

Their eyes met, and Hannah’s lips curved slightly into a knowing smile. Beside her, Beta Kole stood.

And not far from them, she found another familiar face.

Beta Damien.

His presence was heavier, and more grounded. He wasn’t smiling, nor pretending. He simply watched her.

Aire’s gaze lingered for just a second longer, then she looked away. She nodded at the family before her, until the very last.

She let out a breath of relief, and something important pressed at the front of her mind.

The seer.

Her fingers curled slightly at the edge of her gown. Her breath steadied and she stood up, turned, and walked toward King Elijah.

King Elijah stood where he had been earlier.

He saw her coming.

"Aire." He acknowledged. "You did well."

Aire stopped in front of him. She straightened her posture, and maintained a controlled expression.

"My King," she said, bowing with curtsey.

He studied her for a moment. "You’ve done well," he repeated, to let her know he meant it.

Aire nodded slightly, but she didn’t linger on it, or thank him. Instead, she asked the question that had been at the back of her mind.

"The seer." She started. "You told me the seer would be present, for me."

Elijah didn’t respond immediately.

His hesitation was enough to make something cold settle in her chest.

"When will she arrive?" Aire pressed, ignoring the cold pressing in on her.

Elijah exhaled slowly. He resigned from withholding whatever he was holding back. "She won’t."

Aire blinked. That was barely enough words for her to understand. "I don’t understand." She declared.

Elijah’s gaze didn’t soften on her. "The Moon Goddess has already spoken."

Aire felt it before she fully understood it. She felt a slow tightening deep in her chest.

"What did she say?" Aire asked. At least, she deserved to know that much information. Her voice came out quieter now, almost heartbroken.

Elijah held her gaze. "She will not be lifting the curse." He deadoaned.

Aire world shattered around her slowly. She didn’t know why she lifted her hopes so high, but she did when King Elijah told her about the seer.

She never thought about what she would do if the Moon goddess refuses it.

Aire swallowed the lump in her throat. "Why?" she asked softly, struggling not to fall apart before almost a thousand people.

Her voice betrayed her still.

Elijah looked around the hall, fhen back at her. "Because," he said calmly, "she does not show mercy to an illegitimate child."

Aire swallowed. Her chest closed up.

Almost immediately, the music built up, signalling that it was time for everyone who wished to have a dance, to have one.

She gave King Elijah a thin smile, and walked away from him. For some reason, she couldn’t breathe.