The doors to the ball room opened again immediately after Adele had walked in.

Torak’s eyes landed on Xanden the moment he walked in.

It was sudden, but immediate.

Torak didn’t move immediately.

He stood exactly where he was, with his shoulders squared, and his expression controlled. However, his attention wasn’t fully on Xanden.

It dragged on, and pulled away against his will, until they landed on Adele again.

She had just stepped back into the hall, and gracefully walked back into the crowd. Torak could catch the way her legs hastened, even if she tried to remain composed.

The lantern light caught her again. The deep tones of her gown shimmered softly as she moved.

Torak’s jaw tightened. His wolf stirred again, low and restless, as it watched.

Adele didn’t turn to look at him. She didn’t even act like she felt his eyes on her. Her only goal at the moment was not to be caught in a scandal. Especially not in the presence of her father.

She moved through the crowd gracefully, slipping back into the sea of nobles and power. Her eyes were already searching for her father.

Torak exhaled slowly through his nose. He steadied himself, returning to being controlled and detached.

"Torak." Xanden called.

Torak turned fully, finally resting his gaze on Xanden.

Xanden was already walking toward him. His steps were long and purposeful. His presence cut through the crowd without effort as people moved around.

Torak straightened instinctively out of respect.

Xanden stopped in front of him.

His sharp eyes scanned Torak’s face once, quickly. He was visibly reading something beneath the surface.

"Did that minx do something rude to you?" Xanden asked out of nowhere. He sounded concerned.

Torak blinked once. The question caught him slightly off guard.

Torak held his gaze for a second longer than necessary.

He shook his head once, and finally replied. "No."

Xanden’s eyes narrowed slightly, not convinced. Torak turned away for a second, scanning the room again. His wolf kept clawing at the top of his head.

Xanden noticed. He raised a brow.

"Alpha Blackfen called my attention," Xanden said, voice lowering just enough to keep it between them. "Asked me to make sure you’re in check."

That pulled Torak back fully. His gaze snapped to Xanden. He let out a quiet breath. "I’m in check."

Xanden studied him carefully. "You don’t look like it." He said casually, almost tapping Torak’s arm.

Torak’s lips pressed into a thin line. "I promise, I am."

Xanden’s gaze softened slightly, barely noticeable to anyone else. "You forget," he said quietly, "I know you."

Torak’s throat tightened.

"You think I don’t see it?" Xanden continued. "The way you’re standing here like your chest is about to split open?"

Torak looked away, and that alone said enough.

Xanden exhaled slowly. He lowered his voice even further. "She’s not just a girl, Torak. I still want you by my side."

"I know."

"No," Xanden said, sharper now. "You don’t."

Torak’s eyes lifted to him again.

"That man, her father," Xanden continued. "He doesn’t just guard her. She’s precious to him. The whole realm knows this."

Torak’s jaw clenched. "I just said I’m in check, Xanden."

Xanden tilted his head slightly. "Then you shouldn’t be watching her like you’re waiting for permission to breathe." He pointed out. "Especially not in front of so many eyes. You weren’t even supposed to dance with her."

Torak didn’t respond this time. He was wrong, and he knows it.

Xanden sighed quietly. He finally placed a hand briefly on Torak’s shoulder. His hold was firm and gentle at the same time.

"You’re my Beta," he said. Then, he added softly. "But you’re my brother first."

Torak’s chest tightened.

"And I’m not going to stand here and watch you lose yourself over something that could get you killed." He warned. "You told me this was over, years ago."

Torak swallowed slowly. "I’m not losing myself." he said after a long exhale. "I promise, I’m not. She just appeared again. I can survive 1000 years of purgatory without her if it means keeping her scandal, and protecing her from harsh scandals."

Xanden held his gaze. He finally nodded.

He didn’t have time to say another word, as the air in the hall immediately shifted, and the music changed, announcing the presence of the Luna.

The doors at the top of the grand staircase opened dully, and every head turned.

Aire stood still, silent, and radient at the top of the stairs.

The ivory-blue gown flowed around her like something not entirely bound to the world. The pearls in her hair caught the light, shimmering softly with every slight movement.

Her presence has changed, and every wolf felt it. The pull and command attached to her was strong.

Torak straightened unconsciously.

Xanden did too.

Across the room, Adele’s steps faltered for a second. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Aire began to descend the steps. She moved gracefully, just as Madam had taught her while preparing her for today.

As her foot touched the final step, every wolf in the room bowed. Not out of submission, but out of instincts.

They all bowed in unison, as if they had been triggered and compelled to. They gave her absolute respect.

The only ones who remained standing were King Elijah, Xanden, Alaric, and Nate.

Torak didn’t bow. Not fully, but his head dipped respectfully.

Aire stood there, at the center of it all, obviously confused, yet taking it all in. She never expected that the toast would be done to her this way with every single wolves bowing to her.

For a moment, everything was still, until the sky roared.

It wasn’t exactly a thunder. The sound cracked through the air like the heavens themselves had split open.

Aire remembered that sound from the war.

The chandeliers trembled, and the windows rattled. The very ground beneath them seemed to hum.

Every wolf froze.

A strange pressure of anger slammed into them all at once. The pressure was heavy, and suffocating.

The Moon Goddess.

But this was not as they knew her.

A low growl rippled through the room instinctively as wolves reacted. Their instincts flared, and their bodies tensed under the weight of the reverence they have for her.

Aire’s breath caught. Her chest tightened violently. Her fingers curled slightly at her sides.

What she felt wasn’t general, like everyone felt. The pain she felt in her chestvwas direct, and heavy.