Chapter 20

I felt my face growing hot under Kieran's intense stare. Shyly, I lowered my gaze, not quite brave enough to meet the fire in his eyes. My fingers reached out, almost of their own accord, to touch the silver wolf badge pinned to his chest. The metal was cool beneath my fingertips, intricately designed with a crescent moon behind a howling wolf.

Kieran caught my hand in his, his thumb stroking gently across my knuckles. "This badge represents the Silver Moon Pack," he said softly. "My pack. And now, it represents you too—our Luna, part of the most powerful wolf pack in the territory."

His words sent a thrill through me. It was really happening—I was becoming part of his world, his pack, his life.

I looked up at him through my lashes, my heart pounding with anticipation. The air between us crackled with tension. His eyes darkened as he leaned closer, his hands moving to my waist.

Just as his lips were about to touch mine again, a sharp knock sounded at the door.

"Alpha Kieran!" A voice called from the other side. "There's an urgent matter that requires your attention."

Kieran closed his eyes, frustration clear on his face. He pressed his forehead against mine for a brief moment before pulling away.

"I'll be right there," he called, his voice tight.

He turned back to me. "I'm sorry. I have to deal with this."

"Pack business," I said, unable to keep the disappointment from my voice.

"I won't be long," he promised, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "Wait for me?"

I nodded, but as the door closed behind him, I couldn't help feeling let down. Once again, I'd been abandoned for pack duties.

After twenty minutes of waiting alone in his room, I grew restless. I decided to find Maya—at least she wouldn't disappear on me in the middle of a conversation.

I found her in her room, surrounded by makeup and hair products.

"There you are!" she exclaimed. "I was just about to come looking for you. The after-party is starting soon!"

"After-party?" I asked, confused.

"Oh yes," she grinned. "The formal dinner is just the beginning. Now comes the fun part—dancing, drinking, celebrating the new mates."

She pulled me into the room and immediately started working on my hair and makeup again, this time with a bolder hand. Then she presented me with a new outfit—a silver slip dress with a dangerously low back and a slit up the side.

"I can't wear this," I protested, holding it up. "It's too... revealing."

"It's perfect," Maya insisted. "You're the Luna now. You should look the part."

Reluctantly, I put it on. The silky fabric clung to every curve of my body. Looking in the mirror, I barely recognized myself—the makeup, the dress, the confident posture Maya had coached me into.

"Kieran wouldn't like this," I said, wrapping my arms around my middle. "He doesn't want me showing so much skin to other wolves."

Maya rolled her eyes. "And why does he get to decide that?"

"It's not like that," I tried to explain. "He's just... protective."

"Possessive is more like it," she muttered. But she handed me a sheer blue robe that matched the dress. "Here. Compromise."

The robe helped a little, providing some coverage while still showing the dress underneath. Maya herself was wearing a red dress even more daring than mine, with criss-cross straps across the back and a neckline that plunged almost to her navel.

"Damon is going to lose his mind when he sees you," I teased, grateful for the change of subject. "I bet he won't be able to control himself tonight. You two might not make it back to the cabin."

Maya laughed, twirling to show off the dress. "That's the plan!"

We returned to the dining hall, which had been transformed in our absence. The formal tables were gone, replaced by smaller seating areas around the edges of the room. A space in the center served as a dance floor, and a bar had been set up along one wall.

I spotted Kieran immediately. He was standing with a group of men, deep in conversation, but his head snapped up the moment I entered the room. His eyes widened as they swept over me, taking in the silver dress visible beneath the sheer robe.

To my surprise, he didn't look angry. In fact, his expression was one of clear appreciation, his gaze heating as I walked toward him.

He excused himself from the group and met me halfway across the room. "You changed," he said, his voice low.

"Maya thought the other dress was too formal for the after-party," I explained nervously. "If you don't like it—"

"I didn't say that," he interrupted, his eyes never leaving mine. He took my hand and led me to where Damon was waiting with drinks.

The four of us found a table together. Throughout dinner, I was acutely aware of Kieran's eyes on me. His hand rested possessively on the back of my chair, occasionally brushing against my bare skin through the sheer robe.

As servers cleared away our plates, Kieran leaned closer, his lips brushing against my ear. "You'd better be good," he whispered, his voice rough with desire, "or I won't be able to control myself. I might just claim you and mark you right here in front of everyone."

His words sent a shiver down my spine—half excitement, half nervousness. The intensity of his gaze made it clear he wasn't entirely joking.

Music started playing, and couples began moving to the dance floor. Damon led Maya away, leaving me alone with Kieran.

"Dance with me," he said, standing and offering his hand. It wasn't really a question.

I took his hand and let him guide me to the center of the floor. As his arms circled my waist, pulling me close against his chest, I realized that tonight was just the beginning of our story. There would be challenges ahead—his temper, my stubbornness, the demands of pack life—but right now, with his heartbeat steady against mine, those problems seemed far away.

For tonight, at least, I would enjoy being Kieran's mate, the Luna of the Silver Moon Pack, wrapped in the arms of the most powerful Alpha in the territory.