Kylie and I rushed upstairs to the Luna’s suite, where Luna Ava waited outside the elevator, arms crossed but smiling knowingly.

“Quickly, into the shower. No time to waste.” She clapped her hands and practically herded us toward the bathroom. “And give me those clothes. You’ve been training all day—you smell like warriors.”

We both laughed as we peeled off our sweaty gear, tossing it into a growing pile of laundry.

“Don’t blame me, Luna Ava. Blame her,” Kylie teased, pointing a thumb at me. “She’s been running us into the ground trying to impress the Elite Warriors and get recruited.”

I groaned. “Thanks for that, Kylie.”

We stepped under the warm spray of the shower, and for once, the conversation felt easy. I wasn’t as shy around Kylie or Luna Ava anymore, though I still kept my scars hidden when I could. The guys had seen them now, and while they never said anything, the guilt in their eyes when they glanced at them made my skin crawl.

“Wait,” Luna Ava said from the doorway, arms folded as she leaned against the sink. “You’re seriously planning to leave? What about your mate? Graduation?”

I turned the water off and grabbed a towel she handed me. Wrapping it tightly around myself, I answered, “It’s not like I can leave tomorrow. The warriors won’t even consider us until next year. I just want to get noticed early, maybe set myself up for success.”

Kylie gave me a knowing look but said nothing. Luna Ava, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. “And the boys? What will they do without you?”

I huffed a laugh, wringing water from my hair. “They didn’t even notice me until this year, and I’ve known them my whole life. Trust me, they’ll survive—and probably get more dates once I’m not hanging around.” I tied the towel around me, meeting her gaze steadily. “There aren’t exactly many options for me as the second child of a beta. I’ve thought this through. I can finish high school, train, maybe take some college courses. It’s not about running away; it’s about building something for myself.”

Luna Ava’s expression softened. “And your father?” she asked carefully.

I forced a small smile. “He’s... not exactly a reason to stay.”

Kylie gave my hand a quick squeeze, and Luna Ava sighed, pulling me into a tight hug. “I understand, Selene. I just don’t want you to feel like you have to prove yourself to anyone. But I know you—you need to do this for yourself.”

I hugged her back, grateful for the support.

“Now, enough of this serious talk.” She pulled away, clapping her hands together. “We need to get you two looking presentable. This isn’t one of our usual backyard dinners. Time to doll you both up.”

Dressed to Impress

Twenty minutes later, we were primped and polished to Luna Ava’s exact specifications. She handed me a navy-blue maxi dress with a plunging neckline, wide straps, and a cinched empire waist that somehow made the little curves I had seem... more noticeable. Kylie’s dress was a deep red, spaghetti straps threatening to snap with any sudden movement. Our matching wedges completed the look, and as we gave ourselves a final check in the mirror, Luna Ava stepped out wearing a white cocktail dress that shimmered in the low light.

“You look amazing,” Kylie said, grinning at her.

Luna Ava laughed, smoothing the fabric down. “What, this old thing? I have it in every color—it’s so comfortable.”

As we stepped into the elevator, Kylie raised a brow. “Why are we dressing up? Your backyard barbecues are never fancy.”

Luna Ava winked. “Oh, we have special guests tonight.” She hit the button for the first floor. “And we’re about to annoy all the men.”

We laughed as the elevator descended. “How are we annoying them?” I asked.

“I told them to be ready in thirty minutes. It’s been an hour and a half.” She grinned mischievously. “If I gave them the real timeline, they’d drag their feet. This way, they’ve been waiting with bated breath.”

The elevator doors slid open, and the sound of chatter spilled into the hallway. We followed Luna Ava into the kitchen—and I froze.

Unexpected Royalty

Alpha Michael stood by the island, dressed in a sharp navy suit with an open collar, looking more business casual than usual. The pack leaders were similarly dressed, but it was Delta Gwen who really stole the show in a deep purple halter dress and lace-up heels that made her look both elegant and dangerous.

The guys looked just as out of place in their dress clothes. Ryan and Aaron were decked out in matching silver-gray shirts and black slacks, the fabric catching the light and making their eyes shine brighter than usual. Ethan wore all black, his sleeves rolled up to reveal the ink on his forearms, while Devin stood confidently in a soft pink button-up. Leo’s navy shirt matched my dress almost perfectly, and I tried not to think about what that meant.

And that’s when I saw them—the guests standing at the far end of the kitchen. Two unfamiliar men stood beside Warrior Nickolas, deep in conversation. I barely registered Luna Ava steering us forward before Alpha Michael greeted us.

“Ladies! Now I see why we’ve been kept waiting,” he said warmly, pulling Luna Ava close and whispering something in her ear that made her blush.

Kylie and I stifled giggles, but my amusement faded the moment the Alpha introduced our guests.

“Allow me to introduce the Alpha King Reginald, Luna Queen Anne, and their eldest son, Prince Andrew.”

My heart dropped. The Alpha King? My pulse raced as the weight of the situation hit me. I wasn’t prepared for this. What was I supposed to do? Bow? Curtsy? My training never covered royal protocol.

Sensing my panic, Luna Ava placed a steadying hand on my arm. “Breathe, child,” she whispered. “They’re just here for the trials. Treat them like anyone else.”

Easier said than done.

Meeting the Royals

We followed Luna Ava as she introduced us to Queen Anne, who smiled warmly.

“Oh my! Are these the two who gave Nickolas such a hard time?” the queen asked with delight, her voice carrying across the room.

The chatter stopped, and all eyes turned to us. My cheeks burned as Nickolas laughed.

“Sure are. Selene here even left me with a couple bruises,” Nickolas said, grinning.

I gaped at him. “I— I didn’t mean to...”

“It’s a compliment,” the Alpha King chuckled. “It’s been a while since anyone gave him a challenge.”

Prince Andrew finally spoke, his voice deep but uncertain. “Wait—you fought Nickolas? And won?”

He towered over everyone, easily over six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders and a forest-green suit that hinted at the powerful muscle beneath. His dark blonde hair fell in loose waves, and his brown eyes locked onto mine, warm and curious.

I nodded, too overwhelmed to speak.

Kylie, ever my savior, jumped in. “She’s the best warrior in the pack. Even better than Delta Kyle.”

Kyle gave a playful shrug. “She’s not wrong.”

Andrew’s lips quirked into a grin. “I’d love to see that.”

Before I could respond, Luna Ava called everyone to the dining room. The long table was elegantly set, with candles casting a warm glow over gold accents. As we moved to take our seats, a hand brushed the small of my back.

“Would you mind sitting with me?” Prince Andrew asked, his voice low near my ear.

I glanced around, catching the subtle huff of annoyance from Leo. Swallowing hard, I nodded. “Sure.”

Andrew guided me to the table, pulling out my chair like a gentleman. As I sat, he leaned in, his warm breath ghosting over my skin.

“I’d love to hear more about your training methods,” he murmured.

I barely suppressed a shiver. “And I’d love to hear more about the Elite Warriors,” I replied softly, unable to help the small smile that tugged at my lips.

For the first time in a long while, I felt something shift—like this dinner was just the beginning of something far bigger than any of us realized.