The Silver Queen River Cruise Ship glittered against the night sky, its lights reflecting off the dark water like fallen stars. I stood at the entrance, my simple black dress a stark contrast to the colorful finery of the other pack members. My ankle still throbbed from this morning's "accident," but the pain felt distant now—numbed by the weight of my decision.
"Quite the spectacle," I murmured to myself, taking in the elaborate decorations. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting prismatic light across the polished wood floors. Tables laden with food lined the perimeter of the main hall, while servers in crisp white uniforms weaved through the crowd with trays of champagne.
I'd arrived late deliberately. No sense in standing around while everyone pretended not to stare at the Alpha's unwanted mate.
"Luna Mila," a young Delta greeted me with a slight bow, his eyes quickly darting away. "Welcome aboard."
I nodded, accepting a glass of champagne from a passing server. "Thank you."
The title felt like a cruel joke now. Luna in name only.
From across the room, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. I turned to see Ruth making her entrance.
She floated down the grand staircase in a flowing white gown that hugged her curves before cascading to the floor like a waterfall of silk. The dress was unmistakably bridal—a deliberate statement. Her dark hair was swept up in an elegant chignon, adorned with pearl pins that caught the light with every movement.
"Isn't she stunning?" a female voice beside me whispered. "Ruth looks like a real Luna."
I didn't respond. I didn't need to. Everyone knew the truth.
Ruth's eyes found mine across the room, a triumphant smile curving her lips as she glided toward Mason. He stood tall at the center of the room, resplendent in his formal Alpha attire—black suit with silver embroidery that matched our pack's colors.
"Mason," she purred, loud enough for nearby guests to hear. "Everyone's waiting for your speech."
He smiled down at her, his hand settling possessively at the small of her back. "Patience, my dear. We have all night."
Silver stirred restlessly within me. *Look at them. They're not even trying to hide it anymore.*
"I know," I whispered. "That's why tonight is perfect."
The crowd parted as Mason made his way to the small stage at the front of the room. Ruth clung to his arm, her body pressed against his side in a blatant display of ownership.
"Brothers and sisters of the Silverclaw Pack," Mason's voice boomed across the hall. "Tonight we celebrate not just five years of prosperity, but a new chapter in our history."
I edged closer to the bar, my fingers closing around the small vial in my pocket. The wolfsbane elixir felt cool against my skin.
"A pack's strength comes from its ability to adapt," Mason continued, his eyes scanning the crowd. They found mine in the shadows, narrowing slightly. "Sometimes, tradition must give way to progress."
His gaze held mine, a silent warning flashing in his golden eyes. *Don't make a scene, Mila.*
"Together, we have built something great," he said, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone. "But tonight is about choices. About destiny."
Ruth preened beside him, her hand sliding up his arm to his shoulder.
"Some bonds are meant to be honored," Mason said, his eyes still locked on mine. "Others..."
I felt the weight of the room's attention shift toward me. This was it—the moment he would publicly reject me.
Before he could finish, I stepped forward.
The crowd parted like water around a stone. Whispers followed in my wake as I walked toward the stage.
"Mila," Mason hissed, his eyes flashing gold. "What are you doing?"
I stopped at the foot of the stage, looking up at him. For a moment, no one spoke. The silence stretched taut as a bowstring.
Then I laughed.
The sound cut through the tension like a blade, sharp and unexpected. Several pack members flinched.
"You don't get to choose," I said, my voice carrying across the silent room. "You only get to lose."
Mason's face darkened with rage. "Mila, stop this now."
"Why?" I asked, pulling the vial from my pocket. "Afraid of what I might say?"
Ruth's eyes widened as she recognized the green liquid in the vial. "Mason," she whispered urgently. "She has wolfsbane."
I uncorked the vial, the acrid scent making my nose burn. One swallow would send Silver retreating deep inside me, silent and still as death.
"Whatever you're planning," Mason growled, "it won't work."
I raised the vial to my lips, meeting his gaze one last time. "It already has."
In one fluid motion, I tipped the vial and drank deeply. The liquid burned like fire down my throat, spreading through my veins like molten lead.
Silver howled in agony inside me as the wolfsbane took effect.
