Chapter 153

As Dane and his malevolent pack crossed the territorial borders, I waited in the heart of the forest, in the house his grandfather had built. As Luna, my senses were attuned to the impending darkness. I felt them coming like the buildup of lightning in the air before a storm. The trap had been laid, and the tension in the air crackled with both apprehension and determination, but not completely because of Dane.

“Luna, you’re making a mistake.”

I glanced up at Evelyn. We were in my rooms as I was dressing for the gala. She was already ready, wearing a blue dress that matched her eyes, with a sword sheathed at her side. She had her arms crossed under her breasts, her blue eyes serious. Her blond hair was longer now, and she’d pulled it back into a high ponytail decorated with glittering gems. I lifted a brow at her.

Evelyn willingly joining my pack had been a massive shock, but she had, and now she headed the squad of elite female warrior wolves who protected me at all times. The goddess had been right about who she would become.

Archer—Dane’s former beta and the father of her child—had gone rogue rather than serve me. But Evelyn stayed, and once her son, Ace, was born, she changed. She became more fierce, more loyal. We learned a year later that Archer died in the pack wars that Dane was waging across Europe, fighting for him or against him, I didn’t know. But even though I allowed myself to trust Evelyn because the goddess did, I knew there were still one or two secrets between us. Because of that, I kept her at arm’s length as much as I could.

There was just no one who could match the power she had in a battle, thanks to her being chosen of the goddess. I wielded moonlight like healing water; she wielded it like avenging silver flame.

“I don’t make mistakes, Captain,” I said coolly as I ran my fingers over a selection of lipsticks, choosing the one that would best go with my silver gown. “I take calculated risks.”

“Just because you won him back by appearing at a gala doesn’t mean it will work the other way around. The Dane we knew is dead and gone. He’s a puppet now, a tool of the Nameless.”

“That’s the difference between you and me,” I said. “You gave up on him. I never will.”

Evelyn rolled her eyes. “You’re going to get us all killed. Then who’s going to save everyone?”

I turned to face her, my voice and eyes cold. “I am going to get my husband and the father of my children back. We are going to claim the relic, and then we are going to put the Nameless back in the prison where he belongs.”

She met my glare for a moment, then dropped her head. “Yes, Luna.”

Trajan knocked. He briefed me on Evander’s latest reports. My cousin had become my most trusted operative since I became Luna, spending most of the time outside my territory to hunt the Nameless and gather information. I suspected in part it was because he didn’t want to be around Dane’s sister, Piper, now that his face was so scarred.

As for Piper, she was a diplomat who helped me reach out to other packs. She’d helped me form several alliances.

I visited the twins. At six, they’d both grown—Tristan more than Seraphina. He was big and active, and she was a tiny wisp of a thing. She’d become very quiet since their captivity by the Broken Forest pack and all the other events of two years ago. Losing Dane had been hard on our little girl.

I said goodnight to them. The sun had set. The moon was rising. It was a sultry summer night, just like the night he claimed me for the first time.

I felt the moment Dane set foot in my territory.

On instinct, I moved to a window and looked toward the road. There was a quarter moon tonight, and as Dane and his corrupted wolves entered my territory, the sky shimmered with mystical barriers that I’d paid a fortune to have three covens of witches construct to protect us from the powers of the Nameless.

The barriers rippled, revealing their lines like fine silver lace. Then the lines disappeared as the ripples moved outward like waves in a pond.

Did he know what he’d walked into? Did he suspect me of a trap?

Only time would tell.

I glanced once more in the mirror at myself: still pale and tall, with lilac eyes; cool and collected, even though my stomach felt knotted inside.

It was time.

I walked down the stairs to the balcony where Dane had once stood when I entered this house to attend a gala at his invitation, even though he didn’t realize who I was.

Tonight, the pack house was just as full of wolves. Everyone and everything was just as glittering. There was a feast laid out. Music played. Windows and doors were thrown open, and the rich scents of summer wafted in.

When I’d come back here the first time, I thought only my own life was in the balance. Now there was so much more, not just me and Dane—but the world.

The music slowed, and I glanced down. Shadows billowed from the door like fog. Eyes gleamed from the manufactured darkness.

Then Dane stepped out. I didn’t think he would see me at first. I’d thought to blend in with the crowd and watch him for a long moment before he could watch me.

But as soon as Dane stepped from the mist, his eyes locked on me. He didn’t hesitate. He pushed through everyone between us and held out his hand.

“Aurora,” he said. “Dance with me.”