A month passed.
Summer slowly gave way to the cool breeze of early autumn, and the Moonridge Pack began preparing for the annual Moon Festival—the most important celebration of the year.
It was the night every werewolf gathered beneath the full moon to thank the Moon Goddess for her blessings. Pups danced around bonfires, warriors competed in friendly contests, and families shared meals beneath the stars.
Families.
The word still made my chest ache.
I spent the entire week helping decorate the pack square. Lanterns were hung from ancient oak trees, long wooden tables filled the center of the clearing, and white flowers lined the paths leading to the Alpha’s house.
Everything looked beautiful.
“Elara!”
I turned to see Willow waving excitedly.
She hurried over carrying two flower cr
