As dusk settled over Eldwood, the forest came alive with the whispers of night—crickets humming, leaves rustling under a gentle breeze, and the moon casting silver ribbons across the pack grounds. Lilith stood at the forest’s edge, her heart a tangled mess of hope and trepidation. When she’d prepared for school that morning, tears still drying from the heartbreak of Jackson’s rejection and worry for Lucas’s fate, she never imagined the day would end like this—a run with her mate, the future alpha who’d confessed his love in a raw, soul-baring plea. Her ruby eyes, flecked with Lirien’s gold, scanned the clearing where Jackson waited, his silhouette tall and commanding under the moonlight.
“Ready?” he asked, his voice soft but laced with anticipation, his blue eyes catching the lunar glow.
