Nolan:
The night dragged.
Every elder, every voice, every pair of eyes that lingered too long on me or on her only twisted the irritation deeper under my skin.
I wanted nothing more than for this evening to end without an incident.
And through it all, she didn’t look at me once.
She didn’t even bother anymore. And that was the better option.
She laughed politely at their jokes. Smiled when Mira’s sharp tongue pressed too close. Nodded when Elder Vance praised her “poise.” They saw her as the elegant Luna that every other Alpha would want to have, and they saw her as the Luna that they would want to be with.
And when Elder Mathew leaned toward her as the table quieted, his voice low but clear enough for me to hear. “Are you truly alright, Luna? You look… weary.”
My chest tightene
