Chapter 1

Hannah was nowhere to be found amidst the sea of gowns and tuxedos. Noah frowned, pushing deeper into the throng. Suddenly, a flash of blonde hair bobbed through the crowd ahead. His breath caught; he began moving toward her with determined strides—only to be stopped by a hand on his bicep.

“There you are,” a voice said.

Noah turned to see Zoe, her slender fingers tightening subtly on his arm.

“Oh, Zoe,” he said, inclining his chin politely.

She smiled. “Dance with me?”

Noah paused, still scanning the crowd. “Actually, I was looking for—”

“Just one dance,” Zoe insisted, leaning close, her floral perfume almost overwhelming. “Please?”

His jaw tightened. He sighed and nodded. Hannah wouldn’t want to talk to him now, he reasoned; perhaps it was best to let her cool down.

Zoe beamed, pulling him onto the dance floor. He placed a hand on her back, holding her hand in his other. Hers rested on his shoulder, her fingers brushing his neck.

“Doesn’t this bring back memories?” she murmured, tilting her head.

Noah nodded, his attention divided between avoiding her toes and searching for Hannah. His gaze landed on Drake, chatting with other Alphas at the bar. His blood pressure spiked.

“I was surprised to see Drake enter the competition,” he said, “given his position on the Alpha Council.”

Zoe hummed. “He must have had his reasons.”

“Such as?”

She shrugged delicately. “Well…” She pursed her lips. “I suspect the Luna Queen wanted us reunited. Even if he won, it would be a major faux pas for a Council Alpha to host the Lunar Festival.”

Noah’s eyebrows rose. It was true—Council members couldn't host the Festival; it ensured fairness. Those who hosted often served on the Council the following year.

“So,” Zoe mused, glancing at Drake, “the Luna Queen has always doted on her nephew. Although this feels… excessive.”

Noah’s heart sank. It was excessive, and unfair to Zoe if she was being pressured. He leaned closer, lowering his voice. “Zoe, if the Luna Queen or Drake are pressuring you—”

“Noah,” Zoe cut him off, smiling tightly, her fingertips pressing against his chest. “I appreciate your concern, truly. But perhaps this isn’t the place.”

He was taken aback, then nodded; she was right.

“We’ll talk later,” he muttered.

Zoe smiled, her fingers lingering on his skin before withdrawing, sending a shiver down his spine. “It’s a date,” she said, melting into the crowd.

Noah watched her go, briefly. He had other concerns, like finding his wife. His gaze swept the crowd—and there she was. He saw her eyes, the hurt in them, before she tossed her hair and slipped away too quickly.

He tried to follow, but she was gone, disappearing before he could call her name.