The weight of the velvet box in my lap felt heavier than it should.
Elder Thorne's study had been warm, almost cozy, with its floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and the gentle crackling of the fireplace. But now, sitting in the back of Damien's car as we drove away from the main estate, I felt like I was suffocating.
The "Moon Goddess's Mark" bracelet gleamed on my wrist—delicate silver links interwoven with moonstones that seemed to pulse with their own inner light. According to Elder Thorne, only the Luna of the Blackwood pack could wear it. Only the Alpha's destined mate.
Destined.
That word kept echoing in my head, louder and louder with each passing mile.
"You're quiet," Damien said softly, his hand finding mine on the seat between us. "Are you okay?"
I looked down at our intertwined fingers. His thumb traced gentle circles on my skin, a gesture that should have comforted me. Instead, it only made the knot in my chest tighten.
