Chapter 10

After that day, Nora barely had time to dwell on Arnold and Linda.

Leo had flooded her inbox with dozens of gigabytes of study materials, and she needed to absorb it all as quickly as possible.

After hours of reading, she set down a thick book and nestled into the recliner, exhaustion weighing her

down.

Her eyes fluttered shut, but just as her mind began to drift, her phone vibrated in her hand.

The screen lit up with Zoe’s name, her best friend and eternal source of adventure.

“Come out and play, Nora!” Zoe’s voice bubbled with excitement. “It’s the Moonlight Feast Festival! Everyone’s out partying under the full moon….you have to come.”

The Moonlight Feast Festival…the first full moon night of summer…was a sacred time for the wolves. It was a night of celebration, of feasts, music, and dancing under the moon’s soft silver glow.

Nora hesitated, memories swirling in her mind. It was during the Moonlight Feast Festival of her eighteenth year that she had first awakened her wolf.

“Go,” Lena, her wolf, urged gently. “You haven’t relaxed in ages. And this festival… it’s where it all began

for us.”

After a moment of deliberation, Nora gave in. She asked Zoe for her location, grabbed her car keys, and

headed out.

The drive was brief, and soon she arrived at the festival grounds.

The full moon hung low in the velvety sky, casting its serene light across the open field. Strings of colorful lanterns swayed gently in the breeze, their soft glow intermingling with the flicker of a grand bonfire at the center. Exquisite tents dotted the field, adorned with ribbons and banners. Wolves of all ages gathered, their laughter and song filling the night air.

As Nora stepped into the lively scene, she scanned the crowd for Zoe. But before she could find her, her eyes landed on someone unexpected… a small, bouncing figure she hadn’t seen in far too long.

It was Alex.

The golden wolf–head mark around his neck glinted in the firelight, a symbol of his lineage. Nora’s breath caught in her throat.

Aloha fathe

85

Chapter 10

It had been weeks, perhaps longer, since Alex had last called or spoken to her. She had told herself it didn’t matter, that she had moved on from him and his father. But seeing him now, so carefree and happy, left her feeling hollow.

Nora took a deep breath as she told herself to start getting over the feeling and learn to let go gradually.

mind, Nora didn’t go up to say hello, she just quietly followed the small figure that was

“Alex, come here!”

appeared, stepping

he ran to

embrace,

Festival, Aunt Linda!” Alex exclaimed, pulling a small box from his pocket. “I made

made of

cooed, fastening the bracelet around her wrist. “It’s beautiful, Alex. Thank

stood frozen, watching

She remembered the days she had tirelessly bandaged Alex’s scrapes, the nights

he was, gifting Linda a token of affection he had never thought to make for her.

her expression softening further as Arnold stepped into

harsh, but firm, as

attentive in a way she had never experienced

had been married to him for over six years, yet he had never once displayed such consideration for her. Not when she

his favorite meals or

son.

Chapter 10

truth she had refused to see. Arnold wasn’t incapable of affection or care..

was sparkling with a delicate

eyes lingering

chest tightened. The necklace was clearly chosen with care, a personal

bothered to make for

in, bouncing on his toes. “When did you give Aunt Linda her gift? Why didn’t I know about it? You’re not allowed to visit her without me

Alex along when

Nora didn’t know the exact number, but she had stopped counting long ago. Even this morning, they had

to Arnold’s arm, her touch light and familiar, as though it had always belonged

her voice soft

“Let’s go to

to eat,” she

gave a slight nod,

bouncing on his toes. “Let’s go as a family for

Family.

she could build a family with

of the moon, the truth

chosen his family.

chest aching with the weight of her realization. She had clung to hope for far

full moon that had once marked the start of her new life, she resolved

as they walked away.

Alpha father and son

Chapter 10

crowd, yet

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