The night air caressed my skin as I stepped out of the limousine, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged bird. Kaelen's hand pressed firmly against the small of my back, guiding me forward with that possessive touch I was becoming dangerously accustomed to.
"Breathe," he murmured, his lips close to my ear. "You look stunning. They'll love you."
I wanted to believe him, but my stomach churned with nerves. This wasn't just a party—it was my official debut as Kaelen's Luna. Hundreds of werewolves watching my every move, judging whether I was worthy of their Alpha.
And I was just a human fraud.
The path ahead was lined with torches, leading toward the most magnificent bonfire I'd ever seen. It roared toward the night sky, at least twenty feet tall, sending sparks dancing like fireflies against the darkness. Around it, smaller fires burned in strategic patterns, creating a vast circle of warmth and light.
