Three

Chapter 3 Cherry

Our whole pack was seated around a huge banquet table, draped in crisp white linen and decorated with candles and flowers. A feast of rich dishes rested along the middle, which the pack had all pitched in to make, and were all enjoying now.

Despite the festive mood, my own was strained. I sat to the left of Dylan. He was to the right of his father, while Heather sat to Chris's left. I felt like Dylan, and I were supposed to be the mirror image of our Alpha and Luna, but creeping shame built in me. I couldn't help noticing how often Heather leaned in to talk to Chris or patted her husband's arm and other little signs of affection that marked the pair as a proper couple.

Whereas Dylan and I had barely exchanged two words all night. Dylan mostly talked to his father about pack business. The only time I managed to speak to him was to ask if he'd tried the salmon or venison and other dull things.

A sheen of sweat beaded along my forehead as I dwelled on what everyone must be thinking as they watched us. My skin crawled, and I felt as if the whole pack's eyes were on me, despite everyone being too busy enjoying themselves.

The banquet was to die for. Heather, our Luna, had spared no expense in celebrating her husband's fiftieth birthday. The whole pack was gathered in

the huge open-plan reception room of our Alpha and Luna's house. The building was a converted barn, but none of its agricultural roots showed. The airy, high-ceilinged space would have looked at home in the richest areas of downtown Seattle. We were on the second floor, with huge balconies on either end, thrown open to the starry night sky.

I fidgeted with the strap of my dress. I'd been blown away as I'd put on the silver number tonight. It hugged my every curve, falling around me like a waterfall in the moonlight. But I was uncomfortable because Heather had given it to me. She'd told me she'd worn it at her Moon Ceremony, saying it would mean a lot if I wore it tonight. But now, it only added to that hot, prickly feeling washing over me. I was a pale imitation of what Heather was. I didn't deserve to wear this because Dylan didn't want me as his mate.

A lump rose in my throat, but then Bert's voice sounded beside me, "Do you think John's ever gonna lay off the ribs?"

I followed my friend's gaze, biting my lip to hide a smile. John, one of the older members of the pack opposite, was tucking into his third plate of red meat. The man had terrible gout but was notoriously bad at restraint. John often joked it was his wolf's appetite. I smothered a laugh as John's wife nagged him.

Bert's steady stream of chatter had been tonight's saving grace, the only thing able to distract me from my worries.

But, in a second, my amusement vanished. Chris, our Alpha, pushed back his chair. He tapped the side of his glass quietly. Discomfort sluiced through me.

It was Chris's birthday. There was no reason for my nervousness. The pack was here for their Alpha.

"As you know, I pride myself in making my speeches like my wife, short and sweet."

Laughter tittered through the pack at the familiar joke, but unease crawled across my skin. I couldn't shake the fear that I was about to be dropped into the limelight. Heather's eyes met mine, a warm smile on her face as if to say we had so much in common. Because I shared her petite build, I'd been able to borrow Heather's dress. But we weren't the same. Not in what counted.

My eyes crept towards Dylan, only to find his dark eyes staunchly turned away from me. Sadness cloyed at me as I saw again how indifferent he was to me.

Our Alpha's speech continued, "Nothing makes me happier than seeing the whole pack together and having my loving Luna and wonderful son and heir beside me.

"But, perhaps, there is one thing to make me happier still, something that I'll take the opportunity to share now since we're all gathered together. Nuu-Chah has made it known to me that our wonderful Cherry will soon officially join our family. I'd like you all to join me in toasting Dylan and Cherry, whose Moon Ceremony will take place in three months."

My heart rocketed into my throat. Its furious thumping seemed to compete with the gasps and applause erupting around me.

Our pack's smiling faces pressed in around me, and I realized they were raising their glasses to drink to Dylan and me. "To Cherry and Dylan," the words engulfed me, my gaze tracking to my "mate."

I felt my brittle smile falter as his jaw clenched. Tension stiffened his wide shoulders, and his gaze hardened as he looked my way.

I longed for the floor to swallow me whole. I couldn't stand this.

Our Moon Ceremony would happen in three months, and still, there was no sign of Dylan's feelings changing towards me. I felt like I was drowning beneath everyone's scrutiny. I imagined what they must be thinking. Their unspoken words seemed to buzz in my head. "Our future Alpha doesn't even like her. Poor Dylan—he's not attracted to her. Do you think it's a mistake? Do you think the Alpha and Luna misinterpreted Nuu-Chah's wishes?"

On shaky feet, I forced myself to stand alongside Dylan, who was already shaking hands with his father, who clapped him on the back. Heather's arms were suddenly around me. I fought back tears.

I will not cry.

"I hope you didn't mind me giving you the dress tonight. You can see it as a dress rehearsal for the real day, or you're welcome to choose your own dress if you want something new," Heather said.

I shook my head and managed to say, "I love it. I'd love to wear it on the day."

My Luna beamed at me with touching fondness.

As if underwater, I heard Heather and Chris's voices telling Dylan and me to go and join the party. The pack's excitement flooded the room. Someone had set music playing, the pounding beat like the jackhammer of my heart. Everything around me seemed to blur. A wall of well-wishers surrounded me for what felt like an eternity. With each exchange, my breath caught more sharply. It barely registered as my dad found me, pulling me into a giant bear hug. In his arms, my feelings threatened to spill out, but more excited arms soon tugged me onward.

Finally, at the edge of the room, the space around me was clear of friends. I take a step, only to find myself teetering as if walking on unstable ground. Belatedly, I realized that I was, somehow, beside Dylan. He must have come out the other side of the pack, too.

Instinctually, my arm reached out to him, curving around his but Dylan tensed. A frown marred his handsome brows, and he pushed me away as if unable to bear my touch. I gaped after him, but he only stalked away.

Grabbing a bottle of champagne by the door, he strode out onto the empty balcony. My gaze darted back at the crowd, but the pack was oblivious, abuzz with excitement. Most people talked about the upcoming celebration.

My eyes tracked back out to Dylan's wide back. He leaned over the balcony railings as if wanting to escape into the night. I wondered if that was what he wanted. Did his wolf want to flee from me too? I watched him take a swig of the bottle in hand, only to swiftly take another. Tears prickled across my gaze. No matter how hard I tried, it was hopeless. Dylan would

never love me. He hated me. Humiliation washed over me as I remembered how he'd flinched at my touch.

Burin three months, we'd be bound together for the rest of our lives. A flash of our future beat through me. I'd really tried to believe that things would work out between us. I'd tried to give Dylan time to come around to me, to show him that I'd always be there for him, but his constant coldness towards me was… exhausting.

Taking one last look at Dylan's back, I snuck off to the bathroom to gather my thoughts. There, I raked my fingers through my hair, tidying up the flyaway strands. I stared hard at my reflection.

The whole past year seemed to swarm over me. The one I'd spent so hard trying to get Dylan to notice me. For the first time, instead of helplessness, anger flooded me. I couldn't keep doing this. I wouldn't stay here only for Dylan to reject me over and over.

I thought of the moments of happiness I'd had over the last year while designing things like the curtains, cushions, and some of the dresses I'd made for myself. A year ago at college, I graduated with a qualification in fashion design. I'd toyed with the idea of applying to universities to study for a degree, but I'd put my interests on hold to come to grips with my future duties as Luna and to have more time to get to know Dylan. I refused to put them on hold any longer. I would apply to study further.

In what felt like forever, excitement drummed through me. For my future. For what I wanted. The idea cemented. I wanted to be happy with what I was doing. The dream of designing things, creating them, and sharing them with others took root. So… I'd leave the pack before the bonding ceremony.

It wasn't as if Dylan wanted me around. He'd probably be relieved when he found out I'd gone.

With a final look in the mirror, my eyes filled with determination, I left the bathroom. From the edge of the room, I checked out the banquet hall and didn't spot Dylan. He was so tall that I'd easily have spied him if he'd returned from the balcony. Not feeling like socializing alone and accepting more congratulations as half of the "happy couple," I snuck out of the hall.

The barn had a large hallway, which was empty except for Dylan. As I stepped out into the space, I registered his slumped shoulders, how he leaned back against the wall, the bottle of champagne trailing in his hand.

His dilated eyes snagged on me. "Che– Cherry," he slurred.

Shit.

He slid down the wall a little. He was wasted. For a moment, I thought about getting Bert to help. But at the thought, I worried Dylan would follow me back into the reception room. What if Dylan blurted out why he'd got so drunk? He'd ruin his dad's night. Neither of his parents needed to see their son like this. The pack didn't need to see their future Alpha like this, either.

I resolved to look after him myself. Our house was only a few minutes' walk down the dirt track. Dylan's house, I corrected myself. It wouldn't be mine much longer. I'd made up my mind, but I still couldn't resist the urge to look after him.

Dylan dropped the, luckily, empty bottle with a thud, then swayed.

I darted forward, burrowing into his side and wrapping my arm around his waist. "I've got you." I guided him towards the front door, fumbling with

the latch, and then out into the night.