Chapter 3

The grand dining hall of the Silvermoon Pack house gleamed under crystal chandeliers, meticulously prepared for tonight's diplomatic dinner with the Dawnshadow Pack. I adjusted the centerpiece of silver moonflowers—a final touch before our guests arrived—while pack members bustled around me, arranging place settings and polishing silverware to a mirror shine.

I smoothed down the front of my midnight blue gown, chosen specifically to complement the formal occasion. As Luna, these diplomatic functions fell under my domain, and I had spent weeks preparing for this crucial alliance negotiation.

"Everything looks perfect, Luna Victoria," Elias commented, appearing at my side with the seating arrangement cards. "Alpha Kincaid and his delegation should arrive any minute."

"And Marcus?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

Elias's expression tightened. "He said he'd be here before the guests arrive."

Silver growled within me. *He won't be.*

I pushed the thought aside and focused on greeting the Dawnshadow Pack as they entered, Alpha Kincaid at the front with his Luna beside him—a united front that made my heart ache with its stark contrast to my own situation.

"Luna Victoria," Alpha Kincaid bowed respectfully. "Your reputation for hospitality precedes you. The Silvermoon Pack's diplomatic gatherings are legendary."

"You honor us with your presence," I replied smoothly, guiding them toward the reception area where drinks were being served. "Alpha Marcus will join us shortly."

The words tasted bitter on my tongue. How many times had I made this same excuse? How many times had I covered for his absence?

As minutes stretched into a half hour, I could feel the growing tension. Whispers circulated among the Dawnshadow delegation. I maintained my composure, directing conversations toward neutral territory while silently seething.

When the doors finally opened, my relief quickly curdled into horror. Marcus strode in—with Isabella at his side.

She wore a dress of deep crimson that hugged every curve, her dark hair cascading over one shoulder. The possessive way she leaned toward Marcus was unmistakable, as was the lingering scent connection between them.

"Forgive my tardiness," Marcus announced without a hint of genuine remorse. "Important pack matters required my attention."

I felt Alpha Kincaid's gaze shift between Marcus and me, noting the distance, the lack of greeting between mates. His Luna's eyes held unmistakable pity as she looked at me.

"Shall we proceed to dinner?" I suggested, desperate to move past this moment.

As we moved toward the dining table, Isabella drifted toward the seat traditionally reserved for the Luna—at the Alpha's right hand. My seat.

The room fell silent. Every wolf present understood the significance of this breach in protocol. It was a public challenge to my position, one that Marcus should have immediately corrected.

He said nothing.

I felt dozens of eyes on me, waiting to see how I would respond to this deliberate slight. Silver raged within me, demanding I assert our rightful place, but years of diplomatic training held me steady.

"Isabella," I said, my voice carrying clearly across the suddenly silent room, "please, take my seat tonight."

Gasps rippled through the gathering. By offering my seat instead of demanding it, I had maintained dignity while highlighting the impropriety. Isabella's triumphant smile faltered slightly, realizing I had turned her challenge into a moment that made her—and by extension, Marcus—appear discourteous.

"How... generous of you, Luna Victoria," she murmured, unable to refuse without seeming petty.

I took a seat further down the table, beside Elder Seraphina, who squeezed my hand briefly under the tablecloth—a silent gesture of support.

Throughout dinner, I watched Marcus lean repeatedly toward Isabella, whispering in her ear, while Alpha Kincaid observed with increasingly narrowed eyes. The alliance we had spent months cultivating was fraying before my eyes.

"Your Alpha seems... distracted," Alpha Kincaid commented quietly when we had a moment alone. "It's unusual to see a Luna's authority so publicly undermined."

"These are unusual times," I replied carefully. "I trust you won't judge our entire pack by one evening."

His expression was grave. "I've known you for years, Victoria. You deserve better than this."

As the evening concluded and our guests departed, the damage assessment began in my mind. Not just to our alliance prospects, but to my standing within the pack. How many more public humiliations would I endure before taking action?

I watched Marcus escort Isabella from the dining hall without so much as a glance in my direction, and something inside me hardened into resolve.

Silver's voice was steel in my mind: *We've been patient long enough.*

I nodded imperceptibly. The time for patience was over.