The glittering ballroom swirled around me in a dizzying blend of colors and sounds. I should have been captivated by the spectacle of Kaelen and Seraphina's mating ceremony—the most significant event in the pack for generations—but my mind kept wandering elsewhere.
To him.
I caught glimpses of Jasper throughout the evening, his tall form moving among the guests, always fulfilling some duty or another. Even from across the room, I could feel the weight of his gaze whenever it landed on me, sending tiny shivers down my spine.
The musicians transitioned to a slow, romantic melody as couples filled the dance floor. Kaelen and Seraphina were at the center, their faces glowing with that special light that only true mates possessed. I watched them with a strange mixture of joy and longing.
"Another glass, Miss Iris?"
