The Harvest Moon Festival is an annual event exclusive only for the highborns of all packs. These highborns are dressed in silks and jewels, each bearing their pack's sigil with pride.
Some come to find their fated mates, others to spy on their rival packs, or boast their pack's entire year's achievements, but most to strike secret business and military deals.
This is the first time I'm invited here. Hence, I'm not sure if punching Lance on the face for kissing me without my permission will be justifiable enough for others to understand me.
I jerk away from Lance with a soft growl.
Instead of being sorry for what he did, he cockily stares at Damian, who's containing his own anger.
Before my own control snaps, I mutter, "Excuse me," and step away.
My pulse drums in my ears as I weave through the crowd with my head low, moving closer to the stage where a huge screen is mounted, showing the festival's highlights.
I discreetly plug in a small USB into the projector's port.
Then, boom!
Gasps ripple and eyes widen as the screen flickers to Lance and Aiko's s.ex video: the sound of their voices, their bodies slapping against each other and their bed creaking echo through the temple..
"Don't stop, Lance! My wolf is growing crazy now!" Aiko whimpers.
"You're hot and amazing, Aiko! No one can do it better than you!" Lance groans.
As the technical staff frantically try to turn off the screen, the crowd erupts with whispers.
"Isn't Alpha Lance Grant supposed to marry another she-wolf?" someone murmurs.
"I heard the wedding was postponed. Now I see why," another replies.
A sense of satisfaction surges through me.
The night I entered Lance's bedroom while he and Aiko were having their 'nightly session', I didn't just take his bracelet, I also hid a small camera which I connected to my phone.
I melt back into the crowd before anyone can see me near the projector.
From a distance, I can spot the Dunebourne delegation: Lance, Aiko, and the rest of them are all in panic mode. Their faces are pale, while their pride is shattered. They can barely look at anyone who's staring at them with revulsion and disbelief.
Lance can't even dare use his usual excuse to defend his action: "Aiko is my fated mate. Hence my wolf needs her. But I promise to be a good husband to Harleigh."
I bite my lip hard to stop the laughter bubbling inside me.
After everything they've done to me, this humiliation is justice served.
When I turn around, Alpha Torrin appears, his lips curved into a knowing smirk.
"It's you who did it. Isn't it?" he asks.
My mouth opens, ready to deny it. But I end up not saying anything.
"By the way, I was waiting for your call or even a text. Maybe I should get your number too, so I can just contact you myself?" he says.
His smile falters when I keep my silence. "Sorry. Am I being too presumptuous?"
I shake my head, but change the topic, asking, "Did your wolf become weak too?"
"It did until I felt your presence tonight." His gaze softens, the edge in his voice gone. "Why don't you come back to the Frostveil Pack? I can protect you."
My chest tightens, while my fingers fidgeting with the hem of my sleeve. "What if my wolf can't choose between you and Damian? Will you still protect me and save my sister from the Dunebourne Pack?"
The question makes his jaw tighten.
It surprises me, coz I expect him to expect and prepare for that possibility.
"I rejected Lance because I didn't want to share him with his fated mate. I'm sure you wouldn't want to share me with Damian or anyone else too," I add.
"I'll be patient with your choice. If you choose me, I'll be happy." His tone drops lower, as if he's pained to continue. "But if you choose Damian… my wolf will try to survive it. And if it does, I'll respect and support you both. I'll try to save your sister too if I can."
My gaze descends to the floor, unsure what to say.
Then,...
He gently lifts my chin with his long fingers, forcing me to look up into his steady eyes.
His thumb gently brushes against my lower lip, causing my breath to hitch.
He leans closer, his gaze now fixed on my mouth.
My wolf howls with excitement inside me, but I manage to stop him on time.
"No," I whisper, stepping back with my heart racing. "I just exposed Lance and Aiko. I can't give others a reason to think I'm no better than them."
Guilt flickers across his face. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…"
"Harleigh!"
Lance's furious voice thunders through the air as he storms toward me.
His hand clamps down hard on my arm. "You're the only one who could've done it!"
"Let her go!" Alpha Torrin snaps, shoving Lance away and freeing me.
Lance snarls and grabs Alpha Torrin's collar, glaring at him like a madman. Before his punch can land, Alpha Philp's commanding voice stops him.
"Have some shame, Lance. Is the scandal that just happened not enough for you to control yourself this time?"
Though Alpha Philip's tone is calm, the fury beneath it is clear.
Everyone nearby has turned to stare, making the room suffocating and oppressive.
"Ah right. Because this is Mayari's Temple, and I can't be uncivilized and humiliate you more," he argues to his dad with wicked sarcasm.
But then,...
His fist slams into Alpha Torrin's cheek.
Me and the crowd gasp in horror as we step back.
The Frostveil highborns, including Damian, rush to Alpha Torrin's side, while the Dunebourne ones scramble to restrain Lance before he causes more chaos.
Alpha Philip's glare pierces through me, as if he's trying to pin every ounce of chaos on me.
"We're going home now," he demands sternly.
When I don't move, his voice sharpens. "What? Are you abandoning Harper? Sure, Lance can take care of her then."
That threat makes my heart twist, forcing me to finally obey him.
However,...
I stop mid-movement when Lance suddenly lunges at Alpha Torrin again.
Fortunately, Alpha Torrin sidesteps him swiftly, avoiding the blow and refusing to fight back.
The temple guards finally arrive to stop the fight. Still, Lance keeps going wildly, as if he's possessed by an evil entity.
All the anger, humiliation, and fear I've been swallowing because of him and his pack explodes out of me.
"Stop! Back off!" I scream.
And then…
Stunned, Lance stops mid-step. Beads of sweat roll down his temples as he slowly steps back until he fades through the crowd.
For a moment, I think maybe he's just listening out of guilt or the last shred of respect he has for me, if he has any left.
But then I catch Alpha Philip's grin that's full of greed and with a tinge of awe.
That's when it sinks in: I possess the Shadowfang's rare gift, The Shadow Bind!
The others don't seem to realize it, but some do, especially the majority of the Frostveil highborns.
"Did the Dunebourne betray us about the total annihilation of the Shadowfang Pack?" one whispers in anger and disbelief.
"That's why they want her so desperately… because she has the…"
"Shut up!" I snap again.
And just like that, all mouths that are whispering and murmuring snap shut, their eyes wide, obviously wanting to fight my command.
Alpha Torrin and Damian stare at me as if they're seeing a creature that shouldn't exist, a monster.
I take a shaky step back, then another, hoping they or even one of them will come forward to comfort me. But they're stuck on their spots, probably unsure now on whether it's still worth it to fight for our mate-bonds.
Only Alpha Philip and his council begin to approach, forcing me to use the Shadow Bind again.
"Don't follow me! No one follows me!"
I storm out of the temple, tears gushing down my cheeks while fear flooding through me.
Since my secret has been exposed to more werewolves, what will happen now? I'm sure they'll come after me and Harper soon. Either they will kill us like they've always wanted or they will exploit us for their greed just like what Alpha Philip wants.
Just as I stumble beneath a tree and gasping for breath, Damian's voice echoes,
"Harleigh! Where are you?!"
What is he doing here?! He can't follow me as I've commanded earlier!
Then,...
It hits me like a dagger: My Shadow Bind didn't work against him? But, why? How?