Chapter 36 Thirty Six
DANIKA
"Are you alright?" Kaziel asks at the entrance of the event hall. My stomach feels tight, a lump in my throat. How can I be alright after receiving such a haunting text? Still, I nod because apparently, I have temporarily lost the ability to speak.
Kaziel watches me for a few seconds. Then he turns away from me and rubs his forehead, his other hand on his lower back.
I swallow past the lump in my throat, clutching my purse tighter.
"Dove, did I..." He cuts himself off, still not looking at me. "Did I do something wrong?"
My chest tightens. I should show him the text and get it over with. But what if...what if...
"Dani?" My mate breathes, his voice laced with anguish. And suddenly, I'm struck with guilt.
"We can just go home if you're not ready for this. But please, baby, please..." He moves over to hold on to my wrists, an earnest look in his eyes. "Please don't give me the silent treatment."
Tears well up in my eyes, but I blink them back quickly.
"I...I want to do this. We can talk later, okay?" I say, and he sucks in a shaky breath.
"Whatever I did, I...I'm sorry… I'm so sorry. I really—"
Oh dear, he's not even stopping to breathe.
"Kaziel, breathe," I say. He doesn't even know why I'm not myself right now. But he's apologizing so desperately. It makes me wonder what he would do if we really actually had a big fight.
No, I can't do this to him.
"Look at me, honey," I whisper, reaching up to cup his face. "You're not losing me. I'm right here, okay? Let's get through this, and we'll talk later, yeah?"
He searches my eyes intently. Then he exhales and nods.
"Let's go in," he says, and I plaster on a weak smile, letting him lead me into the hall.
The doors of the pack hall swing open, and my muscles tense. The room hums with low chatter and laughter, the polished floors reflecting the golden glow of chandeliers.
I clutch my purse tighter, my eyes scanning the crowd—strong warriors pacing near the walls, women moving with effortless grace, and men whose eyes seem to pierce right through me.
Kaziel's hand is warm and steady around mine, but I can feel the tension in his fingers. He's scanning too, alert, assessing. Every step he takes radiates power and somehow... protection.
I force myself to take a deep breath. Don't embarrass yourself. Don't faint. Don't make him regret bringing you here.
My eyes land on one of the female warriors, her stance perfect, her muscles coiled like a panther ready to strike.
Another man leans against a pillar, tall, imposing, and undeniably dangerous. Every glance feels like it carries a question: Who is this human daring to step into our world?
Except, I'm no human now, am I?
Kaziel leans close, his voice low and almost a growl. "Stay close to me. They might stare, but nothing matters except us."
I nod, trying to summon the courage I don't feel. My pulse hammers as the pack members' gazes linger longer than polite, some sizing me up, some whispering amongst themselves. Every ounce of my confidence seems to vanish under Kaziel's protective aura, but oddly, I also feel... safe.
A warrior with a sharp jaw and intense eyes steps forward, giving a subtle nod in acknowledgment. I bow my head slightly, murmuring a greeting, and he nods back, almost imperceptibly approving.
Kaziel squeezes my hand gently, and a thrill shoots through me. Mine, the word seems to radiate from him in waves. Every wolf, every woman, and every warrior in the room knows it without him having to say a single word.
He steps forward, letting his presence ripple through the hall like a stone thrown into still water. Every conversation falters mid-sentence. Every pair of eyes shifts toward him, instinctively recognizing his authority.
"Tonight, we welcome someone important."
Some warriors shift uneasily; the women glance at one another, curious.
"My mate," he continues, his gaze locking onto me, "has entered our home." His eyes sweep slowly across the crowd, then back to me. "She is mine. Not because I claimed her by right, but because she chose me. Let it be known that anyone who disrespects her, questions her, or harms her in any way will answer to me directly."
A few low murmurs ripple through the hall, some wary, some impressed.
Kaziel tilts his head slightly. "We are a pack built on loyalty, respect, and strength. My luna is under my protection. You will treat her as you would treat me. No exceptions."
The weight in the room shifts. You could hear a pin drop if anyone dared to move.
He steps back just enough for me to breathe, but his hand tightens around mine ever so slightly. "She walks among us now," he says softly, almost for me alone. "And you will all remember that. Do I make myself clear?"
A chorus of murmured "Yes, Alpha" echoes through the hall, all of them somehow acknowledging me.
Kaziel's gaze finds mine again, warm. "Good. Now," he adds, letting a small, predatory smile tug at his lips, "let us enjoy tonight."
A thunderous cheer fills the air, and several people pop champagne bottles open, confetti raining on me. I'm so caught off guard, I let out a startled gasp.
Two little girls run up to me. One with a flower necklace and the other with a flower crown. Smiling, I lower myself to let them place them on me. They both kiss me on both cheeks.
"You're so pretty, Luna!" They echo and hurry away as if flustered by their own actions.
A few teenagers walk over to me, handing me little baskets of toffees and chocolates. I'm so deeply overwhelmed by the smiling faces around me that tears well up in my eyes.
An elderly woman with a staff walks up to me and kisses me on the cheek.
Then she holds my hand. "I wish you a long and healthy life, Luna."
She slips a beautiful bracelet around my wrist, smiling softly.
And then, a tall, imposing figure approaches us. A perfect carbon copy of Kaziel. He smiles at me, his gaze sliding over to my mate.
"Turns out she's no human after all. Why didn't you tell me, son?" He says, and I freeze.
Kaziel tsks.
"You made your conclusions. Why should I care about what you think?"
Kaziel's father chuckles, patting my shoulder.
Then he leans in to whisper in my ear. "Please don't die. My son has not been happy in a long time. He believes he deserves to be abandoned. I hope you will shower him with all of the love and warmth you can. He might be a monster. But he's still my little boy."
My throat constricts. When he pulls away and walks away, Kaziel's eyes narrow at his retreating figure.
Blinking back my tears, I reach for my man's hand, squeezing lightly.
There's no way a pack with this much love would want to sacrifice me, would they?
...
I stare at my reflection in the restroom, drying my hands with the tissue as I try not to grin. Tonight has been going so well, even beyond my expectations. To think I’d been so worried for nothing. Honestly, I’d half expected Eve to show up and ruin everything like she’s always done.
But now that I think about it, her absence is even stranger.
Since she’s the vessel, wouldn’t she show up just to shift the pack’s attention to her? Especially since she’s their savior and all?
The knock on the door snaps me out of my thoughts. It creaks open, and a familiar figure walks in, taking a drag of a cigarette. It’s her.
She’s wearing a matching black hoodie and sweatpants.
Hera.
What is she doing here?
Wait…
Is she a member of the pack?
“Hey there, Dani… My bad, Luna Danika. Does it rhyme? Doesn’t look like it,” she says, and I narrow my eyes at her, uneasy about the bad vibes she’s currently giving off.
“What do you want?” I demand, and she tosses the cigarette into the metal bin while it’s still glowing amber.
“Are you trying to start a fire?” I hiss.
She shrugs.
“I just came here to see the newest Luna in town,” she drawls, and I clench my fists, irritated.
Who does she think she is?
“Aren’t you curious, Luna?” She asks, moving closer to me. I refuse to budge even though my heart is racing in my chest now.
“Curious about what?”
She leans in to whisper in my ear.
“The message, sweetheart.”
My blood pressure literally shoots through the roof.
“It was you?!”
She cackles, and I’m struck with the strong urge to slap her across the face.
“Don’t delude yourself, Luna Danika. You are just a means to an end,” she singsongs. I want to hit her so bad.
“Shut up,” I snap instead.
Fire suddenly ignites in the metal bin, and I grab some tissue paper, soaking it under the faucet.
“Your biological father, Dani. He is Kaziel’s mortal enemy. I’m sure you’ve seen the scars…” she utters, her voice dripping with mockery. “They are precious gifts your father gave to him.”
My blood runs cold in my veins, and in an instant, images of every scar I’d seen on Kaziel’s body fill my head.