Chapter 199

Chapter 199
[Amelia's POV]

It had been four days since Alex and I discovered that Thin Ice Beneath hit number one at the box office. Four days since we'd held each other in his kitchen, talking about how this success might change everything with his father.

Four days since I'd seen him.

I pressed my back against the cool glass of Alex's floor-to-ceiling windows, staring down at the city sprawling below. His high-rise apartment had become my refuge, the only place I could escape the madness that my life had suddenly become.

Famous. You're actually famous now.

The thought still felt surreal. A week ago, I was just another struggling actress hoping for her big break. Now my face was on entertainment websites, my name trending on social media, and my phone...

Ring ring ring.

My phone buzzed against the marble countertop for what felt like the hundredth time today. I didn't even bother looking at the caller ID anymore. Ever since someone leaked my number, it had been non-stop. Reporters, entertainment bloggers, random people who somehow got hold of my contact information.

Ashley, calm down.

My wolf soul had been on edge all day, pacing restlessly inside me every time the phone rang. Her agitation made my own nerves worse, like having a caged animal scratching at my ribs.

Make it stop, Ashley whined. Too many voices. Too much noise.

I grabbed the phone and declined the call without looking. Immediately, it started ringing again.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered, hitting decline again.

The apartment's silence felt heavy around me. Alex had been drowning in Silver Moon Pack business and marketing meetings for Thin Ice Beneath. Between that and his preparation work for Black Gold, we'd barely exchanged more than a few texts since that night in his kitchen.

He's busy. Important Alpha stuff.

But I missed him. Missed his presence, his scent, the way he made everything feel manageable just by being near.

My phone buzzed with a text from my mom:

"Honey, I can't even leave the house anymore. There are news vans parked outside. Mrs. Henderson from next door keeps calling asking if you're really the same Amelia from that movie everyone's talking about. I told her I don't know what to say. She saw you on TV and recognized you. What do I tell people?"

Guilt twisted in my stomach. I'd dragged my mother into this circus just by being her daughter.

I texted back: "Stay inside. Don't answer any questions. I'll figure this out."

But I had no idea how.

The TV was on low volume, some entertainment news show playing in the background. I'd been avoiding watching anything about myself, but sometimes I caught glimpses.

"—breakthrough performance by newcomer Amelia Brown has audiences—"

I grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.

The screen showed clips from Thin Ice Beneath, my face filling the frame during some of the more dramatic scenes. The reporter's voice was enthusiastic, almost breathless.

"Brown's raw, emotional performance has critics calling her 'a natural-born star' and 'the find of the year.' The film has dominated the box office for two consecutive weeks, showing no signs of slowing down."

At least they're saying nice things.

What struck me was how positive all the coverage had been. Usually when unknown actors suddenly hit it big, there was some gossip, some attempt to dig up dirt or find controversy. But every piece I'd seen had been glowing, professional, focused on my performance rather than personal drama.

Silver Moon Pack's influence, I realized. Alex had promised the Pack would put their full weight behind promoting the movie. Apparently, that included controlling the narrative around me.

The thought should have been comforting. Instead, it reminded me how little control I had over my own story now.

Ring ring ring.

Ashley jerked inside me, a low growl building in my chest. The sound was starting to make me feel actually physically sick.

Can't take much more of this.

I was about to decline the call automatically when I glanced at the screen.

Alex Pike.

My heart jumped. Finally.

"Alex?" I answered quickly, relief flooding through me.

"Amelia." His voice was that low, commanding Alpha tone that always made my knees a little weak. But there was something different about it today. More formal. More distant.

"God, I'm so glad you called. This phone has been ringing non-stop and my mom can't even leave her house because of reporters and—"

"Tomorrow night," Alex interrupted, his voice cutting through my rambling with Alpha authority. "At the city outskirts, in Silver Moon Pack's private forest preserve."

I blinked, confused by the abrupt change of topic. "What about tomorrow night?"

"I will hold moon ceremony for you."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I sank onto the leather couch, my legs suddenly unsteady.

"What?" The word came out as barely a whisper.

Moon ceremony. Moon ceremony! Ashley was suddenly fully alert, practically vibrating with excitement inside me. Yes yes yes!

But my rational mind was spinning. "Alex, what are you talking about? Why so sudden? We haven't even discussed—"

"You will become Silver Moon Pack's Luna under tomorrow's full moon." His tone brooked no argument, every word delivered with the weight of absolute authority. "I have submitted the application to the Pack elder council. The ceremony will proceed according to ancient traditions."

My breath caught. Luna. The word carried so much weight in our world. The Alpha's mate, the mother of the Pack, second only to the Alpha himself in hierarchy and respect.

But we're already mated, I thought frantically. We already have the bond.

Being mated and being officially recognized as Luna were two completely different things. The moon ceremony would make it formal, permanent, unbreakable by Pack law.

"Alex, I—" I started, but he continued as if I hadn't spoken.

"The success of Thin Ice Beneath has provided the opportunity we needed. My father cannot object to a Luna who brings such value to the Pack."

Oh.

So this was about the movie. About proving my worth to Edward Pike.

And tomorrow is the full moon, I realized. The most powerful night for any Pack ceremony, when the moon's influence was strongest and the Pack bonds most susceptible to change.

"You didn't ask me," I said quietly.

A pause. When Alex spoke again, his voice was slightly softer, but still implacable. "I'm not asking, Amelia. I'm telling you. Tomorrow night, you take your rightful place as my Luna."

Ashley was practically doing backflips inside me, howling with joy at the idea of finally being officially recognized. But my human mind was reeling.

"What if I'm not ready?" I asked.

"You are ready." His certainty was absolute. "You have been ready since the moment I first scented you. The ceremony is merely a formality to satisfy Pack law."

I pressed my free hand to my forehead, trying to process everything. Tomorrow night. Less than twenty-four hours.

"Alex, this is huge. Being Luna means—"

"It means you will be protected. It means your position in the Pack will be unquestionable. It means my father will have no choice but to accept our bond." His voice dropped even lower. "It means you will be mine in every way that matters to our world."

"The ceremony will be held at sunset," Alex continued, his tone returning to that formal Alpha authority. "Pack members only. Ethan will contact you tomorrow with details about preparation and what you need to know."

My head was spinning. "Preparation? What kind of preparation?"

"Traditional Luna preparation. Cleansing rituals, education about your duties, ceremonial attire." He paused. "Do not be afraid, Amelia. This is what we have been working toward."

Is it? I wondered. Or is this what you've been working toward?

But before I could ask, he was already wrapping up the call.

"I have to go. Elder council meeting to finalize arrangements." His voice softened just slightly. "Sleep well tonight. Tomorrow, everything changes."

The line went dead.