Chapter 24 Chapter 24
Madam Celeste, whom I was only knowing for the first time, stood in the middle of the drawing room like a carved statue, every bone in her spine aligned in a perfect, terrifying line.
The sunlight from the tall windows cut across her silver hair, making it look like a halo, which was ironic because nothing about her felt heavenly.
She clapped her hands once, the sound cracking through the air like a whip.
“Stand straight, Luna.”
I straightened immediately, even though my back was already stiff. My shoulders rolled back, chin lifted, with my arms at my sides like she’d shown me.
It was only my third hour with her, and I already felt like I was failing a final exam. The final exam being the etiquette practice for the Luna convergence ball which was only in a few hours time.
“The Lunar Convergence,” she said, pacing slowly in front of me, “is not just a gathering of pack leaders. It is theater. Politics. A performance of unity in a display of our woven traditions.”
I nodded, even though my mind had drifted again to Zane’s hands on me in his room, the warmth of his breath at my ear, the way his fingers had—
“Luna Tiana.”
My head jerked up. “Yes?”
“You are drifting.” Her gaze sharpened. “A Luna cannot afford to drift.”
“Sorry,” I murmured.
Madam Celeste inhaled once through her nose, long and disappointed. “Let us begin again. The Convergence exists to hold peace between the packs. Publicly. Symbolically. And tonight, there are elements you must anticipate.”
She lifted a small clipboard from a nearby stool and clicked her pen.
“Firstly — the Gift Presentation. Each Alpha offers a symbolic item from their pack as a way of reaffirming allegiance.”
“Okay…” I said carefully.
“Secondly — the Mate Acknowledgment and Auctioning, where the Alpha and Luna stand before the assembly. Any disrespect, hesitation, or discord between the pair is noted by every eye in the room. After that, Mated Alphas are auctioned for a dance with their Luna.”
She took a pause.
“How it works is, other pack bid on each mated couple to sponsor their dance. The amount bid reflects on how valued the bond is publicly.”
My stomach tightened. Our pack wolves had not even accepted me fully, now other packs?
“And this auction brings us to the last one, which is…” Madame Celeste echoed, tapping her pen on the clipboard. “The Bonding Dance.”
Right. That.
I swallowed. “I… see.”
“You must do more than see.” Her eyes narrowed. “You must embody grace. Poise. And your actions must synchronize with the Alpha. Wolves read body language more closely than they read words.” She stepped behind me and adjusted my posture. “Lift your chin.”
I did.
“No, higher.” She tilted it a fraction more. “Good.”
She circled me like a hawk, occasionally nudging my arms or shifting my hips.
“On the night of the Convergence,” she continued, “the Alpha leads the dance, but the Luna is its center. Eyes will be on you, Luna.”
Another pressure built in my chest — part nerves, part should I just damn the consequences and run because no part of me seemed like I could pull through. “Okay. I’ll try.”
Madam Celeste arched one thin brow. “Luna, you will have to do more than try.”
I exhaled slowly. “Yes, Madam.”
She finally stepped back. “Now, before we begin the steps, we need a partner for you—”
A soft knock sounded at the door.
Madam Celeste frowned. “We are not expecting anyone.”
“Come in,” she called.
The door opened quietly, and Kaius stepped inside.
In that quick space between Madam Celeste muttering come in, and Kaius stepping in, I let out a deep sigh.
His face held confusion and uncertainty, till his gaze swept the room and stopped on me.
Instantly, his eyes flickered. Shifting from confusion to his lips curving into a small smile before he bowed slightly to Madam Celeste.
“My apologies,” he said. “One of the servants told me the Luna had asked after me earlier. I assumed she required something.”
Oh.
Right.
The handkerchief.
I’d meant to return it after finding it on my floor since I had unintentionally held it for too long. He must’ve thought I needed him urgently.
Madam Celeste brightened like the moon had risen behind her.
“Wonderful. What a coincidence. We do need you.” She tapped her pen sharply. “The Luna requires a partner for dance practice.”
Kaius blinked. “I— what?”
Madam Celeste gestured impatiently. “You, young man. Come.”
He hesitated, his eyes flicking to mine, asking silently if I was okay with this.
I managed a small nod.
He stepped forward.
Madam Celeste arranged us immediately, her hands moving briskly.
“Luna, your left hand on his shoulder. Yes, lightly. Sir, your right hand on her waist.”
His hand touched my waist carefully, causing a warmth to spread across that area. Thanks to his slightly wide arms that was like two of mine, it spread enough to leave its presence in the dip of my waist while his thumb rested on my ribs.
“Closer,” Madam Celeste said.
He moved closer. I inhaled sharply as our bodies aligned naturally.
Madam Celeste stepped back. “Good. The Bonding Dance is meant to display unity, so no distance is tolerated.”
She clicked the music on, and a soft orchestral sound swept the room in seconds.
“Begin with the basic box step.”
Kaius nodded once, then looked down at me. “Ready?”
I shook my head. “I’m not sure.”
A ghost of a smile tugged at his mouth. “I’ll go slow. Just follow me.”
He stepped.
I stepped.
He stepped again, and I stepped on his foot.
He winced but barely moved. “It’s alright.”
“I’m sorry!”
“You don’t have to apologize. Relax your shoulders.”
“That’s impossible. Do you feel any cold? Because I’m sweating.”
He huffed a tiny laugh. “Let’s try again.”
We did.
This time I only fumbled half a step.
“You’re thinking too hard,” he murmured.
“You say that like it’s optional.”
His hand shifted slightly on my waist, fingers spreading just enough to guide my movement.
“Trust me,” he said quietly. “I won’t let you fall.”
A softness in his tone slid under my guard. My breathing eased. My shoulders loosened. And when we tried again, my feet followed his more easily.
“Better,” Madam Celeste called. “Again.”
So we did it again.
And again.
And slowly… it started to make sense.
Kaius adjusted to my rhythm, guiding me through the turns. His movements were patient. The way he touched me wasn’t flirtatious but there was an awareness in it. His fingers sometimes pressed a fraction deeper when I hesitated, or skimmed slightly higher on my waist when I forgot a step.
He maybe, wasn’t doing it intentionally.
But I noticed.
I noticed everything.
“Closer!” Madam Celeste ordered.
Kaius froze. “Closer?”
“Yes,” she said with a sharp nod. “Only mates who despise one another dance at arm’s length. You two should look connected.”
Kaius swallowed once, then stepped closer.
Our chests brushed causing my breath to skip. He didn’t react outwardly, but his hand moved half an inch higher on my back . His fingers curved along my spine, a warm point of contact that kept my balance.
We moved again.
This time the steps flowed more smoothly. My head tilted naturally toward his chest during a turn. I heard his heart beat steady and calm. Mine wasn’t.
The music softened into a slower rhythm.
Kaius matched it without thinking.
His hand shifted lower on my back, just slightly, enough that I felt the heat of his palm through the fabric. He guided me into a turn, then caught my waist to steady me.
My breath brushed his collar and the flexing of his jaw made me wonder if he had felt it.
“Tilt your chin down, Luna,” Madam Celeste instructed. “Yes, like that. And Sir — your hand should rest naturally.”
Kaius adjusted, his fingers spreading against the curve of my waist. A warmer, firmer touch than before.
We moved again.
And again.
And then, without realizing it, we weren’t practicing anymore. We were simply… dancing.
Following each other’s rhythm.
Matching breath for breath while following the music like we’d done this before.
The music swelled toward its end. Kaius guiding me through a final spin and catching me with a smoothness that made my stomach drop.
Madame Celeste cleared her throat sharply. “Ahem. It’s complete now.”
We jumped apart.
Kaius stepped back like the floor had heated under him, face flushing faintly.
“Apologies,” he said quickly. “I didn’t notice the music had stopped.”
Madam Celeste clasped her hands, smiling in a way that softened every hard line on her face.
“That,” she breathed, “was beautiful.”
I swallowed.
“The way you moved,” she continued, her smile widening, “the flow, the unity… You two look like a perfect couple.”