Chapter 148 148. Full moon

Chapter 148 148. Full moon
Tabitha’s POV

After the speech, we move to a round table reserved for the Aldairs, the Sharpes, and the Becketts, along with the key figures from their respective packs. Beta Renston is the only member of the Crystal Ridge council in attendance, which explains why his daughter Isabel is here as well.

My mom sits beside Alpha Emery. The brothers take their seats, and I settle in among them.

I notice there are no humans at this table. Andrew is far away with the other human guests, completely oblivious to the werewolf politics unfolding here. The older folks start discussing pack matters, so I quietly focus on the food instead. At least everything looks delicious. I fill my plate with chocolate-covered strawberries—suddenly craving something sweet.

“Here, you can take this one too,” Arthur says, noticing I can’t reach the plate of chunky hazelnuts. He nudges his plate closer to me.

“Oh—uh, are you sure?” I ask, sheepishly.

“No worries.” Arthur winks and smoothly transfers a couple of strawberries onto my plate.

I glance at the brothers, and their expressions scream pure distaste as if they just smelled something revolting.

I tear my eyes away from the brothers’ expressions and return my focus to the elders at the table.

“Did you not get engaged at twenty-four as well, Emery?” one of the Stormblood pack elders asks Alpha Emery.

Alpha Emery laughs.

“I did. That is precisely why this age matters for the Aldairs.”

He folds his hands on the table.

“You see, when a werewolf turns eighteen, that’s when the bond can reveal itself. Some find their destined mate at once. Others wait years. For the Aldairs, there is another rule. On the second full moon after their twenty-fourth birthday, they are released from any mate assigned by the Moon Goddess. They may choose their own partner. They are free to claim whoever they desire.”

What?

My eyes drift back to the brothers who now look beyond constipated. Reed is holding the cutlery so tight he might as well break it. Evren’s shoulder is stiff, frozen in place as he listens to the elders talk. Luca sits tensely, hands pressed to his knees, and Jace shifts uneasily in his seat, avoiding eye contact with father.

Eliott Sharpe hums.

“The second full moon after their birthday, huh?” He lifts his gaze to the crescent moon as if tracking the next phases. “How curious. It falls on the night of the harvest festival. What a fateful timing.”

“Exactly. An occasion for an occasion,” Alpha Emery affirms.

I risk a glance at the brothers once again and this time, they look deeply uncomfortable with this conversation. Evren lifts his glass of bourbon and drinks it rather quickly. I’ve never seen him straight up drink like that.

Through the mindlink, I feel their mood darken.

Irina Beckett looks at the Aldair brothers with interest.

“So none of you have discovered your mate yet?” she asks.

Jace’s eyes flick to me. My pulse jumps. He opens his mouth to speak and for a second I think he will expose everything.

“Of course they have not,” Alpha Emery says before Jace can talk. “We will simply wait for the second full moon. After that, they may choose whoever they wish. I’d say it’s a mercy from the Moon Goddess. And maybe a blessing too. She’s giving my sons the opportunity to pick the rightful women who have what it takes to marry an Aldair.”

My eyes drop to my lap. Suddenly, I lose the appetite for the tasty strawberries on my plate. My throat feels dry and my heart feels like it’s getting ripped apart.

Alpha Emery believes his sons deserve women who are strong enough to stand by their sides. Clearly, that’s not me. And damn it, shouldn’t I have realized that by now?

Selena Sharpe raises a brow. “You sound so excited about that.”

“Of course. This could be the perfect chance to merge our families.”

Yoseff Beckett nods in agreement, his gaze shifting between his daughter and Evren. He exchanges a look with the other elders at the table, all of them clearly thinking the same thing.

“I believe Evren and Melanie would make a strong pair,” someone suggests.
Melanie shyly lowers her head but the smile on her lips betrays her real feelings.

“That would strengthen the bond between the Becketts and Aldairs for sure,” Beta Ben from the Stormblood pack agrees.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Nothing else brings families closer together better than marriage,” Alpha Emery agrees.

Arthur frowns. “Don’t you think my sister’s too young to talk about marriage? I’ve stayed quiet all these years, assuming the engagement talks weren’t serious, but now you’re actually considering it.”

“Arty, I’m twenty-three,” Melanie says softly.

“Exactly my point. You’re too young, Mel!” Arthur argues back.

“Your sister is an adult, Arthur,” Yoseff Beckett asserts in a firm voice. “And as the future Alpha of the pack, you should understand how important it is to tighten the relationship of pacts within the island. Besides, it’s not like we’re forcing our sister to get married tomorrow. It’s just a good thing to consider.”

Arthur frowns. He doesn’t look too pleased about this. But Melanie, on the other hand, is blushing furiously and sending Evren a look that could only be described as heart eyes.

I drink some water to calm my nerves.

“How about Reed and Elsie? Don’t you have something going on as well? It would’ve been a great thing to have an Aldair and Sharpe union as well,” one of the elders from the Deathclaw pack teases lightly.

It’s Elsie’s time to blush and flash a shy smile while throwing Reed a hopeful look.

“We ended things over a year ago,” Reed declares through knitted brows.

The smile from Elsie’s face fades.

Alpha Emery shoots Reed a sharp look.

“There’s nothing wrong with giving a relationship another chance, son,” Alpha Emery scolds Reed. “Besides, you and Elsie suit each other. Do you not agree, Eliott?”

“I’m not the type to pressure my children into marriage,” Eliott Sharpe shrugs, “but if they can make a marriage that will strengthen the ties between the families work, then who am I to stand in their way?

“Exactly!” Alpha Emery seconds.

That puts the smile back on Elsie’s face again.

Reed clenches his jaw and firmly shakes his head, his face blotched with disappointment and irritation.

I sit there in silence while the three Alphas and the elder werewolves talk about engagements. Each word feels like a weight on my chest.

The orchestra starts a mellow tune, but it does nothing to soften the conversation at the table. If anything, the music presses against my skull, every note scraping at my nerves until breathing feels like work. I adjust the strap of my dress and force air into my lungs.

“Hey, are you okay?” Jace asks from beside me.

I press my fingers to my temple, unsure how to answer. “I—I need some air.” I draw in a shaky breath and offer the best smile I can manage. “Excuse me.”

I don’t know if the elders even notice me leaving. If they do, it certainly doesn’t stop them from debating someone else’s marriage like it’s a business deal. I push back my chair and walk away from the garden, letting my feet carry me wherever they want.

I just need to get out of here.