Chapter 180: The Disappearance of Zephyra at the Party

Chapter 181: The Disappearance of Zephyra at the Party

Zephyra's POV

The day of my welcome party had finally arrived, and I couldn't help but feel a knot of anxiety in my stomach. Standing in front of the mirror in my room, I adjusted my outfit for the tenth time, though I knew the real source of my nervousness had nothing to do with my appearance.

Things between Noah and me had been awkward since his confession. He'd laid his heart bare, telling me about his past with Elise and Vivian, and declaring his love for me. But I hadn't given him an answer yet. I caught glimpses of desperation in his eyes whenever he looked at me, as if he'd already convinced himself I wouldn't accept him.

A knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. Without waiting for an answer, Fiora pushed it open and leaned against the doorframe, studying me with that unnerving gaze of hers.

"You seem tense," she observed, a slight smirk playing on her lips. "Worried about your big debut as Noah's Luna?"

I sighed, turning away from the mirror. "I've just had this weird feeling all day."

"What kind of feeling?" Fiora asked, stepping into the room.

"Like something terrible is going to happen," I admitted, rubbing my arms to dispel the chill that had settled over me. "I can't shake it."

Fiora's lips curved into a wolfish grin that made my skin crawl. "I can't wait to see what terrible fate awaits you today." The way she said it—like she was anticipating a show—made my stomach turn.

I studied her face, noticing the slight twitch in her left eye, the way her fingers tapped restlessly against her thigh. Amara's diagnostic tests still hadn't yielded conclusive results, but it was clear Fiora's grip on sanity was slipping daily.

"Please behave today," I pleaded quietly. "Just... try to act normal for a few hours."

"No promises," she replied in a sing-song voice before twirling out of the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts and that persistent feeling of dread.

I took a deep breath, smoothed down my dress one last time, and headed downstairs where Noah was waiting. He looked handsome in his dark blue button-down shirt, his hair slightly tousled in that way that made my heart skip a beat despite everything.

"Ready?" he asked, his eyes searching mine.

I wasn't. Not really. I still couldn't wrap my mind around the idea that Noah could love me—broken, damaged me. But I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on getting through the next few hours.

"Yes, let's do this," I replied with false bravery.

Noah smiled, placing his hand at the small of my back as he guided me toward the backyard. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver up my spine, and I found myself leaning into him slightly.

As we stepped into the backyard, conversations quieted and all eyes turned to us. The space had been transformed with string lights, flowers, and tables laden with food and drinks. It looked magical, but I couldn't fully appreciate it with so many strangers staring at me.

Noah cleared his throat and addressed the crowd. "Thank you all for coming today. It means a lot to have your support as we welcome Zephyra into our pack. She's not only my mate and your Luna, but she's also a strong, compassionate woman who I know will serve this pack with all her heart."

The crowd erupted in cheers, applause, and howls. I forced a smile, feeling overwhelmed by the attention but touched by Noah's words.

He spent the next hour introducing me to various pack members—the enforcers, trackers, and lead warriors. I'd only known his parents, Zoe and Ryan, before, and Marigold who was absent due to some emergency.

Noah's father, Percival, was particularly excited, pumping my hand enthusiastically and telling me how happy he was that Noah had "finally found the one." His mother, Lavender, was warmer than during our first meeting, though I could tell she was still reserving judgment.

He's acting like we're planning a future together, a voice in my head pointed out. And I realized with a start that I was letting him. I decided to just enjoy the night and worry about everything else tomorrow.

We made our rounds, accepting congratulations and hugs. Ophelia was delighted to be reunited with Lucian, and Lily was hanging out with Oliver and the other teens. Everyone seemed happy, which only made my sense of foreboding more unsettling.

Eventually, I spotted Elise sitting on a secluded bench, feeding Balthazar while Evangeline was with her father. I excused myself from Noah and made my way over to her.

"You look like you need some insight, though I'm not sure about what," Elise said as I approached, not even looking up from her son.

I sat beside her with a sigh. "I'm just... confused about Noah," I admitted. "He told me about his past with Elise and what he did to her. How cruel he was."

Elise nodded slowly. "You have to understand that what he did to me is in the past, Zephyra. I've forgiven him."

"But he was such an asshole to you," I said, lowering my voice to avoid being overheard.

"He was," she agreed. "But he's changed. And our relationship only served one purpose—to conceive the next seer. We would have separated regardless. Dominic is my destiny. The Moon Goddess does everything for a reason."

I stared at my hands, twisting them in my lap. "What if he falls for someone else and cheats on me? I don't think I could handle that,Elise. It would destroy me completely."

Elise's eyes softened as she adjusted Balthazar in her arms. "Let me tell you something—I've known Noah since he was eighteen, and he has never looked at any other woman the way he looks at you. Not me, and definitely not Vivian."

She leaned closer, her voice gentle but firm. "You are his true love, Zephyra. His forever love, his endgame. He would do anything for you and love you fiercely. Just give him a chance."

I laughed softly. "You sound like my therapist."

She smiled back. "She sounds like a very wise woman."

I fell silent, contemplating her words and wondering if I could really walk away from Noah and our pack bond. The thought made my chest ache.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, interrupting my thoughts. It was a text from Amara:

[I'm in the forest. Come quick. I got Fiora's test results and it's bad. I can't wait, we need to discuss this now.]

I frowned, confused about why Amara wouldn't just come through the pack gates, but my concern for Fiora's condition outweighed my hesitation.

"Elise, I need to take care of something. I'll see you later," I said hurriedly, already rising from the bench.

I jogged toward the tree line, glancing back to make sure no one was following me. The forest was dark and quiet, a stark contrast to the lively party behind me.

"Amara!" I called out, venturing deeper into the woods.

The further I went, the more I regretted my impulsive decision. What if someone was using Amara's phone to lure me out here? I was about to turn back when I sensed a presence behind me.

I whirled around to find Amara standing there, and I let out a relieved breath. "Damn, you scared me."

But something was off about her. Her eyes seemed strange, like she was fighting some internal battle.

"Amara, are you okay?" I asked, shaking her shoulder slightly.

A flash of sadness crossed her face, so brief I almost missed it.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

Before I could process what was happening, she swung her arm with supernatural speed. Pain exploded in my head, and then darkness claimed me.