Chapter 52

ARIA

*Finally done with that damn meeting. I never knew werewolves could make discussing a competition so complicated.*

I stretched as I walked out of the Elder Council chambers. These lengthy preparation meetings always gave me a headache. Elder Thorn had said too much about the Sacred Moonlight Gathering traditions and ceremonies, and I'd only absorbed about half of it.

"Aria, are you ready?" Luna Seraphina approached me, with Elder Thorn following behind.

"Why is my dad coming too?" I asked when I spotted Gabriel walking toward us from another direction. We were supposed to go dress shopping, which should have been a women-only activity.

Luna Seraphina frowned slightly. "Gabriel, this should be a ladies' outing. The dress should be a surprise for everyone."

"I just want to ensure everything is safe," Gabriel insisted. "There have been rumors of hunters near Bordertown lately."

Elder Thorn sighed. "Fine, but you must promise not to reveal any details about the dress to anyone else."

The SUV drove toward Bordertown, with forests gradually giving way to small-town buildings. I'd never been to this area before; all the shops looked too... expensive.

"We're here," Luna announced as the car stopped in front of a boutique called "Moonlight Weaves."

I swallowed. "This place looks pricey."

"The Luna of the Moon Shadow Pack doesn't wear ordinary clothes," Elder Thorn said as she got out of the car. "This shop is run by our people."

*Our people.* She always used that phrase. Though I knew she meant werewolves, it always made me feel like an outsider.

Two shop assistants greeted us at the entrance. One was older, while the other looked familiar, though I couldn't place where I'd seen her. As we approached, I immediately detected the faint werewolf scent on them. In this human-populated town, werewolves had opened a high-end clothing store.

"Elder Thorn, Luna Seraphina, welcome," the older assistant said, then her gaze fell on me. "Is this Alpha Jace's true mate?"

Elder Thorn nodded. "Aria needs a dress worthy of the Sacred Moonlight Gathering."

Both assistants immediately became excited and led us to a private fitting room. The room was much larger than I expected, with a row of soft leather couches in the center surrounded by enormous mirrors.

"Please sit down. We'll show you some dresses," the younger assistant said before they both left the room.

I sat down, feeling out of place. Gabriel stood quietly by the door.

The assistants brought a series of dresses, but none really caught my attention. Until the younger assistant brought the final one.

"This is our newest design, specifically prepared for the Sacred Moonlight Gathering," she said softly.

The dress hung from the hanger, blood-moon red fabric sparkling under the lights. The upper portion was an off-shoulder design, extending from the shoulders to the waist, with color gradually transitioning to golden moonlight. The butterfly sleeves were made from ancient lace, embedded with small diamonds. The bottom layer was silk, with the upper layer matching the sleeves, and the skirt had three layers of lace at different lengths.

I reached out, my fingertips gently touching the fabric. "May I try it on?"

The young assistant nodded and led me into a private changing room. She helped me into the dress, carefully adjusting every detail.

"You look stunningly beautiful," she said after I stood up straight. "Truly, you look like an elf under moonlight."

I turned to the mirror and barely recognized myself.

When I walked back to the main fitting room in the dress, the room fell silent. Luna Seraphina's eyes widened, and Elder Thorn's serious expression gave way to surprise.

"Perfect," Luna finally broke the silence. "Absolutely perfect."

Elder Thorn nodded in agreement. "Standing beside Alpha Jace in this dress, you'll make all packs envious of Moon Shadow."

My gaze turned to Gabriel, and I was surprised to find tears in his eyes. He was always so strong, rarely showing vulnerability. I walked toward him and extended my hand.

"Dad? What's wrong?"

He took my hand. "Don't worry, little wolf cub. You look beautiful today. Your birth parents would be proud."

"Oh, Dad..." I felt my own eyes growing moist.

Gabriel looked at me, his voice low and firm. "You will become the true mate and Luna of the Moon Shadow Pack's Alpha, fulfilling a mission that transcends the boundaries between humans and werewolves. This is your destiny, Aria."

I nodded, tears in my eyes. For the first time, I fully accepted my dual identity—both human and soon to be part of the werewolf world.

We spent another hour selecting matching shoes. Luna Seraphina told me that the traditional jewelry for the Sacred Moonlight Gathering had already been prepared for me.

"I want to buy a dress for Aurora too," I pointed to a small dress in the children's section. "That blue one."

"Of course," the assistant nodded.

"And I'd like to get a shirt for Jace," I added. "That red button-up would match my dress perfectly."

Luna and Elder Thorn exchanged a smile. "You're already showing the instincts of a natural Luna," Luna Seraphina said.

On the way back, fatigue finally hit me. I leaned against the car window, reflecting on the day. Though it had been long, I had finally begun to accept my role as the future Luna of Moon Shadow Pack. I was no longer just the human girl awkwardly standing among werewolves. I would become a bridge connecting two worlds.

Without realizing it, I fell asleep.

I vaguely felt the car stop and heard the doors open. Then came Jace's voice, deep and warm.

"She's asleep?"

"Shopping is exhausting," I heard Gabriel answer.

I felt myself being lifted, resting against a solid chest. Jace's smell made me feel safe and at home. I should have woken up and told him I could walk myself, but in that moment, I just wanted to bask in the feeling.

Jace carried me up the steps of the Pack House. Half-asleep, I heard a deep, satisfied growl—not from Jace, but from Phantom. I smiled, knowing that even as a human, I had finally found my true home.

"What did she buy?" Jace asked Gabriel softly.

"A dress that will stop your heart," Gabriel replied, "and a matching shirt for you."

"She bought a dress for Aurora too," Luna Seraphina added. "She'll make a perfect Luna."

I felt Jace's arms tighten for a moment. He looked down at me, thinking I was asleep.

"I know," he said softly. "She already is the perfect Luna."

And the upcoming Full Moon would prove to the entire pack that I truly was the perfect Luna.