Chapter 40
Abigail's POV
The next morning, I went to Matthew's study.
As usual, he was buried behind piles of documents and maps. When I knocked and entered, he didn't even look up immediately.
"What is it, Abigail?" His eyes remained on the papers in his hand.
"I want to attend the Moon Revelation Ceremony," I said.
That finally made him stop writing. He looked up, properly examining me for the first time in days.
"The ceremony?" he repeated.
"Yes." I met his gaze. "At my age... it's only proper to attend, isn't it? For an Alpha's daughter, it's also a kind of responsibility."
Matthew was silent for a long time, his fingers tapping the desk intermittently. The air seemed to stretch. Finally, he nodded.
"Alright," he said. "You should go. It's a good opportunity."
I waited for him to continue, but all I got was that same inscrutable look he always gave. He watched me as if he had many things to say, yet they were all stuck in his throat.
"Go see your mother," he finally said, waving his hand as if dismissing a subordinate who'd come for orders. "She'll help you prepare."
I found Evelyn in the courtyard. She sat in the shade of a tree, holding a cup of tea, her posture elegant, as if everything around her was merely decorative backdrop.
Seeing me approach, she immediately put on that perfect, flawless smile. "Abigail, darling! What brings you to see me today?"
I forced myself to return a proper smile. "I wanted to let you know—I'm attending the Moon Revelation Ceremony. Father said you would help me prepare."
Her smile froze for just an instant, a shadow flickering in her eyes. But it vanished immediately, skillfully replaced by practiced warmth.
"Of course!" Evelyn's tone sounded almost delighted. "How wonderful. The Moon Revelation Ceremony is one of life's great events. I'm so happy for you, dear."
"Thank you, Mother."
"You don't need to worry about a thing," she said, lightly smoothing her skirt. "I'll prepare everything for you."
When I left, she was still sitting in the shade with her tea, her posture unchanged, her smile unchanged. That afternoon, a servant arrived at my room carrying a large wooden chest.
Inside was a brand new gown—light-colored silk that shimmered faintly in the light, embroidered with intricate patterns in gold thread—along with several pieces of jewelry: a delicate necklace, matching earrings, and a bracelet set with small rubies.
Autumn examined each item piece by piece, her fingertips sliding back and forth over fabric and metal. She checked seams, tested clasps, even held the dress and bracelet close to her nose, as if trying to detect any trace of something wrong.
"Everything seems normal so far, Miss," she finally said, placing the last item back in the chest. "I haven't found any poison or anything else suspicious."
"She won't make a move now," I said, the words as much an explanation to Autumn as a judgment to myself. "At least not before the ceremony. Too many witnesses, too much scrutiny. If something happened to me at the Temple, she'd have a hard time covering it up."
Autumn nodded slowly, but didn't relax her vigilance one bit. "Even so, we can't let our guard down."
"We won't," I said.
The day of departure arrived with clear weather, the sky a solid expanse of cloudless blue. I dressed in simple traveling clothes, neatly folding the light-colored gown and packing it in my bag. Autumn and Orchid helped me prepare my luggage, their movements efficient and practiced.
By the time we reached the stables, the horses were already saddled. I swung up onto mine, and Autumn and Orchid mounted theirs, flanking me on either side.
On the other side of the courtyard, Evelyn and Olivia were boarding an ornate carriage decorated with the Crimson Fang crest. Before getting in, Olivia glanced back at me, that brief look containing several emotions intertwined, too complex to decipher. The next second, she ducked into the carriage, and the door snapped shut behind her.
We left through different gates, and I was secretly relieved. The last thing I needed was to endure Evelyn's false smiles and Olivia's scrutiny during the long journey.
The trip to the Sacred Mountain took most of the day. We followed winding forest paths, the terrain gradually rising, trees growing sparse, exposed rock becoming more frequent. When the sun began its westward descent, the mountain finally appeared clearly in view.
It was even more massive than I'd imagined. The peak was capped with eternal snow that gleamed coldly against the blue sky. Dense clouds wrapped around its waist, concealing the true summit in mist.
But even through the clouds, I could still see it—the Temple of Luna. It was a structure built from pale stone, glowing with a faint silver light in the dimming day, standing quietly at the top of the world.
I instinctively pulled on the reins, looking up at the temple, my heartbeat involuntarily quickening, each beat pounding against my eardrums.
"Miss?" Autumn's voice pulled me from my daze. "Are you alright?"
I blinked, realizing I'd been standing still for quite a while. "I'm fine. Let's go."
We urged our horses forward again, climbing the narrow mountain path. The air grew colder with each step, thin and cool in my lungs, carrying a faint scent of snow. By the time we reached the Temple gates, the sun had dropped below the horizon, painting the sky in interwoven shades of deep orange and violet.
Two guards stood at the entrance, sharp gazes hidden behind stone pillars on either side. Their expressions were serious but not hostile. We dismounted, and one of them stepped forward.
"State your name and pack."
"Abigail Rodriguez, Crimson Fang Pack," I answered.
He quickly scanned the list in his hand and nodded. "You're on the roster. The ceremony begins at dawn tomorrow. Quarters have been prepared for you inside."
I thanked him and led Autumn and Orchid through the tall stone gates.
The Temple courtyard was unexpectedly vast, paved with smooth white stone that reflected the last rays of sunset, casting a soft glow. Many young wolves had already arrived, gathered in small groups, speaking in low voices, their gazes shifting between unfamiliar and curious. I recognized a few faces from council gatherings, but most were strangers I was seeing for the first time.
Then I saw her—standing at the far end of the courtyard, near the shadows of the corridor.
Harper.
She looked exactly as she had in my memories from my previous life: tall and dignified, her silver hair braided into thick plaits coiled at the nape of her neck, her robes pure white with gold-trimmed edges. Even from this distance, that quiet yet undeniable authority emanating from her was like an invisible pressure, effortlessly overwhelming everyone present.
She was conversing with several elders, her expression calm and inscrutable. As if sensing my gaze, she tilted her head slightly, her eyes slowly sweeping in this direction—then meeting mine.
The world seemed to freeze in that moment.
Her gaze was sharp and clear, like a silent blade cutting straight through my facade. That feeling of being seen through came fast and fierce, as if all my secrets were being torn open and laid bare before her for examination.
A few seconds later, she looked away, turning back to the elders as if nothing had happened.
Only then did I realize I'd been holding my breath. I slowly exhaled a long, drawn-out breath.