Page 24

JACE

J ace wasn’t in the mood for a festival.

But appearances were half the battle when you were alpha, and the Moonlight Festival was tradition—light, music, renewal. A time when the whole town came together beneath lanterns and stars and forgot, for a few hours, the weight of ancient pacts and looming threats.

He wore the dark tailored shirt one of the den mothers had insisted he buy last season—charcoal with silver-threaded cuffs that shimmered faintly beneath the enchanted lamps strung through Willow Grove Park .

His boots were polished, his hair tamed, and he even managed to fake a smile or two when elders greeted him at the gate.

But his wolf was already pacing.

And the minute he stepped through the veil of glittering lights and caught sight of her, all bets were off.

Lyra. Dancing.

With Ezra .

Her slate blue dress hugged her like a secret, catching candlelight as she spun, and her curls bounced with every laugh. Ezra had one hand resting just a little too low on her back, and his smile—smug, snake-slick—twitched at the edges like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Jace’s breath went shallow. His wolf snarled, low and guttural, vibrating beneath his skin. But he didn’t move. Didn’t storm across the dance floor. Didn’t growl, mine .

Instead, he stood beside the drink table like he didn’t want to tear the damn place apart.

Logan appeared at his side like a ghost. “She looks good.”

“Don’t,” Jace muttered.

“I was going to say pissed .”

“She’s both.”

“You gonna do something about it?”

Jace’s eyes never left her. “No.”

“You sure?”

“No.”

Logan smirked, but wisely shut up.

Lyra twirled again, laughter escaping her lips like smoke and sugar.

Jace wanted to devour the sound.

Ezra leaned in close, saying something that made her smile—tight and brittle, not the real one—but enough to send fire coursing through Jace’s veins.

Her eyes found his. Across the crowd. Across the music and the lanterns and the weight of everything unsaid.

She met his gaze.

Held it.

For three heartbeats too long before she looked away.

Jace exhaled, slow and heavy, every muscle in his body on edge.

His wolf didn’t want to fight.

It wanted to guard .

To circle her. Protect her. Drag her out of that dance and into his arms and tell her what he hadn’t been brave enough to say the last time they’d spoken.

But she’d made her choice tonight. And he wasn’t sure she’d welcome his interference.

Ezra said something else.

She nodded, politely, distantly, but her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

Jace caught it. So did his wolf.

Then she stepped back, excused herself, and slipped into the darker edge of the crowd, disappearing behind one of the floral arches near the old wishing well.

Ezra stayed behind looking smug. Too smug.

Jace turned to Logan. “Go listen in on whatever Ezra’s talking to his pack about.”

Logan raised a brow. “And you?”

Jace’s eyes stayed locked on the path Lyra had taken. “I’m checking on something else.”

He was already walking before Logan could respond.

The noise of the festival dulled behind him.

The grove quieted as he reached the curve of the old path near the vendors’ tents, where the lanterns cast long shadows and the air carried the scent of clove sugar and fresh grass.

He spotted her near the edge of the well, standing with her arms crossed, staring up at the stars like they had answers she could pluck down and hold.

Jace stayed still for a moment.

Just watched her.

Watched the way her magic curled at her fingertips like it needed somewhere to go. Watched the way her chest rose and fell, the stiffness in her spine, the way she shifted like she was bracing for something—even now, even alone.

She wasn’t relaxed.

She wasn’t at ease.

She wasn’t fine.

He cleared his throat as he stepped into the lantern light.

She turned, startled, but didn’t look surprised.

Only tired.

Tired, and beautiful , and so deeply angry he could feel it radiating off her like wildfire.

But she didn’t run. She didn’t lash out. She just waited.

And maybe that was worse. Because Jace had the feeling that whatever happened next...

She was done playing the game.