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Our eyes meet for a brief moment, and he glares at where Callie’s hand is on my arm.

“Austin,” she greets him, her voice booming through the gathered crowd. He blinks and then shifts his gaze to her.

“Seer.” He nods, making his way to his seat. We both watch him as he settles into the chair that is always reserved for him.

With his father, Alpha Malaki, and his mother, Luna Elizabeth, growing older, Austin often represents his family at these events. When he does, he sits in the Alpha’s chair.

But that’s not what my eyes are fixed on. Instead, I eye the smaller chair that is next to his.

The Luna’s chair.

Traditionally, when he is representing his father, I would also be expected to sit next to him at the event.

But the first time I tried, he told me to wait in the back instead.

He explained that it would be more useful for the pack not to be distracted by me because we were only intended, but not yet mated. I felt the rejection in my soul.

Now, I watch as another male sits next to him, his head tipped close as he discusses whatever business he has with him. My chair is being used as a way to have an audience with Austin and it feels like a slap in the face.

Callie mutters something under her breath and drags me forward.

“Greet him,” she hisses at me under her breath, “And hold your head up high while you do it.”

I stare at her in horror. Making a scene at a public event is the exact opposite of what I would want to do or what Austin would want me to do.

But we’re already standing awkwardly in front of him and if we don’t say something, people are going to notice. I take a deep breath and Callie gives me a little shove, forcing me to stumble. Austin looks at me with narrow eyes.

“Hi, Austin,” I say softly, “Happy Bonfire.”

He stares at me, his silver eyes piercing right through me as he purses his lips. The silence between us stretches on and I hear the tell-tale whispers start up among my packmates.

Embarrassment starts to rise in my cheeks. This is humiliating. After a very long minute, Austin finally nods his head at me.

“Happy Bonfire, Yelena,” he says, simply, turning away from me to continue his conversation.

It’s a benign greeting, but he delivered it so coldly that it feels like I was slapped. I turn to run away but Callie is blocking my exit.

“Dry those tears, love, we’re not done here,” she says, stepping around me to face Austin head on.

“Austin,” she calls out, her loud voice drawing the attention of our pack again. I cringe as the spotlight extends to me, once again. Whatever Callie has planned, I’m know I’m going to hate it.

“I know I speak for the whole pack when I say the Moon Goddess has blessed you with such a beautiful, kind, and worthy intended mate,” she continues. My face flames red and I want to die. Austin looks over at me again, this time his expression is unreadable.

“For this Full Moon bonfire, perhaps you would grace us all with a dance, just you and your intended Luna, to welcome in the Moon Goddess on this night?”

You could hear a pin drop around the fire while everyone stares at us. The snap and crackle of the flames sounds like gunshots.

Austin studies me and then turns to Callie with a smile. It’s one of his fake ones, specifically the one he uses when he’s extremely annoyed.

My heart sinks like a stone.

“The Moon Goddess has blessed all of the Nightwing Pack, indeed,” he says, causing the packmates around us to howl in excitement.

“We honor Her every time we dance around this fire. Alas, as I’m sure my lovely intended will tell you, my dancing is less of an honor and more of a hindrance, so I must honor the Moon Goddess in a different way. ”

Quiet laughter sounds around the bonfire as I feel the pit in my stomach grow even deeper, somehow.

“But, please, don’t let that stop you all from dancing. This is our night. Let’s celebrate!” he says before sitting down and turning to the crowd at his side. A clear dismissal.

The pack responds with a roar and the music starts up as everyone starts to dance. Callie tsks under her breath, leading me over to the side where her spot is.

I follow her, but I’m numb. I can’t breathe. All I want to do is run away.

Rejected. Again. This time, in front of the entire pack.

I’ve never felt more alone in my life. I thought, before tonight, that I understood what it meant to be lonely.

Most of my friends have all drifted away, jealous or intimidated by my future role.

My mother is gone, and my father is living far away in the city, and now my mate avoids me.

I’ve come to terms with that as best I can, but it’s hard.

This is a new low. I want to curl up in a little ball and cry. Hannah comes running over, grabbing my hand and pulling me over to where Barbara and some of the other packmates are seated. They greet me kindly, but I can see the questions in their eyes.

The strength of a pack is often dependent on the mated Alpha pair. If Austin and I can’t even fake it during our engagement, that puts the pack in jeopardy. People will think that we’re breakable.

Why, Moon Goddess, why have you cursed me like this?