He Was Mine, Until the Hotel Night

The night air caressed my skin as I stood on the balcony of Lucas's mansion, my fingers lightly tracing the cool stone balustrade. Tomorrow would be our engagement party, the official announcement of our union to the entire werewolf community. My heart fluttered with anticipation, a gentle warmth spreading through my chest as I gazed at the city lights twinkling below us.

"Are you cold?" Lucas's voice was soft as he approached from behind, his footsteps barely audible on the marble floor.

I turned to face him, taking in his tall frame silhouetted against the light from the grand living room. Even after two years together, the sight of him still made my breath catch. His dark hair fell across his forehead in that careless way that always made my fingers itch to brush it back, and those piercing blue eyes seemed to see straight through to my soul.

"A little," I admitted, smiling up at him. "But I wanted to see the view one last time before tomorrow."

Lucas's lips curved into that half-smile that had first captured my heart at the inter-pack gathering three years ago. He slipped off his jacket—a tailored black blazer that probably cost more than most wolves made in a month—and draped it gently around my shoulders.

"You know," he murmured, his hands lingering on my shoulders, "the view is even better from the Alpha suite."

I felt a blush warm my cheeks as his fingers traced a path down my arms. "Lucas..."

"It's not like we haven't shared a bed before," he said, his voice dropping to that intimate tone that always made my knees weak. "After tomorrow, everyone will know you're mine."

His words sent a thrill through me. Mine. The word held such power, such promise. I was going to be Luna to the most powerful Alpha heir in the region. More importantly, I was going to spend the rest of my life with the wolf the Moon Goddess had chosen for me.

"Do you think she knew?" I asked softly, tilting my head back to look up at the waxing moon hanging heavy in the night sky. "The Goddess, I mean. Did she know we would find each other?"

Lucas's fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his touch sending shivers down my spine. "Of course she did. Our fates were sealed long before we were born."

I leaned into his touch, closing my eyes as he pressed his lips against my temple. This was everything I had been raised for—this moment, this man, this destiny.

"I love you," I whispered, the words tumbling out before I could stop them.

Something flickered across his face—something I couldn't quite read—before he pulled me closer. "And I, you."

We stood there in silence for a moment, the city spread out below us like a carpet of stars. Tomorrow would change everything. Tomorrow, I would officially step into my role as future Luna of the Silvermoon Pack.

What I didn't know