LYRA'S POV
The scent of rain and damp earth should have been comforting. It was the scent of home, of Silvercrest Pack territory. But tonight, for some reason I couldn't explain, it carried the bitter scent of smoke.
I smoothed the front of my dress, a deep emerald green that brought out my warm hazel eyes—a color Cassian had always said he loved—and smiled at my reflection.
Today was our fifth anniversary. Five years of being his Luna, his mate, and his wife.
And tonight, I was going to give him the best gift of all.
My hand drifted to my stomach, still flat, still holding my secret. I'd known for three weeks, and keeping it from him had been the hardest thing I'd ever done. Every morning, I woke up wanting to tell him. Every night, I fell asleep with the words burning on my tongue.
But I'd waited. I'd planned. Tonight, after the concert, I'd pull out the ultrasound photo and watch his face light up with joy.
My wolf, Kiara, stirred inside me, warm and content. ‘He's going to be so happy.’
I knew she was right. I could barely contain my excitement. I'd been waiting for this moment for weeks.
I grabbed the tickets from my nightstand: front-row seats to the Moonlight Serenade, the concert he'd mentioned wanting to see months ago. I'd called in favors, pulled strings, and spent more than I should have. But it was worth it. He was worth it.
“Cassian?” I called, practically floating into his study. “I have something to tell you. Well, two things, actually. But they're surprises, so you have to wait until tonight...”
He didn't look up from his desk. His phone was pressed to his ear, his brow furrowed as he waved me off with his free hand.
“Lyra, you'll have to cancel your plans for tonight. I have to work overnight. The border patrols have been stretched thin. I can't afford to lose hours of work.”
My heart stuttered. “Tonight? But Cassian, it's our...”
“I know what day it is.” His voice was clipped and impatient. “But my duty doesn't stop for anniversaries, Lyra. You should understand that.”
I opened my mouth, then closed it. The tickets felt heavy in my hand, the ultrasound photo burning a hole in my pocket.
“Of course,” I managed. “I understand.”
I told myself it was fine. He was busy, but when he came home that night, we'd celebrate together.
Kiara whimpered softly, but I pushed down my disappointment.
Everything was fine until he spoke again.
“And cancel those ridiculous concert tickets.” He finally glanced up at me. “You're the Luna of Silvercrest, not a pup from the Hollow Pines Pack. Concerts are for young, unmated wolves.”
The words stung, but I bit my tongue. He'd been talking about the concert for weeks, and now it was childish because I wanted to go with him?
“Of course,” I said again, keeping my voice steady. “You're right. Concerts are silly.”
I walked over to his desk, leaned down, and kissed his cheek. “I'll be here when you get home. I have something special planned.”
Something flickered in his eyes—irritation, maybe. Or guilt. It disappeared before I could name it.
“Fine,” he said, already turning back to his phone. “Whatever you want.”
I left his study with the tickets still clutched in my hand and the ultrasound photo hidden in my pocket.
Tonight, I thought, my excitement flickering back to life. Tonight, I'll tell him. And nothing—absolutely nothing—will ruin this moment.
But for now, there was no harm in living a little.
After he'd left for patrol, I retrieved one of the tickets I'd tucked into my journal a few minutes earlier. A tiny act of rebellion. One night to be just Lyra, not Luna.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A few miles outside Silvercrest Pack territory, the Moonlight Serenade was in full swing. The human band played a frantic, passionate melody that vibrated through my bones. It was loud, messy, and alive—everything my life was not.
I stood with the crowd and moved to my favorite song until the music softened and a spotlight began sweeping over the audience.
“Kiss cam!” the lead singer shouted, and the pack members in the stadium erupted in excited howls. “Let's see the lovely couples we have this time.”
The camera panned across the crowd, catching couple after couple locking lips. I could smell the electric thrill of excitement and lust in the air.
Then the screen froze. The music stuttered, and a deafening silence fell over our section.
Cold dread pooled in my stomach at the sight on the screen.
There, on a screen larger than the pack house, was Cassian.
He wasn't in his patrol gear. He was wearing the dark suit he'd worn to the Alpha Council meeting last week. And his hands weren't holding a scouting report. They were tangled in the raven-black hair of a woman I knew better than my own reflection.
Sabrina.
My best friend from the Ashclaw Pack. The woman who'd stood beside me as my bridesmaid. The woman who had told me just two days ago, “Oh, I can't go to the concert with you, Lyra. Kieran is taking me out.”
Kieran. Her cover story for the affair.