Chapter 2

Freya's POV

Three weeks ago to the day, I stood in the grand ballroom of the Howling Hall, surrounded by the elite of Moon Bay's Grey Moon Pack, about to become Thorne Grey's intended mate.

Crystal glasses clinked as waiters in formal attire weaved through the crowd. Chandeliers cast a warm glow over the gathering, highlighting the expensive fabrics and glittering jewelry of the pack's highest-ranking families. The air buzzed with excitement—tonight, Alpha Thorne Grey would officially announce our engagement, cementing the alliance between two of Moon Bay's founding families.

"Darling, try to look a little less nervous," my mother whispered, appearing beside me in a midnight blue gown that complemented her silver-streaked black hair. Caroline Riley had been a formidable Beta in her own right before marrying my father. Even now, pack members instinctively straightened when she entered a room. "Everyone is watching."

"I can't help it," I admitted, smoothing down the front of my emerald dress for the hundredth time. "I keep thinking something will go wrong."

My mother's eyes softened. "After five years, you've finally won him. Enjoy your triumph."

Five years. That's how long I had followed Thorne Grey with my heart on my sleeve, the subject of whispers and sidelong glances from Moon Bay's elite circles. "The Riley girl doesn't know when to give up," they'd said, just loudly enough for me to hear. "An Alpha like Thorne Grey has more practical considerations than her persistence."

But I had been stubborn, and now here I stood, about to officially become the future Luna of the Grey Moon Pack.

Across the room, Thorne stood tall and imposing in a perfectly tailored black suit, speaking with council members. Even surrounded by other powerful wolves, he commanded attention effortlessly. My wolf stirred inside me, purring with satisfaction at the sight of him.

"Finally," she whispered in my mind. "After five years, he's ours."

I had known Thorne since childhood, of course. Our families had always moved in the same circles, and as children of founding families, we'd attended the same pack functions and celebrations. But we'd never been close. He was seven years older than me, and as the future Alpha, his education and training had always set him apart.

It wasn't until I was sixteen, when he returned from his Alpha training abroad, that everything changed. He'd walked into my father's office while I was there discussing college plans. In that moment, something inside me instantly recognized him as mine. It wasn't just his physical presence—though at twenty-three he'd already possessed the commanding aura of an Alpha in his prime—but something deeper, a connection I couldn't explain but felt with absolute certainty.

Of course, a sixteen-year-old girl's certainty meant little in pack politics.

"Everyone expects him to choose Kaelin Brooks," my father had explained later, his expression gentle but firm. "They've grown up together, been groomed for partnership since they were cubs. These arrangements aren't just about personal preference, Freya. They're about alliances, bloodlines, pack strength."

The entire pack had always assumed Kaelin would be Thorne's Luna one day. The two had been inseparable growing up, with the Brooks family's unwavering support of the Greys spanning generations. Though never formally engaged, their eventual union was treated as inevitable—a natural conclusion to years of careful alliance-building between their families.

But I was my father's daughter, stubborn and determined. William Riley hadn't built Riley Enterprises from a modest family business into one of the largest real estate and financial empires in the region by backing down from challenges. Our family estate in Moon Light Woods, with its sprawling grounds and historic mansion, stood as testament to generations of Rileys who had fought for their place among the pack elite.

My mother, with her extensive political connections across multiple packs, had taught me about patience and strategy. My older brother, Ethan, being groomed to eventually take over the family business empire, had shown me how to analyze situations and seize opportunities.

With my family's unwitting training, I set out to win Thorne Grey.

I started small—showing up at pack events where he would be, engaging in community projects that would catch his attention, excelling in my role managing pack historical records. I learned everything about him: his preferences, his ambitions, his weaknesses. I knew which council members opposed him and which were allies. I understood the challenges he faced as a young Alpha taking over from his legendary father, Alexander Grey, who had ruled Moon Bay for thirty years.

At first, Thorne barely noticed me. His focus was on strengthening his position as the new Alpha, dealing with border disputes with the Silverstone Pack, and managing his relationship with Kaelin Brooks, his expected mate.

Kaelin had been by his side since childhood. The two had grown up together, their families closely aligned in pack politics and social circles. But there was something else that tied Thorne to Kaelin—her moon phase syndrome, a rare condition that caused her emotional stability to fluctuate with the lunar cycle. Near the full moon, she became erratic, sometimes even dangerous. Only Thorne seemed able to calm her during these episodes.

I watched from a distance as he took care of her, admiring his dedication while quietly looking for my opportunity. I never wished Kaelin ill—I simply believed, with absolute conviction, that I was meant to be Thorne's mate.

My persistence gradually began to pay off. Small victories accumulated—a conversation that lasted longer than courtesy required, a request for my input on pack matters, a look that lingered. I caught him watching me at pack gatherings, his expression thoughtful.

Then came the winter solstice celebration last year, right here in this very hall. I had stepped onto the balcony for fresh air, away from the festivities where Kaelin was, as usual, holding court as Thorne's presumed future mate.

"You're missing the celebrations," Thorne said, his voice closer than I'd expected. I turned to find him watching me with an intensity that made my wolf stir.

"Sometimes it's nice to step back and observe," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady.

He moved beside me, looking out over the moonlit forest that surrounded Moon Bay. "Your family's support has been valuable to the pack," he said carefully. "The council expects me to announce my mate choice soon."

My heart hammered in my chest. "And?"

"The alliance between our families would strengthen both our positions against the Silverstone Pack's encroachment," he continued, his tone measured and practical. "It's something worth considering."

That night marked the beginning of what I believed was my triumph. After five years of patience and persistence, my dedication had finally paid off. Six months later, after careful negotiations between our families, here we were.

"It's time," my father said, appearing at my side. William Riley cut an impressive figure in his formal attire, his gray-streaked dark hair and confident bearing marking him as a man of influence. "Thorne is ready to make the announcement."

I took a deep breath and allowed my father to lead me toward the center of the ballroom where Thorne waited. The crowd parted before us, conversations hushing as wolves turned to watch. I held my head high, feeling the weight of their stares—some approving, others calculating, a few openly jealous.

"You've earned this," my father murmured, squeezing my hand before placing it in Thorne's outstretched palm.

The moment our hands touched, a current of awareness ran through me. Thorne's fingers closed around mine, warm and steady. His golden-flecked eyes met mine, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth—a private expression meant only for me.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Alexander Grey, Thorne's father and former Alpha, called out. His commanding voice immediately silenced the room. "Tonight, we gather to witness the joining of two founding bloodlines. My son, Alpha Thorne Grey, has chosen his mate."

The pride in his voice was unmistakable. Alexander Grey had ruled Moon Bay for three decades before passing leadership to his son five years ago. Even in retirement, he remained a powerful figure in pack politics as a lifetime member of the council.

Thorne stepped forward, still holding my hand. "I have chosen Freya Riley as my intended mate," he announced, his voice carrying easily through the hall. "Our union will be formalized at the next full moon ceremony."

Applause erupted around us. I caught glimpses of my mother's proud smile, my brother Ethan's approving nod. This was everything I had worked toward for five years.