Chapter 1 That one night.

                Chapter One- Engagement Gift

Aveline’s POV

The day I had been waiting for since I was six years old had finally arrived.

Tonight, I was supposed to become Ethan Blackwood’s fiancée.

My mate.

My first crush.

The boy I’d grown up watching from across the pack grounds until he finally noticed me.

I stared at myself in the mirror and couldn’t stop smiling.

“You’re actually doing this,” I whispered.

My reflection looked almost unfamiliar beneath the soft makeup and the carefully styled blonde hair. I had spent nearly two hours getting ready, changing my mind about my dress twice before finally settling on the one hanging beside my bed.

It was elegant without being too dramatic, exactly what I’d wanted.

I had never dreamed about a proposal in some bright garden filled with flowers and sunlight. Even as a child, I’d imagined something different.

An evening celebration.

Warm lights.

Music.

The moon above us.

And Ethan standing beside me while everyone we loved celebrated our bond.

Maybe it was ridiculous to have planned something like that at six years old.

But I’d always been a girl who knew what she wanted .

And I wanted Ethan.

I knew plenty of girls in the Crescent Moon Pack had noticed him. It was impossible not to. Ethan Blackwood had he kind of face people remembered, and being born into one of the most respected Alpha families in the region certainly didn’t hurt.

But his looks weren’t what made me fall for him.

At least, that was what I told myself.

Ethan had always been gentle with me. He remembered little things other people forgot. He knew I hated overly sweet drinks, knew I couldn’t stand being late, and once drove nearly an hour because I’d casually mentioned that I wanted a particular pastry from a bakery outside our territory.

He could be annoyingly confident, too.

Sometimes too confident.

But whenever I called him out on it, he’d flash that stupid smile of his and somehow make me forget why I was annoyed.

That was Ethan.

And today, after years of waiting, we were finally going to announce our engagement.

I sat down at my vanity, reaching for my powder when my phone began ringing on the bed.

I glanced over.

Lyla.

Of course.

I answered with a grin.

“Girl!”

“This is Lyla Hart speaking. Am I talking to the future Mrs. Blackwood?”

I burst out laughing.

“Yes! It is I!”

Her scream nearly blew my eardrum.

I immediately pulled the phone from my ear.

“Please don’t tell me you’re still at home!”

I glanced at the clock.

“Maybe.”

“Aveline!”

“Relax.” I laughed, picking up my powder brush. “I’m putting on the finishing touches. I’ll leave in a few minutes.”

“You said that twenty minutes ago.”

“I was lying.”

“You are impossible.”

“Yet you remain my best friend.”

“Unfortunately.”

I placed the phone on speaker and set it beside my makeup.

Lyla’s laughter filled the room.

“You know you’re not allowed to be late today, right?”

“Technically, it’s only an engagement.”

“Only?”

“Okay. Okay. A very important engagement.”

“Thank you.”

I smiled at myself in the mirror as I fixed the last few strands of hair around my face.

“Besides, I have everything under control.”

“That’s what people say in five minutes before everything goes wrong.”

I narrowed my eyes.

“Why would you say something like that on my engagement day?”

“I’m just saying.”

“Don’t.”

“I’m done.”

‘Good.”

She laughed.

Then there was a short pause.

“Is Ethan picking you up?”

I shook my head.

“No. He’s with his parents.”

“So you’re taking a cab?”

“Probably.”

There was another pause.

“Or your incredibly generous, beautiful and talented best friend could come get you.”

I smiled.

“You really are fishing for compliments today.”

“Because I deserve them.”

“You’re sweet, but I’ll be fine. I’ll meet you there. It’s less than twenty minutes away.”

“Fine. But I’m saving you a spot.”

“Deal.”

“And Ava?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t disappear on me tonight.”

I frowned slightly at the sudden seriousness in her voice.

“I won’t.”

“Promise?”

I smiled.

“I promise.”

“Good. Now get your ass here.”

I laughed.

“Love you too.”

I ended the call and slipped my phone into my purse.

For a second, I stood there staring at my reflection.

Tonight was supposed to change everything.

I had no idea how right I was.

When I walked downstairs, I found my parents in the living room.

My mother looked up first.

Her eyes widened.

“See?” She said triumphantly, turning to my father. “I told you she’d be ready before us.”

My father stopped adjusting his tie and stared at me.

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Dad!”

He laughed.

“What? You look beautiful, sweetheart.”

The compliment warmed me more  than I wanted to admit.

Damien and Helena Hale had been my parents for as long as I could remember.

Technically, they weren’t my biological parents.

I’d learned that years ago.

Finding out I was adopted had been one of the strangest moments of my childhood, but it had never changed the way I felt about them. They were the ones who stayed. The ones who raised me. The ones who knew every embarrassing thing I’d ever done and loved me anyway.

My father had taught me how to defend myself.

My mother had taught me how to recognize when I was being stubborn.

Between the two of them, I’d somehow grown into a woman who could argue with an Alpha and still sleep peacefully afterward.

“Thanks, Dad.”

I turned toward the door.

“I’ll see you both there.”

“Oh, no, you won’t.”

I stopped.

I slowly turned around.

“What?”

My mother stared at me like I’d just suggested walking there barefoot.

“We’re driving you.”

“Mom, that’s not necessary.”

“It absolutely is.”

She walked over and hooked her arm through my father’s.

“What kind of parents let their daughter take a cab to her own engagement celebration?”

Dad nodded.

“I was wondering the same thing.”

I sighed dramatically.

“I am perfectly capable of taking a cab.”

“We know,” Mom said. “We’re still driving you”.

“You’re both impossible.”

“And you’re our daughter.”

That shut me up.

I smiled.

“Fine. You win.”

“Of course we do.”

A few minutes later, we climbed into the car.

As we drove toward Blackwood Manor, I watched the familiar streets pass outside the window.

Everything looked ordinary.

People walked along the sidewalks. Cars moved through the streets. Children played outside houses belonging to pack members who had probably heard about tonight’s celebration weeks ago.

But inside me, everything felt different.

I rested my hand over my stomach.

I was nervous.

Not because I doubted Ethan.

I’d waited too long for this moment to doubt it now.

I was nervous because once the announcement was made, there would be no pretending anymore.

Ethan and I would officially be taking the next step together.

And by the end of the night, I’d be his fiancée.

I smiled at the thought.

I had absolutely no idea that by the end of the night, I would be wishing I’d never stepped inside Blackwood Manor.

Hours Later

Blackwood Manor looked nothing like it usually did.

Golden lights had been strung across the gardens and wrapped around the trees. Music spilled through the open doors, mixing with the sound of laughter and conversation.

The celebration had been going on for hours, yet nobody seemed ready to leave.

Pack members filled the grounds, dressed in their finest clothes. Family friends moved between tables, glasses in hand. The older wolves had gathered near the main hall while younger members occupied the dance floor.

It should have been overwhelming.

Instead, I loved every second of it.

This was exactly how I’d imagined it.

Well…

Almost.

Ethan was missing.

I stood by Lyla near one of the refreshment tables, occasionally glancing toward the manor.

“You look beautiful, Ava,” Lyla said.

I looked at her.

“So do you.”

“Damn right.”

I laughed.

She pointed at my dress.

“And don’t even get me started on that dress.”

“You picked it.”

“Exactly. Which means I have excellent taste.”

“You certainly have confidence.”

“Someone has to.”

We laughed together.

For a moment, I let myself relax.

The music was loud. People were dancing. My parents were somewhere near the main hall, probably talking to Ethan’s family.

Everything was exactly as it should have been.

Lyla leaned closer.

“How long has it been now?”

“Since what?”

“Since Ethan disappeared.”

I glanced toward the manor again.

“He didn’t disappear.”

“Uh-huh.”

“He got a message.”

“And?”

“He said his parents wanted to speak with him.”

Lyla raised one eyebrow.

“And you believed him?”

I gave her a look.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“I’m not saying he’s lying. I’m saying it’s been a while.”

I looked at my phone.

She was right.

It had been longer than I’d realized.

My thumb hovered over Ethan’s name.

“He’ll be back.”

“You’ve said that three times.”

“I know.”

She studied me for a moment.

Then her expression softened.

“You okay?”

I nodded.

“Of course.”

She didn’t look convinced.

“I’m serious, Ava.”

“I know.”

She reached for my hand and squeezed it.

“You know you’re loved, right?”

I blinked.

The sudden change in her tone caught me off guard.

“Where did that come from?”

“Nowhere.”

“Lyla.”

She smiled.

“I’m just saying. Tonight isn’t only about Ethan. Don’t forget that.”

I looked around the moon.

My parents were laughing with my friends. People I’d known my entire life were celebrating with us. For the first time, I realized how many people had actually shown up for me.

My smile softened.

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

She nudged my shoulder.

“Now go find your fiancé.”

I laughed.

“You’re kicking me out?”

“I’m encouraging you to find your man.”

“You’re jealous because I have one.”

“Please. I could have one too.”

“Then why don’t you?”

“Because men are exhausting.”

I laughed harder.

“There she is.”

She pointed toward the hallway.

“Go.”

I shook my head.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re wasting time.”

I finally gave in.

“Fine. I’ll find him.”

“Good.”

As I walked away, she called after me.

“I’ll be right here!”

I waved over my shoulder.

I didn’t know those would be the last normal words we’d exchange that night.

I  made my way through the crowd, scanning the room for Ethan.

Nothing.

I checked my phone.

Still nothing.

I called.

It rang twice before going straight to voicemail.

I stared at the screen.

“Seriously, Ethan?”

I tried again.

Voicemail.

My smile faded.

He never ignored my calls.

Not like this.

I slipped my phone back into my purse and decided to look upstairs.

Maybe he really was talking to his parents.

As I moved further from the celebration, the noise gradually faded.

I stopped beside an older pack member.

“Excuse me?”

She turned.

“Yes, dear?”

“Have you seen Ethan Blackwood?”

She thought for a moment.

“I saw him earlier with Alpha Victor.”

“Do you know where they went?”

She shook her head.

“No, I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay. Thank you.”

I continued down hall.

A few minutes later, another guest stopped me.

“Oh, Aveline! Congratulations!”

She caught both my hands.

“Thank you.”

“Where’s the groom-to-be?”

I forced a small laugh.

“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

Her smile faltered.

“I think I saw him heading upstairs.”

“Upstairs?”

She nodded.

“Toward the guest rooms.”

My brows pulled together.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure.”

I thanked her and turned around toward the staircase.

Why would Ethan be in the guest wing?

The celebration was downstairs. His parents were downstairs. Almost everyone we knew was downstairs.

Still, I told myself there was a perfectly reasonable explanation.

There had to be.

I climbed the stairs.

The music became softer with every step.

The second floor was almost empty.

My heels clicked against the marble floor as I walked through the hallway.

Then I heard something.

A voice.

I stopped.

Ethan.

Relief loosened the knot in my stomach.

“There you are,” I whispered.

I followed the sound until I reached the final door.

It was slightly open.

I smiled.

I was already preparing to tease him for disappearing on his own engagement night.

Then I pushed the door open.

And stopped.

My brain refused to understand what I was seeing.

A woman was sitting on the bed.

Ethan was with her.

Too close.

Far too close.

For several seconds, I couldn’t move.

The room seemed to tilt beneath my feet.

“Ethan?”

My voice barely came out.

The woman looked toward me.

Ethan followed her gaze.

His eyes met mine.

There was no shock on his face.

No panic.

No desperate attempt to explain.

Nothing.

That was the first thing that truly frightened me.

I had expected him to jump away.

To stumble over his words.

To tell me there was some explanation I couldn’t see.

Instead, he simply stared.

I swallowed.

“Ethan…”

The woman shifted, but Ethan didn’t immediately move away from her.

My fingers tightened around my phone.

This couldn’t be real.

Not tonight.

Not after everything.

I took a small step into the room.

“What’s going on?”

Silence.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

“Ethan, what are you doing?”

He finally moved.

But instead of coming toward me, he pulled the woman closer.

She settled against him as though she belonged there.

The gesture was so casual that it hurt more than shouting ever could.

I stared at them.

At the man I’d spent years loving.

At the woman in his arms.

At the ring I’d imagined on my finger.

At the future I’d built in my head.

Something inside me went frighteningly quiet.

The tears came before I could stop them.

One slipped down my cheek.

I wiped it away immediately.

No.

I wasn’t going to stand here and cry in front of him.

Not yet.

“You’re cheating on me.”

It wasn’t a question.

Ethan said nothing.

I laughed once, but there was no humor in it.

A strange sound escaped my throat.

“On our engagement night?”

Still nothing.

My eyes burned.

“Was all of this a joke to you?”

He looked at me.

For the first time, I saw something in his expression I had never seen before.

Not guilt.

Indifference.

That hurt more than any explanation could have.

I had spent years believing I knew this man.

Maybe I had only known the version of him he wanted me to see.

My grip loosened around my phone.

I took a step backward.

Then another.

“Ethan…”

His name came out quieter this time.

I wanted him to stop me.

I wanted him to say my name.

I wanted him to come after me and tell me this wasn’t what it looked like.

He didn’t.

He simply watched me leave.

I turned before he could see me completely fall apart.

I made it into the hallway before the first sob escaped.

I pressed a hand over my mouth.

Keep walking.

Just keep walking.

My legs carried me down the hallway, past the empty rooms and framed portraits, past the staircase that had looked so beautiful when I’d climbed it minutes earlier.

Now I couldn’t stand looking at any of it.

I reached the stairs looking at any of it.

I reached the stairs and nearly stumbled.

I caught the railing and forced myself downward.

Someone laughed downstairs.

Music played.

People were still celebrating.

They had no idea.

No idea that the girl they were waiting to congratulate had just walked away from thr man she’d thought was her future.

I pushed through the nearest door and stepped outside.

Cold air hit my face.

I sucked in a shaky breath.

Then another.

I looked backed at the manor.

The golden lights were still glowing.

The music was still playing.

Everything was still beautiful.

That almost made it worse.

Because nothing outside had changed.

Only me.

A few hours ago, I’d arrived believing tonight would become one of the happiest memories of my life.

Now I couldn’t even recognize the girl who had walked through those doors.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

My phone buzzed.

For one foolish second, I thought it might be Ethan.

It wasn’t.

It was a message from Lyla.

Where are you?

I stared at the screen.

My vision blurred again.

I couldn’t answer.

Not yet.

I put the phone away and walked toward the driveway.

I didn’t know where I was going.

I didn’t know what I would tell my parents.

I didn’t know how I would face Lyla.

And I certainly didn’t know how I was supposed to return to a life that had just changed without asking me first.

I only knew one thing.

The man I had loved for years had betrayed me on the very night I thought he was going to promise me forever.

And somehow, that wasn’t even the worst thing waiting for me.

Because before the night was over, Ethan Blackwood’s betrayal would become the least important part of what happened to my life.