But she smiled anyway. "That's kind of you." Gina loved that, she was going to be away from Mark.
Casey hesitated, her lips parting, her boots inching forward. Elara gestured to the elderly woman beside her, whose silver hair gleamed like moonlight, her face strikingly beautiful, her skin smooth despite her age, her eyes a piercing green. "This is Helen," Elara said, her voice steady, nodding toward her. "Former Luna of the pack."
Casey's breath caught, her mind racing. Vlad's mother? She thought, her eyes flicking over Helen, who stood tall, her elegant shawl draped over shoulders, her necklace clinking softly. She looked far younger than Casey had imagined, her beauty almost otherworldly, not a wrinkle betraying her years. Casey bowed quickly, her basket dipping, her voice shaky. "Luna, it's an honour," she said, her cheeks flushing, her head lowering in respect.
