Celeste's POV.
I stood in the dim glow of the pack house garden, the moonlight casting long shadows across the stone path. My heart pounded like a drum in my chest, and my hands fidgeted with the hem of my dress.
The air smelled of sweet jasmine and damp earth, but it did little to calm my nerves. I was waiting for Alpha Nicholas, and every rustle of leaves made me jump, worried someone might see us.
Our plan to take over the Shadow Claw Pack was a secret, one that could destroy everything if anyone found out.
The crunch of boots on gravel made me spin around. There he was, Alpha Nicholas, tall and broad, his dark hair catching the silver light.
His eyes, usually warm when he looked at me, were hard tonight, like storm clouds ready to burst.
I forced a smile, but my stomach twisted. I knew he'd ask about Alpha Kael, and I had nothing good to tell him.
