The forest had always been the one place where Delia of Eldridge could breathe without feeling that someone was measuring her worth. Beneath the tall pines, the pack's expectations seemed quieter, and the familiar scent of damp earth helped her forget the things she could not change. On this autumn evening, however, even the forest felt different. The wind moved through the branches with a whisper that stirred something deep inside her, a strange recognition she could not explain. It was not fear exactly, nor was it a memory. It was simply the unsettling feeling that she had stood at this same turning point before. She pressed her palm against the rough bark of an oak and listened to the distant sounds of the village. Eldridge was preparing for an important week. The neighboring packs had been invited to renew their alliance, warriors were drilling in the training yard, and the great hall was being decorated with blue banners bearing the image of a silver wolf. Her father, Alpha Marcus, believed the gathering would strengthen their position among the northern territories. Everyone else seemed excited. Delia tried to share their enthusiasm, but the recent rejection by Theo had left her unsure where she belonged. Theo had been part of her life for as long as she could remember. They had raced through the meadows as children, trained side by side, and shared the quiet certainty that one day the Moon Goddess would make them mates. Delia had never treated that future as a promise carved in stone, yet she had allowed herself to hope. At the last new moon, Theo had looked into her eyes and told her that he did not want her as his mate. Worse, he had admitted that his heart belonged to Lila, Delia's younger sister. The memory still hurt, but Delia refused to let it become the whole of her life. She had cried in private,spoken little about it, and decided she would not beg anyone to choose her. If Theo and Lila truly wanted a future together, she would not stand between them. The decision did not make the wound disappear, but it gave her something steady to hold on to. "Delia!" Caleb called from the path behind her. Her older brother came toward her with his training jacket half fastened and a leaf caught in his dark hair. "Father has been looking everywhere for you. He says the whole family must be in the great hall before sunset." "Did he say why, or am I supposed to guess from the way you are trying not to grin?" Caleb laughed. "There is an announcement. That is all I know, and if I tell you more, Father will say I have no talent for keeping a secret." "You have no talent for keeping anything quiet," Delia replied, but she followed him back toward the village. The Eldridge packhouse stood on a rise above the main road, its stone walls glowing amber in the late sunlight. Beyond it, cottages and shops lined the winding road toward the river bridge. Wolves moved between the buildings carrying baskets, lanterns, and bundles of winter herbs. Children chased one another around the fountain, while the pack's older warriors checked the gates. It was a familiar scene, but Delia felt strangely detached from it, as though she were watching her home through a thin pane of glass. Inside the great hall, her mother, Selene, was speaking with the housekeeper about the supper arrangements. Lila stood near the staircase, her cheeks flushed, while Mara, the youngest sister, adjusted a silver ribbon in her hair. When Lila noticed Delia, her smile faltered for a moment before returning with a brightness that felt carefully arranged. "Mother wants us seated together tonight," Lila said. "Please don't make this difficult."Delia looked at her sister. "I have not made anything difficult." "I know." Lila's gaze slipped away. "I just don't want another argument." "There won't be one from me." The words came out calmly, and Delia was proud of that. She had no wish to fight in front of the pack or turn her heartbreak into public entertainment. If Lila wanted Theo, and Theo wanted Lila, then the truth would eventually have to be faced by all of them. A bell rang from the courtyard, calling the household to order. Alpha Marcus entered with Beta Rowan and two visiting elders. He wore his formal black coat, the silver clasp at his throat polished until it shone. When he raised a hand, the hall quieted. "Our pack has faced difficult seasons," he began, "but we have survived because we understand the value of loyalty and cooperation. This week, we will welcome representatives from neighboring territories and renew an alliance that will protect our borders for years to come." Applause rose around the room. Marcus continued, explaining the patrol agreements and the shared training programme that would begin after the full-moon festival. Delia listened, grateful that the announcement had nothing to do with choosing a mate or displaying the family's private troubles. Then her father looked toward Theo, who had arrived with the visiting warriors. "Theo has shown discipline and courage in recent patrols. He will help lead the joint border team." The hall responded with approval. Theo bowed his head, accepting the praise, and for one brief moment his eyes met Delia's. She saw regret there-or perhaps she only wanted to believe she did. She looked away before she could turn a glance into a promise. After the announcement, the hall filled with conversation. Lila drifted toward Theo, and he spoke to her in a low voice that made her smile. Delia did not follow them. Instead, she helped Mara carry a tray of cups to the side table and listened while her youngest sister described the decorations she wanted for the festival. "You don't have to pretend you're fine," Mara murmured when they were alone. "I'm not pretending," Delia said. "I'm learning how to be fine without needing everyone else to understand." Mara squeezed her hand. Across the hall, the old clock struck six. A draft slipped through the open doors, carrying the scent of pine and distant rain. Again, that strange feeling moved through Delia, as if the air had brushed against a memory she had never lived. She glanced toward the forest beyond the windows, unsettled by the familiarity of something she could not name. She did not know what it meant, and she did not search for an answer. It was only a feeling, faint as a thread beneath her skin. For now, she had a life to live and a heart to mend. The pack would soon be full of visitors, and she intended to meet them with her head held high. Whatever waited beyond the trees, she would face it when it came-not as Theo's rejected mate, not as the daughter everyone pitied, but as Delia of Eldridge, a woman whose future had not yet been decided.

By breakfast, the whole pack seemed to know that Theo had been appointed to the joint border team. Warriors congratulated him in the courtyard, elders praised his discipline, and younger wolves followed him with the admiration usually reserved for an Alpha's heir. Delia heard his name from every direction, but she kept her attention on the stack of supply lists in front of her. Her father had asked her to help organize the household preparations for the visiting packs. It was work she understood, and it gave her an excuse to remain busy while the packhouse buzzed around her. She checked sleeping arrangements, confirmed the delivery of flour and dried meat, and made sure the guest rooms had fresh blankets. Whenever she felt her thoughts wandering toward Theo, she returned to the lists. Lila arrived just before noon wearing a pale blue dress and a hopeful expression. "Have you seen Theo?" Delia continued writing. "He was in the courtyard with the border team." "I know that. I mean, have you spoken to him?" "No." Lila's fingers twisted together. "Delia, I need you to understand something." "I understand that you want to talk about Theo." "I didn't plan for this to happen." Lila sat opposite her, lowering her voice. "I never wanted to hurt you." Delia set down her pen. "But you did." Her sister flinched, and for a moment the room was silent except for the scratching of a branch against the window. Delia did not raise her voice. She had imagined this conversation many times, but anger had never made the truth easier to say. "I loved him," Delia continued. "I thought we might be mates one day. Then he told me he wanted you. I cannot change his feelings, and I will not force him to choose me. But you cannot ask me to pretend that nothing happened." Lila's eyes glistened. "I'm sorry." "I believe you are sorry that it hurts. I hope you will be careful with what you have chosen." Lila stared at her, then rose and left without another word. Delia watched the door close, feeling neither victorious nor relieved. She had spoken honestly, and that was all she could do. Later that afternoon, Delia went to the training grounds to deliver a message from her father. Theo was finishing a sparring session with Caleb, sweat darkening the collar of his shirt. He was quick and strong, with the easy confidence that had first drawn her to him. Seeing him in the place where they had once trained together brought back memories she had been trying to set aside. Caleb noticed her first. "There you are. Father needs you to confirm the guest patrol schedule." "I have it." She handed him the folded paper. Theo stepped away from the practice ring. "Delia, can we talk?" Caleb looked between them and quietly moved toward the weapon racks. Delia wished he had stayed, but she refused to let that wish show. "What is there left to say?" she asked. "I wanted you to hear this from me before the festival. Lila and I have decided to accept the bond if the Moon Goddess confirms it." The words landed with a dull, final weight. Delia had known the choice was coming, but hearing him speak it aloud made it real in a way rumor never could. "You have decided," she repeated. "I care about you," Theo said quickly. "You've been part of my life for years. I never wanted to hurt you." "Then you should have been honest sooner." He looked down. "I know." Delia drew a slow breath. "I wish you and Lila well. I mean that. But do not ask me to comfort you about a decision you made." Theo's face tightened with shame. "I wouldn't." "Good." She turned to leave, then paused. "You were my first hope, Theo. That doesn't mean you have to be my last." She walked away before he could answer. Her hands trembled, but her steps remained steady. she did not feel free, not yet, but she felt as if she had closed a door that had been left open long enough to let the cold inside. The days leading to the festival passed in a rush of preparations. The kitchens filled with the smell of roasted apples and fresh bread. The blacksmith repaired ceremonial blades, and the pack's seamstresses stitched silver thread into cloaks for the visiting leaders. Delia worked beside her mother, helping prepare the welcome gifts and arranging flowers along the hall's stone pillars. On the evening before the festival, Alpha Marcus summoned the family to the smaller sitting room. Theo and Lila were there too, standing beside one another with their hands nearly touching. Delia understood at once why her father had gathered them. "Theo has spoken to me," Marcus said. "He intends to ask for Lila's hand in front of the pack tomorrow, and I have agreed that the family may witness the pledge tonight." Delia's mother glanced at her with concern, but Delia nodded before anyone could ask whether she wished to leave. She would not allow the room to turn into a stage for her pain. Theo faced Lila and spoke the words of commitment used by Eldridge wolves. Lila answered, her voice shaking at first, then growing stronger. When their hands joined, a faint silver shimmer passed between their wrists-the first sign that the Moon Goddess might recognize their bond. A murmur of approval moved through the room. Lila's eyes filled with tears, and Theo looked at her as if the rest of the world had disappeared. Delia felt the familiar ache, but beneath it was something quieter: the knowledge that the truth had finally been spoken. She stepped forward, offered her sister a gentle embrace, and whispered, "I hope you are happy." Lila clung to her for a moment. "I never wanted to lose you." "You haven't lost me," Delia said, though she knew their relationship would have to change. "But we will have to learn how to be sisters again." When she left the sitting room, the night air was cool against her cheeks. The moon hung behind thin clouds, and a strange, familiar sensation stirred inside her once more. It faded before she could understand it. Delia looked up at the sky, then turned toward home. She would not chase a feeling she could not explain. Tomorrow, the visiting packs would arrive, and Eldridge would have to stand united. she would stand with them, even if she was still learning where she belonged.

The morning of the festival dawned clear and cold, with frost shining on the grass beyond the packhouse. Delia woke before the household servants arrived and dressed in a deep green gown her mother had chosen for her. The dress was elegant without being showy, its sleeves embroidered with small silver leaves. When she looked in the mirror, she saw tired eyes and a face that seemed older than it had a week earlier, but she also saw someone who had survived a difficult truth without allowing it to destroy her. Downstairs, the kitchens were already alive with activity. Cook Agnes called for more apples, the stable boys carried fresh hay to the guest stalls, and Beta Rowan's wife, Helena, directed the servants placing lanterns along the main road. Delia moved among them, checking each detail and quietly solving the small problems that threatened to delay the celebration. "You should let someone else handle this," her mother said when she found Delia adjusting the seating chart. "If I sit still, I'll start thinking too much." Selene's expression softened. "You do not have to be useful every moment to deserve a place here." "I know." Delia smiled faintly. "But I am useful, and I enjoy making things run properly." Her mother kissed her forehead, accepting the answer without pressing further. That was one of the things Delia loved about Selene: she could worry without making every worry a command. By midday, visitors began arriving from the neighboring territories. The Red Creek pack came first, led by Alpha Gideon and his sharp-eyed mate, Maris. The Pine Hollow delegation followed in dark travelling cloaks, bringing gifts of smoked venison and carved wooden bowls. There were merchants from the river settlements, healers from the eastern hills, and a group of young warriors who had travelled three days to attend the joint training demonstrations. The packhouse courtyard became a bright, noisy gathering. Delia greeted guests, guided them to their rooms, and introduced elders who had not seen one another in years. It was easier to be confident when she had a task to complete. Her family's grief and uncertainty seemed to fade behind the practical rhythm of hospitality. Still, she noticed how people looked at her when they thought she was not paying attention. Some offered pity; others looked away too quickly. The story of Theo and Lila had spread, and the pack had begun treating Delia as if heartbreak made her fragile. She decided she would not correct every whisper. time would do more than arguments could. In the afternoon, Caleb joined her beside the fountain. "You have greeted more guests than Father." "Father enjoys speeches. I prefer getting things done." "You also managed to keep Alpha Gideon from arguing with the kitchen staff." "He wanted a second helping before everyone had been served." Caleb laughed. "You should run the packhouse." "I think Mother would object." "She would object to you doing it without eating lunch first." He handed her a small plate with bread and cheese. "Sit down for five minutes. That is an order from your older brother." Delia accepted the plate and sat on the fountain's stone edge. For a little while, she listened to the water and watched the crowd. Children ran between the tables while their parents called after them. A musician tuned a wooden flute near the entrance, and the scent of woodsmoke drifted from the outdoor ovens. Then a young messenger approached, carrying a sealed note for Alpha Marcus. He looked nervous, and his boots were muddy from the road. "Is the Alpha available?" he asked. "He is meeting the visiting leaders," Delia replied. "You can give the note to me, and I will make sure he receives it." The messenger hesitated before handing it over. The seal bore the mark of the royal court: a black wolf beneath a crown. Delia's fingers paused on the wax. She had seen the symbol in history books, but never on a message delivered to Eldridge. "What is it?" Caleb asked. "I don't know yet." She did not break the seal. "It is addressed to Father." She carried the note to the great hall, where Marcus stood with the visiting Alphas. When he saw the royal seal, his expression changed. He thanked the messenger and opened the letter in silence. As he read, the easy warmth left his face. "What does it say?" Gideon asked. Marcus folded the parchment. "The royal court confirms that the Alpha King will attend the full-moon gathering in Eldridge next week." A hush settled over the small circle. The Alpha King rarely travelled beyond his own territory, and his visits were never treated as ordinary events. Stories about him travelled farther than his messengers did. some said he was the strongest wolf alive; others claimed that no one could stand near him without feeling the force of his power. Delia heard the announcement from the doorway. She had no reason to be afraid of a man she had never met, yet that strange sensation stirred again, stronger than before. It was as if a distant sound had called her name through a wall. She pressed her fingertips together and waited for the feeling to pass. "Are you all right?" Caleb asked when he came to stand beside her. "Yes. I'm only tired." He studied her, unconvinced, but did not challenge her answer. That evening, the festival opened with music and dancing. Theo and Lila stood together near the central fire, receiving congratulations from friends and relatives. Delia offered them a smile when their eyes met, then turned to help Mara arrange a basket of candles. She did not resent their happiness, though she still needed time to grow comfortable around it. When the final song ended, Alpha Marcus addressed the crowd. He spoke of loyalty, shared borders, and the honour of receiving a royal guest. Cheers rose beneath the darkening sky, and the pack's banners stirred in the cold wind. Delia joined the applause, but her attention drifted toward the forest beyond the lanterns. Something about the coming visit felt familiar in a way that made no sense. She did not know the King, had never seen him, and had no reason to believe his arrival would change her life. She told herself it was simply nerves. The future belonged to no one until it arrived, and she would not let a strange feeling frighten her away from the life she had worked to build. For now, Eldridge had a celebration to finish, a guest to welcome, and a family trying to learn how to heal. Delia returned to the hall, determined to meet the next day with clear eyes and steady hands.