A few of the younger women tittered behind their hands.

Kira’s smile was bright and unbothered, the same smile she had perfected while enduring years of pack mockery.

"Management is management, Lady Cherry," Kira said, her voice clear and calm. "Whether it is a small pack or a big kingdom, the rules are the same: you keep the loyal people close and make sure the ones with loud mouths know their place. Don’t you agree?"

Cherry’s face flushed a deep red. A few of the older Lunas exchanged glances. They had expected a girl they could intimidate, but they had found a woman who knew exactly how to wield her tongue like a silver blade.

As the dinner went on, the women tried to ignore Kira by talking about pack business. They discussed pack laws, taxes, and how to care for the elderly and children. They hoped to leave Kira out of the conversation, but she shocked them all.

Kira was studying pack law and management at university. She didn’t just listen; she gave practical solutions that actually made sense. She spoke about fixing the food supply and better ways to run the pack hospitals. She knew the laws better than some of the women who had been Lunas for years.

However, Lady Cherry refused to be pleased. Every time Kira offered a brilliant insight, Cherry would find a way to drag the conversation back to the one thing Kira lacked.

"You have good ideas, Your Highness," Cherry said, her voice sounding fake and sweet. "But with the recent... tensions at the borders, a queen must offer more than ideas. She must inspire confidence in our warriors. How does one rally a pack when one has never run with them under the moon?"

Kira had heard enough. She did not know why Cherry seemed to dislike her so much, but she was tired of the hidden jabs and was putting the woman in her damn place.

She tilted her head, voice light but razor-sharp. "It is interesting that you think I am weak just because you can’t see my strength. Maybe you should ask the King about what I can do. Or better still, ask yourself why the idea of a werewolf queen bothers you so much. Are you afraid I might actually be good at it?"

The table went deathly still. No one dared to breathe. They only exchanged subtle glances.

Good.

Luna Cassie laughed nervously trying

to break the tension. "Well, ladies, I think that’s enough pack talk for one evening. Shall we discuss the upcoming Luna Summit?"

The conversation moved to other topics. The women finally realised that they couldn’t bully Kira. They stopped trying to insult her and just continued their talk without bothering her anymore.

Kira kept finding Derek’s gaze across the room. Every time she glanced up, she found his amber eyes already fixed on her. He was surrounded by Alphas, but he looked as though he were merely waiting for a reason to tear himself away and come to her side.

She was starting to feel bored by the ladies’ chatter. To escape the Lunas, she decided to leave the table and find some appetisers herself, just to escape them.

"Excuse me," she said with a polite smile, standing up and making her way towards the food counter.

Suddenly, that strange chill returned. It was stronger this time, making her heartbeat thrum in her ears—loud and frantic. She couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching her. Her skin prickled, and her breath became short.

She turned her head quickly and scanned the room. No one seemed to be staring. Everyone was busy chatting, laughing, or lifting glasses. Still, the uneasy feeling clung to her.

This is getting ridiculous, she thought.

As she spun around to continue on her way, she bumped straight into someone. The person’s drink sloshed, and a small splash of liquid spilled onto his suit jacket and also hit the floor.

Oh!" Kira gasped.

The man muttered a quiet curse under his breath and reached into his jacket pocket for a handkerchief. He dabbed at the tiny wet patch on his sleeve.

Kira froze, eyes wide with horror. "I’m truly sorry," she said, her voice small. "I wasn’t looking where I was going."

The man looked up, and Kira felt her words trail off. He was tall, with warm hazel eyes, and almost bristling brows. He looked really young, and she could bet he was the same age as her.

Something about him felt very familiar, like a sudden wave of déjà vu. A strange sensation she couldn’t explain ran through her. Unlike the others in the room, this man’s presence felt calm and easy.

"Forgive my clumsiness, Your Highness," he said smoothly, taking her hand and bowing his head. His voice was deep and gentle. "I’m Alpha Braxton of the Crystal Moon Pack."

Crystal Moon. Kira tried to remember if she had ever heard of that pack. Braxton must have seen the confusion on her face because he smiled brightly. Something about that smile felt familiar, too.

"It is a small pack at the edge of the West," he explained. "Not many people know about us."

"Oh?" Kira replied.

He nodded. "Yes. Many of our members left the pack years ago. We are barely two hundred now, but we are peaceful."

Kira nodded, giving him a polite smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Alpha Braxton. Have we, by any chance, met before?"

The Alpha’s face flushed for a moment before he shook his head. "I do not think so, my Queen. I hardly ever attend these gatherings. Though, I must admit, you look familiar to me as well."

"Really?" Kira raised an eyebrow.

Braxton laughed lightly. "Yes. Talk about déjà vu."

They both shared a small laugh.

"Since I rather like having you as our queen," Braxton added with a friendly wink, "I suspect you’ll be seeing more of me in the future."

Kira opened her mouth to reply, but she suddenly felt a solid presence behind her. She turned and found Derek standing there like a brooding shadow, his jaw tight.

Alpha Braxton lowered his head in a respectful bow. "Your Grace."

Derek ignored him completely. Instead, he stepped between them, took Kira’s hand in his, and laced their fingers together. His grip was firm and possessive.

"Come with me, darling," he said. His voice was calm on the surface, but Kira could hear the storm underneath, the kind that suggested he was one breath away from causing a scene.

As he led her away, she glanced back over her shoulder. Braxton was still watching them with a small, knowing smile. He raised his glass in a quiet toast, then drained the rest of his drink.