Chapter 8: The Moon Festival

Three days passed after Princess Anastasia's warning, yet the uneasy feeling inside Micaela refused to disappear. She threw herself into her duties with renewed determination, hoping hard work would distract her from the growing tension surrounding her. Instead, every passing day only seemed to draw her deeper into a situation she neither understood nor wanted.

The palace was preparing for one of the most important celebrations in the werewolf kingdom—the Moon Festival. It was an ancient tradition held once every year beneath the first full moon of summer. Every Alpha, noble family, and royal guest gathered to honor the Moon Goddess, celebrating the blessings she had bestowed upon their kind.

For humans, however, the festival carried an entirely different meaning.

It meant endless work.

Servants hurried through every wing of the palace decorating halls with silver banners embroidered with crescent moons. Crystal lanterns were hung from every balcony while hundreds of white lilies filled enormous golden vases throughout the castle.

Micaela spent the entire morning helping arrange flowers inside the Grand Hall.

"Careful with those," Lady Eleanor instructed. "Each arrangement came from the Royal Gardens. If even one flower is damaged, you'll replace it personally."

"Yes, my lady," Micaela replied.

Nearby, Clara quietly leaned toward her.

"Have you noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Everyone keeps looking at you."

Micaela sighed.

"You're imagining things."

"I'm not."

Clara lowered her voice.

"Yesterday two guards asked where you were assigned today."

"Probably because Lady Eleanor couldn't find me."

"No... it felt different."

Micaela didn't answer.

Deep inside, she knew Clara was right.

Something had changed.

Across the palace...

Inside the royal council chamber, preparations for the festival continued.

"Everything is ready, Your Majesty," Chamberlain Aldric reported.

"The visiting Alphas?"

"All have confirmed attendance."

"Security?"

"Doubled throughout the palace."

The Alpha King nodded absentmindedly.

Marcus, his Beta, noticed immediately.

"Still distracted?"

"No."

"You're becoming a terrible liar."

The King ignored the comment.

"Anything else?"

Aldric hesitated.

"Princess Anastasia requested permission to sit beside you during tonight's ceremony."

"She already knows the answer."

"Shall I tell her yes?"

The King's expression remained unreadable.

"Tell her royal protocol remains unchanged."

"Understood."

After Aldric left, Marcus folded his arms.

"You're avoiding her."

"I'm fulfilling my duties."

"No."

Marcus smiled knowingly.

"You're avoiding your future Queen."

Silence answered him.

"This has something to do with Micaela, doesn't it?"

The King's jaw tightened.

"Be careful, Marcus."

"I'm your Beta. If something threatens you, I deserve to know."

The King's sapphire eyes drifted toward the palace gardens below.

"She isn't the threat."

"Then who is?"

"Everyone who might try to use her."

Marcus immediately understood.

"Your wolf accepted her."

The King didn't deny it.

"I was hoping I was wrong," Marcus admitted quietly.

"So was I."

"The council will never approve."

"I know."

"Neither will Princess Anastasia."

"I know that too."

Marcus released a long sigh.

"Then may the Moon Goddess help us all."

As evening approached, excitement spread throughout the palace.

Servants changed into elegant uniforms trimmed with silver embroidery while nobles arrived dressed in elaborate ceremonial clothing. Music echoed through every hallway as guests gathered inside the enormous Moon Courtyard beneath the open night sky.

Micaela stood quietly beside several other servants carrying trays filled with crystal goblets.

She had never attended the festival this closely before.

Thousands of glowing lanterns floated above the courtyard, creating the illusion of stars descending from the heavens.

At the center stood an ancient marble altar dedicated to the Moon Goddess.

"Beautiful..." she whispered.

"It is," Clara agreed softly.

The sound of royal trumpets suddenly echoed across the courtyard.

Everyone immediately fell silent.

"His Majesty the Alpha King!"

The massive golden doors opened.

The Alpha King stepped into the courtyard wearing ceremonial black robes embroidered with silver wolves.

The crowd immediately bowed.

Even Micaela lowered her head.

"Rise," the King commanded.

As everyone stood once more, his gaze instinctively searched the crowd.

It found her almost immediately.

Standing quietly among the servants.

Their eyes met for only a heartbeat.

Yet it felt far longer.

"Mate," his wolf whispered.

The King's heartbeat quickened.

Across the courtyard...

Princess Anastasia noticed everything.

Again.

The King's attention.

The direction of his gaze.

And who stood at the end of it.

A dangerous spark flashed through her emerald eyes.

"Enough," she murmured to herself.

The ceremony began.

One by one, the visiting Alphas approached the altar, offering symbolic gifts beneath the full moon.

Finally, it was the King's turn.

As he stepped toward the altar, a powerful gust of wind swept across the courtyard.

The lanterns flickered.

Several servants gasped.

Then something unexpected happened.

A single silver flower crown resting upon the altar was lifted by the wind.

Instead of falling randomly...

It drifted gracefully across the courtyard.

Straight toward Micaela.

Before anyone could react, the delicate crown landed gently at her feet.

Silence.

Complete silence.

Every pair of eyes turned toward the human servant.

Micaela stared down in confusion.

"Pick it up," someone whispered.

"No... humans aren't allowed to touch ceremonial offerings," another voice answered.

The atmosphere became painfully tense.

Then the Alpha King walked forward.

Ignoring the stunned nobles.

Ignoring the council.

Ignoring Princess Anastasia.

He stopped directly in front of Micaela.

"Your Majesty..." she whispered nervously.

Without speaking, he bent down.

Picked up the flower crown.

And gently placed it back upon the altar.

"It appears," he said calmly, "the Moon Goddess enjoys testing our traditions."

A few nervous laughs spread through the crowd.

The ceremony continued.

But the damage had already been done.

Princess Anastasia's smile had completely vanished.

Several elders exchanged deeply troubled looks.

Even Marcus frowned.

Because every werewolf in attendance knew one ancient belief.

The Moon Goddess never moved ceremonial offerings without purpose.

Later that night, inside her private chamber, Anastasia slammed a crystal vase against the wall.

The glass shattered into hundreds of pieces.

"She embarrasses me without even trying," she hissed.

Cedric remained silent.

"I gave her a chance to stay invisible."

Her breathing slowed.

Then she smiled.

Cold.

Calculating.

"If fate wishes to place a human beside the throne..."

She walked toward the window overlooking the palace.

"Then perhaps fate needs a little encouragement."

Far across the palace, standing alone beneath the moonlight, the Alpha King looked toward the servants' quarters.

His wolf spoke one final time before silence returned.

"The Moon Goddess has revealed her choice."

For the first time...

The King stopped denying it.

"Yes..." he whispered into the night.

"She has."