Summer’s POV
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I watched Lyra carefully as she answered the phone, her expression suspiciously casual. Though she tried to angle her body away, I could still catch snippets of her conversation.
“How’s everything going?” Alexander’s deep voice came through clearly enough for my enhanced werewolf hearing to pick up.
“Perfect timing,” Lyra responded with a knowing smile. “We’ve just finished at the spa. She looks absolutely stunning.”
“How much longer until you’re done?” Alexander asked, his voice carrying a hint of anxious anticipation that made my wolf’s ears perk up.
“We’ll be on schedule,” Lyra continued, glancing at her watch. “The hair and makeup team is ready for us now… Don’t worry.”
My eyebrows shot up. They were definitely hiding something from me.
“What was that all about?” I asked when she hung up.
Lyra’s face was the picture of innocence as she slipped her phone into her purse.
“Just Alexander checking in. Did you forget? You two have plans tonight, and he’s worried I’m monopolizing all your time.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her my best “I’m not buying this” look.“Really?”
She flashed a grin and looped her arm through mine before I could say more. “Come on. The styling team’s waiting, and trust me, you’re going to want a mirror the second they’re done with you.”
Despite my instincts telling me otherwise, I let her guide me forward.
The moment we entered the styling room, I was greeted by not one but three professionals who seemed oddly prepared for our arrival. One immediately began examining my hair, another assessed my skin tone, while the third laid out an impressive array of cosmetics.
“I see strong bone structure that we should highlight,” the lead stylist said, gently tilting my face toward the light. “And these eyes are extraordinary–we’ll create a look that makes them the focal point.”
The makeup artist nodded in agreement. “A subtle smoky effect would bring out the amber flecks in her irises. And her lips–definitely a soft rose shade to enhance their natural fullness.”
“Lyra,” I started, my suspicion returning full force. “This seems excessive for a simple girls‘ day out.” She avoided my gaze, suddenly very interested in the nail polish selection. “Can’t a girl just want her
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friend to feel beautiful?”
For the next hour, I surrendered to the pampering, still convinced something was happening behind my back but deciding to play along. The hairstylist worked magic, transforming my hair into soft, elegant waves that cascaded down my shoulders. The makeup artist created a look that somehow made me appear both sophisticated and effortlessly natural.
When they finally turned me toward the mirror, I caught my breath. The woman looking back at me seemed to glow from within. Aurora preened beneath my skin, admiring our reflection with satisfaction.
“You look breathtaking,” Lyra said softly, coming to stand behind me. Her reflection showed genuine emotion in her eyes.
Something in her tone made my heart skip a beat. “Thank you for today,” I said. “But I think it’s time you told me what’s really going on.”
Lyra hesitated for a moment before her mischievous smile returned. “Alright, you caught me. Alexander is waiting for you at Moonlight Ridge. He wanted to surprise you with a special evening.”
My heart leaped in my chest, and I felt Aurora stir with excitement, pressing closer to my consciousness.
That’s what all this has been about?”
“The shopping, the spa, the styling–it was all his idea,” she admitted, looking rather pleased with herself. “He wanted you to have a perfect day before your perfect evening. My brother may be an intimidating Alpha to everyone else, but when it comes to you, he’s practically a lovesick pup.”
A warm feeling spread through my chest at the thought of Alexander planning this elaborate surprise. After years with Alpha Foster, who had never once considered my happiness, Alexander’s thoughtfulness still sometimes caught me off guard.
“The dress?” I asked, suddenly understanding.
“Specifically chosen for tonight,” Lyra confirmed with a wink. “And I have strict instructions to get you to Moonlight Ridge by seven.”
As we left the spa, Lyra directed me to a sleek black car waiting at the curb. The driver–one of our pack’s trusted betas–opened the door with a respectful nod. “Luna Summer.”
“I’m not coming with you,” Lyra said, giving me a quick hug. “This part of the evening is just for you two.” As the car pulled away, I felt a flutter of nervous anticipation in my stomach. What exactly had Alexander planned?
*He is our mate,* she reminded me. *Our true Alpha. Trust him.*
When the car arrived at Moonlight Ridge, I gasped at the sight that greeted me. The entrance to the exclusive restaurant was lined with white rose petals and flickering candles. A young she–wolf stepped
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forward as I exited the car.
“Luna Summer,” she greeted me with a respectful bow, presenting me with a single white rose. “Alpha Blackwood awaits you. Please follow the path.”
I accepted the flower, its delicate scent teasing my enhanced senses. As I walked toward the entrance, another pack member appeared, offering another rose with a similar message.
This continued as I made my way through the restaurant’s elegant foyer–at each turn, another member of our pack waited to present a rose and a message of respect and welcome. By the time I reached the door to what I presumed was our private dining room, I held a full bouquet of twelve perfect white roses bound together with a silver ribbon.
My heart pounded against my ribs as I paused before the final door. I could sense Alexander’s powerful presence beyond it, his unique scent calling to both me and my wolf. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I pushed the door open.
The sight before me stole my breath away.
The private dining room had been transformed into something from a fairy tale. Thousands of tiny lights twinkled from the ceiling like stars, casting a soft glow over the space. White rose petals were scattered across the floor, forming a path toward the balcony where Alexander stood.
He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that emphasized his broad shoulders and powerful build. His dark hair was styled back from his face, highlighting his strong jawline and intense blue eyes that had captivated me from the first moment we’d met.
But it was his expression that truly undid me–the raw emotion, the vulnerability beneath his Alpha strength as he watched me enter. I’d never seen anyone look at me with such complete adoration.
Behind him, through the floor–to–ceiling windows, the sun was just setting over the mountains, painting the sky in breathtaking shades of gold and crimson that seemed to frame this perfect moment.
And then I noticed the small velvet box in his hand, and my knees nearly gave way beneath me.
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