Celeste Nightshade stared at her image in the tall mirror. Tonight was the night she'd finally step out of the dark. For eighteen years, she'd been kept hidden away like a dirty secret, tucked in the east wing of the huge house where nobody visited. But everything would change tonight.
"Miss Celeste, please hold still," said Martha, the old maid who'd raised her. Martha put another silver hair clip shaped like a moon into Celeste's long, white-silver hair. Celeste couldn't stop moving.
"Do you think they'll like me, Martha?" Martha's wrinkled face eased. "How could they not, child? Just remember what we practiced. No talking about your thoughts or those strange feelings you get. No saying the times you've—" "I know, I know. No weird stuff," Celeste finished. The strange things that happened around her were exactly why she'd been hidden away. Sometimes things moved when she was upset.
Once, during a thunderstorm, she'd accidentally broken all the windows in her room without touching them. Her violet eyes looked unusually bright tonight. The silver dress she wore matched her hair, making her pale skin glow like moonlight. "Your sister is already downstairs greeting guests," Martha said, adjusting Celeste's dress.
"Remember, this is Seraphina's night too." Perfect Seraphina.
Golden hair, green eyes, and everyone's favorite. Celeste pushed away her jealous thoughts. Tonight, they would finally be sisters in public. "Is it true all the powerful Alphas will be there?" Celeste asked, her heart racing. "Even Orion Blackwood?" Martha frowned. "Don't get ideas, child. Alpha Blackwood is the most powerful wolf in these parts. He's not for someone like—" She stopped herself. "Someone like me?" Celeste finished, hurt showing in her eyes. A sharp knock stopped them. The door swung open, and there stood Seraphina, golden and glowing in a green dress that matched her eyes. "Father wants you downstairs in five minutes," Seraphina said, looking Celeste up and down. "You clean up well, little sister. Almost unrecognizable." Was that a compliment? Celeste couldn't tell. "I was just telling your sister about proper behavior," Martha said. Seraphina smirked. "Yes, we can't have her howling at the moon or making things explode, can we?" "That happened one time," Celeste mumbled. "One time is enough when you're meeting the entire pack." Seraphina stepped closer, dropping her voice. "Listen carefully. Everyone thinks you've been away at some special school. Stick to that idea. Don't shame Father or me." Celeste nodded, throat tight.
"I won't."
"Good. And don't get your hopes up about anyone special. The big wolves are already spoken for." Seraphina winked and swept out of the room. Martha patted Celeste's arm. "Don't mind her. She's just nervous too." But Celeste knew better. Seraphina was never nervous. She was the perfect daughter who could do no wrong, while Celeste was the family secret, the strange girl with the strange skills. As Celeste followed Martha down the grand staircase she'd never been allowed to use before, the sounds of the party got louder. Music, laughter, and the low rumble of talks filled the main hall. At the bottom of the stairs, Celeste froze. So many people! Wolves from every pack in the region dressed in their best clothes, mingling and drinking from crystal glasses. The smells were overpowering – perfumes, foods, and something else, something wild that made her skin tingle. "There you are." Her father suddenly appeared, tall and intimidating in his dark suit. Alpha Nightshade barely looked at her. "Remember what we talked. Be polite, don't draw attention, and for moon's sake, keep your... special qualities to yourself." Before she could answer, he guided her toward the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, may I present my younger daughter, Celeste, recently returned from her studies abroad." All eyes turned to her. Celeste felt her cheeks burn as whispers spread through the room.
"Is that really Harold's other daughter?"
"I thought she was sickly."
"Strange eyes..."
"I've never seen hair that color before..." Celeste tried to smile, just like Martha had taught her. Head high, shoulders back. She was a Nightshade, even if no one knew she existed until now. Her father quickly abandoned her, moving to speak with other Alphas. Seraphina was across the room, surrounded by fans. Celeste stood alone, a stranger at her own launch. "You look lost," said a friendly voice. Celeste turned to see a girl with fiery red hair and bright green eyes. "I'm Lyra Moonbane," the girl said. "And you're the secret Nightshade everyone's suddenly talking about." Celeste winced. "Is it that obvious?" "Only to someone who's paying attention." Lyra grinned. "Come on, I'll introduce you to people who don't bite. Much." For the first time that night, Celeste felt herself relax. Lyra led her around the room, introducing her to young wolves from different packs. No one seemed to know what to make of her, but at least they were polite. "Everyone keeps staring at me," Celeste whispered to Lyra. "Well, you did come out of nowhere. And you look... different. In a good way," Lyra added quickly. "Not like the rest of us boring wolves." A hush suddenly fell over the room. Celeste felt it before she saw it – a shift in the air, like the moment before lightning hits. Her skin prickled, and a strange pulling feeling tugged at her chest. "What's happening?" she asked, hand pushing against her suddenly racing heart. Lyra's eyes widened. "The Blackwoods are here." The crowd parted like a sea, and through the opening walked the most frightening family Celeste had ever seen. At the front was an older man with silver-streaked black hair and cold golden eyes. Behind him was a younger version – tall, strong, with midnight-black hair and storm-gray eyes that seemed to pierce through the room. " Alpha Magnus Blackwood and his son, Orion," Lyra whispered. "The most powerful wolves in a hundred miles." Celeste couldn't look away from the younger one. Orion. Something about him called to her, like a song she'd always known but never heard. The pulling in her chest grew stronger, almost painful. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered, hands shaking. Lyra stared at her with wide eyes. "Celeste... your eyes... they're glowing!" Panic shot through her. No, not now! She couldn't lose control, not tonight of all nights! Across the room, Orion Blackwood suddenly stopped mid-conversation. His head snapped up, nostrils flared. His stormy eyes swept the crowd until they locked with hers.
The world seemed to stop.
The music faded.
The crowd disappeared.
There was only her and him, linked by an invisible thread that pulled them toward each other. His eyes opened in shock. Then something like anger flashed across his face. Celeste felt dizzy. This couldn't be happening. Not to her. "Lyra," she whispered, grabbing her new friend's arm. "I think he's my—" "Mate," Lyra finished, looking terrified. "Moon goddess help us, you've just found your fated mate." Before Celeste could answer, Seraphina appeared at her side, green eyes narrowed dangerously. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed. "Everyone can see your eyes glowing!" "I can't help it," Celeste said, her voice shaking. "It's him. Orion. I think he's my—" "Don't be ridiculous," Seraphina snapped, holding her arm painfully tight. "Orion Blackwood isn't for someone like you." As if summoned by his name, Orion started moving through the crowd toward them. His face was unreadable now, but his eyes never left Celeste's.
"This isn't good," Lyra mumbled. Seraphina's fingers dug deeper into Celeste's arm. "Stay away from him, little sister. You have no idea what you're playing with." But it wasn't a game. The pull toward Orion was real, almost painful now. And from the passion in his eyes as he approached, Celeste knew he felt it too. "He's coming this way," Celeste whispered, her heart threatening to burst. Seraphina's face hardened. "Remember your place, Celeste. You were hidden away for a reason." As Orion pushed through the last of the crowd toward her, Celeste suddenly realized the truth. She wasn't taken out of hiding to join society. She was brought out to be a part in some game she didn't understand. And whatever was happening between her and Orion Blackwood had just changed all the rules.