Chapter 13
Adea
The excitement in the air was a static buzzing in my ear that zapped through my body.
As we drove into the city, the suffocating weight of thousands of predators pressed against the windows of the Challenger.
It was a bustling kingdom of glass, humming with a power that made ours pale in comparison.
“You’ve got a little something… right there,” Gabe said, pointing at the corner of my mouth.
“Shut up,” I laughed, frantically wiping my face just in case I’d actually been drooling over the skyline.
In the distance, treeless hills shimmered under the merciful dipping sun. It was a road leading off into a mirage. After an hour, we swung a right, leaving the city lights and following the concrete that bled into red-tiled stone, flanked by buildings that made mansions look like dollhouses.
“We’ve made it,” Gabe whispered, his voice uncharacteristically small. “And holy shit, I think we’re out of our league, Ady.”
We pulled up behind an Audi. The door opened, and a man stepped out, built more like a mountain than a wolf, poured into a suit that didn’t hide an ounce of it.
He was massive—muscular in a way that suggested he spent his mornings lifting small cars.
He had slicked back blond hair and a suit that cost more than my life, probably twice over.
Even though I knew the Beta was Gabe’s type—my best friend had never been picky when it came to a beautiful face, regardless of gender—he ripped his eyes from the man and scrambled out to open my door.
“Thanks,” I murmured. He was a notorious man-whore, but he had a heart of gold. His mate was going to be a very lucky, very exhausted woman. It was a shame, really—if male pairings weren’t outlawed, he’d likely be looking for a man instead.
The man didn’t head inside; he stood ramrod straight as we tried to figure out if we would carry our stuff in or figure out where we were sleeping first.
As we approached the massive stone entrance, I couldn’t help but stare at the Enforcers standing at the perimeter.
At least triple the amount we had back home.
They were rigid, armed with sleek, silver-plated rifles.
I’d heard Gabe mention the infamous Desert Moon soldiers, back at Half Moon—wolfsbane-tipped ammunition.
Rumors said it could drop a shifted wolf mid-lunge.
“Good evening,” he greeted. His voice was a dry, practiced drawl—the kind of tone that sounded bored and lethal all at once. “I am Odis, Beta of Desert Moon. Welcome to our humble home.”
Humble. I looked at the ten-story fortress behind him and felt a hysterical laugh bubble up. Oh, to be rich.
“Gabe and Adea. Half Moon,” Gabe said, extending his hand. “Our Alpha arrived earlier.”
Odis shook his hand, veins protruding in his firm grip. He gave me a short, calculating nod. The Beta gestured toward the towers of the Citadel.
“Before you settle in, Desert Moon requires you understand protocol,” he said.
“The Mating Festival operates under neutral territory immunity; no pack law from your home lands applies here, and in exchange, you are granted protection from Desert Moon. Rituals are mandatory—the opening ceremony ball, the Alpha’s dance, and finally, the dawn hunts for those who remain unbonded.
Once a pair recognizes each other by scent or instinct, they are expected to separate to bond in private.
If you are still unbonded by the final hunt, you are expected to participate. ”
He paused, his gaze hardening. “For security, we maintain Enforcers throughout the grounds. Breaches are considered acts of war. If you stray into non-public zones, you forfeit your immunity. Stay within the public areas, the city, or your assigned quarters. Violence is prohibited.”
“If you head inside, our Gamma, Olivia, will handle your room assignments. Provided you are together, of course. The top three floors are for ranked personnel. The penthouse is the Alpha’s residence.”
“Oh, we’re not together,” I said, perhaps a bit too fast. I glanced at Gabe and he winked.
“We’ve shared a bed before, Ady, don’t be like that,” Gabe teased, slinging an arm over my shoulder. I shoved him hard, my face heating up.
“Our Gamma will assist you with… alternative arrangements,” Odis said, a flicker of amusement touching his lips before he turned back to the Audi.
Once inside the lobby, Gabe fanned himself and mouthed ‘Oh, my sweet Goddess,’ referring to the Beta. I rolled my eyes as the mix of scents and expensive minerals greeted us. A woman with long red hair and green eyes welcomed us. She ignored me—her focus locked on Gabe.
“I’m Lilith,” she purred, her gaze raking over Gabe with a hunger that made me want to gag. “I’ll be your guide.”
“Where’s Olivia?” Odis asked, appearing behind us with no warning at all. A small gasp escaped me, but he didn’t even blink. I caught a whiff of oak and benzoin.
“Alpha needed her,” Lilith said, never breaking eye contact with Gabe. She didn’t look at me. I felt the air leave my lungs as I instinctively took a half-step back, my shoulders hunching to occupy as little space as possible. In this glittering place, I was still invisible.
“They need two rooms. Quickly,” Odis snapped.
She jumped and quickly tapped away at a keyboard. Then she handed us a set of key cards. “You’re on the seventh floor. The eighth is for the Inner Circle. The top two floors belong to the Alphas and Lunas. Stay away unless you have a death wish—our Alpha doesn’t take the rule-breaking lightly.”
“Understood,” Gabe said, pretending to hang on her every word. As we turned to leave, Lilith caught his hand, pressing a small card into his palm with a wink. Odis gave her a bored look as she waved.
“What was that?” I hissed as the elevator doors closed.
“The bitches love me, Ady. It’s a curse,” Gabe joked, but his eyes were darting to the floor numbers. The humor didn’t quite reach his expression anymore; beneath the smirk, there was a restless desperation in his eyes. She was just a body to warm his bed.
The elevator chimed, and even the chime had money behind it. When the doors slid open, I nearly tripped. We were met with a single seamless pane of glass, overlooking the sprawl of the territory. From seven stories up, it was beautiful.
“Wild,” Gabe muttered, his reflection ghostly against the glass. His phone vibrated, his easy grin dropping the moment he read the screen. He turned the phone toward me.
Shane: If she’s not in her room by 10 PM, or if she’s seen within twenty feet of any Northerner, call me. I don’t care what time it is.
Gabe’s thumb hovered over the screen, his jaw tight. “He’s not even on the premises and he’s still got his hands around our throats.”
“Ignore him,” I rasped, though my stomach dropped.
Gabe didn’t offer a comeback. He just stared at the floor numbers, his hand still locked around the phone. The playfulness had vanished, leaving behind something tight and unsettled. We were two trapped souls looking for a way out.
I turned and he followed. We walked down a corridor of polished onyx and lighting, our footsteps swallowed by a plush, charcoal carpet.
On the other end of the hall, you could see another glass window that overlooked the mountains we’d driven over.
My room was 708, directly across from Gabe’s 709.
The doors weren’t wood; they were heavy, reinforced steel painted to look like dark oak, fitted with scanners.
I tapped my key as I gripped the gold handle and opened the door to my room. The breath left my lungs. It was minimalist perfection—earth tones, dark wood, and a queen-sized bed draped in white linens that looked softer than a cloud. The throw pillows were a deep red.
I walked into the bathroom, running my hand over the curved stone doorway. The shower was a waterfall, and the tub was deep enough to drown in. Everything smelled of sandstone and citrus.
“You need help unpacking?” Gabe asked, leaning against the doorframe.
“Hang up the dress for me,” I said, unzipping my bag. I pulled out the fabric and handed it over.
He let out a low whistle, eyes widening as he took in the sheer, dark elegance of the gown. “Damn, Ady. You’re going to have tongues wagging.”
I swung at his arm, laughing. “Oh, hush!”
He pushed off the door and grabbed it from me, walking over to a large mirrored door that slid open to reveal a walk-in closet. After he placed it on a rod, he strode out and sat on the velvet chaise. “So what’s the plan?”
“Uh, what do you mean?” I asked as I fell back onto the bed.
“What’re we going to do now? Do you want to go exploring?” After the entire day in the car, of course he’d want to go out whereas I needed to decompress.
“Gabby, I love you, but I need to go into gremlin mode.” His shoulders sank at my words, but then a glint flashed in his eyes. “Uh-oh. You have that look.”
“What look?” He stretched, his shirt riding up and showing off chiseled, tanned abs.
“The ‘I’ll be fine because I’m going to be chasing skirts’ look.” I crossed my arms and glared at him.
His face lit up with a wicked grin. “You got me.” He pulled out the card from his pocket. “I’ve got a date with a pretty redhead.”
I grabbed a feather-stuffed pillow and threw it at him. It hit him and he pretended to be wounded.
“Be safe. You don’t want to get her pregnant,” I scolded, the words meant to be a joke, but they came out brittle as he walked away.
“Always,” he teased and blew me a kiss. “Text me if you need anything.”
“I will, and Gabe?”
“Yes, babes?”
“Cut the lights.”
Darkness swallowed the room the moment the door clicked shut. I collapsed onto the bed, the linens so soft they felt like a taunt—a reminder of the cold, hard reality waiting for me back home. This room was a beautiful mirage. I closed my eyes, letting it fool me.