Maria was all dressed up and ready to step out of the house when she suddenly overheard her parents talking.
Curious, she tiptoed back inside and hid behind the door.
"Did you inform Maria about the Blue Moon?" her father, Alpha Jackson, asked in a low voice.
"Not yet," her mother, Luna Catherine, replied, her tone laced with concern. "But Jackson, when do you plan on telling her the truth?"
Maria could see the seriousness in her mother's expression as she stared at her father, worry etched on both their faces.
"Soon, Catherine," Jackson answered faintly.
Maria's eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Blue Moon?" She muttered the words under her breath, her mind racing. Were they referring to their pack?
"Maria! We're getting late, let's go!" her father's husky voice pulled her out of her thoughts.
Snapping out of it, she quickly composed herself and walked out of the house. By the time she reached outside, her parents were already seated in the car, waiting for her.
Without another word, she hopped into the back seat, and her father drove off.
The journey felt exhausting. The drive from the packhouse to Bernard's place took nearly an hour, and Maria found the distance tiring.
Unlike the rest of the werewolves in their pack, the Gilbert family chose to live separately, away from the packhouse. No one had ever explained why.
When they finally arrived at their destination, Jackson pressed the small bell beside the door. A few seconds later, Bernard's mother, Victoria, opened it.
"Alpha Jackson," she greeted, bowing her head respectfully. Then she turned to Catherine, offering her the same gesture. "Luna Catherine."
After her parents returned the greetings, Victoria's gaze shifted to Maria, who stood behind them.
"Maria," she acknowledged with a forced smile.
Maria instantly recognized the look in Victoria's eyes. 'She doesn't want me here.' The thought flashed her mind.
Swallowing the discomfort, Maria bowed slightly in return, even though she regretted it. From the beginning, she knew Bernard's mother didn't like her.
She had overheard Victoria telling Bernard on more than one occasion... to stay away from her. But Bernard had always ignored his mother's warnings, insisting on being Maria's friend.
'How did she even approve of this engagement?' Maria wondered. It had to be Bernard's father, Beta Gilbert, who convinced her.
"Come on in!" Victoria's smile widened as she led them into the house.
Inside, Beta Gilbert sat on the couch, but Bernard was nowhere to be found.
As soon as they entered, Beta Gilbert stood up and pulled Alpha Jackson into a tight embrace, as if they hadn't seen each other just hours ago.
After exchanging pleasantries, he turned to Maria. She stood tall in her elegant, strappy peach dress that complemented her delicate fair skin.
Her long brown hair was tied in a bun, and with no makeup, she looked effortlessly beautiful.
"You look stunning, Maria. Welcome to the family," Beta Gilbert said warmly, giving her a side hug.
"Thank you, sir," Maria replied, stepping out of his embrace as quickly as possible.
Unlike his wife, Beta Gilbert seemed genuinely happy about this engagement. The sincerity in his eyes was undeniable.
"Everything is set. Let's move to the dining hall," Victoria announced, her forced smile still in place.
As they settled down, Jackson glanced around. "Where's Bernard?"
"He's attending to something important but will join us soon," Victoria responded, though her sharp glance at Maria said otherwise.
'Something more important than our engagement?' Maria clenched her fists under the table.
She barely touched her food, her appetite lost in her frustration. The entire dinner, she found herself constantly glancing toward the door, hoping Bernard would finally show up.
But he never did.
By the time they finished dinner and moved back to the living room, it was already past ten in the night.
"These are the engagement papers that need to be signed tonight," Beta Gilbert announced, handing the documents to Alpha Jackson.
Maria's heart pounded as she watched her father skim through them.
"It looks good," he said, nodding.
"Shall we begin the signing?" Beta Gilbert asked eagerly.
"Yes, let's do it."
Alpha Jackson pulled out a pen from his inner suit pocket and handed it to his daughter.
"Here, sign the documents." He uttered but Maria stared at the papers in disbelief.
"How am I supposed to sign them when Bernard isn't even here?" her voice carried a sharp edge.
"Don't worry, Bernard will sign as soon as he arrives," Victoria replied nonchalantly and Maria turned to her, her patience snapping.
"I need to see Bernard first before signing anything!" With that, she slammed the pen on the table and abruptly stood up. "Excuse me!"
Without waiting for a response, she stormed outside, her chest rising and falling rapidly.
She stood outside for a few minutes, staring up at the dark sky. The night was calm, yet her mind was anything but.
"Maria?"
She turned to see her mother approaching, her expression gentle.
"I thought we talked about this before we left home, sweetie." Luna Catherine's soothing voice threatened to melt Maria's anger, but she resisted.
"Yeah, we did. But no one told me my supposed mate wouldn't even show up to his own engagement! That's ridiculous, Mom!"
"I understand, dear." Catherine sighed. "But Bernard's presence isn't necessary. As long as he signs the papers, everything will be fine."
"It's not fine with me!" Maria snapped. "Why are you and Dad so weak? He is the Alpha and you're the Luna! People should fear you, not the other way around!"
Instead of getting angry, Catherine simply smiled. "We are not weak, Maria. You just don't understand why we act this way."
"Then make me understand!" Maria's voice cracked. "I'm tired of living in the shadows when I'm supposed to be the Alpha's daughter!"
Catherine studied her for a moment before nodding.
"Alright, dear. After tonight's engagement, I promise to explain everything to you."
Maria's frustration slowly eased. Finally, some answers. After some more convincing, she reluctantly agreed and they returned inside.
She apologized for her earlier outburst and took a seat. Beta Gilbert merely smiled at her, but Victoria's irritation was clear.
Maria ignored her and picked up the pen. With one final sigh, she signed the documents. Her parents followed suit, then Beta Gilbert and his wife.
"I believe everything is settled now?" Alpha Jackson asked.
"Yes," Beta Gilbert confirmed. "Once Bernard signs, I'll send a copy to you in the morning."
"Thank you for hosting us and for putting up with my spoiled daughter," Jackson chuckled, shaking Beta Gilbert's hand.
'Ugh!' Maria scoffed inwardly. 'Why are we the ones thanking them? Shouldn't they be honored that their son is marrying an Alpha's daughter?'
After bidding farewell, they stepped out of the house and walked toward their car. Just as they reached it, Maria suddenly froze.
A strange scent filled her nose.
For the first time in her life, she smelled something other than food. Her heart pounded as she looked around, but there was no one else in sight.
"What is it, Maria?" her mother asked, noticing her sudden halt.
"Can you smell that?" Maria asked, her voice laced with confusion but her parents exchanged glances.
"No, we don't," they answered in unison.
Maria stared at them in disbelief. How could an Alpha and a Luna not smell this? And she could smell it?
"You're imagining things," Jackson chuckled as they all got into the car but Maria wasn't convinced.
As they drove home, uneasiness settled in her chest. Something felt off. And then it happened.
A massive truck came speeding toward them. Jackson slammed his foot on the brake... but it was not working.
"What's going on?" he yelled, yanking the steering wheel.
"Dad! What's happening?" Maria screamed from the back seat.
"Honey, the brakes aren't working!" Catherine's voice was frantic.
"No!!!"
That was the last thing Maria heard before everything went blank...