Chapter 302 The Weight of Goodbye
The mating ceremony venue had a warmth to it that was hard to ignore.
The pack elders had converted an old lakeside lodge into a ceremonial hall. Pine beams arched overhead.
Morning light streamed through the tall windows and caught the dust floating in the air. Outside, the lake was calm and glassy under the early sun.
Elara couldn’t drink. Not with the pups growing inside her.
She stuck to sparkling water and watched her best friend glide through the traditional blessing ceremony like a born diplomat.
The ceremony had started at ten. The whole morning was theirs.
Hannah had always been good with people, but today she was in her element. She moved from table to table, accepting well-wishes, laughing at the elders’ jokes, making everyone feel seen.
Elara watched with quiet pride.
But what really caught her attention was Xavier.
He wasn’t the cold, aloof mate Hannah had described during their late-night conversations.
Here, in the thick of the ceremony, he was different. Every time Hannah reached for a glass of champagne, he was already switching it out for water.
When she laughed a little too hard and stumbled on her heels, his hand was at her elbow before she even knew she was falling.
He leaned down and murmured something in her ear. Hannah’s cheeks flushed, but she was smiling.
At one point, Hannah’s mother gave a speech that left her emotional.
Xavier stepped in without a word, took the mic, and smoothly redirected the attention so Hannah could collect herself in private.
By the time she returned, the moment had passed, and no one had noticed her tears except the people who mattered.
Small gestures. Big meaning. He was letting everyone know he had her back. He saw her. He cared.
Elara had a sense about these things. Hannah and Xavier were going to be madly in love.
—
At another table, Alpha Zack sat with his jaw tight.
His eyes drifted toward Elara maybe three times over the course of the morning. Each time, he looked away before anyone could catch him.
She was pregnant. Twins, word had it.Good for her.
A few guests glanced between Alpha Zack and Alpha Dominic throughout the ceremony.
The two Alphas had claimed opposite sides of the hall like territory lines had been drawn. No eye contact. No acknowledgment.
The local gossip network had already lit up. Luna Queen and Alpha Zack had a history.
Some wolves were disappointed. They’d been hoping for drama.
Elara checked her phone. They had plans this afternoon.
She excused herself from the table and found Hannah near the dessert bar.
A quick hug. A whispered “You’ve got this, Hannah. You deserve every bit of happiness.”
Then she circled back to Alpha Dominic .
She slipped her hand through his arm. “Ready?”
Alpha Dominic turned from the conversation he’d been having with Elder Bruneau.
The elder had been deep in a discussion about border patrol rotations, but the moment he saw Elara approach, he stopped mid-sentence.
“Ah, I’ve kept you too long,” Elder Bruneau said with a knowing smile. “Go on, take your mate home. We’ll finish this at the next council meeting, Alpha King.”
Alpha Dominic nodded. “Appreciate your patience, Bruneau.”
Then he looked down at Elara, his expression softening. “Ready when you are.”
They walked together toward the lobby.
Then footsteps behind them. Fast. Purposeful.
Elara turned.
Alpha Zack was walking toward them. His expression was stiff. Composed.
“Well, well.”Alpha Dominic’s voice went smooth and sharp at the same time.
The kind of polite that was not polite at all. “Alpha Zack. Enjoying the wedding?”
Alpha Zack ’s eyes flicked to Alpha Dominic. He stopped a few feet away.
“Alpha King.” A short nod. Respectful but cold.
Then his gaze shifted past Alpha Dominic. Landed on Elara. “Can we talk? Just for a minute.”
Alpha Dominic’s jaw tightened.
Every instinct told him to say no. Leave his pregnant mate alone with her ex? Not a chance.
But then he looked at Elara. She wasn’t nervous. She was annoyed. She had this handled.
He trusted her. And he wanted her to close this door herself.
“I’ll wait for you in the car.” He brushed a hand against her lower back. A quick touch. I’m right there.
Before she could say anything, Alpha Dominic was gone.