(Kieran POV)
The clearing had been sacred to my family for generations, a natural amphitheater carved from living rock where ancient trees formed cathedral walls beneath stars that had witnessed ceremonies older than human memory. Tonight it hummed with power that went beyond mere moonlight—energy that spoke of bonds being forged, destinies being claimed, futures being written in languages that predated spoken word.
My pack moved through final preparations with reverent efficiency, each member understanding their role in rituals that would bind Catherine to our family permanently. Torches burned in iron sconces that had been blessed by alphas whose names were carved in stones that marked territorial boundaries. Flowers gathered from gardens that bloomed out of season perfumed air thick w
