Elsie's breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, she forgot how to move.
Forgot how to breathe.
The man stood there beneath the moonlight as if he belonged to it—his skin glowing faintly under the silver glow, his body strong and perfectly sculpted. Every line of him was defined, powerful, effortless.
And completely-
Naked.
Heat rushed to Elsie's face.
Her eyes widened, yet… she didn't look away.
She couldn't.
Her gaze lingered longer than it should have—taking in the sharp lines of his jaw, the broadness of his shoulders, the quiet strength in the way he stood so confidently, as though he knew exactly what effect he had.
And those eyes—
Silver.
They held her in place.
Then suddenly—
A low, amused voice broke the silence.
"Do you like what you see?"
Elsie froze.
Her heart slammed violently against her chest as realization hit her.
He knew.
Her face burned even hotter as she quickly turned her head away, her breath coming uneven.
"I—I wasn't—" she stammered, completely flustered.
The man chuckled softly.
It was deep.
Smooth.
Dangerous.
The sound sent an unfamiliar shiver down her spine.
When she dared to glance back, he had already begun dressing, pulling on dark trousers with unhurried ease, completely unaffected by the situation.
As if this—being seen like that—was nothing to him.
Elsie swallowed hard, trying to regain some composure.
"You shouldn't be here," she said quietly, still avoiding his gaze. "This is Silverfang territory."
"And yet," he replied calmly, fastening his shirt, "here I am."
There was something in his tone.
Confidence.
Not arrogance—but certainty.
As though no place was truly forbidden to him.
He stepped closer, just enough for the moonlight to fully illuminate his face.
Up close, he was even more striking.
Sharp features.
A defined jawline.
Lips that held the hint of a knowing smile.
And those silver eyes—
They studied her now with quiet intensity.
"Are you going to tell me your name?" he asked.
Elsie hesitated.
Something about him felt… unfamiliar.
Not just because she had never seen him before—but because of what she felt standing near him.
Something alive.
Something that hadn't stirred in her for days.
"Elsie," she said finally, her voice softer than intended.
His gaze lingered on her a second longer.
As if committing it to memory.
"Elsie," he repeated.
Her name sounded different coming from him.
Then he glanced toward the direction of the estate, where distant lights still flickered.
"I have somewhere to be," he said.
She frowned slightly.
"Where?"
"The Alpha's ceremony," he answered simply. "I'm a guest."
Elsie blinked in surprise.
"A guest?"
But before she could say anything more, he stepped back.
"I'll see you around, Elsie."
And then—
He turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Just like that.
Elsie stood there for a moment longer, staring at the empty space where he had been.
Her heart still hadn't slowed.
Her thoughts tangled.
She didn't even know his name.
Yet somehow—
She couldn't stop thinking about him.
About his voice.
His presence.
His eyes.
Especially his eyes.
The walk back to the estate felt different.
Quieter.
But not empty.
For the first time in days, her mind wasn't consumed by silence.
Instead—
It replayed him.
Over and over.
By the time Elsie stepped inside the house, the celebrations had long since ended. The halls were dim again, the echoes of laughter gone.
But she didn't make it far.
"Elise."
She stopped.
Her father.
Her mother stood beside him.
And with them—
The Alpha.
Edward's father.
His presence filled the room immediately, commanding and heavy. His sharp gaze landed on Elsie, studying her in a way that made her stand straighter instinctively.
"You've recovered," he noted.
Elsie lowered her head slightly.
"Yes, Alpha."
He nodded once, then got straight to the point.
"Tomorrow is Edward's official coronation," he said. "And the celebration of his completed bond with his Luna."
Elsie's fingers tightened slightly at her sides.
But her face remained calm.
"I expect you to be present."
Her eyes flickered up in surprise.
"Alpha—"
"You will attend," he continued firmly. "And you will give your blessing before the pack."
The words settled heavily in the room.
Elsie's chest tightened faintly.
"I…" she hesitated.
The Alpha's gaze hardened slightly.
"The Alpha of the Nightcrest Pack will be in attendance," he added. "This is not a small event. You will not do anything that could bring embarrassment to this pack."
A warning.
Clear.
Direct.
Elsie swallowed.
"I understand," she said quietly.
"I will attend."
The Alpha gave a satisfied nod.
"Good."
Without another word, he turned and left.
Silence followed.
Elsie didn't look at her parents immediately.
But when she did—
For the briefest moment—
Disappointment flickered in her eyes.
It was subtle.
Quick.
Gone almost instantly.
But her mother saw it.
Felt it.
And the guilt that followed was suffocating.
Because she hadn't said anything.
Hadn't defended her daughter.
Hadn't even tried.
Elsie simply lowered her gaze again.
"I'll prepare for tomorrow," she said softly before walking past them.
Leaving them standing there.
The next morning came too quickly.
The estate was alive again.
Brighter.
Louder.
Filled with guests from different territories, their presence adding an air of importance to the already grand occasion.
Elsie stood at the edge of the gathering, dressed simply but elegantly, her expression calm despite the storm of emotions she refused to show.
Her eyes moved across the crowd absentmindedly as if she was looking for someone
Until they stopped.
Her breath hitched.
There he was,
Standing among the honored guests.
Dressed in dark, perfectly tailored clothing that fit his broad frame effortlessly.
Confident.
Commanding.
And somehow even more striking than the night before.
Was him.
The man from the river.
His silver eyes met hers across the crowd.
And this time he didn't just look
He smiled.