Chapter 17: Dancing Lessons

Words : 1452 Updated : Sep 10th, 2025

Chapter 17: Dancing Lessons Aiden Silver POV The old book slammed shut in my hands just as footsteps echoed down the hallway toward the library. My heart hammered against my ribs as I quickly shoved the dusty tome under a stack of fresher books. "Aiden?" Lily’s voice called softly from the doorway. "Your father said you wanted to see me?" I forced my breathing to slow down and turned toward her with what I hoped looked like a normal smile. The book I’d just hidden contained information about the Shadow Covenant that would terrify her. She couldn’t know about it. Not yet. "Yes, come in," I said, my voice only slightly shaky. "I thought we should practice dancing for tomorrow night’s ceremony." Lily stepped into the library, looking confused. "Dancing? I don’t know how to dance the traditional steps." Perfect. This would keep her busy and away from asking questions about why I’d been spending so much time in the library lately. Ever since Caleb had discovered the truth about the Shadow Wolves, I’d been desperately searching for a way to break the covenant without losing Lily forever. "That’s exactly why we need to practice," I said, walking over to her. "As Luna, you’ll be expected to lead the ceremonial dance with your mate." Her cheeks turned pink. "We still don’t know which brother is my true mate." "Right, but whoever it is will need you to know the steps." I held out my hand to her. "Besides, I’m the best dancer of the three of us." She laughed, which made my chest feel warm despite everything. "That’s not saying much. I’ve seen Brock try to dance." "Hey, my brother has many talents. Dancing just isn’t one of them." Lily took my offered hand, and I felt that familiar tingle where our skin touched. Her Triple Moon mark was hidden under her sleeve, but I knew it was there. Glowing. Calling to whatever ancient magic bound our pack to creatures from another realm. "The traditional dance is called the Moon’s Embrace," I explained, trying to focus on normal things instead of the terror eating at my insides. "It tells the story of how the first wolves learned to dance by watching moonbeams move across water." I placed my hand on her waist, keeping a respectful distance between us. She was so small compared to me, so delicate. How could she possibly survive what was coming? "Your left hand goes on my shoulder," I instructed. "Good. Now, we start with three steps to the right, following the moon’s path across the sky." We began moving slowly, and I counted out loud. "One, two, three, and turn. One, two, three, and turn." Lily bit her lip in concentration, staring down at her feet. "I feel like I’m going to trip and embarrass myself in front of the whole pack." "You won’t," I said firmly. "You’re stronger than you think, Lily. You’ve already proven that." She looked up at me with those trusting eyes, and guilt crashed through me like a wave. She had no idea that tomorrow night might be the last time anyone ever saw her. That the Shadow Wolves were waiting to claim her the moment the mating ceremony ended. "What’s wrong?" she asked, stopping mid-step. "You look upset." Think fast, Aiden. "Just nervous about the ceremony," I lied. "It’s a big responsibility, becoming Alpha and all." She nodded understandingly. "I can’t imagine the pressure you’re under." If only she knew. The pressure of keeping her safe while pretending everything was normal. The pressure of finding a solution when centuries of Alphas before me had failed. The pressure of possibly watching the girl I cared about disappear into another realm. "Let’s try the spin sequence," I said, desperate to change the subject. "You’ll turn under my arm three times, like the moon spinning through the seasons." I lifted our joined hands above her head and guided her through the first turn. She was actually graceful, her movements flowing naturally despite her nervousness. "See? You’re a natural," I said, meaning it. On the second turn, she stumbled slightly, and I caught her around the waist, pulling her closer to steady her. For a moment, we stood there, much closer than we’d been before. I could smell her shampoo and see the tiny freckles across her nose. "Sorry," she whispered, but she didn’t pull away. "Don’t be sorry. That’s what partners are for - catching each other when we fall." The words came out more serious than I’d intended. Her eyes searched my face like she was trying to read my thoughts. "Aiden, is there something you’re not telling me? You’ve been acting strange lately. So have Caleb and Brock, actually." My heart stopped. She was too observant for her own good. "Strange how?" I asked carefully. "Worried. Secretive. Like you’re all keeping something from me." She stepped back, putting space between us. "Does it have to do with the Triple Moon mark? Have you found something in these books that scares you?" I opened my mouth to lie again, but the words wouldn’t come. She deserved the truth. But the truth would send her running, and then the Shadow Wolves would hunt her down anyway. "Lily—" "Tell me," she said firmly. "I’m not as fragile as everyone thinks. I can handle whatever it is." Before I could answer, footsteps pounded down the hallway. Heavy boots, running fast. My father burst through the library door, his face pale with panic. "Where’s Caleb?" he demanded. "I don’t know. Why?" Fear shot through me. "Father, what’s wrong?" "He’s gone. His room is empty, his window’s open, and there are signs of a struggle." Alpha Marcus ran his hands through his hair. "The pack guards found tracks leading into the forest. Wolf tracks, but not from our pack." Lily gasped. "The Shadow Wolves?" My father’s eyes snapped to her in shock. "How do you know about—" He stopped, his face growing even paler. "You told her?" "No, I—" "I overheard you and Caleb talking yesterday," Lily interrupted. "About some kind of covenant and creatures that take omegas. I thought it was just old stories, but..." She looked between us with growing horror. "It’s real, isn’t it? That’s why you’ve all been acting strange." My father closed his eyes in defeat. "They weren’t supposed to come until after the ceremony. The deal was one month after mating, not before." "What deal?" Lily’s voice rose with panic. I grabbed her shoulders. "Lily, listen to me. We’re going to figure this out. We’re going to save Caleb and—" "And what?" she demanded. "Save me from being taken next? That’s what this is about, isn’t it? The Shadow Wolves want me because of my mark." My father nodded grimly. "The covenant requires the sacrifice of the most powerful omega from each generation. The Triple Moon mark identifies you as that omega." Lily swayed on her feet, and I steadied her. "So tomorrow night, after the ceremony..." "They would have come for you," I finished quietly. "But they took Caleb instead," she whispered. "Why?" My father’s expression grew darker. "Because he’s been researching ways to break the covenant. They must have seen him as a threat." Terror and determination warred in Lily’s eyes. "Then we have to go after them. We have to save him." "Absolutely not," I said immediately. "It’s too dangerous. We’ll find another way." "There is no other way!" she snapped, showing more fire than I’d ever seen from her. "Don’t you understand? If we don’t get Caleb back, if we don’t stop this, then even if you somehow save me tomorrow night, they’ll just keep taking other omegas. This has to end." She was right, and I hated that she was right. "Father," I said slowly. "The old texts describe moon pools in other territories. Places where the Shadow Wolves might take prisoners." "The Whispering Canyon," he said with a nod. "But son, those beings aren’t bound by our world’s rules. Even if we find where they took him..." "We bring him home," I said firmly. "All of us. Together." Lily looked at me with something like admiration. "You’d risk your life for Caleb? Even though we don’t know which brother is my true mate?" "He’s my brother," I said simply. "Of course I would." But even as I said the words, dread filled my stomach. Because I had a terrible feeling that saving Caleb was going to take a sacrifice none of us were prepared to make. And somewhere in the darkness beyond our area, my brother was waiting for us to either save him or join him in whatever nightmare the Shadow Wolves had planned.

Chapter 17: Dancing Lessons

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