Chapter 134

• I woke up that morning with an unusual sense of relief. For once, I wasn't jolted awake by Aria’s incessant yelling or my mother’s early-morning demands. Miraculously, I hadn't been disturbed by the anxiety-inducing nightmares that usually plagued my nights. It was as if the universe was giving me a reprieve in light of the Moon Ball I was expected to attend that evening.
• But the thought of the Moon Ball quickly extinguished my fleeting tranquility. A gnawing sense of dread settled in my stomach, making it hard to breathe deeply. I couldn’t pinpoint the exact source of my anxiety, but it was undeniable that it had everything to do with this dreaded event. I clung to the hem of my oversized t-shirt, desperately wishing I could just sleep through the day and avoid the ball altogether.
• If it were just our pack attending, the ball would be a manageable affair. I knew none of the unmated males in my pack were potential mates, so it wouldn't have been a big deal. However, the ball would see every pack in America in attendance. The thought of my mate being among them made my anxiety spike. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to escape reality, but it didn’t work. I forced myself out of bed and shuffled downstairs, lured by the smell of breakfast.