CHAPTER 7

The days that followed the wedding moved both quickly and strangely slow for Eva. She woke every morning in a room far too large, dressed in clothes too fine, and looked in the mirror at a version of herself she barely recognized. The girl in the reflection wore silks and jewels, and yet... deep in her heart, Eva still felt like the invisible maid everyone had always overlooked. Except now, people saw her. Some wolves in the Rivers Pack gave her curious looks while others nodded politely and greeted her as she passed. They were respectful but distant. She understood. She was a political bride. An outsider. Still, it didn’t stay that way for long. Zoe helped. Her cheerful presence always made things easier. She stuck to Eva’s side, guiding her through every ritual, every meeting, every duty expected of a Luna. At first, it was overwhelming. There were so many traditions, so many people to greet, so many customs to memorize. Eva made mistakes. She bowed when she wasn’t supposed to.