Chapter 2: The Woman Falcon Forgot

I walked out of the jewelry shop without looking back.

The moment the doors closed behind me, I released the breath I'd been holding.

I wasn't hurt by Julia's insults.

What bothered me was Falcon.

My arranged mate hadn't saved my number.

He hadn't recognized my name.

And when I finally called him, he had treated me like a stranger.

My brother had promised me that Falcon was the best Alpha in Northmere.

He had described him as disciplined, honorable, and powerful.

Perhaps my brother had forgotten to mention one thing.

Falcon Sterling apparently didn't care who he was supposed to marry.

I stepped onto the busy street and pulled out my phone.

There were already several missed calls from my brother.

I answered the next one.

"Where are you?" he demanded.

"Shopping."

"Did you get the crown?"

"No."

Silence.

"What happened?"

"Your future Alpha's childhood sweetheart happened."

My brother immediately became suspicious.

"Explain."

"Julia Stone stole the crown I was going to buy."

"She said she was protected by Falcon."

"Then Falcon didn't recognize my number when I called him."

Another long silence followed.

"He didn't recognize you?"

"No."

My brother's voice became dangerously calm.

"Send me the location."

"Why?"

"Just do it."

I sent him the address.

A few seconds later, he replied.

"Don't leave Northmere yet."

"I'm coming."

I rolled my eyes.

"You don't need to come here and start a war over a crown."

"It's not about the crown," he replied.

"It's about respect."

I put my phone away.

My brother could be overly protective.

Still, I knew he wasn't angry over something so trivial.

He had probably realized what I hadn't wanted to admit.

Julia already believed she had a place beside Falcon.

And Falcon had done nothing to correct her.

That evening, I returned to the hotel where I was staying.

I expected the day to end quietly.

Instead, a knock sounded on my door.

I opened it carefully.

A young pack messenger stood outside.

"Miss Lunebom?"

"Yes."

"Alpha Falcon requests your presence at the Silvermoon estate."

I stared at him.

"Now?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I wasn't told."

I almost refused.

Then curiosity won.

"Fine."

The Silvermoon estate was enormous.

Black stone walls surrounded the property.

Silver lanterns lined the entrance.

Guards stood at every gate.

The entire place radiated authority.

I stepped inside.

Several servants bowed respectfully.

Then I saw Falcon.

He was standing at the end of the hall.

Tall.

Broad-shouldered.

Dark-haired.

His eyes were colder than winter.

The stories hadn't exaggerated.

He was undeniably powerful.

His gaze landed on me.

"Sloane Lunebom?"

"Yes."

He studied me carefully.

"You called me earlier."

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because your childhood sweetheart stole the Luna crown I intended to purchase."

His jaw tightened.

"Julia is my childhood friend."

"That's what she told me."

"She exaggerated."

"Perhaps."

He stared at me.

"I apologize for the incident at the store."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You're apologizing?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because you're my arranged mate."

I almost laughed.

"You didn't seem to remember that on the phone."

A faint trace of embarrassment crossed his face.

"I receive hundreds of calls every day."

"And you're supposed to marry the person you spoke to."

"I had not saved your number."

"I noticed."

Silence settled between us.

Falcon's eyes remained fixed on mine.

"You don't seem particularly impressed by me."

"Should I be?"

His eyebrow lifted.

"Most people are afraid of me."

"I'm not most people."

For the first time, something resembling amusement appeared in his eyes.

"I've heard that."

"From whom?"

"Your brother."

I sighed.

"Of course he has."

Falcon stepped closer.

"He said you're difficult."

"He says that because I don't obey him."

"He also said you're stubborn."

"He's correct."

A small silence followed.

Then Falcon asked,

"Why did you leave the shop without the crown?"

"Because I don't need a crown to prove who I am."

He looked at me carefully.

"Then what do you need?"

"Respect."

"And if I can't give you that?"

"Then the ceremony can be canceled."

His expression changed.

"You would cancel an arranged mating that easily?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I won't spend my life competing with another woman for my own mate."

Falcon didn't answer.

A voice suddenly echoed from the doorway.

"Falcon!"

Julia walked into the room.

She stopped when she saw me.

Her expression became instantly hostile.

"What is she doing here?"

"She's my mate," Falcon replied.

Julia's face went pale.

"I know that."

"Then behave accordingly."

She looked at Falcon in disbelief.

"You brought her here?"

"Yes."

"But—"

"Enough, Julia."

For the first time since I had met her, Julia looked uncertain.

Falcon turned toward me.

"The crown will be replaced."

"You don't have to."

"I want you to have a crown for tomorrow's ceremony."

"Fine."

"But I will choose it myself."

I stared at him.

"Why?"

"Because I'm the Alpha."

"And because you're my future Luna."

I folded my arms.

"You remembered."

"I won't forget again."

His words should have reassured me.

Instead, I felt strangely cautious.

Falcon wasn't the man I had expected.

He was cold.

But he was observant.

And perhaps more complicated than Julia had made him seem.

Later that evening, my brother arrived at the estate.

The moment he entered the room, Falcon's expression became serious.

"Chairman Lunebom."

"Falcon."

The two men exchanged a formal nod.

Then my brother looked at me.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"Did he disrespect you?"

"Not exactly."

My brother turned toward Falcon.

"I heard about the jewelry store."

"It won't happen again," Falcon replied.

"See that it doesn't."

Falcon nodded.

Julia stood quietly in the corner.

My brother's eyes finally moved toward her.

His expression darkened.

"And you must be Julia Stone."

"Yes, Chairman."

"I've heard your name often."

Julia smiled nervously.

"I hope you've heard good things."

"I've heard enough."

She immediately lowered her eyes.

I almost smiled.

My brother wasn't the type to insult people.

When he used silence instead, it was usually worse.

Before leaving, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Sloane, if Falcon ever makes you uncomfortable, you come home."

"I don't need rescuing."

"I know."

"But I'm still your brother."

I smiled.

"I know."

That night, I stood alone on the balcony of the estate.

The moon was bright above Northmere.

A wedding ceremony was supposed to take place tomorrow.

Yet everything felt uncertain.

My arranged mate had finally acknowledged me.

Julia was clearly not willing to step aside.

And beneath all of it...

I could feel something stirring inside my bloodline.

Something powerful.

Something old.

I didn't yet understand what it was.

But tomorrow, when the entire pack gathered to witness the mating ceremony...

They would learn exactly who Sloane Lunebom really was.