My phone buzzed just as I finished curling my hair. Nonna's name flashed across the screen. I answered immediately.
"Gene baby," I said, putting her on speaker so I could continue getting ready.
"Aurora, thank the Moon Goddess you picked up." Her voice sounded strained, breathless. "Everything is falling apart here at the palace."
I froze, mascara wand halfway to my lashes. "What do you mean falling apart? The royal gathering is tonight."
"I know. That's the problem." Nonna exhaled sharply. "Alpha King Adrian just tried to cancel the entire ceremony. Richard has been scrambling for the past hour to salvage this."
"Cancel it? Why would he do that?" I set down my makeup and grabbed the phone, taking her off speaker. "Gene, what happened?"
"It's about Susan," Nonna said quietly. "You remember her, right? That she-wolf who was always around the palace years ago?"
"The one who loved the Alpha King?" Everyone in the kingdom knew that story. Susan had been obsessed with Adrian for years, but he never returned her feelings. He only had eyes for Jane, his chosen mate.
"Yes. Well, Adrian just found out he has a daughter with her."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. "A daughter? How is that possible? He never loved Susan."
"Love has nothing to do with pups sometimes," Nonna muttered. "Apparently it happened years ago, before he officially mated Jane. Susan never told him. She kept the child hidden all this time."
I sank onto the edge of my bed, processing this. "So where is this daughter now?"
"Nobody knows. That's what's destroying Adrian. He just found out he has a child out there somewhere, and he has no idea if she's alive or dead. If she's suffered. If she survived after Susan died." Nonna's voice cracked slightly. "He feels like he failed as a father before he even knew he was one."
"Is that why he wanted to cancel the gathering?"
"He told Richard he couldn't stand there tonight and accept the kingdom's respect when he couldn't even take care of his own blood. Jane tried to talk to him, but he was too consumed with guilt." Nonna paused. "Derick finally convinced him to go through with it."
Derick. The Alpha King's brother. I knew he and Adrian had been estranged for years, partly because Derick had always preferred Susan over Jane. The brothers barely spoke anymore.
"How did Derick manage that?" I asked.
"He promised to find the girl. He told Adrian he wouldn't leave the territory until he brought his daughter home. Adrian finally agreed to continue with the ceremony, but only if Derick kept that promise." Nonna sighed. "Aurora, I've never seen the Alpha King like this. He looks broken."
I stood and walked to my window, looking out at the kingdom sprawled below. Somewhere out there, a girl had no idea her father was the most powerful alpha in the region. "Does anyone else know about this?"
"Just the family and Richard. And now you. Adrian wants it kept quiet until Derick finds her." She paused. "But that's not why I called. I needed to hear a friendly voice. This whole situation is so heavy."
"I understand." I did. Nonna had been working closely with Richard on this gathering for weeks. She must be exhausted.
"Enough about the palace drama," Nonna said, her tone deliberately brightening. "Tell me you and Jack are still coming tonight."
I glanced at the dress hanging on my closet door. Deep emerald green, the color of forest shadows. Jack had chosen it himself. "We'll be there. I actually can't wait to meet Alpha King Adrian properly. I've heard so much about him."
"You'll love him. When he's not drowning in guilt and family secrets, he's actually quite charming." Nonna laughed softly. "Richard should be back soon. He went to check on his father one more time."
"Are you at the palace now?"
"Yes. I've practically been living here this week. Richard and I have been handling all the preparations together." Something in her voice changed, became softer. "He's been amazing, actually. So focused and dedicated. I don't know what I'd do without him."
I smiled, hearing the shift in her tone. It reminded me of how I sounded when I talked about Jack. "Gene, can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"How do you feel about Richard? Really feel about him?"
Silence stretched between us. I could picture her biting her lip, the way she always did when she was thinking hard about something.
"I don't know," she finally said. "I mean, I care about him. A lot. He makes me laugh. He makes me feel safe. When I'm with him, everything just feels right, you know?"
"That sounds like more than just caring about someone."
"Maybe." Her voice dropped to almost a whisper. "But it's scary, Aurora. What if I'm wrong? What if I'm reading too much into this?"
"Or what if you're not?" I countered gently. "Gene, I've known you for years. I've never heard you talk about anyone the way you talk about Richard."
"Really?"
"Really." I walked back to my vanity, looking at my reflection in the mirror. Jack would be here in two hours to pick me up. My chest tightened with anticipation just thinking about seeing him. "You know what I think?"
"What?"
"I think you're in love, girl."
The silence on the other end was deafening. Then I heard her soft intake of breath, like she was trying not to cry. Or trying not to laugh. Maybe both.
"Aurora," she whispered.
"Am I wrong?"
Another pause. Then, very quietly, "No. You're not wrong."
My heart squeezed for her. "Does Richard know?"
"I don't think so. I haven't told him." She laughed shakily. "I can barely admit it to myself. How did this happen? When did this happen?"
"It doesn't matter when or how. It just did." I heard voices in the background on her end. "Someone's there?"
"Richard just came back. I should go." But she didn't hang up immediately. "Thank you. For saying it out loud. For making it real."
"That's what friends are for." I smiled. "I'll see you tonight. And Gene? Tell him. He deserves to know."
She made a noncommittal sound and ended the call. I set my phone down and stared at my reflection again.
Tonight's gathering just became a lot more interesting. An Alpha King haunted by his past. A brother trying to make amends. A secret daughter hidden somewhere in the kingdom. And two friends falling in love amid all the chaos.
I reached for my mascara again, but my hands were shaking slightly. Not from fear. From excitement. From the feeling that everything was about to change.
Jack arrived exactly when he said he would, punctual as always. He looked devastating in his formal suit, the dark fabric emphasizing his broad shoulders. When he saw me in the emerald dress, his eyes darkened with approval.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his arm.
I took it, feeling the familiar spark where our skin touched. "More than ready."
As we drove toward the palace, I wondered if Nonna had told Richard yet. If Derick would find Adrian's daughter. If the Alpha King could move past his guilt long enough to lead his kingdom forward.
But mostly, I wondered what secrets tonight's gathering would reveal. Because in the kingdom, secrets never stayed buried for long.