E

    The guards barely even looked at me. Their dismissal made my wolf bristle, and I lifted my chin higher, straightening my shoulders.

    “I’m the Luna Queen. I have to attend that coronation.”

    The guards nced at each other, then at me, eyes flicking distastefully over my disheveled appearance.

    I may have looked like a future queen thirty minutes ago, but not now. One guard held his hand out.

    b“/bI need to see some identification.”

    “I don’t have any identification with me.” Shit. It was in my purse, which I left in the car in my haste to get here on time. “Where’s Gabriel? The Beta. He’ll confirm who I am.”

    Just as I was starting to move past them, one of the guards stepped in my way again, holding his arm out to the side to physically block me. “Ma’am, I’m going to need you to step away from the entrance.”

    b“/bNo, I-”

    The second guard was already reaching for his radio. They were going to call for backup. They really thought I was some kind of crazy person trying to crash the coronation.

    b“/bYou don’t understand-”

    “Ma’am, pleasee with us.” The first guard grabbed my arm and began to guide me away.

    “Get your hands off me!” I yanked my arm away. “I’m Luna E of Ashw, and this is my mate’s

    coronation!”

    The guards looked wholly unconvinced.

    “That’s enough.” The guard reached for me again. “You need to leave the premises immediately.”

    b“/bbNo/b! I’m telling you, I belong here! Call Alexander, call Gabriel, call anyone who works for the pack–they’ll tell you who I am!”

    By now, people were starting to turn and look. A few well–dressed guests had gathered near the entrance, whispering and pointing at themotion. This was exactly the kind of scene I’d been trying to avoid,

    but what choice did I have?

    b“/bMa’am, you’re creating a disturbance-b” /b

    “E?” I whipped around to see Lilith hurrying toward us, her face drawn and pale. When she saw me, she faltered, pressing her hand to her chest. “Oh, your dress-”

    “Lilith, thank the Goddess.” Relief flooded through me. “Please tell them who I am.”

    “What happened to you, dear?b” /bLilith’s eyes were wide as she took in my torn, oil–stained dress. “Are you

    hurtb?/bb” /b

    “The car broke down, and then the engine-“I gestured helplessly at my ruined gown. “It’s a long story.

    But these guards won’t let me in.”

    Lilith turned to the security guards, drawing herself up to her full height. “This is Luna E of Ashw. She’s the Alpha King’s mate. Don’t you recognize her?”

    The guard’s eyebrows lifted. “Looks like a vagrant to me. A vagrant who’s trying to trespass during an

    important ceremony.”

    “Trespassing?” Lilith’s voice went sharper than I’d ever heard it before. “This is her mate’s coronation.

    She has every right to be here.”

    “Ma’am, please-”

    “Don’t you dare ‘ma’am‘ me.” Lilith stormed forward and jabbed her finger at his chest. “I’ve worked for

    the Ashw family for over twenty years. I know exactly who this woman is, and if you don’t let her into

    that cathedral right now-”

    “Keep your hands off of me.” The guard shoved back at Lilith just as she went to poke him in the chest,

    and she stumbled backwards. Her feet tangled in her long dress, and before I could catch her, she was

    tumbling down onto the stone steps.

    “Lilith!” I dropped to my knees beside her, the coronation immediately forgotten. “Are you okay? Are you

    hurt?”

    She was lying on her side, one hand pressed to her temple where she’d struck the ground. When she

    pulled her hand away, there was blood on her fingers.

    “Oh, Goddess,” I breathed. “You’re bleeding.”

    b“/bI’m fine. Just a little bump.”

    b“/bYou are not fine.” I turned to re at the security guards, who were both looking horrified by what had

    just happened. “Look what you did! Pushing an old woman like that. You should be ashamed of yourself!b” /b