Chapter 4

　　The next morning, I slept in late.

　　By the time I packed my painting supplies and stepped out of my room, the afternoon sun was already high in the sky. Laughter echoed through the courtyard.

　　“Ava! We saved you some food!”

　　I looked up to see Lily waving at me from the wooden table where everyone was gathered.

　　Reluctantly, I approached. She handed me a container, her smile warm. “We don’t have many relatives, so we’d love for you to come to our wedding.”

　　My fingers tightened around the envelope she offered me.

　　A wedding invitation.

　　I didn’t dare open it. It felt too heavy, as if the weight of my past and my shattered heart were pressed between its pages.

　　Lily didn’t seem to notice my hesitation. “I’ve heard you’re really talented! Can you take a look at our wedding invitation design?” She practically beamed as she spoke.

　　The thin paper in my hands might as well have been stone.

　　Before I could respond, Doctor Reynolds reached over, smoothly intercepting the conversation. “Let me see. The color is lovely.”

　　Lily nodded eagerly. “Liam picked the orange. I wanted purple, but now I think the orange looks better. Ava, what’s your favorite color?”

　　My throat tightened.

　　I set my painting supplies down and gestured to my orange dress. “This.”

　　I hadn’t had a favorite color before. But one day, Brooks had complimented me on an orange jacket I wore. I remembered how his eyes had softened, the way he ran his fingers over the fabric before whispering, “You look beautiful in this color.”

　　From that moment on, orange became my favorite.

　　Lily clapped her hands. “Wow, you and Liam have the same taste!”

　　I forced a smile, but her words twisted inside me.

　　My family.

　　That’s what Brooks used to call me. "My Luna. My family." His voice had always been full of warmth when he said it.

　　Doctor Reynolds, sensing the tension, took the invitation from me. “The cartoon design is adorable. Is the wedding at dusk?”

　　Lily rubbed her face. “Yup! That’s what Liam wanted.” She turned to me, eyes bright with curiosity. “But how did you know?”

　　The words left my mouth before I could stop them.

　　“Because someone can’t wake up early.”

　　Lily’s eyes went wide. “Oh my God! That’s exactly what Liam said!” She let out a laugh, nudging Liam playfully as he walked past. “But mostly, he loves dusk.”

　　I swallowed hard.

　　Brooks loved dusk too.

　　He once told me that the Moon Goddess blessed couples who married at dusk—that it was a sign their love would last forever.

　　A memory surfaced.

　　I had been half-asleep when he whispered in my ear, “You sleep too much. What am I going to do with you on our wedding day?”

　　Later, as our wedding approached, I’d wake up to the feel of his stubble against my skin, his arms pulling me close. “Ava, let’s get married at dusk, okay?”

　　I’d hummed my agreement, and he had kissed my forehead, his voice full of quiet satisfaction.

　　The past clawed at me, dragging me under.

　　I stood abruptly, needing air. As I turned to leave, Lily caught my wrist. Her gaze dropped to my hand.

　　She gasped. “Your ring! That’s beautiful!”

　　I twisted the band around my finger.

　　“He said the same thing.”

　　Lily tilted her head. “Wait… are you married?”

　　“Yes.”

　　Her surprise was evident. “For how long?”

　　“Five years.”

　　Her brows furrowed. “Where’s your mate? Why didn’t he come with you?”

　　I didn’t answer.

　　Instead, I looked up—right into the eyes of the man walking toward us.

　　Alpha Brooks.

　　Or rather, the man who used to be him.

　　The man who no longer remembered me.