CHAPTER 14: THE CEREMONY

**Ryan**

I paced back and forth in my office restlessly, my mind full of questions. It was the night before the wedding day and I was too tense to lie down, let alone sleep. I hadn’t slept in our room ever since Evie had left the pack, anyway. Leaning against the windowsill, I went over the plans for the next day in my head for what felt like the umpteenth time. I couldn’t afford to make mistakes.

As I stood by the window gazing at the moon that was almost full, I wondered what Evie was doing now. Was she also staring at this moon somewhere?

Suddenly, I heard a slight noise that sounded like twigs snapping in the otherwise silent night and straightened, all my senses on alert. It was so late in the night and no one should have been outside here at this time of the day. So what was that sound?

As I listened, I heard the sound again and then I saw someone step out of the packhouse, their silhouette shrouded in darkness. I watched curiously, wondering who was out at this time of the ni