"Maybe." I drank half the bottle of beer in one long chug. "But it's not going to be the same."

"No, it's not," he agreed with a sigh as he picked at the label on his bottle. "Are you," he said carefully, as if picking his words, "planning on staying with the pack? You are a damn good Luna."

"For now. Until a transfer of duties and the marking ceremony, I'm still acting Luna. Which is gonna make things mega awkward. I just hope she either knows what to do or is a quick study. Our pack has a lot of things to be on top of paperwork wise."

"She's like what, eighteen?"

"Who knows, but I certainly don't care." I shrugged and downed the rest of the bottle. "Ok that's a lie, I really care but it's not something I can control."

Sammy snorted. "You could still go tonight. Give them something to talk about."

"Why? So I can be the scandal of the season? 'Former Luna shows up looking human again?'"

I hadn't shut up about the ball as soon as I had heard about it. Our pack was small and we never had anything fancy to dress up for. In fact, I could probably count the number of fancy parties on one hand, and that included high school prom and my wedding.

He leaned back on his hands, studying me. "Because you've been waiting weeks to wear that red dress."

I froze mid-sip. "You wouldn't — "

"Theresa told me," he said smugly. "The one that's basically illegal in three states."

I groaned, pressing the cool bottle to my forehead.

"Turn it into a revenge dress, Al. If he wants to parade his shiny new mate, let him, but you walk in there like the goddess herself designed you."

"It feels stupid. Like I'm trying to win a breakup I didn't even sign up for."

I sighed and stared down at my mostly empty bottle. I didn't want to see Sammy's expression, I didn't want to see his pity.

"It's not about him. It's about you. You've spent half your life keeping a pack running, smoothing egos, fixing everyone's messes. Own one damn night."

I looked around the room. Warren's suitcase half unpacked, my scent already fading from the sheets. My chest ached. "But I don't even have a room anymore. Can't exactly get ready in the hallway bathroom."

"You and Theresa can use ours. I'll get ready somewhere else."

I blinked back the burn behind my eyes. "Thank you, Sammy."

He gave a crooked smile. "You're taking this better than I expected."

"I think it's because I'm still in shock. I can predict that I'll be a mess when we get home and I have to move everything out. No more home, no more Luna office, no more—" The list died on my tongue as tears blurred everything I could see. I clutched the beer bottle tighter, making my fingers ache from the tension. "No more Sunday coffee dates. No more running through the forest together, racing to see who was faster that day..." A small sob bubbled out of my chest. I knew I was ugly crying but I didn't have the strength left to stop it.

What was left of me now?

"I'm sorry, I should have kept my mouth shut," sighed Sammy, getting to his feet and giving me a hug. "If it makes you feel better, you will always be my Luna, Al."

"It doesn't," I replied, trying to smile, "but I appreciate it anyway." I chugged the final drops of lukewarm beer and got up to toss the bottle in the trash.

"Alright, let's channel that energy. You're not going to rot in here."

I wiped my face and stood. "Right. Work."

Sammy rolled his sleeves. "What's the plan?"

"Petty," I said, opening the closet. "And unforgettable."