When the Hidden Luna Rises novel Chapter 21

**TITLE: Chained by Fate**
**Eliza Rowan**
**Chapter 21**

This time, as Kelsey stepped into the spotlight, she felt an exhilarating surge of confidence. Gone were the days of hiding from judgmental glances, enduring the sharp, cutting remarks from the Mitchell family, or lingering in the shadow of Ryan. She could finally lift her chin, straighten her back, and walk down that illustrious red carpet with a sense of pride that radiated from within.

In the past, she had felt unworthy of even entering the grand banquet hall of the Stormclaw Pack. On Ryan’s birthday, she could only watch from the dim backstage, her heart aching as she observed him happily cutting his cake, Claire standing beside him, their laughter echoing in her ears. Back then, she had felt like a mere specter, her joy snatched away, her very existence requiring permission from those around her.

But now, everything was different.

Her haute couture gown flowed elegantly around her, trailing behind her like a shimmering arc of light, while a delicate pearl necklace graced her throat, catching the soft glow of the lights above. No longer was she merely the “Alpha’s accessory.” She was Kelsey Evans—independent, poised, and a true Luna in her own right.

With every step she took, she exuded an innate presence, her smile radiant and graceful. The society women who had once whispered behind her back about her humble beginnings were now eager to engage her in conversation, their attitudes transformed.

“Who is that? She’s stunning,” one lady remarked, her eyes wide with surprise.
“You don’t know? She’s Alpha Ryan’s true mate, the one they kept hidden for so long,” another replied, a hint of awe in her voice.
“I heard she grew up in an orphanage. You’d never guess it,” a third chimed in, shaking her head in disbelief.
“And so what if she’s an orphan? She possesses courage and dignity—far more than those ‘socialites’ who lean on their family names,” someone else added, their tone dismissive of the old prejudices.

The mockery that had once stung her so deeply had morphed into admiration and respect. Kelsey listened to the whispers, a bemused smile playing on her lips. It all seemed so absurd, the fickleness of human nature. The innocence she had fought so hard to defend, to preserve, hadn’t been restored by justice. Instead, it had been reclaimed through the “realization” of an Alpha who had once chosen the cruelest path to protect her.

As she stood there, her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Ryan making his way toward her through the throng of guests. The light fractured around him, casting a halo on his shoulders. His suit was tailored to perfection, and his presence was commanding, yet she could sense a hint of barely concealed nervousness in his demeanor.

He took a cautious step forward, his voice barely above a whisper, tinged with an unfamiliar pleading tone. “Kelsey… have you… have you been well? Are you taking care of yourself?”

The question “have you missed me?” lingered on his lips, a desperate hope that felt foolish even to him. But when their eyes locked, hers were not just cool; they were glacial, and the words he had wanted to say withered away, leaving behind a hollow ache in his chest.

In the year he had been absent, he had truly transformed himself. He had reclaimed control over the financial ledgers that the Mitchell family had tried to bury, returning to the Stormclaw Pack with renewed strength. He had built a subsidiary company from the ground up, secured numerous financing deals, and even completed an IPO within a single year.

He had believed that if he became strong enough, he would finally be worthy of her. That was why he had invited her here—not to flaunt his success but to prove that he could give her everything she had ever desired.

The banquet hall was alive with light and laughter, the clinking of glasses ringing out like a celebratory symphony. In the midst of it all, Andrew approached Kelsey, taking her hand with a charming smile.

Around him, the whispers of the crowd pierced through the air. “Ryan deserves to lose her.”
“Missing out on a Luna like that? He’ll probably regret it for the rest of his life.”

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