---- scraping faintly against the glass. His wolf was rising. Barely restrained. Luke, seated beside him, clearly noticed the shift. With a forced smile, he lifted his glass and smoothly cut in: "Shawn, not everyone is worth remembering." But Shawn didn't move. He sat there, as if frozen in time, eyes unfocused - trapped in some memory no one else could reach. The room fell silent. One by one, the laughter died. No one dared to breathe. His beautiful mate, seated quietly beside him, looked slightly embarrassed. She gently reached for his hand, her touch soft, almost hesitant. ---- A few seconds later, Shawn seemed to return to himself. He lifted his glass, tapped it lightly against Luke's, and forced a thin smile. "T've forgotten for far too long," he said, voice low. Then he took a slow sip of wine and tightened his grip on his mate's hand. "There's something I forgot to mention." He stood, eyes scanning the room that had fallen silent again. "Next month, I'll be holding my bonding ceremony." A pause. "T hope all of you-my dear alumni-will come and witness the ritual at the Sacred Temple." Amurmur of surprise and applause followed. But I, the invisible soul floating just above them, ---- lowered my head in silence. Forgotten. Again.