Chapter 22
Aurch
As the night deepened, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside the window and an occasional howl from patrolling wolves. I didn’t want to sleep. What if the nightmares came again! The thorns, the blood, the echoes of laughter that turned into screams, the feeling of being trapped? And worse, what if I screamed in my sleep‘ Lucien would hear me. He’d think I was weak, just another broken girl who couldn’t handle her own fears. I didn’t want him to see me like that.
So instead of sitting on the warm and comforting bed, I decided to sit on the floor away from the rug. I hugged my knees tighter, leaning my back against the wall.
As the right settled in, 1 sat on the cold floor, bugging my
y knees. The cold from the
the floor s
seeped into my skin, making me shiver, but I didn’t care The fear of closing my eyes weighed heavier than the chill in the air. So the chill was welcome. It would keep me awake.
But I didn’t realize when exhaustion claimed me. I rested my head on my knees, promising myself I’d stay awake. Just for tonight. My eyelids grew heavier, and I fought against them. pinching my arm to stay alert. But no matter how hard I tried, exhaustion overcame me. My breathing slowed. and my head lolled to the side…
And nightmares revisited. They faded again as soft hands stroked my hair, my back, my hands. I wanted to wake up and see who was there, or whether I was dreaming it, but my eyes remained shut.
When I woke up, afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, and I felt warm. I blinked in confusion. I was on the bed, covered in a thick, sot blanket that smelled faintly of pine and something earthy.
What!” I whispered, sitting up quickly. “How did 1
Had I crawled into the bed in my sleep? Or did someone put me here? My heart raced as I stared at the neatly tucked blanket, trying to make sense of it all. And how could 1 sleep soundlessly till noon!
I glanced toward the door, my checks burning at the thought. Lucien‘ Could he have. The idea left me both flustered and uneasy. But that wasn possible because the door was locked. I had locked it myself before going to sleep. Goddess! I placed the back of my hand on my forehead. It was stupid to think that Alpha Lucien would enter my room somehow and bring me to bed. My eyes darted to the window where the curtains were Bluttering in the soft breeze. Shaking my head to push those ideas out, I tossed my blanket aside and walked to the bathroom
I went down to the main hall at noon. There were loud voices coming from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen only to see that the place was utter chaos with so many people talking to each other in loud voices. As soon as they saw me, they fell silent and bowed.
“Lady Aurent” Vivi came rushing to me with a food tray. “Alpha Lucien hasn’t eaten his breakfast, blasting Tom for not preparing it nicely. He left in rage. I’m so scared”
“Oh! I’m so sorry. Can I help?”
“Oh, no, no!” she replied and went back to her work and began shouting at Toin their common language.
Once I had my lunch, she said, “Now let’s get you that dress I mentioned for the Celestial Source”
“No Vivi. I have plenty of dresses. III pick f
from them.
“But Alpha Lucien has sent the stylist for you,” she argued.
Whe
at? Why?” I jerked my head in surprise. “Did you ask Alpha Lucien about this?”
She shrugged and guided me out of the kitchen. “I don’t know. And not”
In the main hall, a woman in her late forties was standing with a bunch of dresses. She looked at me and scrunched her nose. “You need a complete makeover, Lady Auren,” she scoffed. Then she muttereid. “This is the worst nightmare of my life. Turning an omega into a princess! Or rather Cusderella
My checks turned red. “T–I can manage,” I replied. I didn’t know that
“Oliswerthcant,” she said with an exasperated breath. “Manage won’t do! You need to look outstanding in the Celestial Soirée because you are the queen beel” She held my hand and took me to my rou
She entered the room like a whirlwind, her team trailing behind her with racks of clothes, boxes of shoes, and a dizzying array of accessories. She clapped her hands and beanied at me. “Alright, darling, let’s tun you into a vision.”
Hlinked, overwhelmed by the sudden chaos. Fabrics in every shade imaginable were held up against me, rejected or approved in seconds by Dahlia like an expert. “Something sexy, but elegant,” she muttered, tapping her chin as her staff worked around her.
Finally, Dablis pulled out the dress. It was a deep emerald green that shummered subtly under the light, clinging to the body like a second skin. The neckline plunged, revealing just enough to be alluring, and the back slipped low, exposing the curve of my spine. If someone put their hand at the hack of my back, they could easily reach my hips. The fabric hugged my waist before faring slightly at the hips, allowing easy movement. A high
2:43 PM c
Chapter 22
slit on one side showed my right leg.
I stood frozen as Dahlia’s team worked their magic–styling my hair into soft waves, enhancing my features with makeup, and slipping me into
delicate silver heels.
A couple of hours later, when I looked in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. Not only did I feel beautiful, I felt confident.
“Now you look presentable,” she said with her chin high.
When I walked down the stairs, I found Alpha Lucien looking at his watch impatiently with an angry expression. However, when he turned his head, be froze. His eyes darkened, the intensity of his gaze made my breath hitch. In his black suit, he looked like a Greek God.
0
Did he like what he saw? Slowly I made my way down. When I reached him, he muttered something about the moon and stars, and offered his arm.
The venue of the Celestial Soiree was the grand hall of the pack house where the charity event was held. The hall sparkled with golden lights and soft music filled the air, but it was the she–wolves who truly caught my attention.
Their dresses were designed to turn heads. Most were tight–fitting, clinging to every curve, with daring slits that revealed toned legs. Some wore backless gowns that dipped scandalously low, while others had plunging necklines that left little to the imagination. Shimmering fabrics sparkled under the lights, catching the eyes of every male wolf in the room. High heels clicked on the floor as they walked confidently, their hips swaying in a way that drew attention. It was clear they had dressed to captivate, to lure the unmated males, and they did it effortlessly.
And then I saw Sable. She wore a dress so sheer it left just enough to the imagination to tease.
I clung tightly to Lucien’s arm as she stared at him with lust. Her gaze shifted to me, and I could see the challenge in her eyes. She was here to stake her claim on Lucien and throw me out.
Chapter 23
