Chapter 66: The Masquerade

Seraphine's POV

The Pack House entrance was chaos.

Good chaos. The kind where no one gave a shit about who you were or where you came from.

I joined the stream of people flowing through the massive wooden doors, keeping my head down, shoulders hunched. The gray dress hung loose on my frame, making me look smaller. Less significant.

Nobody checked IDs. Nobody asked questions.

It was a public celebration. The Moon Festival belonged to everyone.

But that didn't stop people from looking.

I could feel their eyes sliding over me—curious, assessing, trying to place me.

I kept my face neutral. Calm.

The perfume was doing its job. The heavy floral scent clung to my skin, masking everything underneath. My natural smell. My identity.

My bond with him.

I focused on keeping that connection quiet. Dormant. If it started pulsing too hard, he'd feel it.

And I couldn't let that happen. Not yet.

The crowd pushed me forward, deeper into the Pack House. High ceilings, polished wood floors, enormous chandeliers dripping with crystals. Everything gleamed. Everything screamed wealth and power.

Music echoed through the halls. Drums and flutes and something primal that made my pulse quicken.

I moved with the crowd, letting them carry me toward the main hall.

And then I saw him.

Kaelen.

He stood at the center of the room like a fucking king.

Dark suit. Perfectly tailored. His posture rigid, controlled, radiating authority that made everyone instinctively step back.

And beside him—Vespera.

She wore a deep red gown that clung to her curves like liquid silk. Her red hair was swept up in an elegant twist, exposing her long neck. She smiled at the people around them—gracious, confident, completely at ease.

Her hand rested on Kaelen's arm. Possessive. Claiming.

Like she belonged there. Like he was hers.

My stomach twisted.

I stayed near the edge of the crowd, partially hidden behind a group of older women. My hands clenched into fists.

They looked perfect together. Like a goddamn fairy tale.

Alpha and his chosen mate.

And I was what? The dirty little secret tucked away in the shadows?

The bond pulsed. Hard.

I gritted my teeth and shoved it down. Not now. Not fucking now.

Two young women stood nearby, close enough that I could hear them over the music.

"They look amazing together, don't they?" one said, her voice bright with admiration.

"Alpha and Vespera? Absolutely," the other agreed. "They're like... destined or something."

I felt sick. My chest tightened. My throat burned.

The bond was thrashing now, responding to the emotions tearing through me. Jealousy. Anger. Hurt.

I tried to breathe through it. Tried to calm down before he felt it.

But then Vespera leaned in close to Kaelen, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered something.

He nodded. Just slightly.

And she smiled. That fucking smile. Like she'd won.

The emotions exploded inside me.

Pain. Sharp and vicious. Like someone had driven a knife into my ribs and twisted it.

Rage followed immediately after. Hot and blinding.

I pressed a hand to my chest, trying to contain it, trying to shove it back down.

But it was too late.

The bond flared—bright and fierce and completely out of my control.

And across the room, Kaelen's head snapped up.

His entire body went rigid, eyes swept the crowd, scanning faces with predatory focus. Looking for the source. Looking for me.

I ducked behind the group of older women, my heart hammering.

Calm down. Calm the fuck down.

I squeezed my eyes shut and forced myself to breathe. Slow. Steady.

The bond was still thrashing, but I wrestled it back under control. Inch by inch. Pushing the emotions down. Burying them deep.

When I opened my eyes again, Kaelen was still scanning the room, but his focus had shifted away from my direction.

Vespera was looking at him now, her expression curious. Concerned.

She said something I couldn't hear. He shook his head, his jaw tight.

I stayed frozen in place, barely breathing, until he finally turned back to her.

Close. Too fucking close.

The music swelled, and couples began moving toward the dance floor.

I stayed rooted in place, my hands shaking.

This is what he wants. This is what he chose.

He wanted to be seen with her. He wanted everyone to know.

And me? I was the mistake. The inconvenience. The thing he kept hidden.

And then—

"Miss?"

I jumped.

A young man stood beside me, smiling. Tall, broad-shouldered, with sandy blond hair and an open, friendly face.

"Would you like to dance?"

My brain short-circuited. Dance? With him?

I opened my mouth to say no. To refuse. To get the hell out of here before I did something even more stupid.

But then my eyes flicked back to Kaelen and Vespera.

She was laughing now, her head tilted back, her hand still firmly on his arm. Like she owned him.

The young man was still waiting, his hand extended.

Fuck it.

"Yes."

The word came out steadier than I expected.

His smile widened. "Great! I'm Soren, by the way."

I took his hand. His grip was warm. Steady.

He led me toward the dance floor, weaving through the crowd with easy confidence.

Soren positioned us near the edge—close enough to be part of the crowd, far enough to avoid too much attention.

"I haven't seen you around before," he said, placing one hand on my waist, the other holding mine.

I nearly choked. "I... I'm visiting. From up north."

"Oh yeah? Thornwick?"

My mind went blank for a second. "Yes. Exactly."

"That's pretty far. What brings you all the way here?"

"Visiting a friend," I said quickly. "He... he invited me to the Moon Festival. Said it was worth the trip."

Shit. That petty asshole didn't invite me at all. I came by myself.

"He wasn't wrong," Soren said with a grin. "This is the best Moon Festival celebration in the region."

The music started—a slow, rhythmic melody that made my stomach flip.

Soren began to move, guiding me into the first steps.

I had no idea what I was doing. My father had never let me attend dances. Never let me socialize.

I stepped on his foot immediately.

Soren winced but kept smiling. "First time dancing?"

I grabbed onto the excuse like a lifeline. "First time at a Moon Festival like this. Ours are... smaller."

"Really?" He looked genuinely surprised.

"We celebrate," I said carefully. "Just... differently."

Soren guided me through another turn. This time I managed not to trip.

He pulled me a little closer as the music shifted to a slower tempo. "You know, I have to say—you're really beautiful."

My stomach flipped. Not in a good way. "I... thank you."

"I mean it," Soren continued, his eyes searching my face. "When I first saw you standing there, I thought... wow. Who is she?"

I didn't know what to say to that. "That's... very kind of you."

Soren grinned like he thought my awkwardness was charming. "I'm serious. You've got this... presence. Like you don't quite belong here, but in a good way."

Shit. Did he suspect something?

"I just... I'm not used to parties like this," I said quickly.

Soren's hand tightened slightly on my waist. "Well, I'm glad you made the trip. The Moon Festival is special. There's something in the air tonight."

"What do you mean?"

"The energy," he said. "People feel things more intensely. Connections form faster."

My heart was pounding. "Connections?"

"Yeah. A lot of people meet their mates at the Moon Festival. The moon's pull makes bonds easier to recognize." His eyes met mine, warm and interested. "And if they don't find their mate? Then they find something else. Someone else. The Moon Festival isn't just about destiny. It's about possibility. Romance. Taking chances."

Oh. Oh shit.

He was flirting with me.

The realization hit me like a freight train.

That's why Kaelen didn't want me here.

Not just because I wasn't supposed to be seen. Not just because of Vespera.

But because he was terrified I'd find someone else.

The possessive bastard.

He wanted to keep me locked away while he paraded around with her.

The anger came roaring back. Hotter than before.

I looked across the room and found him again.

He was still standing with Vespera, but his posture was tense now. Alert. Like he knew something was wrong.

Good. Let him feel it. Let him wonder.

I turned my attention back to Soren and smiled. "Maybe it is my lucky night."