Chapter 13
Isla POV
Tristan didn’t come back for the rest of the day, after our argument that morning— I wasn't sure if I was mad or grateful because after his words that had left me feeling stripped raw and humiliated—he’d walked out with Darius and never came back. I stayed in my room.
It wasn’t that I was scared to see him, it was that I didn’t trust myself not to say something I’d regret to him or anyone else out there.
So I curled up on the bed with the curtains drawn, ignoring the light streaming in through the cracks as morning turned to afternoon and then night.
The muffled hum of activity in the rest of the Ridge passed me by.
I didn’t go down to eat and I didn’t answer the knocks from the Lilly offering to bring me something. I just lay there, staring at the ceiling, letting exhaustion drag me under close to midnight.
I don’t know how long I slept, but when I finally opened my eyes again, the room was dim and quiet.
And Tristan’s side of the bed was still empty.
Instead, I found Lily perched on the chair by my vanity, her dark curls tucked under her maid’s cap, hands folded neatly in her lap.
“You’re awake,” she said, smiling in that soft, genuine way that made her stand out from the rest of the staff here. I rubbed my eyes hoping that would leave me feeling more awake
“Have you been sitting there the whole time?” I asked and she shook her head.
“I came up about half an hour ago. The Alpha King asked me to help you get ready for breakfast yesterday.”
Yesterday.
That was after their accident, she hadn't expected him to even pretend that he cared.
It took me a moment to remember Tristan’s words from yesterday morning
The elders wanted to see “the new Luna.” Which meant whatever meal he was talking about wasn’t going to be just toast and coffee—it was going to be a performance.m, if not directly for the elder but to those who would be watching to report to them.
I glanced toward the door.
“Is he back?” I asked and she shook her head
“No, not yet,” she said, moving to the wardrobe and pulling out a dress.
" But he left instructions.”
Of course he did, I would kill him if he'd left me to deal with this on my own. I sat up slowly, my hair a mess, the silk nightgown wrinkled from hours of tossing and turning.
“What time is this breakfast?”
“Nine,” Lily said.
“But we should start getting you ready now so you can rest properly later”
I arched a brow.
“Isn’t that… excessive? It’s just breakfast.” Her smile faltered for half a second.
“It’s never just breakfast here.” and I sighed so Tristan had been right. Lilly didn’t elaborate, just stood and began laying out garments from the wardrobe so I didn't ask.
As she fussed over fabrics, I decided to test the waters a bit.
I hesitated, then took the shoes from her.
"Lilly… can I ask you something?” She glanced at me over her shoulder,smiling widely
“Of course, Luna."
"You’ve been here a while, haven’t you?”
“Four years.” she replied proudly
“Then you’d know… about Tristan and Viviana?” I asked, keeping my tone light, like I was asking about the weather.
Lily’s hands stilled for only a moment before she went back to smoothing a pale blue dress over the bed.
“It’s not my place to discuss the Alpha King’s private matters.”
Which wasn’t a no.
“So you do know something,” I pressed.
Her eyes flicked up to mine in the mirror, her expression careful.
" I'm not supposed to gossip about my employers " she muttered and I smiled widely
" Viviana is my sister so it's not gossip " mumbled, she took out a dress
“I know enough to tell you that asking questions about her won’t make your life here any easier.” I sat back, biting my tongue. She wasn’t going to give me anything—not yet.
I let her work, letting her slip me into the dress she’d chosen. The fabric was definitely expensive, with how soft and cool it felt against my skin, with delicate embroidery at the hem. It was elegant, flattering… and clearly meant to send a message.
By the time she was done curling my hair and fastening the simple silver necklace around my throat, I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
“Perfect,” Lily said, stepping back.
“Now, remember. Alpha King family is very–" she paused
" Eccentric " she added
" you don’t have to speak unless spoken to. But if you do, keep it polite and brief. His aunt will be looking for any excuse to pick you apart.”
“Sounds lovely,” I muttered.
\---
The dining hall was everything I’d expected from the Alpha king's home—grand, intimidating, with a long table set for far more people than were actually present.
The morning light streamed in through tall windows, catching on polished silverware and crystal glasses.Tristan’s seat at the head of the table was empty.
Of course it was, the asshole.
I kept my expression neutral as Lily guided me to my place halfway down the table.
Across from me sat his aunt , now that I saw her in the day light she looked less domineering, a woman in her forties with sharp cheekbones and the kind of beauty that had probably been even more lethal in her youth.
Her hair was the same deep brown as Tristan’s, streaked with silver at the temples, and her eyes assessed me like she was cataloguing my flaws.
Beside her was a girl who couldn’t have been more than eighteen, wearing a fitted sweater and jeans, scrolling through her phone without so much as a glance in my direction.
“Isla,” the woman said, her voice smooth but cool.
“I’m Rhea—Tristan’s aunt. We have met before yes" she said and I smiled
" Yes ma'am " I replied making to take a seat
" Well then this is his sister, Selene.”
Selene didn’t look up.
“Hi,” she said flatly, thumbs still tapping away at her screen.
“Good morning,” I said, offering a polite smile.
Rhea tilted her head slightly, studying me.
“I’ve heard much about you since that day " she said softly and I smiled.
Oh I didn't doubt that but I rather doubted any of what she'd heard had been good.
“All lies, I’m sure,” I said lightly.
One corner of her mouth twitched—amusement, maybe, or just interest.
“You’ll forgive me if I’m skeptical. It’s not often an omega steps into a Luna’s role.”
Selene snorted softly, still glued to her phone.
“Especially when she’s a replacement.”
She said it like it was a slight interference, like if Viviana came back this instant she wouldn't shove her in my place.
The difference between me and my sister or the rest of the omegas in the pack was one thing.
I had shifted to my wolf only once and it had been a red wolf.