Chapter 15
That’s not the point,” Lily said.
“The council expects to see the Luna at the Alpha King’s side. Skipping it would cause… issues.”
“Of course it would,” I muttered, thoroughly pissed now. I started toward the door, intending to at least take a walk to clear my head before Lily started pulling out ball gowns.
But I didn’t make it more than a few steps into the hallway before I rounded the corner at the same time someone else did.
The collision was sudden, hard enough to make me stumble back a step. My hand shot out to steady myself against the wall.
The man barely paused.
He was tall—easily taller than Tristan—with broad shoulders and a stride that radiated quiet authority.
I barely even saw much of him myself as he stepped around me like I was an obstacle instead of a person.
His dark hair was swept back from his face in a pony.
“ Hey asshole” I cried out but he was already gone and he hadn't even apologized.Didn’t even look at me beyond the brief flicker of his eyes
I turned, watching his back retreat down the hall, something about his presence tugging at me in a way I couldn’t explain.
“Who was that?” I asked as Lily came hurrying up behind me.
She glanced down the corridor, frowning.
“I… don’t know. I’ve never seen him before.”
Which was strange. In a place like the Ridge, you got to know the faces pretty quickly.
“Maybe he’s new,” I offered, though it felt like a weak guess.
“Maybe,” Lily said, though her tone didn’t sound convinced.
Lily shook her head and took my arm, steering me back toward my room.
“Come on Luna . We don’t have time to waste—you need to be dressed and ready before the Alpha King comes to collect you.”
I groaned, letting my head fall back
“Do I have to?”
“Yes.” she huffed
“And you have to look the part. This isn’t just dinner—People will be watching.”
“People are always watching,” I muttered.
She gave me a sympathetic look as she added
“More than usual.”
I sighed, pushing myself away from the shelf.
“Fine. But don’t expect me to enjoy it.”
The emerald gown Lily had chosen for me felt heavy to wear
“ You couldn't have found me a lighter dress” I grumbled stretching my arms out to look at it.
“ This is a ceremonial dress for the Luna, we can't just switch it out.
It wasn’t just the fabric—though it was heavy, the deep emerald green silk clinging in all the ways that would make me look “presentable” to Tristan’s precious council.
So no most of the weight came from knowing exactly what tonight was: another performance.
I took one last look in the mirror at taking in, the low sweep of the neckline, my hair pinned in loose waves that brushed my shoulders. It was a pretty dress the silk whispering against my legs with each step I took , it was like water against my skin but very heavy water nonetheless. The silver necklace clasped at my throat was cool against my skin, a perfect distraction from the heat crawling up the back of my neck.
I didn’t look like the girl who’d been locked in her room for days with only Lily for company. I looked like someone who belonged here—at least on the surface.
As I stepped out of my room, looking out the corridor I almost bumped into someone
“ Sorry “ we both muttered hurriedly looking up at who it was and she paused when their eyes jammed.
Tristan looked like he had already been waiting by the door instead of walking in like any other human being.He stood by the front door like a shadow carved in black and steel, his hands tucked in the pockets of his tailored jacket.
“You clean up well,” he said, his tone lacking anything that could be mistaken for warmth.
“Good,” I replied flatly.
“I’d hate to embarrass you.” I replied as I walked towards him where he now stood. Even leaning lazily against the wall, he radiated authority in a way that seemed to press on the air itself.
His eyes flicked up when he heard my footsteps, scanning me from head to toe with no more than a flicker of emotion and even that flicker was gone almost as fast as it appeared.
There was no approval. No lingering. Just a quiet assessment, as if I were a piece of furniture he wasn’t sure he liked in the room.
My spine stiffen as I drew closer to him.
“You’re ready,” he said flatly.
“You sound almost surprised,” I replied, stopping just short of him.
His mouth didn’t twitch, but the faint tightening around his eyes told me he’d heard the bite in my tone.
“Just remember—this isn’t a social outing. Behave yourself. Don’t give them any reason to question why you’re here.” I smiled thinly.
“Fine. But you’ll have to do better yourself.”
That got his attention. His head tilted slightly, his scowl deepening.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
I let out a soft huff.
“It means exactly what you think it does” I hissed and he scowled even deeper if that was even possible
“you’ve been avoiding me for days, so forgive me if I’m not overly inclined to play the doting Luna tonight.” I drawled.
A muscle ticked in his jaw as he looked away from me
“I’ve had pack matters to handle.”
“Of course you have,” I said sarcastically because it sounded as funny to me as it likely would for anyone else
“And I’m sure Viviana has absolutely nothing to do with your sudden inability to be in the same room as me.” I drawled
That made his eyes sharpen, a flicker of something—annoyance, maybe, or guilt—passing across his face. He stepped closer, close enough that I had to tilt my chin up to keep our eyes locked.
“Watch yourself, Isla.”
“ Or what, you'll replace me with your woman, i’d actually be looking forward to that “ I said and he seemed to be fed up, he took one step towards me, I stilled my feet dragging as he pushed me towards the wall on the opposite side of the room.
“ What the hell is your problem” I hissed and he slammed his opened palm against the wall
“ I am the one who's supposed to ask you that” he hissed and I frowned
“ Are you mad at me because I called you out on your bullshit” I hissed and he huffed
“ I'm your husband your alpha, you don't get to lecture me about anything” he hissed pouring out his alpha pheromones until they clogged my nose and throat.