Chapter 70 Chapter 70
By the time evening comes, I’m feeling more nervous. The party has been all anyone could talk about since Lina told me. Whispers echoed through the corridors, laugher and excitement too loud. I can feel that much already.
The pack felt more lively too. It was like they had been waiting for this for a long time and it made me wonder what this party was all about. Lina didn’t give me the full details but just told me I needed to be there.
Lina helped me dress just like always, her fingers fluttered nervously as she tightened the clasps at my back.
“You look beautiful” she said for the third time.
I catch myself in the mirror and I barely recognize myself. The dress is simple but elegant, the fabric dark and clinging in places that make my wolf purr in quiet approval.
‘Lucian won’t be able to control himself when he sees you’ she giggled.
My mark hums faintly beneath my skin, not painful but more like approval of my wolf’s words.
“I feel like I’m walking into something I don’t understand” I admitted. “Won’t you tell me what the part is all about?” Lina hesitates, then smiled brightly.
“That’s how every part is, isn’t it?” She answered.
Maybe but this felt different. Even the dress I wore, made me feel like this party was not just a mere party.
When we step into the hall, the noise swells instantly, music, voices, the clink of cups. Light spills from hanging lanterns, bathing the space in a warm color. For a second, I paused near the entrance, overwhelmed by how many eyes flick towards me.
Their gaze was not hostile or maybe some but others were curious, admiring and respectful. I straightened my spine. I know Lucian is already here, I don’t look for him consciously but my body knows where he is before my mind catches up.
I looked up and I see him standing near the end of the hall, speaking with a few elders, his posture relaxed. He must have felt my presence because his gaze lifts and finds me immediately, then something shifts. The bonds flutters.
His expression doesn’t change but his attentions locks onto me completely. I feel it deep within me and heat spreads across my cheeks, it was warm. He excuses himself with a nod and crosses the room. I watched as he made his way to where I stood.
“Come” he said quietly, offering his hand.
The simple gesture feels monumental and I can feel eyes in our direction. I take it with all pleasure and lock my hands with his. As we moved deeper into the hall, I felt how the room adjusts to us, how eyes follow and how whispers trail.
He leads me towards the main table where Aiden, Dahlia, the head warrior and other people were seated. He pulled out a chair for me to sit, his hand brushed and I thanked him before he turned to speak to someone else. I felt Dahlia’s eyes burning hole in my skin but I ignored it.
I breathe again. The night feels easy and quiet.
The night started to unfold slowly. People greet me, some awkwardly and some warmly. Ronan appears again, bowing slightly and offering me a drink with a grin and I take it. I left the table and Ronan came to meet me.
“You look stunning in that dress”
“Thank you”
“How are you enjoying the party so far?” He asked.
“I like it. Everyone is having fun”
We continued having light conversations and laughed. Each interaction made something bloom in my chest, a feeling of belonging. Ronan excuses himself. I was just enjoying my time alone when Dalia approached.
She’s dressed impeccably, I couldn’t lie. Her movement was sharp. She stops just close enough to invade my space.
“Enjoying yourself?” She asked sweetly. I huffed. She had come again.
“Very much” I replied meeting her gaze without shaking. Her eyes flicked over my dress, my hair, she was assessing me.
“You clean up nicely. One might almost forget where you came from”
The words cut deep through me but I didn’t show her how it affected me. Her eyes flicked to Lucian who was discussing with a group of people, then she turned back to me.
“Thread carefully. Parties have a way of revealing things that should remain hidden” I smiled faintly.
“That sounds like a warning” I smiled faintly. She leaned closer.
“No. It’s a promise”
“You said the same thing earlier today. Do you have something you want to tell me or not?” She circles me slowly as if inspecting a piece of furniture.
“It still baffles me how you survived poisoning and a rogue attack and now you are back to training and still capturing attention” her gaze flicks briefly towards Ronan. “Some attention more than others”
“I don’t control what people notice. I guess I can’t be taken out easily and that’s why I didn’t die from poison or an attack” I said evenly.
“No” she agrees softly. “But you can control what you hide and about you being strong, I don’t think so. I just think you are lucky” I stiffen just slightly. She notices.
“Are you just angry that your plan to kill me didn’t work out? Is that why you keep tormenting me?” She laughed.
“If I wanted to kill you, I would have done so a long time ago” she continues.
“Funny thing is that you don’t have any evidence that I tried to kill you but I have evidence of who you really are” she lowered her voice. “And that mark you have, it’s going to do worse things than you’ll ever know. It’ll be the beginning of your doom” she leans closer. My wolf bristles.
“You seem very invested in my mark. Do you wish it’s you that has it?” I said and her eyes glittered.
“Never Only because I know what that mark entails and you think it has given you a sense of permanence. My only advice is don’t get too comfortable”
“What does that mean?” I asked. She straightened, her smile never wavering.
“It means your time is coming to an end here. You should start preparing to leave” I studied her carefully.
“Are you warning me or threatening me?”
“No” she said sweetly. “I’m just reminding you”
“Of what?”
“That nothing is hidden under the sun and the truth has a way of resurfacing” he gaze dropped to my mark. “Especially when it was never meant to be hidden” a chill run down my spine.
Before I can respond, she steps back lifting her cup in a mock toast.
“Enjoy the party, Ailsa. While it lasts” she murmured. She turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving the air around me tight and cold.
My heart pounds but my expression remained calm. Dahlia had constantly approached me with words like secrets and how she’d expose me. She was so sure that I was going to leave this pack soon and it made me wonder the extent of the things she knew. For all I know, I hadn’t killed anyone yet. She made it seem like the pack I had come from was a big secret that could cause chaos. Or was it?
‘It’s a big secret though because Lucian doesn’t know’ my wolf replied.
It was not a secret, I just chose not to share it. Whatever game she’s playing, she wanted me affected. I wouldn’t give her that satisfaction. Before, she would let the truth be known, I would surprise her by telling Lucian myself.
If she thought she was the only one who could do an investigation then she was wrong. Lucian had told me the person that tried to poison me had been dealt with. But I knew the person who was caught was only working under Dahlia. She had confirmed that she tried to kill me twice and she claimed that I didn’t have evidence. That was enough to suspect her.
“You look so deep in thought. Are you not enjoying the party anymore?” The voice interrupted my thoughts and I turned to see Ronan with two glasses in his hand. He handed me one of the glasses.
“Thank you”
I drank the content immediately.
“I just saw Dahlia leave. Did you both quarrel?” I shook my head.
“Dahlia was just being Dalia, like always. She always thinks the world revolves around her” I murmured.
“I’m not surprised but what exactly did she say to you?” His brows raised in curiosity.
“It was nothing serious”
“Come on, you know you can tell me anything” he tried to push. I was about to realize him when Lucian’s voice sounded through the speaker.
“I hope everyone is enjoying the party?” He asked and everyone cheered with a loud yes.
“I’m happy to hear that. Thank you for coming. I just wanted to make a quick announcement which has been overdue” my heart began to beat faster.
“I would like to introduce you all to my mate and your future Luna. Ailsa”