Chapter 20 SHE'LL HAVE MORE THAN LUCK
AVRIELLE'S POV
"Come in," I called out, pulling the towel tighter.
A young woman entered, carrying a small vanity kit. She didn't look at the disarray of the room or the discarded petals; she simply bowed and went to work.
She helped me into the dress and began to pin my hair up, hiding the mark on my neck just enough to be discreet but not entirely hidden.
The woman was efficient, her movements practiced as she tucked the final stray locks of my hair into a sophisticated twist.
She applied a touch of concealer to the edges of the mark on my neck, but she didn't hide it completely.
The dark, swollen skin was a silent proclamation and the fact that it felt like a golden collar that I was carrying with a mixture of pride and absolute terror.
"You are ready, Mistress," she whispered, stepping back with a respectful dip of her head.
I took a deep breath, smoothing the front of my dress and checking myself out. The dress clung to my skin, alighting my curves perfectly. I felt…beautiful.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The woman looking back was different. There was a flush in her cheeks that wouldn't fade and a light in her eyes that felt like a challenge to anyone who dared look her way.
I walked out of the room, my heart hammering against my ribs. Xavier was waiting in the hallway, leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed. When he saw me, he straightened up, his eyes darkening as they traced the lines of the curves through the gown. He didn't say anything, but he reached out and took my hand, his fingers interlocking with mine in a grip that was tighter than usual.
"Stay close," he muttered. "And keep your head up. You have nothing to be ashamed of."
I gave a curt nod as we descended the grand staircase together.
We made our way to the main hall, where most of the Alphas and their Lunas were gathered for a final formal departure ceremony.
The moment we entered, the chatter died down. It was as if someone had sucked the air out of the room. I felt a hundred gazes land on us, sharp and judging.
I kept my chin high, just as Xavier had told me, but I could feel the heat rising in my neck.
Julian, the Alpha from the night before, was the first to approach. He looked tired, his hair slightly disheveled, but his eyes were as sharp as ever. He stopped a few feet away, his gaze immediately dropping to our joined hands, and then, slowly, traveling up to the visible mark on my shoulder.
He let out a low, long whistle. "Well, Xavier. You certainly didn't waste any time, did you?"
Beside him, his Luna let out a soft gasp, her hand flying to her mouth. "You marked her?"
Xavier hold tightened around me as he pulled me slightly closer to his side, his thumb grazing the back of my hand in a slow, rhythmic motion.
"She is mine," he said, his voice a low rumble that carried to every corner of the room. "And it's only right I mate her. Does anyone here have a problem with that?"
The silence that followed was heavy with unspoken questions. I could see the gears turning in their heads—they were calculating the scandal, the breach of protocol, and the sheer audacity of an Alpha marking a wolfless omega who had been his nephew's wife just days ago.
"It’s... unconventional," another Alpha muttered from the back of the room, his eyes narrowed.
"The Council might have questions, Alpha Xavier. A mark is one thing, but a Luna without a wolf... it’s unheard of for a pack of your standing."
Xavier turned his head toward the speaker, his eyes flashing a brilliant, dangerous gold. "The Council can ask their questions and I will give them the only answer that matters: She is the mate the Goddess chose for me."
“If any man thinks his opinion carries more weight than the Moon herself, he is welcome to step forward and prove it."
No one moved.
Julian suddenly let out a chuckle, finally breaking the tension with a wry smile.
"Always the Devil, aren't you? You don't care about the rules if they get in your way." He looked at me, his expression softening just a fraction. "Good luck, Avrielle, you’re going to need it. Being his woman isn't a walk in the park."
"She’ll have more than luck," Xavier countered, his voice steady and cold. "She’ll have me. And now if you may excuse me, I've got matters to handle in my pack.” He added.
"It was nicely done of your gracing us with your visit” The all chorused as Xavier pulled me closer. He turned and led me toward the exit, our footsteps echoing in the stunned silence of the hall.