Chapter 21: The Alpha King's Ball
Calla's POV
I stood in front of the mirror, barely recognizing the woman staring back at me.
The dress Darius had sent over was nothing like anything I'd ever worn. Deep emerald silk clung to my curves before flowing out at my hips, the fabric shimmering under the light like water. The neckline dipped low enough to make me nervous, and the slit up my thigh felt scandalous.
"Stop fidgeting," Sierra said, adjusting the delicate silver chain around my neck. "You look gorgeous. Lucas is going to lose his mind when he sees you."
"That's not the point," I muttered, smoothing my hands down the dress for the hundredth time. "I'm going as Darius's fiancée, remember? This is all fake."
Sierra met my eyes in the mirror, her expression knowing. "Is it though? Because from where I'm standing, you're falling for both of them."
My chest tightened at her words because she wasn't wrong. The mate bond with Lucas pulled at me constantly, an ache I couldn't ignore. But Darius—Darius made me feel safe, wanted, chosen. It was impossible to separate what was destiny from what was real.
"I don't know what I'm doing," I admitted quietly.
Sierra squeezed my shoulder. "Then figure it out tonight. But first, let's make sure every wolf at that ball knows you're not the invisible girl anymore."
She finished my makeup with a final sweep of lipstick, then stepped back to admire her work. My hair fell in soft waves down my back, and my silver eyes—the ones that marked me as different—seemed to glow in the candlelight.
"Perfect," Sierra declared. "Now let's go before Darius sends a search party."
The Alpha King's estate was even more intimidating than I remembered.
Massive stone columns flanked the entrance, and wolves in formal attire streamed through the doors, their laughter and conversation filling the night air. I clutched Darius's arm tighter as we approached, my heels clicking against the steps.
So this is why Lucas had left the house to me?
"Relax," Darius murmured, his hand covering mine. "You belong here as much as anyone else."
"Easy for you to say," I whispered back. "You're an Alpha. I'm just—"
"You're mine tonight," he interrupted, his voice dropping to that low, protective tone that always made my stomach flutter. "And anyone who has a problem with that can take it up with me."
The warmth in his words steadied me, and I managed a small smile. "Thank you. For everything."
His dark eyes softened as he looked down at me. "I told you I'd protect you, Calla. I meant it."
We entered the ballroom, and immediately, heads turned.
The massive space glittered with crystal chandeliers and gold accents, the walls draped in Eclipse pack colors of silver and black. Wolves from every major pack filled the room, their conversations dying down as we walked past. I felt their stares like physical touches, some curious, others hostile.
"Ignore them," Darius said quietly, guiding me toward the center of the room.
But it was impossible to ignore. Whispers followed us everywhere. I caught fragments of conversations as we passed:
"That's her? The one who couldn't shift?"
"I heard she finally did. Something about silver eyes..."
"She's with the Dragonclaw Alpha now? What about the mate bond?"
My face burned, but I kept my chin up. Sierra had been right, that I wasn't that invisible girl anymore. I just had to believe it myself.
The crowd parted as we reached the dance floor, and that's when I saw him.
Lucas stood on the raised platform at the far end of the ballroom, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit that made him look every inch the Alpha King. His dark hair was slicked back, emphasizing his sharp features and those stormy gray eyes that I could feel on me even from across the room.
Our eyes met, and the mate bond flared to life.
It hit me like a wave, stealing my breath. My wolf stirred restlessly inside me, whining for her mate, pulling toward him with an intensity that made my knees weak. Lucas's jaw clenched, his hands gripping the railing in front of him hard enough that I could see his knuckles turn white even from here.
"Calla?" Darius's concerned voice cut through the haze. "Are you okay?"
I blinked, forcing myself to look away from Lucas. "I'm fine. Just... the bond. It's stronger here."
Understanding flickered across Darius's face, followed by something darker. Jealousy? Resignation? I couldn't tell. But instead of pulling away, he tightened his hold on me.
"Dance with me," he said, leading me onto the floor without waiting for an answer.
The music swelled as Darius pulled me into his arms, one hand on my waist, the other holding mine. We moved together smoothly, his body warm and solid against mine. Other couples joined us on the floor, but I barely noticed them.
"You're tense," Darius observed, his thumb rubbing gentle circles on my lower back.
"Lucas is watching us," I said quietly.
"Good." Darius's voice held an edge. "Let him see what he threw away."
I looked up at him, startled by the possessiveness in his tone. "Darius—"
"I know about the bond, Calla. I know it's not easy for you." His expression softened slightly. "But I meant what I said at my place. This started as revenge, but somewhere along the way, I started falling for you. For real."
My heart hammered against my ribs. "You can't mean that."
"Can't I?" He spun me gently, pulling me back against his chest. "You're brave, and beautiful, and stronger than you know. Why wouldn't I fall for you?"
I didn't know how to respond to that. Part of me wanted to believe him, to let myself fall into whatever this was between us. But another part, the part connected to Lucas through the mate bond felt like it was being torn in two.
The song ended, and I was about to suggest we take a break when a familiar voice cut through the crowd.
"May I cut in?"