Chapter 178
Sophia‘s POV:
Standing beside Ryder in the corridor outside the grand ballroom, I could hear the low murmur of conversations drifting through the elegant doors.
The distinguished guests—Alphas, Betas, and royal court members—were clearly growing restless with the delay.
"I wonder what could have caused such an important ceremony to be postponed," one voice said, barely audible through the thick wood.
"Perhaps there's been some sort of emergency," another replied. "These royal celebrations are never delayed without serious cause."
More fragments of conversation reached my ears, and my heart clenched when I caught certain words.
"Did you hear? Today, Princess Sophia will make her first official appearance, and it is said that her husband will also be introduced to the members of the kingdom today.
"Really? Is she already married? How exciting! I'm so curious about who captured her heart."
"She's incredibly wise and talented. Whoever becomes her mate will be the luckiest Alpha in werewolf society. "
I pressed my lips together, the irony not lost on me.
Ryder glanced at me, his golden eyes reading my expression easily. "Nervous?" he asked quietly.
"No," I said, then caught myself. "Well, maybe a little."
The truth was, Lucas's words from our last conversation kept echoing in my mind. The memory was crystal clear—the way he'd looked at me with such intensity, his hands gentle on my face.
"I'll definitely be there on time, Sophia," he had said, his voice filled with conviction. "From now on, no matter what happens, you'll always come first with me."
"He promised," I whispered, more to myself than to Ryder.
Ryder didn't say anything; he just patted my shoulder.
More time passed. I checked my phone repeatedly, but there were still no messages from Lucas. The thirty-minute extension Ryder had graciously provided was nearly over.
Another ten minutes ticked by. Then another five.
Finally, I took a deep breath and turned to Ryder. "Let's not wait any longer," I said quietly. "We should start the ceremony."
Ryder's expression softened slightly, and I caught a flash of what might have been sympathy in his golden eyes. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." My voice was steadier than I felt. "The guests have been waiting long enough."
Just as Ryder nodded and moved toward the ballroom doors, my phone buzzed.
I glanced down at it calmly before answering.
"Marcus," I said, my voice steady.
"Sophia," Marcus's voice came through, slightly strained but urgent. "We're on our way. Alpha Lucas's meeting just ended, and we'll be there in twenty minutes."
I felt a strange sense of peace wash over me. "I understand," I replied calmly. "The celebration has already begun, but please drive safely."
"Sophia, I'm sorry about the delay—"
"No need to say more, Marcus," I interrupted gently. "Just focus on getting here safely."
Ryder looked at me, asking for my opinion.
"Do we wait again?"
I thought about it, weighing the options. I can't afford to be willful anymore, so many people are waiting with me.
The guests had already been patient with one delay. Pushing back the ceremony even further would create more speculation.
More importantly, I realized something had shifted inside me. Yes, I wanted Lucas here. Yes, it hurt that he wasn't. But I'm tired of his repeated broken promises, tired of my repeated belief in his casual commitments.
"No," I said firmly. "We begin now."
Ryder studied my face carefully. "You're certain?"
"I'm certain." I straightened my shoulders and lifted my chin.
He offered me his arm, and I took it gratefully. Together, we approached the massive ballroom doors.
The guards opened them with a flourish, and suddenly we were stepping into a scene of elegant grandeur. Crystal chandeliers cast warm light over hundreds of distinguished guests.
The conversations quieted as Prince Ryder and I made our entrance.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ryder's voice carried easily across the vast space, commanding immediate attention. "Thank you for your patience this evening. We are honored to gather here to celebrate the tremendous success of the Moonlight Project."
Polite applause filled the room. I smiled graciously, playing my part as the royal family member I was born to be.
"Before we begin our formal celebration," Ryder continued, his voice taking on a tone of greater significance, "I have an important announcement to make."
The ballroom fell completely silent. I could feel hundreds of eyes on us, and my heart began to race.
Ryder said, his golden eyes scanning the crowd. "Tonight, I have the honor of formally introducing someone very special to you."
He turned to me, his expression warm with brotherly pride.
"I present to you Princess Sophia, my sister."
Every pair of eyes in the grand ballroom turned toward me.
This was the first time they were truly seeing me—not as the rejected Luna of Starlight Pack, but as Princess Sophia Anderson in all her royal glory.
I could see the recognition dawning on some faces, the surprise and awe as they connected the rejected Omega before them with the princess they had only heard whispered about in royal circles.
I stepped forward gracefully, the moonlight gown flowing around me like liquid silver. With the poise that had been instilled in me since childhood, I offered a gentle smile to the assembled guests and inclined my head in an elegant acknowledgment.
"Good evening, I'm Sophia," I said, my voice carrying clearly across the hushed ballroom. "It's an honor to be here with you all tonight to celebrate the success of the Moonlight Project."
The ballroom erupted. Gasps of shock, murmurs of amazement, and scattered applause filled the air.
Just then, a commotion at the entrance caught my attention. Lucas's figure appeared in the doorway, Marcus close behind him.
Even from across the vast ballroom, I could see the shock written across Lucas's face as he took in the scene—me, standing beside Prince Ryder, accepting the guests' applause.