Chapter 20 The Wedding Invitation
Leon’s POV
꧁𓃙𓃠𓃥𓃚꧂
“Isabella.”
She stiffened the moment I said her name. She always did. As if she expected danger to jump out of the walls at any moment.
She turned, hands still holding the folded clothes she’d been arranging in the wardrobe. “Yes, Your Majesty?”
“We leave tomorrow morning,” I said while fastening the last strap of my wrist guard. “There is a wedding in Evergreen Pack.”
Her eyes widened.
Her pulse spiked.
Interesting.
“We?” she whispered.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “You will accompany me as my personal assistant.”
A flash of panic crossed her face—too raw to hide. She set the clothes down slowly, as if buying time.
“Your Majesty, perhaps I’m not the right choice. I’m still learning the palace routine. Can you please get someone else to–"
I raised one eyebrow.
She shut her mouth immediately.
Smart girl.
“Isabella,” I said calmly, “I did not ask for your opinion. I said you are coming.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. She nodded without speaking, but fear clung to her like a second skin.
What exactly scared her so badly about Evergreen?
Before she could answer, I continued, “Your customized mask will arrive before nightfall.”
She froze.
“…Mask?” she repeated slowly.
“Yes.” I grabbed my cloak. “The wedding is masquerade-themed. Every guest must wear a gold mask. Including you.”
Relief flooded her so visibly I almost laughed.
Suspicious little thing.
Why was she looking at Evergreen like it was hell itself?
She finally found her voice. “Your Majesty, I just—”
“No,” I cut in. “I don’t want excuses. The matter is settled.”
She pressed her lips together, defeated.
I paused at the doorway and added, “Meg will bring your dress and shoes. They were chosen specifically for you. Make sure they fit.”
A faint blush touched her cheeks.
Why did that please me?
I dismissed her with a wave and stepped out, but as I walked down the hall, her reaction stayed with me.
Isabella wasn’t just afraid.
She was terrified.
And now I wanted to know why.
꧁𓃙𓃠𓃥𓃚꧂
Isabella’s POV
My hands were shaking.
Evergreen Pack.
My old home.
Where my son died.
Where I almost died.
And now Leon expected me to walk right back through the front gates? With him?
I paced my small room, heart pounding so loudly it echoed in my ears.
Clara would be there.
Edmund would be there.
Their entire pack would be there.
If even one person recognized me—
It would be over.
A knock snapped me out of my spiral.
“Come in,” I said quickly.
Meg entered holding a beautiful white box tied with gold ribbon. She carried it like it contained treasure.
“For you!” she announced. “From His Majesty. Your mask and… the rest.”
The rest?
Before I could ask, she opened the box.
My breath caught.
Inside lay the most delicate gold mask I’d ever seen. Soft metal shaped into a smooth curve, with detailed swirls around the edges and tiny gemstones that sparkled when they caught the light.
Beneath it lay a gown—soft gold mixed with cream, the fabric flowing like liquid between her fingers as she lifted it.
It was gorgeous.
Elegant.
Royal.
Not something a maid should ever touch, much less wear.
Beside the gown sat matching heels, simple but beautiful.
I stared, speechless.
Meg giggled. “See? His Majesty has taste.”
I snapped out of it. “Meg… this can’t be right. This is too much.”
“Is it?” she said innocently. “The King said these were appropriate for someone attending the wedding as his PA.”
Appropriate?
This looked like something a noblewoman would wear.
Not a maid.
Not a prisoner hiding her identity.
Not me.
Meg sighed dreamily. “Maybe the King wants you to make a statement.”
“A statement?” I nearly choked.
“Maybe he… likes you.”
I almost fell off the bed. “He does not.”
She only shrugged. “Well, he protects you. He gave you your own room. He shouts at everyone except you now…”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” I muttered, flustered.
“Mhm.” Meg smiled like she knew a secret I didn’t. “Anyway, try them on tonight. If the dress doesn’t fit, the seamstress will adjust it.”
She curtsied quickly. “Goodnight, Isabella.”
The moment she left and the door clicked shut, I let out a shaky breath.
My wolf stirred. YOU'RE PANICKING.
“I have every right to panic,” I whispered. “If Clara sees me—even in a mask—she will know. She’ll scream that I’m a traitor. She’ll call soldiers. Leon won’t save me.”
HE MIGHT, my wolf murmured.
“No,” I snapped. “He’s the reason my pack fell. The reason my son—”
My voice cracked and I swallowed the pain down before it choked me.
HE DIDN'T KILL MAGNUS, my wolf said softly.
“He didn’t stop it either,” I whispered.
A heavy silence filled the room.
Then she nudged again. YOU COULD REFUSE THE ORDER.
“No, I can't,” I said bitterly. “Leon doesn’t tolerate refusal. But if I go…”
Images flashed in my head— Clara smiling wickedly,
Edmund ignoring my cries,
the soldiers dragging me,
my child’s lifeless body—
I squeezed my eyes shut, shaking the memories away.
My wolf’s voice softened. AT LEAST YOU WILL BE MASKED.
“It’s not enough,” I breathed.
THEN STAY CLOSE TO HIM, she urged. HE'S THE ONLY ONE THERE WHO WON’T BETRAY YOU.
I didn’t want that to be true.
But right now… it was.
My fingers trembled as I lifted the golden mask.
It was beautiful and heavy.
Like wearing a new identity.
Like becoming someone else.
Someone nobody could hurt.
I set it on my lap and whispered, “Why is Leon doing this? Why does he keep choosing me? Why does he... protect me?”
My wolf chuckled. WHY DO YOU THINK?
I shoved the thought away. “It doesn’t matter. I can’t afford to be distracted. I need to survive Evergreen. I need to gather information. I need to plan my return.”
My wolf hummed. AND CLARA?
A cold fire settled in my chest.
“She thinks she won,” I whispered. “She thinks she erased me. She thinks she can become Luna without consequences.”
“No,” I said, breath steadying. “Clara will not see me coming.”
Tomorrow, I would walk among my enemies.
Yes... I would.
But this time, I would not be their victim.
I would be their ghost.
Their shadow.
Their nightmare behind a golden mask.