Chapter 32 A place worth millions
The vast halls of the mansion seemed to stretch endlessly as Darius led me through its grand corridors. I couldn't help but admire the sheer opulence of the place even though I have been here for days.
Every detail was meticulously crafted, huge marble columns lined the hallway, each one glistening under the soft glow of crystal chandeliers. The ceiling above was adorned with intricate paintings, much like the ones I’d seen in photos of the Vatican, with sweeping scenes of gods and heroes, but these depicted the moon goddess and werewolves. It felt surreal, like I had stepped into a different world.
The floor beneath my feet was polished marble, gleaming in shades of cream and gold. I could see my reflection in the smooth surface as I walked, the black fabric of my dress swirling around my legs. I hated how it made me feel, beautiful, powerful, but also... exposed. Vulnerable.
"This place must be worth millions," I thought, glancing around as we walked. I didn’t know where Darius was taking me, and honestly, I didn’t care. The party, the people, none of it mattered to me. All I could think about was Fred, was he alive? Or had Darius already taken care of him in the worst way possible? My stomach twisted at the thought, but I pushed it aside, knowing that dwelling on it wouldn’t change anything. Not now.
We walked through a set of grand double doors and stepped outside into the garden. My breath caught as I took in the scene before me. The garden was massive, with perfectly manicured lawns stretching out toward the horizon, where they met the shimmering waters of the ocean. The setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, casting a golden glow over everything. There were flowers everywhere, roses, lilies, and blooms I couldn’t even name, arranged in neat rows, their colors vibrant against the lush green of the grass. It was breathtaking, like something out of a dream.
The party was being held here, outdoors, where the sound of the ocean waves crashing against the shore provided a peaceful backdrop. There were tables set up around the garden, draped in white linens and adorned with glittering centerpieces. Guests were milling about, laughing and talking, their voices blending with the sound of the sea. I could feel their eyes on me as we walked past, their gazes lingering on the diamond bracelet around my wrist, on the curve of my back exposed by the dress Faruk had chosen for me. I felt like a trophy on display.
As we approached the center of the gathering, I spotted him Faruk. His golden hair glinted in the fading sunlight, catching my attention immediately. He was standing near the fountain, surrounded by a group of men, but the moment he saw us, his face lit up with a smile. He excused himself from his conversation and began walking toward us, his eyes never leaving mine.
Darius’s grip on my arm tightened slightly as his brother approached, but I didn’t flinch. Darius’s possessiveness, though it still made my skin crawl, made me feel some other type of way.
“Lyra,” Faruk greeted me, his voice warm and smooth as honey. His smile was charming, but there was something in his eyes, something calculating. “You look absolutely stunning tonight.”
I forced a smile, though it didn’t reach my eyes. “Thank you,” I said quietly.
“Oh come on, relax no need to be distant, we are family”, he chuckled.
He turned his attention to Darius, a teasing smile playing on his lips. “Brother, I’m going to steal her from you for just a moment. I hope you don’t mind.”
Darius’s expression darkened slightly, he looked like he wanted to protest when we were interrupted by an older lady with a cane who asked him for a word in private. He simply nodded, though I could feel the tension radiating off him.
Faruk offered me his arm, and though I hesitated, I took it. It wasn’t like I had a choice. He led me away from Darius, toward a quieter part of the garden, near a cluster of rose bushes. The scent of the flowers was overwhelming, sweet and heady, but it did little to calm my nerves.
“Do you like the dress?” Faruk asked, glancing down at me as we walked. “I picked it out for you myself,” he said as he sniffed a rose he picked.
I looked up at him, my heart sinking. Of course, he had.
“It’s beautiful,” I said, though the words tasted bitter in my mouth.
He smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “I knew it would suit you,” he said, his tone light, as if we were simply discussing fashion and not the fact that I was being paraded around like a prize.
We stopped near the edge of the garden, where the waves crashed against the rocky shore in the distance. For a moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched between us, heavy and uncomfortable. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, but I refused to meet his eyes. Instead, I stared out at the ocean, wishing I could disappear into the waves and never come back.
“You’ve made quite the impression tonight,” Faruk said, breaking the silence. “The others can’t stop talking about you.”
I didn’t respond. I didn’t care what the others thought of me. I didn’t care about any of it.
He chuckled softly. “You’re a tough one, aren’t you?” he said, his tone amused. “Darius has his hands full with you.”
My chest tightened at the mention of Darius, and I finally looked up at Faruk, my eyes hard. “What do you want from me?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
He raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by my directness. “Want from you?” he repeated, as if the question was absurd. But I could see it in his eyes.
I clenched my fists, the anger simmering just beneath the surface. “I’m not stupid,” I said, my voice shaking slightly. “I know this isn’t just about some party or a dress. What do you want from me?”
The smile on Faruk’s faded, and for a moment, I saw something flicker in his eyes, something dark and calculating. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the charming smile once more.
“I want nothing from you,” he said smoothly. “But Darius... he sees things differently.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. What does he mean?
Before I could respond, I heard footsteps behind us. I turned just in time to see Darius approaching, his expression dark. He looked jealous.
“There you are,” Darius said, his voice low and controlled, though I could hear the tension beneath it.
Faruk chuckled, turning to his brother. “Always so serious, brother. You should learn to relax a little.” He glanced at me, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Don’t you agree, Lyra?”
I forced another smile, though it felt like a mask. “Perhaps,” I said quietly.
Faruk patted Darius on the shoulder, his smile widening. “You should let her have some fun, big brother. Green isn’t a good color on you,” he teased, pointing at Darius’s jealousy.
Darius's jaw clenched, but he said nothing. Instead, he took my arm, pulling me gently but firmly away from his brother. As we walked back toward the party, I could feel the tension radiating off him. He was jealous, furious, even.
Once we were far enough from Faruk, Darius leaned down, his breath hot against my ear. “Don’t get too comfortable,” he warned, his voice low and dangerous. “You belong to me, Lyra. Don’t forget that.”
I shivered, my heart pounding in my chest. How could I forget? Every second of every day was a reminder that I was his, whether I wanted to be or not. No matter how many dresses he bought me, no matter how many diamonds he draped around my wrists, I was still trapped. Still his.
The number of people had reduced in number.” I see everyone has gone into the ballroom”, Faruk who followed behind us said with a bright smile on his face.
The three of us walked back the way we came but went down another hallway with golden doors at the end of it with two huge Lycun statues standing on each side.
The grand double doors of the ballroom swung open, and I was immediately hit by the overwhelming sound of laughter, clinking glasses, and hushed conversation. The room was filled with people, men in expensive suits, women in gowns just as luxurious as mine. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, golden glow over everything. It was a scene of wealth, of power.
As we entered, I could feel the weight of their eyes on me, their gazes assessing, curious. I felt exposed, like an animal on display. The whispers followed me as we walked through the room, the conversations stopping for just a moment as people turned to watch us.
Darius’s grip on me tightened ever so slightly as we approached a group of men standing near the champagne tower. They were talking in low voices, their expressions serious, but the second they saw Darius and Faruk, their faces shifted, their postures straightened. One of them, a tall man with a scar running down his cheek, stepped forward, extending a hand.
“Your Highness “, he greeted Darius his voice deep and rough, and gave a small bow.
“Bruce”, Darius greeted.
“Faruk,” the man greeted, his voice deep and rough. His eyes shifted to me, lingering for just a second too long. “And this must be your mate, your highness.”
Darius nodded, his hand still on my back. “This is Lyra, my mate and Luna.”
The man’s eyes flicked back to me, his gaze cold and appraising. “A beauty,” he said, his tone casual.
I forced a smile, though inside I felt like screaming. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t my life. I didn’t belong here, surrounded by rich and powerful wolves, pretending everything was normal, pretending that I wasn’t suffocating under the weight of all of it.
The conversation around me blurred into the background as I drifted back into my thoughts. Fred. All I wanted was to know if he was safe. All I wanted was to know that he was still alive. Every second I spent in this room, pretending, felt like a betrayal of him and my father. But I had no choice. If I didn’t play along, if I didn’t keep Darius happy, I’d never get the answers I needed.