3: No!

Leni’s POV

I sat on the edge of the soft bed, staring at the plain beige walls in Maya’s room. 

For the past week, I hadn't stopped crying and blaming myself for wasting my life with Wesley. It was at that vulnerable point that I began to recall all the stupid sacrifices I had made for him over the years. 

I just couldn't forgive myself.

My eyes still stung from crying, and my whole body felt heavy, as if I’d been run over.

“Get up, Leni! We have to start getting ready!” Maya’s cheerful voice called out from the hallway, bringing me out of my thoughts. 

She came into the room with a garment bag in one hand and a makeup kit in the other.

I let out a groan and flopped onto the bed. 

“The last place I want to be tonight is some crowded pack party.”

She folded her arms across her chest and gave me the look I knew all too well.

“If it were in my power, I’d let you stay here with ice cream and those boring movie choices of yours,” she said. “But the Pack Council declared that attendance is mandatory.”

I frowned at her.

“The Alpha’s son has finally returned after eight years of being away, and tonight they’re officially announcing him as the new Alpha.” 

Anyone who skips the ceremony without a valid medical excuse gets fined.”

She pointed a finger at me.

“And unless you’re planning to throw away the little savings you have left, you’re coming.”

I groaned louder and buried my face in a pillow.

Fantastic.

Exactly what my miserable day needed.

Thirty minutes later, I finally dragged myself out of bed.

I put on a simple button shirt and black Palazzo pants. They were comfortable, plain, and easy to overlook.

Perfect.

The moment I stepped into the living room, Maya looked up from her mirror.

Her mouth fell open.

“You must be kidding me!”

“What?” I looked down at myself.

“No.” She marched toward me. “You are not leaving this house looking like that, Leni Ashbrook.”

“Maya, please.”

I gestured helplessly at my clothes.

“I don’t care about impressing anybody. I just want to show up, get noticed as one of the attendees, then I’ll come home.”

“Nothing you say can convince me to let you leave this house dressed like an underpaid teacher.” Maya snapped.

Before I knew it, she was dragging me back into her bedroom.

“You just got your heart broken by a cheating excuse of a Beta,” she said. “And now you want to make him see more reasons as to why he dumped you?”

“Maya?” 

“Shuuuu.”

She pushed me into a chair.

For the next hour, she worked her magic.

She curled my dark hair into soft waves, covered up the tired look under my eyes with some makeup, and somehow got me into a long emerald green dress with a high slit and an open back that made me feel exposed.

I stared at my reflection and immediately tugged at the fabric.

The dress hugged every curve of my body.

“Maya…” I adjusted the neckline for what had to be the fifth time. “This dress is way too tight.”

“You look gorgeous.”

“I feel naked.”

“You’ll be fine.” She said, slipping a pair of black heels onto my feet, then handed me a matching purse.

“Good. Now stop pulling at it before you ruin the fabric.”

****

The Rainstone Pack ballroom was overflowing with people.

Music played in the air. Crystal chandeliers shone above us, while glasses clinked and people in fancy suits and sparkling dresses laughed and talked all over the hall. 

The moment I stepped inside, my anxiety came rushing back.

Without thinking, I reached down and tugged at the hem of my dress again.

“I’ll grab us something to drink,” Maya said before disappearing toward the bar.

I nodded absentmindedly.

Left alone, I quietly moved toward the edge of the room, hoping to blend into the crowd.

Then my eyes drifted toward the VIP section.

My stomach dropped.

There sat Wesley.

He looked way too pleased with himself in his fitted black suit. 

Mirabel was practically glued to him.

She wore a tight red dress that looked elegant enough for her role as Beta’s mistress. She laughed loudly at something he said, then ran her hands over his chest without caring who saw.

Neither of them cared who was watching.

I rolled my eyes.

The sight made my blood boil.

Not because I wanted him back.

Because he had wasted years of my life only to replace me without an ounce of shame.

I couldn’t stand another second of it.

Turning sharply, I headed for the side exit.

Sitting quietly and alone outside sounded much better than watching those two pretend they were the happiest couple alive.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t paying attention to where I was going until I walked straight into someone.

I stumbled backward from the impact, my heels slipping a little on the shiny floor.

Strong hands caught my hand before I could fall.

“Watch where you’re…”

The words died on my tongue as I stared into those bright green eyes. 

It was him.

The man from the hotel.

Tonight, he looked even more unfairly handsome.

His dark hair was brushed back neatly, and his gray suit made him look even taller and broader.

His eyes stayed fixed on mine.

I blinked.

Then I took a step back.

“You again?” I stared at him in disbelief. 

“Are you following me around now?”

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“If I hadn’t met you first at the hotel, I’d honestly think you were a heavenly being sent to seduce me.” He whispered in my ears, a smirk across his lips as his eyes went over me.  

“You're crazy!” I sighed, adjusting my dress again before I brushed past him.

A waiter walked past carrying champagne.

I took one glass.

And without looking back, I hurried toward the balcony.

The cool night breeze instantly wrapped around me.

Finally.

Somewhere that didn’t make me feel trapped.

I rested both hands on the stone railing and stared into the darkness beyond the estate.

I took a sip of my champagne. 

Then another.

And another.

The alcohol burned as I swallowed, slowly taking the edge off the anger inside me.

“Leni!”

The balcony doors swung open.

“There you are!”

Maya hurried over, breathing hard.

“Maya…” I sighed. “Can I please have five minutes to myself?”

She snatched the champagne from my hand before I could take another sip.

“No.”

“I’m trying very hard not to smash a glass over Wesley’s head.” I said, replaying the scene from moments ago. 

“Forget Wesley.”

She grabbed my hand.

“They’re about to introduce the Alpha’s son. Everyone has to be inside.”

“I honestly don’t care who the Alpha’s son is,”

Before I could finish my words, she dragged me back through the ballroom doors.

At that exact moment, a loud blast of trumpets echoed across the hall.

Followed by a loud silence.

People immediately stepped aside, forming a clear path toward the stage.

The head elder walked forward.

“Honourable members of Rainstone Pack,” his voice boomed through the ballroom, “Please join me in welcoming home the soon to be Alpha of Rainstone Pack…”

The applause was enough to make the deaf hear. 

Maya pulled me closer to the front right as a tall man walked onto the stage.

The spotlight settled on him.

Everything around me seemed to disappear.

The noise.

The people.

All of it faded.

My heart stopped.

No!

It couldn’t be.