Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Mia's POV

I had barely finished my classes when Valerie told me I needed to get ready.

I stared at her in confusion. “Get ready for what?”

She smiled as she placed a dress on the bed.

“Mr. Voss has a gala tonight.”

I looked at the dress.

It was beautiful.

It was also probably more expensive than everything I owned combined.

“I can't wear that.”

Valerie raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

“Because it's too much.”

She shook her head.

“Mr. Voss specifically asked that you wear it.”

My stomach tightened.

Of course he did.

I didn't have much of a choice.

An hour later, I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my reflection.

The dress hugged my body perfectly, falling all the way to the floor. My hair had been styled, and for the first time in a long time, I barely recognized myself.

I looked...

Different.

Beautiful, maybe.

But I didn't feel beautiful.

I felt like someone had dressed me up and placed me inside another person's life.

A knock sounded on the door.

I turned around.

Kai stood there.

His eyes moved over me slowly.

For a moment, he didn't say anything.

I felt my cheeks grow warm.

“What?”

He blinked and looked away.

“It's time to go.”

I frowned.

“That's all you're going to say?”

He looked back at me.

“What do you want me to say?”

I crossed my arms.

“Nothing.”

I walked past him.

His hand suddenly caught my wrist.

I looked at him in surprise.

“You're not walking ahead of me.”

“Why?”

“Because you're coming with me.”

I stared at him.

“I know.”

He released my wrist.

We walked downstairs together.

A car was already waiting outside.

As soon as we arrived at the gala, I immediately understood why Kai had insisted on dressing me the way he did.

Everyone looked important.

Men in expensive suits stood around with powerful wolf-clan families. Women wore elegant dresses and expensive jewelry. The entire room seemed to be filled with people who had more money and influence than I could ever imagine.

I suddenly felt very small.

My fingers tightened around the fabric of my dress.

Kai noticed.

“You're nervous.”

I looked at him.

“I'm surrounded by people who probably think I'm not good enough to be standing here.”

His expression remained unreadable.

“Let them think whatever they want.”

I frowned.

“That doesn't make me feel better.”

“It wasn't supposed to.”

I stared at him.

He looked away.

“Stay close to me.”

My heart skipped.

Before I could respond, he placed his hand on my waist.

I stiffened.

Kai looked down at me.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

I looked away.

We walked into the ballroom together.

The moment people saw us, the whispers started.

“That's her.”

“The spirit-less girl?”

“She actually looks beautiful.”

“I heard she's Kai Voss's fiancée.”

“How did that happen?”

“I don't understand what he sees in her.”

I swallowed.

Every word reached me.

Even without a wolf spirit, my hearing wasn't completely useless.

Kai seemed to notice my expression.

His hand tightened slightly around my waist.

“Don't listen to them.”

I looked at him.

“Easy for you to say.”

“Why?”

“Because nobody here is questioning whether you belong.”

His eyes darkened.

“They're not questioning whether you belong either.”

I gave him a doubtful look.

“They're doing exactly that.”

Kai didn't answer.

Instead, he guided me toward a group of people.

I recognized some of them from the news and academy events.

Everyone greeted Kai respectfully.

Then their eyes would shift to me.

Some smiled politely.

Others didn't bother hiding their curiosity.

One older woman looked me up and down.

“So you're Mia.”

I forced a smile.

“Yes.”

She tilted her head.

“I've heard quite a lot about you.”

My smile faded slightly.

“I hope it was nothing too terrible.”

She laughed softly.

“Nothing terrible. Just surprising.”

Kai's expression hardened.

“What exactly is surprising?”

The woman immediately smiled.

“Nothing, Kai. I was only making conversation.”

I looked away.

I didn't need Kai fighting everyone who looked at me strangely.

The gala continued like that.

People stared.

People whispered.

And Kai stayed beside me the entire time.

At some point, I noticed that he barely spoke to me.

He was always watching.

Watching the room.

Watching the people around us.

Watching me.

I remembered what he had said earlier.

I want you to stop defending him long enough to question him.

My thoughts immediately went to Liam.

I wondered where he was.

What he was doing.

Whether he was thinking about me.

A familiar ache settled in my chest.

I missed him.

Even after everything that had happened, I still missed him.

Kai suddenly looked at me.

“What are you thinking about?”

I looked at him.

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed.

“You're a terrible liar.”

My heart skipped.

“I wasn't lying.”

“You were.”

I looked away.

“I was just thinking about school.”

Kai stared at me for a moment.

Then he looked toward the other side of the room.

“Let's go.”

I frowned.

“Where?”

“Back to the academy.”

I blinked.

“The ball hasn't even ended.”

“It doesn't matter.”

I looked at him in confusion.

“Why did you bring me here if we were leaving early?”

“I wanted people to see you with me.”

I stared at him.

“Why?”

“Because you're my fiancée.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Fake fiancée.”

His eyes met mine.

“For everyone else, there is no difference.”

Before I could respond, he walked away.

I sighed and followed him.

By the time we returned to the academy, the grand ball was already in full swing.

Music filled the hall.

Students were dressed in their finest clothes, and the entire place looked completely different from how it usually did.

The moment I walked in beside Kai, several conversations stopped.

I could already feel the stares.

Kai didn't seem bothered.

He simply walked beside me as though having a spirit-less student on his arm was the most normal thing in the world.

Then I heard a familiar voice.

“Well, well.”

I froze.

Avery stood a few feet away.

She looked beautiful in a long silver dress, her hair styled perfectly.

Her eyes immediately moved over me.

Then she smiled.

“I see you've decided to show up.”

I swallowed.

“Avery.”

She walked closer.

“I almost didn't recognize you.”

I frowned.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

She smiled.

“You actually look presentable tonight.”

My jaw tightened.

Kai remained silent.

Avery glanced at him.

“I'm surprised you brought her.”

Kai's expression didn't change.

“She came with me.”

Avery's smile disappeared for a second.

Then she looked back at me.

“You must feel very lucky.”

I could feel the eyes around us.

I hated this.

“I don't need you to tell me how I should feel.”

Avery laughed.

“Of course you don't.”

She stepped closer.

“But you should remember something, Mia.”

I stared at her.

“What?”

Her eyes moved over my body.

“Dresses can make anyone look beautiful. That doesn't change what you are.”

The words hit harder than I expected.

My fingers curled into fists.

Kai's expression changed.

“Avery.”

His voice was low.

She immediately looked at him.

“Yes?”

“Walk away.”

Her eyes widened slightly.

“But—”

“I said walk away.”

Avery's face flushed.

She looked around at the people watching.

Then she forced a smile.

“Of course.”

She turned around and walked away.

I watched her disappear into the crowd.

I couldn't believe she had backed down that easily.

I looked at Kai.

“You didn't have to do that.”

“Yes, I did.”

I frowned.

“Why?”

His gaze remained on Avery.

“Because I told her to leave you alone.”

I looked at him.

Something about the way he said it made my chest feel strange.

He wasn't smiling.

He wasn't being gentle.

But he had protected me again.

Just like he had in the Vice Chancellor's office.

I looked away before he could notice the effect it had on me.

The music changed, and couples began moving toward the dance floor.

Kai looked at me.

“Dance with me.”

My eyes widened.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

I shook my head.

“I don't know how to dance like these people.”

“You don't need to.”

Before I could protest, his hand settled around my waist.

I placed my hand in his.

The music was slow.

We moved together.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

I could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of my dress.

His scent surrounded me.

Cedarwood and smoke.

I swallowed.

I hated how familiar it was becoming.

Kai looked down at me.

“You're tense.”

“I'm fine.”

“You're lying again.”

I sighed.

“You always think I'm lying.”

“Because you do it often.”

I glared at him.

“Maybe I wouldn't have to lie if you stopped treating me like a prisoner.”

His expression hardened.

“You are still a prisoner.”

My heart sank.

Of course.

I had almost forgotten.

For a moment, everything had felt normal.

But it wasn't.

I was still trapped.

Kai was still watching me.

And Liam was still waiting for me.

At least, I hoped he was.

The song ended.

Kai released me.

I took a step back.

Then I noticed something across the room.

Someone was watching me.

I couldn't see his face clearly because of the crowd.

But something about the way he stood there felt familiar.

I blinked.

The person disappeared behind several students.

My heart began beating faster.

Could it be Liam?

I stared at the crowd.

Kai noticed my sudden change in expression.

“What is it?”

I quickly shook my head.

“Nothing.”

His eyes narrowed.

I looked away.

“I'm just tired.”

Kai continued staring at me.

For a moment, I wondered if he believed me.

Then he turned his attention back to the crowd.

I let out a quiet breath.

I didn't know if Liam was here.

But if he was...

I knew I would find him.