Chapter 5

Alanza’s POV

“You couldn’t have at least tried to do something with your hair?”

The dress felt like silk against my skin, expensive and soft. I twisted a little in front of the full-length mirror. The skirt swirled around my legs. A small, buried part of me was happy. That part remembered being a little girl, wishing my dresses could spin like a princess’s. The adult me just felt like a fraud.

I touched my hair. I had thought the simple style was fine. Jimena had forced me into a salon chair this morning. But Mom’s face showed I was wrong. Her disappointment was as polished and sharp as her silver jewelry.

“I thought it was fine,” I mumbled. Shame heated my cheeks.

Jimena rolled her eyes. “Of course you did. Come on. A quick French twist is all we have time for.”

She grabbed my arm and dragged me to the vanity. I stumbled into the chair. Mom followed, her lips pressed into a thin, tight line.

“Sit up straight,” Mom snapped. Her hands clamped down on my shoulders, forcing my back straight. “And suck in your stomach. Those hips of yours are far too wide for this dress. It’s barely better than a potato sack.”

I bit my lip. I fought the rush of tears.

“Honestly, Alanza,” Mom continued, her voice low. “If your father didn’t need to show the other packs you’re alive and well, I wouldn’t dare be seen with you. You look like a street urchin. What’s that saying, Jimena? You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.”

The joy I had felt in the dress was gone. Mom’s cruel, elegant voice had crushed it. I wanted to ask why the packs cared if I was alive. I kept the question locked down. Mom would only get angrier.

Jimena yanked a brush through my hair. It pulled my scalp tight. She started braiding it into a quick, elegant updo.

“I can’t believe you’re making me do this,” she hissed in my ear. Her breath was hot. “You owe me, big time. I should be focusing on myself, not you. You don’t even have any prospects here.”

She was already perfection. But I just nodded. I didn’t trust my voice. I was a burden. I was my family’s biggest disappointment. But tonight, I just had to smile. I had to pretend to be the perfect daughter. Just for a little while longer.

I’ll be free soon. It was my only thought. I repeated the mantra as I sat under their cold disapproval. These were the people who were supposed to love me.

Mom grabbed my chin. She turned my face left, then right. “At least you no longer look homeless. For Moon’s sake, Alanza, you should learn how to care for yourself. How do you think this reflects on me? Like I’ve taught you nothing? You couldn’t even bring a pair of earrings?”

I stopped myself from pointing out she hadn't taught me anything since I was twelve. I didn’t own jewelry. Well, except one thing. My friendship bracelet from when I was thirteen. I knew it wouldn’t pass her inspection.

Jimena moved to my make-up. Her hands were rough. She layered foundation and blush on my skin. I tried to hold still, but my nerves made me twitch.

“Stop fidgeting,” Mom snapped. Her hand came down hard on my shoulder. “You’re going to ruin Jimena’s work. Honey, that shade makes her look sallow,” she told my sister. “We don’t need her to look ill. Imagine the rumors that would create. As if our pack doesn’t have good doctors.”

I took a shaky breath. I forced my muscles to relax. Jimena worked fast. When she finished, I stared at the girl in the mirror. She looked like a stranger. My skin was flawless. My eyes were smoky. My lips were a deep, sultry red.

“There,” Jimena said, stepping back. “At least now you don’t look like a complete disaster.”

Mom sighed. It was probably the tenth time in the last hour. “It will have to do.”

I stood up. I smoothed my hands over the silky dress. My heart hammered in my chest. I felt sick with dread. I had to play the part. Perfect daughter. Obedient wolf. Just for one more night.

Then, I would be free.

I entered the ballroom alone, trailing behind my family. Dad and Mom led the way. Pascual escorted Jimena. I felt like a drab shadow. Mom and Jimena sparkled with jewelry. I had nothing.

The Lunar Gala still took my breath away. Crystal chandeliers hung everywhere, warming the room with soft light. The floors were polished marble. Walls were covered in tapestries and paintings.

My head spun as I looked around. I needed a corner to hide in. I wanted to escape the eyes of the guests. Before I could move, my father grabbed my arm.

“Alanza, come along,” he said. His grip was tight. He steered me toward an older, well-dressed man. I thought he was a beta. My pulse thumped in my ears, making it hard to hear.

I forced a smile. I shook the man’s hand and mumbled a greeting. Then it was another person. Then another. Names and faces swam together. My father introduced me to people who were all forgettable.

A mild, buzzing panic filled my head. Would I get any freedom at all? The air felt thick. Perfume and forced laughter closed in on me.

We moved through the crowd. I noticed a striking face watching us. He was old, maybe older than Alpha Reynaldo. But his movements were quick and fluid.

My father approached him carefully. “Alpha Estela.”

“Beta Verity,” the man responded. His voice was rich and surprisingly cold.

Dad looked tense. “This is Pascual, our alpha heir. And this is Jimena, my daughter. She is here searching for a fated connection. It hasn’t coalesced in our pack yet.”

“A pleasure,” Alpha Estela said. He did not offer his hand. Pascual stiffened, but no one commented.

Dad turned to me. He gripped my arm again. Hard enough to bruise. He shot me a demanding look, telling me to behave.

“And this is Alanza, my youngest daughter.”

“Pleasure to meet you, Alpha Estela.” I knew his name now. He was the alpha of the Agate Pack. Dad’s eyes cut to me. I struggled for something else to say. “Um, this is all quite beautiful. I’m impressed.”

The older alpha’s eyes fixed on me. They stopped at the small crescent scar below my left ear. My neck flushed hot. He smiled, holding my gaze.

“Thank you,” he said. “I am happy to meet the mysterious youngest daughter of our esteemed Beta Verity. We’ve been waiting for you to step into the sociopolitical sphere of the Northwestern Territories.”

Dad’s glare was intense. Anxiety made me trip over my words. “Oh, no, I’m not. I mean, I never had much interest in this sort of thing,” I stammered. I wanted to kick myself for sounding so clumsy. What else could they expect? My parents never let me have exposure outside our pack.

“Please, call me Xavi. My Agate Pack is proud to host the Lunar Gala this year. We are all excited to see the elusive Blackstone Pack here, though. It is quite the coup, as my mate likes to tell me. How are you enjoying it?”

“It’s very grand.” I couldn’t say much more. Dad had been dragging me non-stop. All I had done was shake hands. “I’m glad to be here,” I added, forcing a smile.

A thought flickered. Alpha Xavi didn’t seem to like Dad or Pascual. Maybe he could help me? No. That was a foolish idea. No alpha would protect a defective wolf from another pack.

Alpha Xavi raised his glass toward me. He turned back to Dad. “What a lovely daughter you have, Beta Verity,” he said. His voice was deep, holding an emotion I couldn’t place. “She is truly a beauty.”

My father accepted the compliment with tight reluctance. His grip on my arm tightened further. Tension radiated off him. He was not happy with the alpha’s attention.

A handsome young man approached our group. Dad’s grip tightened on me again.

“Beta Aranda,” Dad said. His tone was cold and dismissive. It was a stark contrast to his respect for Alpha Xavi.

Jimena stepped forward. Her midnight blue gown shimmered. Her blonde hair waved perfectly. She smiled coyly. “Hello, Beta. I am Jimena Verity, of the Blackstone Pack. It’s a pleasure.”

The man bowed slightly. His eyes flickered to me, then settled on Jimena. “Karlos Aranda, beta of the Westwood Pack. The pleasure is mine.”

I expected him to talk to Jimena. To my surprise, he turned to me. He held out his hand. I extended mine without thinking. He bowed over it. His lips almost brushed my skin. A shiver ran through me. Our eyes met. He looked at me like I was a strange puzzle. I didn’t like the scrutiny.

“And who might you be?” he asked. His voice was smooth.

Before I could answer, my father yanked me back. His grip was painful now. “This is Alanza, my youngest daughter,” he said, his voice clipped. “Alanza, why don’t you go mingle with some people your own age?”

It was a clear dismissal. I seized the chance to escape. I nodded, mumbling a quick goodbye to Karlos and the others. I slipped into the crowd.

My mind was spinning. Why were Alpha Xavi and Beta Aranda so interested in me? Why was Dad so quick to send me away, after dragging me around all night?

I risked a glance back. Beta Aranda was watching me. His gaze was curious and intense. A shiver of fear went down my spine. Was Dad here because rumors about his defective daughter were causing problems with the other packs? It was the only answer that made sense.

I took a deep breath. I needed to focus on my plan. I had to find a way out of this life. I couldn’t get tangled up in the politics of this grand event.

I spent the rest of the evening trying to avoid my family. I avoided the curious stares of the guests. I felt eyes on me. It was an intense feeling, like a physical touch. My stomach fluttered with unease. I looked around often, searching for the source. I never caught anyone watching. I didn’t think it was Beta Aranda. Every time I looked, he was talking to someone else. Who was it?

Anxiety coiled tight in my gut. I had to leave. I needed to escape before it was too late. I slipped out of the ballroom. I walked toward the dimly lit garden. The cool night air was a relief. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

Couples were out here. I recognized the sounds they made, even though I had never heard them before. I kept my eyes down and avoided them. Embarrassment burned my cheeks.

I pulled out my phone. I opened the rideshare app. My finger hovered over the button. I was ready to call a car to the Moonlight Terrace Hotel. I repeated the hotel name in my mind. It was my mantra. I just needed to grab my bag. Then I would be home free. Or, well, homeless. In a good way.

Just as I was about to press the button, a hand grabbed my arm. It yanked me back. I gasped. I was spun around. I faced a stranger who seemed ready to embrace me. He was tall and broad. He had dark hair and piercing eyes that seemed to look right through me. His suit felt luxurious, sliding like silk against my dress.

Something deep inside me stirred. I didn’t know the feeling, but I recognized it instantly, like those sounds I heard in the garden.

Desire.

Holy shit. Could this be happening?

“Where do you think you’re going, little wolf?” he asked. His voice was a low growl that sent a shiver down my spine.

I opened my mouth to answer. No words came out. I was frozen. My heart hammered in my chest. His grip on my arm was tight, almost hurting. I was trapped. I wanted to run. I wanted to wrap myself around him until he couldn’t breathe without me.