LOGINKAEL The hotel suite overlooked the city, but I had barely looked out the window since arriving. I sat in a leather armchair near the window, my gaze fixed on the city skyline beyond the glass. The lights of the buildings flickered like distant stars, but I saw none of them. My mind was elsewhere. It was with her. It was always with her. Caiden stood at the window with his arms crossed, his expression serious and unreadable. Levi sat at the small conference table with a laptop open in front of him, his fingers moving occasionally across the keyboard. Peter paced near the window on the opposite side of the room, his restlessness evident in every step he took. We've been in this meeting for over an hour, and the weight of everything that had happened at the Cross Estate still hung heavy in the air.“You have made the council’s work more difficult,” Caiden said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm but firm, the voice of a man who had delivered bad news many times before.I contin
ARABELLA POV We walked out of the door. The pack estate was still busy, but it seemed different from the night before. I felt it the moment I stepped into the hallway.Servants bowed lower as I passed. Several family members who had barely greeted me yesterday now smiled and asked how I had slept. Their eyes followed me. They smiled. They greeted me.“Good morning, Miss Arabella.”“Miss Arabella, you look beautiful today.”“Miss Arabella, can I get you anything?”I nodded at them. I smiled. But I saw through all of it.They didn’t know me. They didn’t care about me. They cared about my power. My position. My favor.It was the same in the Blue Moon Pack. People ignored me when I was nothing. They would worship me now that I was something.I didn’t trust any of it.Somehow I wondered how many of them would still be kind if Grandpa changed his mind.I went downstairs.Family members who had ignored me before now smiled and greeted me warmly.“Cousin Arabella! Good morning!”“Aunt Arabe
ARABELLA POV Kael brushed my hair softly before kissing my lips again. “Aurelia had been a mystery and I’m worried about you.” Right. How could I doubt him? Kael was resourceful and could know whatever he’d wanted. Nothing was hidden from him. I swallowed. “I understand. I also want to learn the truth about Aurelia.”“You will not do it alone.”“I may need to.”“Then I will follow your lead, but I will not leave you to face it without help.”I looked up at him.For the first time since returning to the Cross family, I did not feel like a stranger in a room full of people deciding my future. Kael was not promising that everything would be easy. He was simply telling me that I would not have to face it alone.“I cannot promise that I am ready to become your mate,” I smiled faintly. “I am not asking you to promise that,” He brushed my hair fondly. “But I can promise to give us a chance.”His eyes softened. “That's enough for now.” Tempted, I leaned up and kissed him and Kael froze
ARABELLA POV “I will not be engaged to the heiress,” Kael said. “I already have someone in mind, and I came tonight to end the marriage arrangement.”The hall broke into whispers.I stood near the centre of it all, unable to look away from him. I knew he was rejecting the marriage proposal for me, even though he did not know I was the woman his family expected him to marry. He had come to end the arrangement, not knowing that I was standing only a few steps away.My heart tightened.Kael had made his choice before learning who I was.That should have made me happy. Instead, it made me wonder how he would feel once he knew the truth.My father stepped forward.Rolf's smile was forced. Tight. He looked at Kael with careful eyes.“Your Highness, this is an important matter. We can discuss it later, once the banquet is over.”Kael’s expression remained calm. “There is nothing to discuss. I am not interested in the arrangement.”Before my father could answer, Helena spoke up."Prince Kael
ARABELLA POV “That useless piece of trash is claiming to be you?! Master, I will fire him immediately! I will destroy him! I will—““Orin,” I said calmly. “Just confirm who I am.”“Of course. Miss Arabella is my Master. She is Ms. Nine and the founder and CEO of Nine Designs. She is the most talented architect and designer in the country. She is my boss. My master. The one who built everything from nothing!” The room was dead silent.No one breathed.No one moved.Valeria’s face went white. Her hand slipped from Mitch’s arm. “That... that could be fake,” she stammered. “Anyone could say that. Anyone could pretend to be Orin.”Aunt Stella, who had been standing with them, nodded in agreement. “Anyone can record a voice.”I did not look away from Mitch.“If you do not believe me, let him speak to Orion himself.”I held out the phone with a glare. Mitch stared at it as if it were a snake. His fingers trembled when he finally took it.“M-Mr Orion?” he said fearfully. Everyone was watc
ARABELLA POV I stood alone.The room was against me. The Cross family. Helena. Valeria. The pack members who believed their lies. But I was smiling. Because I knew something they didn’t. I knew the truth. And the truth was about to destroy them.I looked at Mich. He was still standing there, pretending to be important. Pretending to be someone he was not.I hadn't wanted to reveal my identity like this. But now I was forced too. Taking a breathe, I spoke up.“I am Ms. Nine.”The room went silent.Then it exploded. Filled with laughter, mockery and disbelief.“You?” Uncle Philips laughed. “You are a nobody. You grew up in the countryside. You know nothing about art. Nothing about design.”Aunt Stella sneered. “This is pathetic. She is trying to steal her sister’s achievement.”A pack member shouted. “Liar! She is a liar!”Another voice. “Send her back to the farm where she belongs.”Helena’s face twisted with satisfaction. She looked at me with pure hatred.“You think you can fool us







