Chapter Three: Displayed,Desired,Denied

The knock on the door came too soon. I had barely finished the food Ethan brought when two female wolves entered without waiting for an answer. They carried a simple black dress and heels, their faces blank.

“Alpha wants you ready in twenty minutes,” one said. “Pack assembly. Don’t keep him waiting.”

I changed quickly. The dress fit too well, hugging my body in a way that made the veil aura feel even more exposed. My hands shook slightly as I smoothed it down, but I forced them steady. No crying. No shouting. Just observe. Learn. Survive.

They led me through long halls of the Goldenville stronghold. Marble floors echoed under my heels. Warriors nodded to the guards but stared at me with open curiosity. The veil aura hummed under my skin, low but present, waiting.

We reached massive double doors. The moment they opened, noise hit me. Hundreds of voices, the scent of many wolves packed together. The main hall stretched wide, filled with Goldenville Pack members. High-ranking wolves sat at the front. Warriors lined the sides.

Julian stood on a raised platform at the center, arms crossed, radiating pure dominance. The instant I stepped inside, the veil aura flared to life between us. Golden fire sparked visibly in the air, bright enough for the whole room to see. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

My cheeks burned, but I kept my head high. Great. Now everyone knows exactly how much he hates wanting me.

Julian’s eyes found mine. Cold. Controlled. He crooked a finger at me. “Come here.”

I walked forward through the parted crowd. Every step made the aura pulse stronger. It tugged at my chest, mixing unwanted heat with sharp humiliation. Whispers followed me, loud enough for me to hear.

“Is she the new one?”

“From that weak Greenville Pack?”

“Did Alpha actually claim her?”

Julian waited until I reached the platform steps. He didn’t offer a hand. Instead, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me up beside him, positioning me slightly behind his right shoulder like a trophy on display.

The pack fell quiet as he raised his voice.

“This is Selina Williams,” he announced, tone flat and commanding. “She is my fated mate. The Goddess bound us last night. She belongs to Goldenville now.”

No warmth. No introduction as Luna or even partner. Just ownership.

Murmurs rose again. I felt eyes crawling over me. Some pitied me while Most judged. In the front row, Mira Nolan sat with perfect posture, her lips curved in a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She watched me like I was something to be removed.

Julian continued. “The alliance with Greenville holds. Any questions about her place here will go through me. She is under my protection and my control.”

“Protection”. The word tasted bitter. His grip on my wrist tightened, sending another flare of the veil aura dancing brightly between our bodies. The pack could see every spark, every pull of the bond I never asked for.

I kept my face calm, but inside my thoughts stayed sharp and guarded. Public property. That’s what I am now. A living reminder that even the strongest Alpha can’t escape the Moon Goddess’s joke.

Someone from the crowd spoke up. An older warrior. “Alpha, she carries the veil. Does that mean the bond is complete?”

Julian’s jaw ticked. “It means nothing beyond what I decide. The bond is mine to handle. Not yours.”

The warrior sat down fast.

Mira leaned forward slightly, her voice sweet but cutting. “Welcome to Goldenville, Selina. I hope you settle in quickly. We don’t tolerate weakness here.”

Her words carried subtext loud and clear. It was obvious she wanted Julian and the Luna spot. And I was in the way.

I met her eyes directly. “I’m not here to cause trouble. But I will not be stepped on either.”

Julian shot me a warning glance, but I felt a small spark of satisfaction when Mira’s smile faltered for half a second.

He released my wrist only to place his hand on my lower back, guiding me to stand beside his throne-like chair. The touch burned through the thin dress. The veil aura steadied into a constant glow, visible to everyone. It made my skin tingle and my wolf pace restlessly.

The assembly moved on to pack matters. Territory reports, training schedules, minor disputes. Julian handled each with great efficiency. I stood there like a beautiful decoration that has no significance, the bond ache growing whenever he shifted away even an inch.

Halfway through, he leaned close enough that only I could hear. “Keep your mouth shut unless I tell you otherwise. This isn’t your little Greenville playhouse.”

His breath brushed my ear. The veil aura flared hot. My body reacted with a rush of heat I hated, while my mind pushed back hard. “Then maybe don’t parade me like a prize you resent winning.” I shot back.

His fingers pressed firmer against my back in silent warning.

The meeting dragged, but every minute felt like exposure. Wolves kept stealing glances at the golden light connecting us. Some looked impressed by the strength of the bond. Others smirked, clearly enjoying their Alpha’s obvious discomfort.

When it finally ended, Julian dismissed the pack with a curt wave. Most filed out, but a few lingered, watching.

Mira approached the platform steps, hips swaying. “Alpha, shall I show her around the grounds later? To help her learn her place?”

Julian’s voice stayed ice cold. “No. She stays with me or Ethan. That’s final.”

Mira’s eyes flicked to me with pure venom before she smiled again and walked away.

The hall emptied slowly. Julian turned to me once we were mostly alone. The veil aura still glowed between us, refusing to fade.

“You handled that better than I expected,” he said, almost grudging. “But don’t mistake silence for safety. This pack eats the weak.”

I looked up at him, keeping my voice low and steady. “Don’t pretend like you care about me. You were the one who presented me to them like I am some unwanted damsel in distress.”

“I don’t,” Julian said.

“Then you have nothing to worry about because I don’t intend to stay weak.”

For a split second, something flickered in his eyes. Surprise, maybe even reluctant interest, before the cold mask slammed back down.

He grabbed my arm again and started leading me toward a side exit. The bond pulled tight with every step. My chest throbbed when he moved too far ahead.

We stepped into a quieter corridor. The aura dimmed slightly with less eyes on us, but the ache in my ribs grew sharper. Being near him hurt. Being away from him hurt even worse.

Julian stopped suddenly and faced me. His hand came up like he might touch my cheek, then dropped.

Before he could speak, the bond pain flared so sharply I doubled over, gasping. It felt like a hook yanking inside my chest, demanding closeness.

He appeared right there in front of me, eyes dark with the same agony he refused to admit out loud. His hand hovered near my shoulder, the veil aura blazing bright again.

The conflict burned in his stare. Resentment, possession, and something raw he clearly hated feeling.

His fingers finally brushed my cheek, rough and warm. The touch sent a jolt straight through me, heat pooling low in my belly despite everything. I hated how my body leaned into him, how my lips parted on a shaky breath.

Julian’s gaze dropped to my mouth. His breathing grew heavier. For one dangerous second, the cold Alpha looked ready to break. He stepped closer, his body pressing against mine, the veil aura exploding into golden sparks that lit up the empty corridor.

“I should hate you,” he whispered,voice filled with something I can't describe.His thumb traced my lower lip slowly.

“Then why do you look like you want to fuck me right here against the wall?” I whispered back, my voice trembling with the same unwanted need.

His eyes flashed with raw hunger. He leaned in, lips barely an inch from mine, the heat of his breath mixing with mine. The bond screamed for more. Just as his mouth brushed against mine in the lightest, torturous tease, he pulled back with a harsh curse.

“Not yet,” he said, voice strained. “But soon you will beg me for it, Selina.”

He turned and pulled me forward again, leaving me aching, wet, and burning with frustration as the veil aura continued to pulse hot between us.