5

Ashen's POV

Night had fallen, yet the restlessness in my body only grew stronger.

It felt worse than anything I’d experienced in Grimrest Pack. At least there, when I was in my room, I could read peacefully. But here, I couldn’t find calm—not even for a moment.

The books provided were some of the finest, but my mind was haunted by the image of Elle lying lifeless on the ground.

“Eclipsar Ashen.”

Delta Lucien’s voice came with a soft knock at the door. I quickly got up from the edge of the bed as he opened the door with that ever-present smile on his face.

He stepped in, carrying something folded neatly across his arm—midnight black fabric with a faint silver shimmer tracing its edges.

Without a word, Delta Lucien gently unfolded the garment, revealing a long robe that looked as if it were stitched from shadows and moonlight itself.

“This is the outfit you are to wear tonight, Eclipsar Ashen,” he said softly. “Made specifically under Alpha Grayson’s orders.”

I stepped closer, letting my fingers brush the velvet-like material, light and smooth like mist. The outer fabric was pitch black, like a sky void of stars, while the inner lining was pale silver, cold and luxurious to the touch.

Its design was unique—the shoulders exposed just slightly, creating a soft yet elegant silhouette. The hems were embroidered with crescent moons and faint stardust patterns, visible only when the light caught them just right.

On the left side of the chest was a tiny, familiar emblem—the Graveshade Pack insignia, delicately stitched in golden thread, visible only to a discerning eye.

A silver chain belt wrapped around the waist, holding a small charm shaped like a fading eclipse.

“Alpha wants every eye on you tonight,” Lucien added, bowing his head slightly. “And this outfit will ensure that no one forgets who you represent now.”

“Who I represent?”

“Yes, you represent the Graveshade Pack—and Alpha Grayson himself. You are the eclipsar, and all the pack leaders here tonight will recognize and honor that. Not to mention, several gifts have already been arranged to be presented after the dinner,” Delta Lucien replied.

“If I may ask... will all the pack leaders in the region be present? Or just those from the West and surrounding territories?”

I asked cautiously, fearful I might see Alpha Lior. No matter what, the trauma he left still lingered. Especially after the humiliation he suffered at the hands of Grayson’s men.

“Only those with alliances to the Graveshade Pack, Eclipsar Ashen. The pack’s history will be formally introduced by Elder Hamish later. Your itinerary is being arranged—I’ll deliver it once it’s finalized.”

“My... itinerary?”

“Indeed. I understand all this must feel overwhelming, but you must know this: you are the second most important person in this pack now. Every moment of yours will be prepared and accounted for by Alpha Grayson.”

I could only nod quietly. For the first time in my life, I felt like someone who truly mattered.

“Dinner will begin in under twenty minutes, Eclipsar Ashen. Call for me once you're dressed,” Delta Lucien said, stepping out gracefully, leaving me alone with the robe lying at the edge of the bed.

I stared at the robe for a long time. It hung there like a living thing, waiting to become one with me.

Slowly, I reached for it again—its black fabric felt like cool fog wrapping around my fingers.

I put it on carefully. It felt… strange. But also extraordinary.

For a moment, I didn’t recognize myself.

My eyes looked sharper, colder. As if this robe didn’t just change my appearance—it reshaped the very aura around me.

Then came another knock. “Are you ready, Eclipsar Ashen?” Delta Lucien’s voice called through the door.

I opened it, and saw the satisfied glint in his eyes. “Magnificent,” he murmured. “Alpha Grayson will be very pleased.”

We descended the stairs together. Guards stationed along the hallway bowed as we passed.

Soft classical music echoed from the main hall. The tall double doors opened slowly as we approached—and the nervousness I felt earlier faded into the brilliance that awaited.

The grand hall shimmered with warm light cast from towering crystal chandeliers. Pack leaders stood in ceremonial attire, their presence so commanding it felt like magic.

But every eye turned to me as I stepped inside.

And at the center stood Alpha Grayson.

His gaze locked onto me, and for a second, time stopped.

Then he smiled—not an ordinary smile. A smile filled with possession. With pride.

“My Eclipsar has arrived,” he declared aloud.

He walked toward me and confidently hooked his arm into mine.

“Look at him,” he said to the crowd. “Look who now stands at the center of Graveshade’s world. None of you will ever forget him.”

Applause filled the room. Some faces smiled genuinely. Others, reluctant. But no one dared speak against him.

“I’ve never seen anyone look this breathtaking in Graveshade robes,” he whispered, his hand brushing my waist.

“Thank you, Alpha Grayson. The robe you chose… it fits perfectly.”

“You know,” he leaned close, murmuring against my ear, “I can’t wait for this event to end… so I can devour you until you can’t even stand.”

My heart nearly stopped. My chest tightened. Every time he spoke with that kind of hunger, I felt like I was going to faint.

He raised a brow, eyes piercing right through me. That look of his made my pulse skip.

But before he could say more, an elder dressed in dark feathered robes approached, interrupting us.

“Alpha Grayson, the Northern Fang delegation is waiting.”

Grayson’s face tensed briefly before he turned back to me.

“Don’t stray from me,” he whispered, reluctantly releasing my arm. “I must speak with them briefly. Stay here—I’ll return.”

I tried to remain composed, scanning the crowd as people mingled around me.

I looked for Delta Lucien, but he was nowhere to be seen. And that’s when I realized—I was alone.

“Your outfit is beautiful. But tell me, Eclipsar Ashen… do you know what beautiful things are made for?”

I turned. A man was standing beside me.

He was almost the same height as Grayson, with sharply cut silver hair and cold blue eyes that pierced straight through.

“I know who you are,” he said. “And I know what’s coming for you. He treats everyone this way in the beginning. All charm. All wonder. Then… he starts taking. Little by little, until there's nothing left of the person standing beside him.”

“I’m sorry, but I think you—”

“I’m one of his former partners,” he cut in smoothly. “Not the only one, of course. But I stayed long enough to know one thing…”

He leaned in, voice dropping to a biting whisper. “Run… before you become the next tragic story. Before you lose yourself, just like Elle—whose blood still stains the grass outside.”