CHAPTER SIXTEEN: PREPS AND SKETCHES

SAGE'S POV

I sat on the wide window seat in my room, my knees drawn up, flipping through an old paperback I had found on the shelf. I squinted my eyes trying to get the words in but it all looked blurred.

I had been reading the same paragraph three times and still had no idea what it said. Three days had passed since the breakfast fight with Dante, and we had already argued five more times.

The worst part; it was all for stupid and minor reasons. Each leaving me more drained than the last one.

"You guys fight like an old couple," Crystal's words echoed in my head and I groaned out flipping through the pages.

A loud tone echoed through my room, jolting me and I looked down to find an incoming call from Crystal.

“Where have you been?" Her voice echoed loudly, and I could tell she was running around the hall. Typical.

"My room, why?"

"Dante's designer just sent the sketches so I'll be there in a sec." She ended the call before I could give a reply and less than a minute later, she pushed the door open.

Her eyes were bright as she walked towards me, dressed in a short overall and a straw hat. I parted my lips about asking her where she got it but decided against it.

Her style had never been a predictable one. “Hey,” she said, dropping onto the seat across from me. “How are you? You look like you haven't seen a bed."

“I haven’t really,” I muttered, setting the book aside. “These fights with Dante are exhausting and I find myself thinking way too much about it."

My face heated at admission,but I pushed it away. "Well.....he's not worth the stress," Crystal muttered, her eyes glued to her phone. I watched her face light up as she typed back a reply to someone.

As if feeling my gaze she turned towards me. “The sketches are really pretty,” she said heading for her gallery.

"Look at them, they have really nice necklines," she muttered, handing me the phone. I leaned in to look. The dress was elegant, deep green with delicate beading along the bodice.

It looked expensive and perfect for a Luna. So proper it made my stomach twist. Seating felt like a slap.

All of this was really happening, I was going to stand in front of the entire pack while they judged whether I belonged here.

Just then a text came in and Crystal yanked the phone out of my hands with a red face.

“You’re texting a lot today,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “Who is it?” Crystal’s fingers paused on the screen. She shrugged, still smiling. “Nobody. Just a friend.”

I knew that smile. It was the same one she used when she didn’t want to talk about something. I almost pushed, but the words died in my throat.

I picked up my book when a dark thought crept in. “Is it Adrian? Did he reach out again?”

Her eyes widened for a split second, then she shook her head fast. “What? No."

The panic in her voice made me regret my question and I nodded. "No he hasn't reached out to me in months and even if he does, he'd be blocked immediately."

She said it firmly, but something in her voice felt off. I let it go without having the energy to dig deeper.

We sat together flipping through the rest of the sketches. Crystal pointed out details she liked, sounding really excited and all I could do was nod along. I nodded along, but every dress made me feel smaller.

They were all beautiful, all designed to make me look like I belonged at Dante’s side. I didn’t and with the rumors that had been circulating, they knew too.

A soft knock came at the door and one of the maids stepped in. “The designer and her assistants just arrived. They're waiting downstairs whenever you're ready."

Crystal stood up first. “Let’s get this over with.” I followed her down the hallway, the tray of snacks from earlier still sitting untouched on my nightstand.

My chest felt tight the closer we got. When we walked in, the designer; a tall woman with sharp cheekbones greeted us with a professional smile.

Two assistants hovered behind her with measuring tapes and small square fabrics.

“Miss Sage, it’s a pleasure,” the designer said. “We’re going to make you look absolutely radiant for the ball.”

I forced a small smile and stood where they told me to. Minutes passed and I had done nothing but get prided but pins for one reason or another.

At first, I tried to tell myself it wasn't on purpose but taking in their faces it began to look like a lie.

One of the assistants looked who mid-twenties had her lips in a tight line and I found her glaring at me when she thought I wasn't staring.

It was almost like she had an issue with me and when I got off the stand for Crystal, my ears caught her voice. "Why the hell does she smell like that? I heard she's an omega."

"And worst she's one without a wolf," she practically scoffed and it took everything in me not to cause a scene. Instead, I pressed my hands against my thighs, watching Crystal pick her outfit color.

The other one replied under her breath, “I heard she’s carrying the Alpha’s child. Tying down such a nice man."

Their words landed like small cuts and I felt my cheeks burn from embarrassment.

They were talking about me like I was some strange curiosity that had wandered into their pack.

Just when I thought I might crawl into a hole, they resume with me. Phoebe the one-wonder with a scornful wrapped a peach fabric around me.

I tried my best to act normal but that idea went out the window when someone knocked me down.

"What the hell is your problem?" My voice came out louder than expected and she gave me an innocent look.

“Sorry,” Her voice came out scared but I could see satisfaction in those blue eyes.

“It’s fine,” I muttered, even though it wasn’t.

Crystal stood off to the side, completely oblivious to what had just happened. Fingers are dancing on the screen of her phone.

Every few minutes she checked the screen, typed something quickly, then put it away again. I wanted to ask what was going on with her, but the words stuck in my throat.

Instead, I focused on breathing through the discomfort. The designer stepped back to look at the mock-up. “We’ll need to take it in here from here. Trust me it would be stunning when finished."

I nodded, but inside I felt stunned. Who was I, for the pack that was already whispering about me? For Dante, who had decided I would stand beside him whether I wanted to or not?

Speaking of the devil's door, it was pushed open and his scent invades the senses. I tried my best to act normal, staring at the pink favor but my eyes had other plans.

His eyes widened, and then slowly they gazed down taking in my body and the dress. His gaze darkened and I felt my stomach heat up.

“Alpha,” the designer said as she bowed her head.

Dante gave a small nod but his gaze stayed on me, like he was trying to read my mind. “How is it going?”

“Very well,” the designer replied. “She’s a perfect canvas.”

"I can see that," His eyes skimmed my body again and I stared at the floor silently praying it would open up and swallow me. What the hell was his problem?

Dante's footsteps echoed in the large room as he walked towards the board. "Make it shorter, above the knees."

His words took me by surprise and I turned to him. "Sir?" Lady Amanda stuttered only to bow in agreement.

"You're right I'll do that immediately."

Dante nodded, stopping in front of me. His eyes had an emotion I could recognize and he looked like he had something to say. Maybe even a lot more than I thought but he turned around.

"I have a meeting in the next hour so we'll talk later." His words echoed in my head as I watched him leave the room.