Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

IVY’S POV

I watched my father walk back to his table in defeat, his shoulders tense with anger. From where I sat, I could see my family clearly.

Our table was set high above the rest of the room on an elevated podium, decorated with crisp white linen and shining silver cutlery. Two royal guards in sharp black suits stood at attention right beside our table, their earpieces catching the golden light of the chandeliers as their eyes scanned the crowd.

As my father sat down, my eyes locked directly with Elena’s.

She stared back at me, her face pale and her dark eyes burning with pure, bitter rage. I could see that she still hated me with every breath she drew.

I tried to dig back into my past, searching for a specific memory of why she hated me so much, but my mind was completely blank. Yet, one thing was certain…a deep hatred burned inside my own chest toward her and my father. I could not remember every detail of what they had done to me, but the emotional scars were deeply carved into my heart.

Scanning their table, I noticed that Eric was nowhere to be found. I wondered briefly where he had gone, but the thought quickly faded. I truly did not care about him anymore.

As I watched Elena seethe with jealousy, watching me sit under the golden lights, I reached across the table and grabbed Leo’s large, warm hand.

He turned to me in slight surprise. A soft, tender look crossed his handsome face as he lifted my hand to his lips, dropping a warm, gentle kiss against my knuckles.

A pleasant shiver ran down my spine, and my heart swelled with pure happiness.

I knew hundreds of eyes were watching us, but with Leo holding my hand and looking at me as if I were the most precious thing in the world, I did not care anymore. I did not care about the whispering nobles, and I certainly did not care about my family. My entire world was focused on this man…the angel who had rescued me from death.

I felt my eyes brim with hot tears, but I blinked fast, trying to hold them back.

Leo’s expression shifted to instant worry, his eyebrows pulling together. "What is wrong, my love? Are you uncomfortable?"

I shook my head, letting out a soft, emotional chuckle. "No... I am just so glad I met you that night. I used to think that was the absolute worst day of my life, but it was not. It was the single best day of my life."

Leo looked stunned by my sudden confession. He blinked, his jaw loosening, and to my delight, a light red blush crept up his neck and onto his sharp cheeks as he felt embarrassed.

"You are such a tease," he said playfully, trying to hide his shy smile behind his glass.

I laughed out loud, a clear, sweet sound that made a few people at the nearest table turn their heads in confusion.

"Come on," Leo teased back, clearing his throat and trying to look serious. "Let us be responsible adults and pay attention to the performance, Your Highness."

"Okay, Your Highness," I giggled, settling back into my seat.

I turned my attention toward the center of the grand ballroom, where a troupe of royal ballet dancers had taken the floor. The women wore breathtaking, snow-white tutus made of light, sparkling tulle that flared gently around their hips, their bodices embroidered with fine silver thread that caught every beam of light. The men wore tailored white tights and silver jackets.

They moved with impossible grace across the shiny marble floor, spinning and leaping through the air like floating feathers. Their feet moved in perfect harmony with the soft, dramatic violin music playing from the orchestra balcony, their long arms stretching toward the high ceilings before falling into smooth, elegant poses.

Looking past the stage, I took in the true grandeur of the hall. It was a massive, ocean of wealth and power. High-ranking Alpha lords wore heavy suits decorated with gold pack pins, while noble ladies drifted around in vibrant silk dresses, their diamond necklaces shimmering under the light. Every person moved with a rigid, calculated pride, bowing respectfully to higher ranks while whispering behind painted fans and crystal glasses.

So this is what it feels like to be among the high class, I thought softly.

From the small fragments I could remember, even though my father was a pack Alpha, I had never been allowed to attend grand occasions like this. Only Elena was allowed to attend royal parties and events. I knew deep down it was because my father was ashamed of me.

As the hours passed and the classical music played on, the heavy emotional toll of the night began to catch up with me. My eyelids grew heavy, and a small yawn escaped my lips. I leaned my head sideways, resting it lightly against Leo’s broad shoulder.

"Should we go?" he whispered, his warm hand wrapping gently over my shoulder.

I nodded, closing my eyes against the bright lights.

Leo immediately signaled to the security guards to have the car brought around, then beckoned to Beta Sam, giving him a quiet nod that we were leaving. After a few brief minutes, Leo leaned down and brushed his lips against my hair.

"Come on, my love. Let us go home."

I opened my heavy eyes and stood up beside him. Leo took my hand firmly in his, guiding my steps as he led me toward a private back exit away from the main crowd.

The moment the heavy double doors opened to the outside air, we were met with a wall of noise. A sea of news photographers and reporters surged against the security barricades, camera flashes blinding us like a hundred lightning strikes as reporters shouted questions into the night air.

Luckily, the royal security was tight. The guards formed a thick, solid wall of black suits around us, completely blocking the media from getting anywhere near us.

Leo guided me safely into the back seat of the SUV, sliding in right beside me. The heavy car door clicked shut, sealing out the chaotic noise of the cameras, and the smooth engine hummed to life as we drove off into the peaceful night.