4. Her Mate

She shifted her gaze to the right.

A young man approached through the crowd, his golden hair catching the light, his grey eyes fixed on her. Behind him, soft music played while couples danced slowly.

"You have suffered," the young man said as he examined Radella's cheek and her hand wrapped in fabric. "But it's good that you've returned to the pack."

Radella only stared.

He extended his arm and smiled. "Will you dance with me? Let this be our fresh start after what happened before you left."

"Nala, you're here?" A sharp voice cut through the crowd from her right. "Khalien too."

Radella shifted her attention from the man to the girl.

A pretty girl with long dark hair stood in a striking red dress. A strong floral scent followed her.

Khalien lowered his hand.

"Nala. You're still angry with me," Khalien said softly. "How should I make it up to you?"

"Let them know you're my mate!" Zaphyra spat inwardly.

Radella glanced again at Khalien and frowned. So that guy was Nalath's mate. She had no intention of pretending to be anyone's mate.

"Nala, Mother is calling for you," Lysha said to her.

Radella glanced at Khalien before walking past him, ignoring all of Zaphyra's tantrums.

Khalien watched her leave.

Crossing her arms over her chest, Lysha turned to Radella. "Let's be honest. No one would have asked you for a dance. He's doing you a huge favor. But you prayed hard? You? To Khalien?"

Radella let her eyes rest on Lysha longer than necessary.

Under Radella's steady gaze, Lysha shifted uneasily, her arms slowly falling to her sides.

"What?"

"I'll take that you've never refused his favors yourself," Radella said calmly.

Lysha's brows drew together. "What did you say? You... how dare you."

Lysha raised her hand to slap Radella.

But Lysha's hand was caught midair.

A murmur started through the surrounding crowd.

"Gamma's daughters?"

Lysha struggled to pull free, but the grip didn't budge.

Both Radella and Lysha turned their gazes toward the one who had stopped the blow.

A tall, broad-shouldered man with dark skin stood there, his expression stern.

"Let go of me, Eldric!"

Eldric released her with a slight push, and Lysha stumbled back a couple of steps.

So he was Eldric, Radella thought.

Eldric bowed slightly, placing a hand over his chest, and smiled. "Luna."

Radella raised a brow. What was that supposed to mean?

Whispers spread quickly through the hall.

"It's the Warrior Commander."

"He returned already?"

Then several girls exclaimed,

"Look, our Warrior Commander returned!"

"Do you think he'll dance with me?"

Lysha's composure cracked further. Her fists clenched as she barely restrained herself for the sake of the watching guests.

Radella studied the man.

At that moment, the music stopped, and the guests began taking their seats.

She silently took one.

Soon, everyone had taken their seats.

"Thank you all for joining me to celebrate my son's birthday. It truly is my pleasure to have your presence," said a broad man with long blond hair and a long blond beard. "As you all know, our pack still waits for its Alpha. Until then, I will continue carrying that responsibility."

The audience applauded while whispering among themselves.

"Eclipse Pack is lucky to have such a Beta."

"True. He should've been Alpha years ago."

Radella picked up a jar and poured liquor into a cup.

She had heard about it before. They could replace the other ranks, but only the Alpha had to be born or chosen by their gods.

"I can't handle liquor," Radella heard Zaphyra's voice.

She drank anyway, letting the sweet liquor burn down her throat.

"Tonight isn't only about the celebration of my son's birthday," Beta Ghilas continued. "It's also about our pack's alliances."

He turned toward Khalien.

"Speaking of alliances, my son Khalien..."

Khalien stood up, lines forming on his forehead before he joined his father.

"...will be married to the daughter of Alpha Silas of the Howls Pack, Miss Anais."

A beautiful girl with shoulder-length hair and a crown upon her head stepped forward while holding the hand of her father, a middle-aged man.

The hall erupted with applause and approval.

Radella scoffed inwardly.

Now she understood why Zaphyra had requested such a thing.

"You can ask me if you want to do something about it," Radella said to Zaphyra, not bothering to hide the mockery.

The applause still echoed through the hall when Zaphyra's cold voice cut through Radella's thoughts.

"Kill her."

Radella froze for a moment.

Then she raised her cup to her lips. "Okay."

"You couldn't kill an Omega."

Before long, it was time for the guests to present themselves and their gifts.

Each gift was announced before being presented to Khalien.

From the raised seats above, someone watched the proceedings.

"She dared to leave the pack," Ghilas said to Gamma Viola. "After she returned, you allowed her to attend a feast as if nothing had happened. Do you find that fair to others who were punished for similar acts?"

Viola smiled. "You forget something, Beta Ghilas. She isn't like the others."

Ghilas looked at the overly confident woman. "You sound very sure you can still keep her under control when she gains her power."

Viola fell silent.

Her expression remained unchanged, but her fingers tightened at her sides as she sat with her legs crossed.

Ghilas was right.

Nalath shouldn't have gained any strength yet, but she was already showing signs of defiance.

She had better check on her.

"Nalath Hunt, daughter of the former Alpha of Eclipse Pack."

The name was announced.

Conversations throughout the hall faded almost instantly.

Those who knew her turned their eyes toward her, and those who didn't soon followed. Alpha Hunt had once been one of the greatest Alphas. How could they not be curious about his daughter?

Radella's eyes widened slightly.

She hadn't expected to be on the list.

Could it be because of the gift?

Was this what the Gamma meant when she said she would show them the true owner?