Chapter 2

Eso POV

I wasn't going to let anyone destroy my peace. For the past years, I have endured all the insults and mockery from them both, but now it's my time to stand up for myself and be that girl that I have always wanted to be.

I stood up and dragged my feet to the mirror. My fat self reflected sharply in the mirror. My huge tummy flapped, facing downwards.

"Eso." I shut my eyes, walking away from the mirror. "This isn't who you are; you're much better."

My mother's words came crashing into my mind. "You don't let people define who you are."

I gathered the last atom of audacity within me.

I opened up my wardrobe, no new dress, just some old pieces that I have grown used to.

I stood there as different thoughts raced through my mind. I hated the person they were turning me into. I hated who I had become over the years. I had tried to fit in, to be the perfect person.

I sucked in my lower lip; I shrugged my nose.

I had to deal with having no wolf at my age, and with my plus-size self. Having no wolf meant zero rank, and it was way worse than anything else.

I wasn't going to be picked by either the Alpha or anyone in that ballroom, so there wasn't any need to try being the best of myself. I stretched my hand into the wardrobe, pulling out a pink long dress.

The only dress that fit me perfectly; I had worn that same dress to all the events I could remember.

I pulled it out, walked to the mirror, and placed it on my body, imagining myself in the ballroom with it. A smile slowly spread across my face while my mind played hard tricks on me.

"Oh, Eso, snap out of your imagination." I laughed at myself.

I dropped the dress on my bed, sitting close to it like it would vanish anytime soon.

Different imaginations ran through my mind; each one made something within me flicker, and I loved it.

I fell flat on the bed, my eyes fixed on the ceiling. My imagination still hadn't gotten over me.

Before I could process more thoughts, both my eyes went shut.

I felt a cool breeze sweeping all over me. When my eyes opened, I was standing in a different place, nothing like my old cranky room.

The interior of the walls and the cool tile sheet felt unreal.

"Where am I?" I turned slowly, trying to register the new place in my mind. Nothing felt familiar here.

I sighted a dark figure from afar. I squinted for a better look but couldn't capture it fully. My feet dragged slowly. One step closer made it seem like the figure went deeper.

"Eso…"

That voice, I could remember it any day and anytime. I turned my gaze around.

"Mother…"

There was no one. Just myself in unfamiliar surroundings.

"Mother…" I called again, but this time with a more stern voice.

No one replied. The first voice I seemed to have heard just faded away.

I fell onto my knees; tears streamed down my eyes slowly. Every day I just have one same wish.

"Eso…"

I jolted out of my sleep. I was now present in real time. I turned my gaze towards the window, and it was almost dark.

I stood up, walked into the bathroom, and had the fastest bath ever.

I walked to the front of my old mirror. I pulled out my mom's old hairbrush. I slowly brushed down my hair, packing it up into a ponytail and letting out a little on both sides.

I picked up the little bit of makeup I had and applied it. I walked up to the mirror, trying to give myself a perfect fit into the dress. As soon as I finished with that, I let out a quick smile.

I opened my closet and pulled out one of my old pink heels, which matched perfectly with the dress.

I forced my legs into them. I felt a sharp sensation on my toes. They were definitely not my size anymore, but I had no options.

I stood up, looked at myself in the mirror for the last time, and walked out of the room like the queen I had always imagined myself as.

I made my way downstairs to the waiting room. I could hear my stepsister and stepmother's voices.

"The king would definitely pick you for his son, don't worry. She can never be like you; she's a fat buffalo." I walked past the door like the words didn't have effects on me.

Never did I know the Alpha king had a son, let alone one due to get a bride. This ticked all my boxes and now made it clear why we both were invited to his ball.

Leah's doors swung open; I tilted my head upward.

She looked good, if I must say so. She had always looked good. It wasn't something new.

She walked, clicking her heels against the floor. Behind her, her mother followed with a stern and hateful expression, but I didn't even care about that.

I adjusted my gaze and adjusted my dress while still standing.

"I told you, you wouldn't be attending the ball, Eso…"

Maria's voice pulled my attention back to her and her daughter.

"My father sent the letter for myself and Leah, so why would I be denied the opportunity?" I said with a calm and reserved tone.

"You're the fat one and everyone hates you. Isn't that clear enough for you to deal with?" Leah said with a piece of hate in her tone.

"I wasn't talking to you."

Leah let out a slight chuckle, or maybe a mocking sound.

"Who cares, fat buffalo." She turned her gaze back to her mother. "Mom, we are already late. Let's start moving."

Her mother smiled.

Leah took the first step to leave the room. I stood there, looking at both mother and daughter.

Maria took two steps close to me, her words barely above a whisper. "All 'cause of Keith."

Keith happened to be my father and her husband.

I followed them both into the car my father had prepared.

"Oh bitch, you are taking up too much space."

I didn't dare reply.

Nothing and no one was going to spoil my mood and happiness. This was a one-night ball, and I had promised myself to have the best time of my life.

The drive to the Nightridge pack took less than 30 minutes. The driver stopped in front of the ballroom. He slowly opened the door for us all to step out. For the first time in a while, I felt like a princess rather than a commoner.

I stepped out, inhaling the fresh air of freedom.

Different men and women from the other 12 tribes were present, carrying a cool aura around.

Maria moved immediately, holding her daughter up by the hand. I followed promptly with my painful heels.

"Invite, please," one of the standing men asked with a stern expression. Maria smiled, passing up a card.

We walked into the ballroom.

Two steps in, and it felt like they were staring into my soul. I tilted my head down for a second. Maybe it was because of my dress.

Maria walked closer to me. "In here I don't know you, and you also don't know me."

Her words were barely above a whisper. I nodded my head slightly.

She walked out, holding her daughter by the hand.

I stood at a spot. All my life I hadn't had the opportunity of attending any ball or wearing fancy dresses, but for Leah this was her everyday life. She was way more used to attending balls and being the perfect daughter while I stayed behind the scenes.

I felt a cold touch from behind, one that sent chills down my spine. Memory from my last dream came crashing, like the hand had awoken something within.

I slowly turned around, my eyes meeting that of a very handsome 6-foot man. I met his perfect green-looking eyes, attractive jawline, full lips, brown hair barely reaching the shoulders.

"Oh, sorry, thought you were someone," he said with a smile, a beautiful smile.

"Oh," I said calmly, while my gaze remained buried in his handsomeness.

He turned to leave. A few steps later, he turned around.

"I'm Kane, and you?"

He stretched out his hand for a handshake.

I waited for his eyes to drop, the way everyone's did. They never did. He held my gaze like there was nothing else in the room worth looking at.

"Eso Keith." I accepted his hand.

The moment our hands met, something within me shifted. I couldn't name the feeling. It felt bittersweet.

"Eso…" Leah's voice came from behind with a broad smile.

I let out a weak sigh. He stood there with his calm physique.

"Oh, Kane."

What? She knew him.

Her smile didn't fade or flinch. She pulled his hands away from mine, holding him tight like they had just recently gotten married to each other.

"We will talk much later, Eso," he said before she pulled him into the crowd.

"I hate you, Leah." I scoffed the words out.