Chapter Four

Silas stood frozen, his eyes raking over her with a hunger he couldn't mask, his breathing turning shallow as her dominant scent filled the room like a physical weight. He didn't look away; he couldn't.

"Mr. Greene Jones? The ordinary Alpha who works in one of the lower companies that belongs to Mr. Prime Minister, Arthur Sterling?"

"You know him?"

"Yes, he's been quite a ruse since he started dating the prime minister's daughter, Beatrice Sterling."

Oh, that was the girl she was replaced with? But why did the girl lie that she was the President's daughter? Perhaps Greene was so desperate for power that he had hallucinated the title, or Beatrice was so desperate for status that she had stolen a crown that didn't belong to her. Either way, the irony was delicious.

"Okay, but can you locate him?" She asked while Silas fought to keep his eyes away from her body as she walked across the room to fetch her neatly tucked robe.

"Yeah, he was invited to the party too. Beatrice Sterling insisted on bringing her 'new find' to the Vance homecoming gala. She wants to show him off to the elite."

"Invited?" She asked, her mouth releasing into a smirk. Looks like things just got more interesting. The man who had kicked her out of a "rickety house" hours ago was now a guest in her palace. He was coming here to worship at the altar of her father, probably hoping to shake the hand of the man whose daughter he had just discarded like trash.

"Do I have new clothes and good ones in my wardrobe?"

"I sent the maids to get you new ones, they will be here soon."

As if on cue, the heavy doors groaned open. A procession of six maids entered, their heads bowed so low their chins nearly touched their chests. They carried garment bags of opaque silk, they laid them down in the bed and her eyes ran through that dress. She remembered herself in dresses like these, she remembered herself adorned in jewelry that were specifically made for her. No one wore her kind of dress or clothes. They even had a brand made in her name, for clothes, shoes, perfumes, makeup, everything was in her name. 

It's almost like a trend when people dress in the president's daughter's name even when they haven't seen her, but they know her brand name, "Elara". Everything she did was a lifestyle but twelve year age gap seemed to rip it all away. She must've been so stupid to think running away was the best option. If only her father stopped her, locked her up instead of letting her walk free, he could have gotten to her and chosen not to. 

She slipped the robe over her shoulders, tying the silk cord with a sharp, decisive tug. She turned to the mirrors, watching the maids begin to lay out the options.

The maids swarmed around her, making up her face, changing her entire look, until she was a whole new person. Someone she'd craved to be twelve years ago was finally staring at her as she looked in the mirror. Where had she hidden all this beauty? Behind suffering, when she mopped floors and cleaned dirt like a slave, even omegas were never treated the way she was treated. Was she treated so badly because she claimed to be an omega simply to gain Greene's love? Well, did she gain that in the end?

She walked out of her room, the heavy doors thudding shut behind her. Silas was there, leaning against the far wall, but as she emerged, he straightened as if struck. His breath hitched, his eyes traveling from her sharp, short hair down to the lethal curve of her silhouette. 

"Lead me down the stairs," she said, stretching out her hand. Silas nodded, his throat bobbing as he took her hand in a firm, protective grip.

They walked down the stairs, and the atmospheric pressure in the ballroom shifted instantly. Every head turned. The hum of a thousand elite voices died down into a series of jagged whispers.

"Wow, truly, the heiress is back," she heard a woman breathe.

"Wow, she's so beautiful. How can she be so beautiful even after all these years?" 

"Is this how she looks? No one has seen her since she was a child. She's beautiful."

"Do you think Calvin will like this development?" a man muttered near the banister. "He’s been the heir apparent for twelve years. If she’s back to claim the prize after he did all the labor... the White House will be torn apart."

"I heard they were supposed to be mates," another whispered. "Why would she run from this?"

"Careful," a stern voice warned. "She’s a dominant Alpha. Her pheromones can shut yours down forever if she catches you gossiping."

At the bottom of the stairs, President Vance was waiting. He didn't waste time with sentiment. He tucked her arm into his, leading her straight into a circle of the most powerful men in the country.

"Arthur," the President said, nodding to the Prime Minister. "You remember my daughter, Elara."

Arthur Sterling leaned in, his eyes narrowed. "I remember a rebellious girl. I see a woman who looks like she’s been to war and won. Tell me, Elara, where does a Vance hide for twelve years?"

"In the places men like you are too afraid to look, Mr. Prime Minister," Elara replied, her voice smooth as glass. "How have you been your honor?" 

"She has your bite, Alexander," laughed a man with silver stars on his shoulders, General Ross. Calvin's father, "Have you seen Calvin yet? I think he's been looking for you since he heard you're back."

Calvin? She furrowed her brows as that name bit into her memory, her fated mate..the alternative her father offered if she didn't want to change her sex. 

"I haven't seen him" she said, letting a flicker of her pheromones flare. The General blinked, his bravado momentarily faltering.

"A dominant indeed," noted the Chief Justice, sipping his wine. "What are we to do when we have two strong alpha males in this environment? I mean one has to topple the order in my opinion"

So many references to Calvin again. And where the hell is he? It's been so long since she's seen him. The last time was when he helped her climb over the walls of her father's house twelve years ago.

Her father chuckled, a sound like grinding stones. "She’s had enough of you old wolves for one night. Go, Elara. Mingle, the party is made for you."

She drifted away, her eyes scanning the sea of faces looking for two people, she bumped into old faces, gave a smile, still searching, still... until she found them. Greene and Beatrice had just walked in, looking smug, until Greene saw her. He stormed over, his face twisting with a fury that looked pathetic in this room.

"What are you doing here, you lowly being!" he hissed. "Are you determined to follow me everywhere? We’re divorced! Where did you get this makeup? These clothes? You think it makes you less of a swine? A pig is a pig, even in silk."

"Do you know who you're speaking with?" she asked, feeling a dark amusement.

"And who am I speaking with?" Greene sneered, leaning in.

"I’m the President’s daughter," she said clearly like she'd been waiting twelve years to finally let him know that. 

Greene’s laughter rang through the room, attracting every eye. "You're the President's daughter? What an irony! If you're the President's daughter, then I'm nothing but the god of birth!"

" What did you just say?" Came Silas' voice from behind me as he approached.