Chapter 4

My eyes widened and my heart raced.

What in the world was he doing?

"Who is that?" I heard voices in the crowd mutter.

"The Queen Luna's bodyguard." Someone responded.

My eyes were fixed on Carlo.

He thought he was so clever. Didn't he understand none of thess people would respect me if they thought I was weak? If they thought I couldn't even control my own bodyguard.

Harper. Everyone is watching. Elle told me.

I stiffened trying to maintain composure and control. I then dropped my royal fur and stepped up to Carlo.

I placed a finger underneath his chin and tilted it up to look at me.

"Okay, then. Since you so gallantly won the first challenge. You get to fight me." I spoke.

Carlo looked surprised.

I dropped my hand and lifted my chin not shaking my resolve.

We had spent years in the training room sparring since we were kids. Carlo knew what I could do.

That's not what shook him. It's the fact that I was being so cold. Treating him like I would treat anyone else in here.

This wasn't my fault. He had forced my hand. I had told him this wasn't personal and his own emotions made him defy me. Now we would both have to face the consequences in public.

But it's Carlo. Elle protested, her wolf not wanting to go against his.

I knew that. He was my best friend. His arms had held me through more than most knew. I didn't want to fight him either.

The air was thick with tension and anticipation as they probably wondered what would happen. If Carlo would willingly go against me in combat.

And most importantly, if I would win. Prove to them I wasn't a weak Queen Luna.

To my surprise, Carlo only bowed again.

"No."

His words of defiance echoed through the hall and a number of people gasped.

I clenched my jaw.

What was he doing? Disobeying one of my commands in public.

Did he want me to make an example of him as well?

Did he want me to exile my own best friend just to prove I wasn't weak.

Don't be stupid. I spoke in my head.

Carlo simply kept his head low. "Not because I choose to defy you, your highness but because if you grant me the honour of fighting for your hand. If I were to win, I'd spend my entire life in servitude protecting you, defending you." He looked up and his eyes caught mine. "I'd never fight you, Queen Luna Harper."

My voice caught in my throat. His open and unapologetic confession in front of everyone moved me.

"Harper." Uncle Jackson appeared beside me, whispering in my ear. "Everyone is watching. What will it be?"

I tore my eyes away from Carlo.

“If you believe you are worthy,” I spoke, my voice carrying across the ballroom, “then you may join the challenge for my hand.”

Relief broke across his features and I saw his confidence return. A wide smile spread and I knew he had no doubt that I would be biased. That he had already won.

“I won’t let you down, my queen luna,” he spoke for everyone to hear.

He then took my hand and pressed his lips to my knuckles. The kiss lasted a few seconds longer than it should have. Possessive.

He stood up straight and smiled at me.

“In that case, if I may... may I claim the honor of your first dance?"

Before I could answer, another voice cut in.

“Actually.”

I turned to see Ryle Holland of the Pine pack step forward.

His tall muscular body moved like he owned the place, his long blonde hair catching the rooms light and eyes so blue you could swim in them.

Ryle, the heir of his pack had been raised to believe everything he wanted, he was entitled to it. And he damn sure had always acted like it.

From the look on his face, nothing had changed.

He held out a single red rose between two fingers offering it to me.

“I ask for your first dance.” His smile was dazzling. Practiced. It had disarmed a hundred women before me.

I should have said no. Just to see his ego crushed and savour in the look on his face.

But Carlo had disobeyed me tonight. I needed to teach him a lesson.

And I had a point to make.

So I smiled. Slow.

“Of course.”

I slid my hand into Ryle's. His palm was warm, and his grip was sure as he led me to the center of the ballroom.

Behind us, I heard Carlo huff in rage.

Good.

I was aware of every eye in the ballroom on us.

A hundred whispers.

I knew Ryle was aware too. I wouldn’t be surprised if this had been his plan all along to make a spectacle of the first dance. To let every kingdom see us together, dancing like we were a match made in heaven.

Ryle had been playing this game of politics as long as I had. He understood optics better than most alphas understood war.

“Have I mentioned how ravishing you look tonight?” he asked, one hand at the small of my back, guiding me through the turn as his cool breath hit the side of my face.

“No,” I said, meeting his eyes. My voice didn’t waver.

That earned a quiet laugh from him.

“You know, when word reached me that you’d called for suitors, I was shocked.” His thumb brushed once over my knuckles. “The Harper I know would rather shave her head."

“Things change,” I replied smoothly. “I need someone I can depend on to rule the factions.”

“You already have your man,” he spoke smoothly.

No stutter. Well then again, Ryle had never been one to mince his words.

I tilted my head. “Is there a lady in the factions whom you haven’t slept with, Ryle?”

He didn’t flinch. If anything, his smile got sharper.

“No.”

He pulled me a fraction closer.

“But you know that doesn't matter, Harper. We’d be a match made in heaven. Call off the challenge. Name me your king. Why waste time pretending, when we both know how this ends anyway?”

He is kinda cute. Elle spoke.

Cute can also be dangerous. I reminded her.

The song came to a stop and I stood back from Ryle.

I gave gim a curtsey. "Nice try, Ryle. But you're going to have to play this game just like everyone else."

He dipped his head slightly looking at me through his long lashes. "Okay, my queen. Byt just a quick warning. I don't play fair."

I scoffed out a laugh in amusement. "Wasn't counting on it."

Uh oh. Carlo looks like he's going to explode. Elle warned. I turned and saw Carlo surely looking at us like he wanted to rip Ryle's head off right now.

I looked away. I couldn't focus on Carlo's emotions right now. A little jealousy wouldn't hurt him.

Besides, he was kind of hot when he was angry.

The moment Ryle walked away, the floodgates opened.

Suitor after suitor stepped forward to ambush me and fight for my attention, each one with a practiced smile and a rehearsed line.

I smiled back at all of them. I listened. I asked questions.

And while I did, I catalogued everything. The twitch in their jaw. The way their eyes darted. The lies they told when they thought I wouldn’t notice.

By the third hour, my jaw ached from smiling. My feet ached from standing.

I could see Carlo in the corner of my eye trying to get my attention from time to time but I refused to give it to him. I would not reward his insolence.

Even though I'd rather be cooped up with him in my room than have all these men pitch themselves to me like politicians.

Then the doors to the ballroom suddenly swung open.

The air in the room changed abd I heard people muttering amongst themselves.

What now?

“Harper,” Uncle Jackson was at my side instantly. There was a protective edge to his voice. “We have an unexpected guest.”

“Who?” I asked quietly.

Before he could answer, Carlo was there too. Eyes sharp and jaw tight.

His expression told me something wasn't right immediately.

The crowd started parting for someone.

And then I saw him.

A young man in a black tuxedo, tailored like it had been made last minute.

I would know that skin anywhere. Those sharp cheekbones. Those brown eyes, bored and assessing. Broad shoulders. And that one stark white streak in his black hair, right at the temple.

My mouth went dry.

No.

Not him.

Beside him stood an older woman. Same cheekbones. Same eyes. And the same smug, victorious smile I remembered from childhood nightmares.

“Don’t.” Uncle Jackson warned me under his breath. “Don’t lose your temper, Harper.”

Too late.

My hands fisted at my sides and I stepped forward.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded. My eyes were fixed on him and its like the air had bern punched right out of me. He couldn't still have this effect.

It wasn’t him who answered.

It was her.

The woman lifted her chin, looking down her nose at the entire room.

“We are more highborn than anyone in this room put together,” she spoke sweetly. “We're simply here to do what everyone else is doing. My son is here to fight for your hand.”

I didn’t look at her.

I was staring at him.

He really wasn't going to say anything?

Nothing at all.

Forget tge bad blood my family already had with the Black Moon pack.

Daniel Thorpe knew he sure as hell couldn't compete to marry me.

Why? You may ask.

Well. Because he was my ex.