003

Zara POV

I leaned against the cold stone wall, my breath coming fast. The sounds of the celebration inside the grand hall felt distant, muffled. My fingers trembled slightly as I clenched them into fists. I had failed.

I had one job, to make the Alpha King notice me, but he had dismissed me like I was nothing.

Bradlyn’s warning rang in my head. You have until the end of this night to make him notice you.

The weight of my family’s lives crushed me. I had to do something. I couldn’t let this be the end. I straightened my dress, took a deep breath, and forced my legs to move. The ceremony was still in full swing. I had to try again. As I stepped back into the hall, I scanned the room, searching for him, Cade hadn’t left, He stood near the high table, speaking to another Alpha. His posture was relaxed, yet every inch of him radiated power.

I couldn’t just walk up to him again. That would be reckless, I needed another way.

My eyes landed on a group of she-wolves standing near the center of the hall. They were all high-ranked, their beauty effortless, their dresses shimmering under the golden light. They laughed and whispered among themselves, stealing glances at Cade of course.

Every unmated she-wolf in this room wanted his attention and he had ignored them all, Just like he had ignored me.

But there was something different about him tonight. He was here, but he wasn’t really here, his body stood among the guests, but his mind was elsewhere.

That meant one thing, Cade didn’t want to be here.

If he was forced to attend this ceremony, then the last thing he would be interested in was meaningless flirtation.

I had approached him the wrong way!

He wasn’t a man who could be seduced with a soft voice or a shy smile. He wasn’t interested in mindless conversations or empty praise and If I wanted him to notice me, I had to do something no one else in this room would dare to do.

I took another deep breath, gathering every ounce of courage I had left, and walked toward him.

This time, I didn’t hesitate, I didn’t act nervous, I didn’t lower my eyes.

Instead, I stopped a few feet away, just within his peripheral vision. And then, I turned my back to him and ignored him.

The movement was small, but it was enough, the shift in the air was immediate, the other Alphas were still talking, their voices low and serious. Cade remained silent.

And then, slowly, too slowly, he turned his head, he was watching me.

I could feel it, the weight of his unseen gaze pressing against my back like a physical touch. A spark of hope ignited in my chest, but I forced myself to remain calm, I had his attention and now, I had to keep it.

I reached for a nearby tray and picked up a glass of wine, bringing it to my lips without glancing in his direction. Every movement was deliberate, every breath controlled. For the first time tonight, I wasn’t trying to make him notice me.

And that was exactly why he was noticing me now.

The other Alphas continued their conversation, but Cade’s silence stretched longer. His presence was like a force, unmoving, waiting.

Then, "Everyone leaves." The words were calm, quiet but the effect was immediate. The Alphas fell silent,then one by one, they turned and walked away.

I swallowed hard, keeping my face composed even as my heart slammed against my ribs and then, the space beside me shifted.

He had moved.

I braced myself as his deep, smooth voice finally broke the silence. "You’re trying too hard."

A shiver ran down my spine.

I turned my head slightly, meeting the sliver of his face visible beneath the mask.

"Am I?" I asked, my voice steady. His gaze was unreadable, his mask revealing nothing. But his presence was overwhelming, his power pressing down on me like a storm ready to break.

"Yes." His voice was calm, detached. "You want something from me." My fingers tightened around the stem of the glass.

"You’re right," I admitted, exhaling softly. "I do." There was no point in denying it. A man like him would see through the lie in an instant.

Cade tilted his head slightly, as if assessing me. "Then say it."

I hesitated for a while. If I asked too soon, if I pushed too hard, I would lose the tiny sliver of interest I had managed to gain.

So instead, I let a small, knowing smile touch my lips. "Not yet," I murmured, taking a sip of the wine.

His gaze darkened. "Careful."

A warning. My pulse quickened, but I forced myself to hold my ground. "Do you always threaten people who don’t give you what you want Alpha King?" I asked.

A long silence.

And then, he smirked loudly, the sound was quiet, but it sent a strange shiver through me. It wasn’t amusement. It wasn’t warmth. It was something else entirely. Something dangerous.

"Interesting," he murmured and I swallowed, my grip tightening on the glass.

He took a step closer.

The scent suppressants were still working, but even without my wolf, I could feel him. His power. His presence.

"You’re not like the others," he said quietly. "You don’t look at me with fear."

I inhaled slowly. "Would you prefer it if I did?"

Another pause and then,  "No."

The air between us was thick, charged with something unspoken.

For the first time tonight, I felt like I wasn’t standing before a ghost, I was standing before a man, A dangerous, powerful man and I had his attention.

But the question was..Could I survive it?