Chapter 30

Hannah’s POV

Silence lingered in the room after Kael’s words.

“We want to make things right.”

I didn’t respond immediately.

Didn’t nod.

Didn’t speak.

I just stared at him.

Trying to understand what he meant.

Trying to figure out if this was another trick.

Another game.

Another way to control me.

Because trust didn’t come easily anymore.

Not after everything.

“And how exactly do you plan to do that?” I asked carefully.

My voice came out steadier than I expected.

But inside

My heart was beating too fast.

Kael leaned back slightly in his chair, his posture relaxed but his expression still serious.

“We start with respect.”

Riven scoffed quietly behind him.

“Which we clearly didn’t show before.”

Lucien remained silent.

Watching me.

Always watching me.

Like he was trying to read every thought running through my head.

Respect.

The word sounded strange coming from them.

Almost unfamiliar.

“And what does respect look like to you?” I asked.

Kael didn’t hesitate.

“It looks like treating you as a guest in this palace.”

Not property.

Not possession.

Not entertainment.

A strange feeling moved slowly through my chest.

Warm.

Unfamiliar.

Unsteady.

Before I could respond

Riven spoke.

“We have an event to attend.”

I frowned slightly.

“What kind of event?”

Kael exchanged a brief glance with Lucien before answering.

“A royal ball.”

That made my brows lift slightly.

“A ball?”

Lucien stepped forward then.

His voice calm.

Measured.

“It is held once every year.”

“All noble houses attend.”

“All allied packs attend.”

I swallowed slowly.

That sounded… important.

Too important.

“And what does that have to do with me?” I asked carefully.

Silence followed.

Brief.

Heavy.

Meaningful.

Then Kael said the words that made my stomach twist.

“You’re coming with us.”

For a moment

I thought I misheard him.

“I’m… what?”

“You’re attending the ball,” Riven repeated bluntly.

A nervous laugh slipped from my lips before I could stop it.

“You must be joking.”

No one laughed.

That made my chest tighten.

“I don’t belong at some royal ball,” I said quickly.

“I don’t know how to behave in places like that.”

“I don’t even know what people wear.”

Kael leaned forward slightly.

“You belong where we take you.”

That statement alone made heat rise to my face.

Not anger.

Not embarrassment.

Something… different.

“No,” I said firmly.

Riven groaned softly.

“Here we go again.”

Lucien shot him a quiet warning look.

Kael’s gaze remained fixed on mine.

“Why not?”

I exhaled slowly.

Because there were too many reasons.

Too many fears.

Too many unknowns.

“Because people will stare,” I said honestly.

“They’ll talk.”

“They’ll judge.”

Riven shrugged.

“They already do.”

That didn’t help.

Not at all.

“I’m serious,” I said quietly.

“I don’t fit into your world.”

Kael’s expression softened slightly.

Just slightly.

“You don’t have to fit,” he replied.

“You only have to stand beside us.”

Something about that sentence made my chest tighten unexpectedly.

Lucien moved then.

Walking toward a nearby table.

Silent.

Focused.

Only when he turned back did I notice the black bag in his hand.

I frowned slightly.

“What’s that?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he walked toward me.

Slow.

Controlled.

Deliberate.

Then he stopped in front of me.

Holding the bag out carefully.

“For you.”

I stared at it.

Confused.

Suspicious.

Curious.

“What is it?” I asked.

His gaze met mine.

Calm.

Unreadable.

“A dress.”

My breath caught.

“What?”

Riven smirked slightly.

“You didn’t think we’d take you dressed like this, did you?”

I shot him an annoyed look.

But my attention returned quickly to Lucien.

“A dress?” I repeated softly.

He nodded once.

“For the ball.”

My fingers hesitated before reaching out.

Slowly.

Carefully.

The fabric inside felt soft.

Smooth.

Expensive.

Unlike anything I had ever touched before.

My heart began beating faster.

“You already prepared this?” I asked quietly.

Kael answered this time.

“Yes.”

That made something inside me shift again.

Unexpectedly.

They planned this.

Before speaking to me.

Before apologizing.

Before inviting me.

Which meant

They truly intended to take me.

No matter what.

I slowly pulled the fabric free from the bag.

And the moment I saw it—

My breath caught completely.

It was beautiful.

More beautiful than anything I had ever seen before.

Deep.

Elegant.

Powerful.

Not something meant for a servant.

Not something meant for a guest.

Something meant for someone important.

My fingers trembled slightly as I held it.

“This is…” I whispered.

“I can’t wear this.”

Lucien tilted his head slightly.

“Why?”

“Because it’s too much,” I admitted softly.

“Too expensive.”

“Too… noticeable.”

Kael stood slowly.

Walking toward me.

“You’re meant to be noticed.”

That sentence sent a strange chill down my spine.

Because deep down

I knew something important was happening.

Something bigger than I understood.

And somehow…

This ball felt like the beginning of it.