The Binding Feast

Flora stood in front of the mirror, checking herself.

The dress clung to her like it had been made just for her. It was soft and elegant, the fabric falling just right over her frame. 

Mrs. Bennett had insisted on it. She said it would make the right impression. 

Well… who was she to argue that? 

Flora smoothed her hands down the sides of the gown, though there was nothing to fix. 

Her reflection stared back at her…. 

She looked calm, too calm for the storm bubbling up within her. 

Her eyes flicked to the phone resting on the dresser.

It had been a week of silence. And how much she so craved that silence… 

But that was too good to be true. 

Last night, a text finally came…

‘See you at the feast..’

This mystery sender was going to be there. 

She hoped not.. 

Just then, a sharp knock sounded on her door. 

It opened without even waiting for a response.

“Turn around.”

Flora stiffened slightly as Mrs. Bennett stepped inside, already scanning her from head to toe.

Flora obeyed, slowly turning.

Her mother circled her once, adjusting the strap on her shoulder, then slowly smoothing it. 

“Hm,” she hummed, thoughtful. “Acceptable.”

Flora resisted the urge to sigh.

“Is this acceptable?” she asked lightly.

Mrs. Bennett gave her a look. “Tonight is not ‘acceptable.’ It is for precision and elegance.”

She stepped back, folding her arms as she studied her again.

“Stand straight with your shoulders back. You’re presenting yourself to the pack, Flora. People will be watching and they will be judging.”

Flora’s throat tightened slightly.

They already are.

“I know,” she said quietly.

Mrs. Bennett nodded slowly. “Good. Then act like it.”

She turned toward the door, pausing briefly.

“And Flora…”

Flora looked up.

“This night matters. Don’t forget that.”

The door closed behind her.

Flora let out a slow breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Her gaze drifted back to the mirror and to her reflection. 

Then, without another glance at her phone, she turned and left the room. 

The hall was already alive by the time Flora arrived.

Warm golden lights spilled across the floors. 

Soft music filled the air, entangled with conversations and laughter.

 Groups of pack members stood scattered across the space… talking, smiling and observing.

It was beautiful and at the same time so suffocating.

Flora stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the floor.

Immediately, she felt it.

The shift in the room.

All heads turned towards her, their gazes lingering. 

Some eyes admiring and others judging. 

She took a slow breath, then straightened her posture. 

 Then she stepped forward with slow and careful steps. 

Act normal.

Just act normal.

Her gaze swept the room without seeming to.

Faces. So many faces.

Some are familiar and others not. 

“Flora.”

Ryan’s voice cut through the noise, his tone sharp. 

She turned just as he approached, a smile already in place.

“Hey,” he said, stopping in front of her.

His eyes moved over her, slowly, a small smile forming. 

Flora forced herself to hold still.

“You look…” He exhaled softly. “You look beautiful tonight.”

Her lips curved into a practiced smile. “Thank you.”

Ryan stepped closer, closing the space between them like it belonged to him.

His hand brushed lightly against her arm.

“Really,” he added, his voice dropping slightly. “That dress…”

His gaze lingered.

“It suits you.”

Flora’s chest tightened… but she didn’t let it show.

“Thanks,” she said again, softer this time.

He smiled, satisfied, like everything was exactly how it should be.

Like nothing was wrong.

Like nothing had ever been wrong.

“Okay, wow—rude.”

Lily’s voice broke through the moment as she appeared beside them, hands on her hips.

“You just ignored me completely.”

Flora turned, relief flickering through her before she could stop it.

“Lily,” she said, a real smile slipping through. “You look amazing.”

Lily grinned. “I know.”

Ryan chuckled lightly, stepping back just enough to give them space.

“Don’t encourage her,” he said.

“Too late,” Lily shot back.

She looped her arm through Flora’s, pulling her slightly away.

“Come on, I need your opinion on something before I change my mind again.”

Flora let herself be led, grateful for the distraction.

For a few minutes—

It almost felt normal.

They talked and laughed once more.

No one made her forgot all her woes quite like Lily did… 

Flora even found herself smiling, really smiling, at one of Lily’s dramatic complaints about the event setup.

“You’re impossible,” Flora said, shaking her head.

“And you love me for it,” Lily replied easily.

Flora hesitated… just for a second.

Then nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

Lily’s expression softened slightly, her eyes searching Flora’s face.

“You okay?” she asked.

The question landed heavier than it should have.

Flora forced a light shrug. “Yeah. Just… nervous.”

Lily studied her for a moment longer.

Then smiled again. “You’ll be fine.”

Flora nodded and then she let her gaze drift through the room. 

And then—

It stopped.

Marcus stood near the far end of the hall. 

Even from a distance, his presence cut through everything.

He wasn’t speaking to anyone or even moving.

He was just observing.

Flora’s breath caught slightly as their eyes met.

For a brief moment—

Everything else faded.

The noise. The people, even the distance between them.

Just that look was enough. 

Flora looked away first, her heart beat a little faster.

Don’t.

Don’t go there.

Gradually the time passed by, the halls filling up even more. 

Flora’s worry didn't go, if anything… 

It grew.

The anonymous sender… 

See you at the feast

Was he here right now? Was it just a tease? 

She found herself glancing over her shoulder more often.

“Flora.”

She heard Ryan’s voice again.

She turned back to him as he stepped closer.

“You disappeared,” he said lightly.

“I’m right here,” she replied.

He smiled, softer this time.

Leaning in just enough.

“You look beautiful tonight,” he said again, like he needed her to hear it twice.

Flora wondered for a second if he really meant it… 

Maybe a few weeks back she would have fallen for that. But not anymore.

She sees him for what he really is… 

He's just with her for the fame and the reputation.

Just then, her phone vibrated.

Her body went still.

Ryan was still talking, but his words soon blurred in her mind. 

Her attention had already shifted.

She reached for her phone slowly and turned it on. 

Unknown number.

Her pulse spiked.

She opened the message.

“You look beautiful tonight.. .”

Flora’s breath caught immediately. 

Her heart slammed against her ribs.

Then another message came through.

“That dress… it suits you.”

No.

No, no—

That’s exactly what Ryan had just said.

A cold wave slid down her spine.

Another message then came through. 

“Feel that?”

Her breathing swallowed.

“The eyes on you…”

Flora didn’t move, maybe more of her couldn't. 

Then one more message popped in. 

“Wanna see me?. Turn around.”

Flora’s entire body went rigid, every muscle locking in place.

Behind her—

She felt it.

The weight of a gaze, burning into her back.

Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure someone else could hear it.

Slowly…

Very slowly…

She began to turn.