The Ball party

I watched as Mika rummaged through my closet, tossing clothes left and right like she was on a mission. Meanwhile, I was still in my pyjamas, ready to call it a night, when she suddenly barged into my room, eyes wide with urgency.

“The ball party is tonight! Get up, we need to get you ready!” she announced like it was breaking news.

I groaned and pulled my blanket tighter around me. “I don’t think I want to go, Mika.”

She ignored me completely, already pulling out dresses and holding them up against me like I was a mannequin.

“Oh hey, I forgot—we actually got you a dress for the party!” she said, her face lighting up as she continued her search. When she finally pulled out a beaded wine dress, she gasped.

“Perfect!” she squealed, squirming like a kid opening presents on Christmas morning.

"mikaaaaa!" I called out her name with fustration.

Mika glanced at me, pausing for a second before placing a soft hand on my shoulder. “Look, I know things have been… weird between you and vulvan. But this is the Luna Ball, Zara. You can’t hide in your boring room forever.”

"Hey....." My room can't be that boring isn't?.

I bit my lip and looked away. Weird was an understatement. Ever since vulvan brought his ex to the pack house—without warning—I had felt like an intruder in my own space. last night replayed in my mind like a broken record. The anger in his voice, the betrayal in mine. The shouting. The tears I didn’t let him see.

He didn’t even try to explain. Just stood there beside her, silent, like I was the one being unreasonable. Like I didn’t have the right to feel hurt.

“Zara,” Mika said gently, pulling me back to the present. “I know it hurts. But you’ve got to remember who you are. You’re the Luna of this pack.”

I laughed bitterly. “Luna? Only by title, Mika. He treats me like a stranger.”

“He’s stupid,” she said without hesitation. “Every man has a foolish phase, and right now, he’s deep in it. But you—” she leaned in, locking eyes with me—“you are not going to let him or his ex or anyone else make you feel small. Not tonight.”

I exhaled slowly, trying to quiet the storm inside me.

“Now, time for your makeup and then your hair,” she said, tilting her head as she studied my face, clearly imagining different looks.

“I’m serious, Mika. I’m not going,” I said again. “It’s going to be boring. I can feel it in my goths.”

She snorted. “How do you know that, huh? Have you been to one before? No. So, my dear, your goth is absolutely wrong.”

I sighed. There was no use fighting her. When Mika set her mind on something, there was no stopping her. I already knew I had lost this battle.

So I let her do her thing. She started with my face, carefully dabbing and brushing makeup like she had done it a hundred times. Then she tied my hair into a messy bun, letting a few strands fall around my face like they were meant to be there.

“Ready?” she asked, stepping back proudly. I nodded slowly and walked over to the mirror.

I gasped.

I barely recognized myself. Mika was actually... really good at this. I wasn’t going to lie—I liked what I saw. I leaned closer, taking in the details—the shimmer on my eyelids, the soft blush on my cheeks, the way the black dress hugged my figure just right. I stepped back and looked at the full picture. For a second, I forgot I didn’t want to go.

“Vulvan is going to rip your clothes off when he sees how beautiful his luna is. too bad he can't do that considering how much of a dick head he has been lately." Mika teased, giggling behind me.

“Mika, don’t be silly,” I said, laughing as I playfully slapped her arm.

“I’m serious,” she said, lifting my chin so I’d look her in the eyes. “He’s lucky to have you as his Luna—and so is the Reagan pack.”

She gave me a soft, warm smile before excusing herself to go get dressed.

I stood there, staring at my reflection. Her words echoed in my head. I blushed at what she said, but deep down, they didn’t feel true. Not to me, anyway. Was Vulvan really lucky to have me?

No.

If only they knew the truth. People were only kind to me because they thought I was good. They didn’t know who I really was.

They didn’t know I was here to kill Vulvan.

Sometimes, I hated how easily they smiled at me. How they welcomed me with open arms. Called me Luna. Gave me love I didn’t deserve. And every time Vulvan looked at me with those cold, tired eyes, a part of me believed I did deserve his bitterness.

Because if he ever found out who I really was… I wouldn’t blame him for hating me.

A soft knock on my door pulled me out of my thoughts. I didn’t even think. I just walked across the room and opened it.

But the moment I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat.

It was Vulvan.

He looked... unsure of himself, like he was second-guessing whatever reason had brought him here. He stood frozen in place, his eyes locked on me like he was seeing a ghost—or maybe a dream he hadn’t expected to come true.

His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something but forgot how.

His gaze swept over me, slow and lingering. He looked... stunned. And it wasn’t just the usual distance he wore around me. It was different this time.

He looked captivated.

I stood there silently, refusing to be the first to speak. I wasn’t going to act like the Luna who was desperate for her Alpha’s attention—not tonight.

“You look stunning,” he finally said, clearing his throat. He tried to sound unaffected, but I saw how he fidgeted with something in his hands. A small box.

Then he shook his head. “Um… I mean—you look well. No, it’s just—” he paused again, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

I raised a brow, waiting.

He tried to backtrack. I could see he was trying to hold onto his usual coldness, but it was slipping. And I wasn’t going to let him hide behind it.

I didn’t smile. I didn’t flinch. I stood tall, letting the silence speak louder than anything I could say.