Chapter 9: He Dressed Me Himself

Irene’s Point of View

I stared at him.

Was he serious?

How could he say that so casually?

“With how shameless you are… it’s hard to believe you’re actually an Alpha,” I snapped before I could stop myself.

The words slipped out too fast.

Too sharp.

Arnold didn’t get angry.

If anything…

he looked amused.

Like I had just played into his hands.

“That counts as insulting an Alpha,” he said, a faint, cold smile forming on his lips.

“I don’t know how things work in your pack… but in mine, people lose their tongues for less.”

My stomach dropped.

I bit my tongue, literally.

Hard enough to stop myself from saying anything else.

There was no point arguing with him.

Not when he clearly enjoyed it.

I might be upset.

Broken, even.

But I wasn’t stupid.

I wasn’t going to make this worse.

“Where are you taking me?” I asked instead.

My voice came out quieter this time.

Careful.

But I couldn’t hide the unease.

Then I saw it.

The building ahead.

Large.

Imposing.

The mansion.

The one assigned to the lycans during their stay.

My steps slowed.

A chill ran down my spine.

As we walked inside, I felt it immediately,

the difference.

The presence.

Lycans were everywhere.

Tall. Broad. Powerful.

Each one looked like they could crush me without trying.

And here I was…

walking straight into their space.

With their Alpha.

Heads turned as we passed.

Some bowed.

Others stared.

Curious.

Sharp.

I felt every single gaze.

And it made my chest tighten.

No one said anything.

But I could feel it,

the questions.

The surprise.

Because this…

this was not normal.

Arnold didn’t bring women here.

Not like this.

And certainly not someone like me.

A werewolf.

A stranger.

The thought made my skin prickle.

Arnold didn’t slow down.

Didn’t care about the looks.

He just kept walking.

And I had no choice but to follow.

Until,

he opened a door.

His room.

I froze for a second.

But before I could react, he stepped inside.

Like he already expected me to follow.

I hesitated.

Then walked in.

A woman was already there.

Older. Calm.

And the moment she saw us,

her eyes lifted straight to me.

“Prepare a dress for her,” Arnold said without pause.

His tone was casual.

Like everything had already been decided.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said quickly, stepping forward.

“I have my own dress. Just take me back. I can change there.”

Luna Lorraine had prepared clothes for me.

Proper ones.

More than enough for tonight.

But Arnold didn’t even look convinced.

“I don’t like what you’re wearing,” he said bluntly.

No hesitation.

No filter.

“It looks terrible.”

I blinked.

For a moment, I didn’t even know what to say.

“That’s our style,” I replied, sharper than I intended.

“Just because we don’t dress like your pack doesn’t make it ugly.”

He didn’t react.

Didn’t argue.

Didn’t even seem interested.

He simply lifted his hand and pointed toward the bathroom.

“You can change in there.”

Then his gaze returned to me.

Steady.

Unbothered.

“Or you can change here.”

A pause.

“I don’t mind either way.”

My breath caught.

And just like that…

I realized something.

This man,

had no sense of boundaries.

Heat rushed up my neck.

How could someone be this shameless?

Before I could snap back, a knock sounded at the door.

The same woman entered and handed me a dress.

Deep blue.

Dark as the night sky.

I took it from her hands.

“You know… in my pack, we wear dark colors for funerals,” I said, glancing at the fabric.

It looked too big.

Far too big.

He had to see that.

But he still gave it to me.

“In that case,” Arnold said lazily, leaning back on the sofa,

“my pack must be mourning every day.”

A smirk touched his lips.

“You can change here if you want, Irene.”

I frowned.

He wasn’t even trying to hide it.

“What if I don’t?” I asked, crossing my arms.

“What if I just go like this?”

My dress was only a little dirty.

Nothing serious.

But wearing his,

that would draw attention.

Too much attention.

And that was the last thing I needed tonight.

Arnold didn’t even blink.

“I’ll report you for attacking an Alpha,” he said calmly.

Like it meant nothing.

“That would give me every right to respond. A breach of treaty is… serious.”

My stomach dropped.

His tone didn’t match his words.

Too casual.

Too relaxed.

And that made it worse.

Because I couldn’t tell if he was joking,

or not.

And I wasn’t willing to find out.

I exhaled slowly.

There was no point arguing.

Not with him.

Not when he clearly enjoyed pushing me.

Without another word, I turned and walked into the bathroom.

The dress felt different the moment I put it on.

Softer.

Smoother.

It slid over my skin like water.

But it didn’t fit.

It hung too long.

Too loose.

I had to gather the fabric just to move.

Still…

I stepped out.

“This isn’t working,” I said, meeting his eyes.

“It’s too big. I’ll just change back.”

I turned,

but I didn’t get far.

Arnold moved.

Fast. Silent.

Before I could react, his hand caught my arm and pulled me back.

The motion was smooth.

Controlled.

Like he had done it a hundred times before.

He guided me in front of a mirror.

A full-length one.

Then stopped behind me.

Close.

Too close.

I felt him before I saw him.

The heat of his body.

The quiet strength in the way he stood.

A shiver ran through me.

“You look beautiful, Irene.”

His voice dropped.

Low.

Close to my ear.

Soft.

Too soft.

I stilled.

Caught off guard.

I watched his reflection instead of turning around.

He reached for something.

A belt.

Then slowly,

carefully,

he wrapped it around my waist.

Pulling the loose fabric in.

Adjusting it.

Until the dress finally fit.

Perfectly.

My breath caught.

I didn’t expect that.

Didn’t expect him to notice.

Or to take the time.

“Why are you acting like this?” I asked quietly.

My reflection stared back at me.

Frowning.

“Like you already know me.”

Like this wasn’t new to him.

Like I wasn’t just someone he pulled into a random alley.

Arnold didn’t answer.

Not right away.

But his hands,

the way he adjusted the dress…

the way he stood behind me…

said more than words ever could.

And somehow…

that unsettled me more than anything he had said tonight.