Semua Bab Tempting the Alpha’s Father : Bab 11 - Bab 20

The Alpha King’s banquet hall glittered under a hundred crystal chandeliers, every golden surface polished until it gleamed. The air smelled of wine, roasted meats, and the subtle arrogance of Lycans who thought they owned the world. I didn’t want to be here. Adrian insisted. When I told him this was the last place I should show my face, especially with Lucas and Clara present, he’d simply said, “That’s exactly why you’re coming.” Now I stood on the marble floor, my silver gown clinging to me like a second skin, under the scrutiny of half the Lycan elite. Whispers followed me from table to table — who was she, why was she here with him, wasn’t she Lucas’s ex-mate? I felt exposed, a butterfly pinned under glass. And then Clara made her entrance. Draped in a blood-red gown that screamed dominance, she descended the staircase with the poise of a queen… and the smile of a predator. Her hand rested lightly on Lucas’s arm, the picture of a devoted wife, though the flicker in her eye

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint clinking of crystal glasses and the low murmur of gossip rolling through the crowd like a tide. My photograph sat under the stage lights — frozen proof of a life I no longer lived, a life Clara had dug up just to gut me in front of every influential Lycan in the kingdom. She wanted me humiliated. She wanted me to run. Instead, I smiled. It wasn’t a sweet smile. It was the kind I’d learned from Adrian — slow, deliberate, with just enough curve to make them wonder what I was hiding. Clara’s brows twitched, just enough for me to see she hadn’t expected that. “Bidding starts at ten thousand,” she announced, her voice cutting through the chatter. “A piece of history, wouldn’t you all agree?” The crowd laughed, some uncomfortably, some with genuine malice. I kept my eyes on the photograph, my pulse steady. “Twenty thousand,” came a smooth, deep voice from the back of the room. Every head turned. Adrian was standing there, hand

The crowd was still murmuring about the way Adrian had dragged me out of the ballroom, his hand splayed against the small of my back as though I were already his. I could feel every stare drilling into us, but the only thing that mattered was the slow, deliberate way he guided me toward a private balcony. “Enjoying the attention?” Adrian’s voice was low, dangerous, and laced with something that made my stomach flip. I straightened my shoulders. “I’m not here for attention, Adrian.” He smirked, leaning in so close his breath warmed my ear. “Then why wear a dress that makes every man in the room imagine taking it off?” I swallowed hard, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing my pulse race. “Maybe I wore it for someone else.” He chuckled darkly, the sound vibrating against my skin. “Lucas?” His tone was dripping with disdain. “You still think that boy is a man?” Before I could answer, a silky voice interrupted. “Well, this is interesting…” Isla Crowhurst stepped out from

The east lounge was dimly lit, the scent of expensive cigars and aged whiskey hanging thick in the air. A fire roared in the marble hearth, casting flickering shadows against the mahogany-paneled walls. I paused just inside the doorway, my heels clicking softly on the polished floor, and let my eyes adjust to the room. Darius was there, lounging in one of the leather chairs like he owned the place. One leg crossed over the other, glass of whiskey in hand, his silver gaze tracking me from the moment I entered. “I was starting to think you’d let Adrian chain you to his side for the rest of the night,” he said, his voice smooth and laced with amusement. I tilted my head, stepping farther inside. “If he knew I was here, he’d probably drag me out by my hair.” Darius’s lips curved into a knowing smirk. “That’s exactly why I sent Isla to tell him I wanted you here. I wanted to see how fast he’d lose his temper.” I arched a brow. “So this is just a game to you?” “Oh, no.” He leaned forw

The ballroom glittered with golden light and dangerous secrets. Crystal chandeliers sparkled overhead, the strings of the quartet weaving through the air like delicate spiderwebs. The guests—pack leaders, council members, and high-ranking Lycans—were all dressed in power, every smile calculated, every glance carrying weight. And right in the center of it all stood Darius Kane, the wolf everyone in the room respected and feared… and the man Adrian wanted me nowhere near. He saw me the moment I stepped through the archway. His mouth curved into a slow, knowing smile that made my stomach tighten—not because I was nervous, but because I knew he was about to cause trouble. Lucas was across the room, standing beside Clara, who looked like she’d stepped straight out of a designer magazine spread. She had her perfectly manicured hand on Lucas’s arm, but her eyes kept darting toward me like a hawk watching prey. I could feel Adrian before I saw him—his presence was like gravity. He was nea