All Chapters of The Gown That Was Never Mine: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

At dinnertime, my father mind-linked me and told me to come eat.When I entered the dining room, the long table was piled with food, but every dish was one Vivian or Bella loved.I sat down and looked over the desserts, but nothing appealed to me. My father knew perfectly well that I didn't like sweets.He noticed I wasn't eating."Lily, I had this lemon fish made just for you. Go on. Eat."He pushed the fish toward me.I scanned the dozen or so dishes. Only one or two weren't sweet, and I didn't like either of them. My heart sank.He was always like this. He knew everything my sisters liked, yet he didn't even know what I liked to eat.I didn't touch the food. I sat there in silence, staring at the table.When I still made no move to eat, my father grew annoyed."Stop being difficult. I had this made especially for you. Are you going to behave like this at home too?"Vivian quickly tugged on his sleeve, trying to calm him."She doesn't mean it. She's had a rough day. Give her a couple

The sun was rising when I reached the walls of the Moon Shadow Pack.The guards checked my identity at the gate, gave me directions to the company, and waved me through.I stared up at the enormous glowing sign that read "Moon Shadow Fashion Headquarters." The whole area was bustling and prosperous, far beyond anything the Snow Moon Pack could ever dream of.I messaged the person in charge of the assessment. A man soon walked out through the doors."Hi. Lily Frost, right?""That's me.""I'm Nathan Wells. I was the one who approved your assessment. Come inside. It's freezing out here."He led me to a meeting room and brought me tea and pastries."Your designs are good. They look a little rushed, and some details need work, but overall, they're impressive."He set another plate of pastries in front of me. "Have you ever studied fashion design?""No. This is my first attempt. I've just paid close attention to clothes."I shook my head. I wasn't sure whether that answer would hurt my chanc

Over the next two months, I learned a lot from Nathan and experimented with all kinds of designs.Then he told me I was ready to work independently. He wanted me to spend the next two weeks focusing on my competition entry.I even rented my own place so I could focus completely on preparing for the competition.Two weeks later, the night before the competition, I showed Nathan my entry.The sketch showed two white gowns, both far more regal and elegant than the one I'd once owned.Nathan studied it. "Why does one look stunning while the other looks so plain? Side by side, the plain one fades into the background."I shook my head."They're the same gown, aren't they? One simply has no gems to make it shine. That's how two identical gowns can look completely different.""What's it called?" Nathan asked.I traced the outline of the plain gown, the one that faded into the background, and answered softly, "The Favorite."On the day of the competition, I stood backstage among the other conte

After returning from the Moon Shadow Pack, my father hardly spoke to Vivian or Bella. He barely even saw them.He hung the gem-covered gown in his office, where he could see it every day. Looking at it made him think of me.He threw himself into work and devoted all his energy to strengthening the pack, desperate to escape the memories.From then on, he never favored anyone again. Even in pack affairs, he became fairer than ever.The Beta tried to reassure him. "Lily's just upset right now. Once she cools off, she'll come back."My father admitted he was at fault. "I'm the one who was wrong. She has every right not to come back."She isn't angry or holding a grudge. I kept pushing her away until we became strangers."After forcing Vivian and Bella to apologize, he stopped trying to bring me home.Vivian ended her bond with Caleb. They were no longer mates.It wasn't because Caleb had stopped loving her, nor was it because of my father's reaction. Guilt consumed her every day, and she c