Todos os capítulos de THE ADOPTED DAUGHTER SENT TO PRISON BECAME THE LYCAN'S MATE: Capítulo 11 - Capítulo 19

The Visconti ballroom glowed under the warm, golden light of three massive crystal chandeliers. Soft string music floated over the low hum of conversation, mixing with the scent of expensive perfume and roasted meats. Waiters in pressed black uniforms wove through the crowd, carrying trays of sparkling wine and delicate pastries.Russell stood near a tall arched window, swirling a half-empty glass of bourbon. He watched the room with the quiet, calculating focus of a military commander assessing a battlefield. The Visconti pack loved their displays of wealth. They draped themselves in silk and velvet, pretending their influence was built on high culture rather than the geographical luck of controlling the southern trade routes. His own pack, the Ferrara, valued strength, discipline, and loyalty above all else. This room felt like a fragile stage play.Near the center of the gathering, Stella held court. She wore an elegant emerald gown that complimented her blonde curls, laughing grac

The music from the ballroom played lightly in the background, a lively tune that felt entirely out of place against the cold reality of the Visconti pack.Russell stood in the corridor, a glass of bourbon resting loosely in his hand. Stella had already hurried back to her guests, her manufactured smile failing to hide the genuine panic he had seen in her eyes. The heiress had expected admiration for her public charity. Instead, she had received silent rejection from the servant she had tried to use as a prop.Footsteps approached from the ballroom entrance. Russell did not turn his head, but he recognized the heavy, aggressive stride.Augustus stepped into the corridor. The guard captain’s jaw was set in a hard line. He glanced toward the kitchen boundary where Penelope had disappeared, then looked directly at the visiting Alpha."She does this all the time," Augustus said, his voice tight with frustration.Russell took a slow sip of his drink. "Does what?""Plays the martyr," Augustu

The music from the ballroom was a distant, muffled hum by the time Penelope reached the administrative wing. The corridors were quiet, stripped of the elaborate decorations and floral arrangements that filled the guest areas. She preferred it this way. The silence was predictable.She walked into her assigned room and turned on the small lamp beside the bed. The harsh light illuminated the sparse space. There was nothing on the walls and nothing on the dresser. She had lived out of a small bag since returning from the labor camp, never unpacking more than she needed for the day. She had always known this was not a home.Penelope pulled a folded stack of papers from the bottom of her bag. She had taken the blank forms from the pack clerk’s sorting tray days ago. She smoothed out the creases on the mattress and looked at the black ink filling the designated boxes.She felt a profound sense of calm settling into her chest.There was no anger left in her. The burning injustice that had co

Orion was incredibly protective, but he was also exhausted. If Penelope pushed hard enough, Orion might actually sign those papers just to make the headache go away. Once the applications reached the regional registry, visiting Alphas would see Penelope's lineage. Despite her criminal record, Visconti blood was highly valuable. Someone would undoubtedly accept the match.Unless nobody wanted her.Stella smoothed the front of her dress and left her bedroom. She navigated the quiet corridors and headed straight for the sunroom on the first floor.The sunroom was warm and bright, filled with plush seating and small tables. A few of the visiting nobles who preferred an early start were already awake. Stella spotted Elder Vance from the northern territories and Alpha Thorne, a young, ambitious leader from a neighboring pack. They were sitting near a large fern, drinking coffee and discussing trade routes.Stella adjusted her expression, letting a soft, troubled look pull at her features. S