Chapter 124

Ava

I stepped into the ballroom, my heart pounding in my chest. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the low thrum of music drifting in from the adjoining room. Everywhere I looked, beautiful women in extravagant dresses milled about with glasses of champagne in their hands, chatting and giggling amongst the other partygoers.

The bachelorettes.

“Goodness me,” Ophelia groaned into my ear as we waded through the throng of people. “I thought you said he had only chosen ten bachelorettes.”

“He did.” I grimaced as I swept my gaze across the crowd. It seemed as though, despite only inviting ten bachelorettes to the ball, hundreds more from across the werewolf continent had arrived anyway. The invitation had been open, after all. Perhaps word had spread that Alpha Chris was looking for a new bride.

Across the room, I could just barely make out Chris standing on a small raised platform. He was waiting for the official announcements to begin, his jaw set hard and his eyes slowly roving back and forth. When they fell on me, he blinked at me for a moment before quickly looking away.

Ophelia sighed. “If looks could kill.”

I grit my teeth. Chris was mad at me, I was sure of it; ever since I had called our impromptu makeout session in the kitchen that morning getting ‘carried away’. Inside of me, I could feel my wolf roiling around, calling me a fool in a million different ways.

Of course I knew I was a fool. But what was I to do? Even if Chris refused to see any of the bachelorettes and announced his intentions to marry me, it was too late; canceling the ball last-minute would have infuriated not just the Elders, but all of the bachelorettes.

And besides… The Elders never would have blessed our union anyway.

As Ophelia and I approached the stage, I turned and gave her arm a squeeze. “Formalities,” I said, nodding my head toward Chris and the announcer. “I’ll meet up with you later.”

Ophelia nodded and disappeared into the crowd. Picking up my dress, I ascended the steps toward Chris—taking care to find my spot next to him, but still a few paces behind. I was the Acting Luna, after all, and couldn’t be seen standing directly beside him during an event like this.

“You look nice,” Chris said, barely moving his lips as he cast me a glance over his shoulder.

My face heated up, but before I could respond, a hush fell over the crowd and the announcer cleared his throat into the microphone.

“On behalf of the Alpha of Moonstone pack, thank you all for attending tonight’s event,” the announcer began. “Let us introduce the lovely young women in attendance tonight.”

The blood rushed through my ears as the announcer began prattling off names, each woman more beautiful than the last. Lily from Moonrise pack had returned, of course; and then there was Alyssa from New Moon, and Brienna from Crescent Moon…

And the list went on.

With each name that was called, the women would step forward and curtsy to Chris. He would smile at them, kiss their gloved knuckles, say something softly that only they could hear—usually eliciting a coy smile or a giggle.

And I had to just stand there, my hands clasped in front of me with a smile on my face, while the Elders watched me with the most scrutinizing looks I had ever seen.

“And last but not least, from Moonshine pack, please welcome… Miss Amelia Blackwood.”

A stunning redhead emerged from the crowd, her green eyes sparkling as she offered a shy curtsy. My gaze instantly flicked over to where Chris stood, and I felt my stomach twist into knots as he stepped forward with a warm smile, taking Amelia’s hand in his.

She was easily the most beautiful out of all of them. Flawless skin, a bright smile, and she couldn’t have been more than twenty years old. She wore a stunning sage green dress that exposed her freckled shoulders, her red hair pulled back into an intricate plait that ran all the way down past her lower back.

As they exchanged a few words, I found myself gripping the fabric of my dress, my knuckles turning white.

How could I ever compete with that?

The end of the formalities passed by in a blur. I kept a smile plastered across my face, but inside, I felt utterly numb. This whole night was a mistake. I should have let him cancel, should have insisted on it—

“Ava?”

I jumped, turning to find Ophelia and Leonard watching me with concerned expressions on their faces. Glancing around, I realized that the formalities had ended and Chris had already left the stage; I had been in such a daze that I hadn’t even realized.

“You look like you’re about to be sick, darling,” Ophelia said, reaching out to take my arm. “Come on, let’s get you a drink.”

Before I could protest, she was ushering me toward the bar, Leonard trailing behind us with a sympathetic look on his face.

Within moments, Ophelia had ordered three shots of something strong and clear, and we were downing them in unison. The liquor burned as it slid down my throat, but I welcomed the warmth that bloomed in my chest—anything to dull the ache I felt watching Chris interact with the bachelorettes.

“Another,” I said, pushing my glass back toward the bartender.

Ophelia arched an eyebrow at me. “Are you sure about that, darling?”

I didn’t answer. Instead, my gaze drifted over to where Chris now stood with Amelia, the two of them engaged in what looked like an intimate conversation. As I watched, Chris threw his head back with laughter at something she said, his eyes crinkling at the corners in that way that always made my heart skip a beat. Amelia coquettishly covered her mouth with a slender hand, her champagne glass clutched delicately in the other.

This was my fault. Everything was my fault; hell, even the missing moonstone was my fault. Maybe if I hadn’t been here, if I had just let Olivia banish me when she wanted to, then she never would have stolen it. The blight wouldn’t have begun attacking the land, and that poor Omega girl…

I shuddered. The bartender set another shot in front of me, and I downed it without hesitation.

“Ava…” Leonard began, but I waved him off.

“I’m fine,” I lied, offering her what I hoped was a convincing smile. I gestured to the bartender with one finger. “Another round.”

Leonard opened his mouth to protest, but Ophelia cut him off with a stern look before gripping her freshly-filled shot glass again.

“Come now, Leonard,” she said, flashing him a coy smile. “Let’s drink.”

Leonard grumbled something under his breath, but didn’t protest further. The three of us took our second round of shots—third for me—with Ophelia grimacing at the end.

“I feel the urge to dance suddenly,” she said, glancing over at Leonard. Leonard responded in kind, his eyes flickering down to his shoes.

I waved my hand to them and offered them a smile. “I’m going to hang out here for a bit. Go, dance, enjoy the party. I’m fine.”

“If you’re sure…” Ophelia said, her gaze holding mine for a brief moment. I nodded and gave her arm a squeeze. Then, with a small shake of her head, she turned and led Leonard away, leaving me alone at the bar.

Alone to watch as Chris continued making his rounds, politely greeting each woman as if his world wasn’t crumbling all around him.

I knew, deep down, that he didn’t want this either. He never did.

But it was then, as I was beginning to wonder if I should march over there myself, that I felt a hand on my shoulder. Jumping, I turned expecting to see Ophelia or Leonard again; but instantly felt my stomach drop when I met the severe gaze of none other than Elder Elise.

“Elder Elise,” I said, bowing my head respectfully. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

Elise regarded me down the length of her nose for a moment, her bony fingers tightening around my shoulder, before she leaned in. “I know the truth about you two,” she whispered.

My eyes widened despite myself. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could, she had continued.

“We’ll never bless a union between you two. Never.”

“Elise, I—”

“Don’t play stupid with me, Ava,” she hissed. “It may work on the others, but not me. You’re far too old for that boy; you’re an old maid, already married once and unfit to be a real Luna. Give him a chance to have true happiness.”

I blinked at her in surprise, my tongue suddenly feeling heavy in my mouth. “And… And if I don’t?” I whispered, although I think I already knew the answer.

Elise’s gaze hardened even more. “There are ways to get rid of those who threaten the sanctity of an Alpha’s marriage,” she hummed. “Watch yourself, Ava.”

And with that, she was gone.

I stood, frozen, for what felt like an eternity; the buzz of the party dulled into a hum in the back of my mind, the laughter and music fading away. I gripped the edge of the bar with white knuckles as I watched Elise’s gray bun disappear into the crowd.

Did that even happen, or had I just imagined it? Elise was always a severe woman, but to threaten me? It was unlike her.

There are ways to get rid of those who threaten the sanctity of an Alpha’s marriage…

Another shot found its way in front of me then, and I didn’t hesitate before throwing it back, relishing the way it burned all the way down.

Was Elise implying…?

“You look like you could use some company.”

The deep voice made me start, and I turned to find a tall, muscular man leaning against the bar beside me. He offered me a warm smile, his hazel eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Oh, sorry,” I mumbled, turning away. “I’m not really in the mood for—”

“I just want a dance,” he insisted, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “No strings attached, I promise. You look like you could use a break from... well, whatever has you downing shots like that.”

I opened my mouth to protest, to tell him thanks but no thanks, but then I hesitated. Elise’s words had burned themselves into my mind, melting together with the image of Chris laughing with the bachelorettes.

Elise was right; I needed to give Chris a chance. I was an old maid, and if I didn’t watch myself, then…

What was she going to do to me? To us?

With a shudder, I steeled myself and placed my hand into the man’s proffered palm.

“Let’s dance,” I said, forcing a smile.