Chapter 58

Raven

It felt surreal, stepping back into this world of polished smiles and manufactured charm.

The moment I stepped into the grand hotel, I could practically smell the competition mingling with the expensive perfume in the air. Everyone seemed to be trying to outdo one another, each gown and mask more outrageous than the last.

I had once thrived in this environment, but now it felt hollow.

Neil stood beside me, his broad frame impossible to ignore even amongst the throng. The sleek black suit he wore clung to him perfectly, but it looked out of place on him, especially without his signature cloak. His mask was a simple but elegant black piece I’d found buried in one of my sprawling closets.

“You didn’t tell me parties were this loud,” he muttered, his voice low enough for only me to hear. He kept fidgeting with his mask, clearly uncomfortable.

“I guess I got used to it,” I replied, grabbing two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter and handing one to him. I took a sip right away. The bubbles tickled my nose pleasantly, but it would take a lot more than that to calm the nerves prickling at the edges of my mind.

“What about now?” he asked, scanning the room with a guarded expression.

I shrugged. “It’s too loud now, even for me.”

As we made our way further into the venue, a few people glanced our way, their eyes lingering on me before flicking curiously to Neil. I could see the questions forming in their minds. Who was he? Why was Raven here with him? I ignored them, lifting my chin as I moved through the crowd with Neil at my side.

“You are being stared at,” Neil observed.

“They’re just trying to figure out who you are.”

“And what have they decided?”

I gave him a sidelong glance, a hint of a smile tugging at my lips. “Probably that you’re my bodyguard.”

Neil huffed, and I couldn’t figure out if it was a laugh or a sound of annoyance. I glanced up at him, making sure that his face was sufficiently obscured. We couldn’t have everyone knowing that I was here with a Lycan prince, after all. We’d both be arrested immediately.

“You didn’t have to come, you know,” I said quietly as we moved through the crowd. “It was risky enough as-is, coming to the Werewolf continent.”

He merely shrugged one shoulder. “I figured no one would recognize me this easily.”

And he was right; Neil was the least-known Lycan prince, his face only having appeared on the news once or twice before—and usually only artist renditions, not photographs. Between that, the mask, and the dim lighting, no one would know who he was.

My gaze swept across the crowd then, and that was when I saw them.

Nathan and Dani.

My stomach clenched, a surge of anger and bitterness washing over me. They walked in arm in arm, their masks doing little to obscure their identities. Dani was radiant as ever in a silver gown that clung to her like a second skin, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders—freshly bleached, of course.

Nathan, in his tailored suit, looked every bit the dashing prince he had once pretended to be.

And his eyes met mine almost immediately.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, turning sharply and downing the rest of my champagne in one go.

Neil arched an eyebrow. “Friends of yours?”

“Hardly,” I said, setting my empty glass on a passing waiter’s tray. “Just… ghosts from my past.”

Neil didn’t press further, but his eyes flicked to the couple, his expression darkening slightly as they strode toward us.

“Raven! I can’t believe it’s you!” Dani exclaimed, rushing up to me. “I almost didn’t recognize you!”

I forced a tight smile. “Dani. Nathan. What a… surprise.”

Nathan’s gaze lingered on me, his expression unreadable. “You look… well, Raven.”

I didn’t respond, mostly because I knew he was judging me for my appearance. Heavier, tanner, more muscular, and my bleached-blonde hair was a thing of the past. All of the things he and almost every other man in our social circle despised in a woman.

“We’ve missed you,” Dani said, reaching out as if to touch my arm. I pulled out of reach, and her hand dropped awkwardly. “It’s been so long. We… we didn’t part on the best terms, I know, but…”

“You mean when I walked in on the two of you in bed together?” I asked, my voice saccharine sweet. “Yeah, I’d say those weren’t the best terms.”

Dani flushed, and Nathan had the decency to look ashamed. “We’re fated mates,” he said quietly. “We didn’t plan for it to happen, Raven. You have to believe me.”

“I don’t have to believe anything,” I said sharply, clutching my fresh champagne glass tightly. For a moment, I was tempted to throw it in his face, but I forced myself to breathe deeply and plastered on a smile instead. “But I’m happy for you. Really. In fact…” I turned to Neil, grabbing his arm and pulling him close. “I’ve found my fated mate too.”

Nathan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he looked Neil up and down. Dani’s gaze flicked between us, disbelief written all over her face.

“Is that so?” Nathan asked skeptically.

Neil, to my utter surprise, didn’t miss a beat. “It’s true,” he said smoothly, wrapping an arm around my waist and pulling me even closer. “And I couldn’t be luckier.”

Then, before I could process what was happening, Neil leaned down and kissed me.

It wasn’t just a quick peck to sell the lie. It was deep, tender, and utterly consuming. His lips were warm and soft against mine, his hand firm on my waist. My knees went weak, and I clung to him, my heart pounding in my chest as every thought dissolved into the kiss.

When he finally pulled back, I was breathless. My cheeks burned beneath my mask, and I could barely meet his gaze. But even then, he didn’t let go of me. He held me even tighter, holding my gaze as if Nathan and Dani weren’t even there.

Nathan’s jaw tightened, jealousy flickering in his expression for just a moment before he schooled it into indifference. Dani, on the other hand, looked utterly stunned.

“Well,” Nathan said after a moment, his voice strained. “Congratulations.”

And without another word, he grabbed Dani’s arm and practically dragged her away, leaving me and Neil standing there alone. I watched them go, both satisfied and even more bitter than before.

“Thanks for stepping in,” I said quietly, glancing up at Neil. “I owe you one. Or two. Or three.”

He tilted his head, considering. “Perhaps, as repayment, you could tell me the story about them.”

I hesitated, but knew there was no point in hiding it any longer. “Fine,” I said with a sigh.

Before I could say anything else, he took my hand and pulled me away from the throng, toward a slightly more secluded area. He slipped his other hand around my waist and tugged me close, swaying slightly to the music.

“What are you doing?” I asked, startled.

“Listening,” he said simply.

I bit my lip, unsure of how to begin. It wasn’t easy to formulate my thoughts with our bodies this close together. Even my wolf was bristling with excitement at our proximity.

Finally, I managed to start. “Nathan and I were… together for years,” I started. “We were supposed to get married.”

Neil’s grip tightened slightly, his fingers digging into my hips through my silky black dress, but he didn’t interrupt.

“Then I found him with Dani. My ‘best friend’. In our bed,” I said bitterly. “He claimed that our relationship was purely transactional, that I was delusional for thinking otherwise.”

Neil’s eyes darkened, but his voice was calm when he spoke. “And that is why you left?”

I nodded. “I needed to get away. I got on a plane during a storm, and… well, you know the rest.”

He was silent for a moment, then said, “Maybe it wasn’t just bad luck that brought you to the Lycan kingdom. Maybe it was fate pushing you toward something better.”

My breath hitched as he stopped moving, his hands still on my waist. The music seemed to fade into the background as the space between us disappeared. I didn’t know what he was doing, but I wasn’t sure if I disliked it.

“You’ve had plenty of chances to reject me these past few days,” I whispered, my voice strained. “Why… Why don’t you?”

His lips curved into a faint smile. “I’m not sure if I want to anymore.”

Before I could respond, he kissed me again, this time with a passion that left me trembling. His arms wrapped around me, lifting me effortlessly as he carried me toward the elevator.