Chapter 8 Seven Hundred And Sixtieth Birthday.

Verona

The birthday had come for the one they called the Alpha King, and you would have thought we were the ones celebrating, not some man I hadn’t even met.

The maids rushed into my room, practically flustering in their eagerness. They even offered to bathe me—since Evan would be introducing me to their king, apparently I needed to look “presentable.”

I, of course, refused. I was a grown woman; I could manage my own bath. But their expressions made it feel as though I’d committed some grave offense.

“Ma’am, please, quit being impossible. You need to be bathed in fresh petals,” the head maid insisted.

I crossed my arms, stubborn. “Uh, okay. And I can do that myself. I don’t want you bathing me. Is that how you bathe Evan?” The words slipped out before I could stop myself.

Her eyebrow arched sharply, and the other maids, standing by, exchanged embarrassed smiles.

I blinked twice, my voice rising slightly in shock. “Wait… you really do bathe him?”

“Look, ma’am, it’s not something new,” she countered, unfazed by my outburst.

I shook my head firmly. “Still—I’ll be bathing myself. You all can go out, and I’ll let you know when I’m done.”

A defeated sigh escaped her. “We shall let the ma’am be,” she said to the other maids, and they all bowed their heads before departing.

The moment the door closed, I yanked my hair back in frustration. What the hell is this place? Even trying to understand them, it was still… too much. I looked over at Katara, who was calmly grooming herself, her black fur glistening under the sunlight streaming through the window.

“You don’t seem to have a problem,” I muttered.

Katara glanced at me briefly, as if she understood, before going back to her meticulous grooming, completely unbothered.

I stepped into the bath, but the scent was so overpowering I had to pinch my nose. “Oh hell no, I’m not doing this,” I muttered, hopping out and heading straight for the shower. I was going to use my own soap and body scrub, like I always did—not soak in water filled with scented petals.

Once I was done, I stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around my chest, and my eyes immediately landed on the dress spread neatly across the bed. “Well, I’m done now,” I called out. Almost immediately, the maids rushed in like a whirlwind.

“Okay, everyone, prepare!” the head maid announced. One by one, they brought out the accessories, makeup, shoes, bags—everything—and it all seemed to shimmer as though it had been made for royalty.

“Um… am I going to be wearing all of that?” I asked, pointing at the pile in stunned disbelief.

“Yes, ma’am. You will. And this time, we will do what we want,” the head maid said, crossing her arms challengingly. I swallowed hard, conceding to this impossibly determined woman.

It took hours before they finished “dolling me up.” By the time they were done, I looked like someone about to compete in Miss World.

The blue gown clung perfectly to my body. Jewelry sparkled at every angle, my makeup highlighted my features, and my lips were painted a bold, striking red. My hair cascaded down my back like a river of silk. God… I looked like a goddess. I barely recognized myself.

I turned slowly to face everyone. Their reactions were instant. “Woah!” they exclaimed in unison. Even I wanted to gasp when I saw my reflection in the mirror.

The head maid, pride shining on her face, said simply, “Good. You look presentable.” Presentable? That was all she had to say?

The men were waiting, of course and I was the one holding them up. They quickly escorted me from my room, and as I reached the staircase, I descended carefully, trying not to trip on the high heels.

When I reached the bottom, I realized all eyes were on me. Both Obed and Tori… were staring in a daze, while Evan’s expression was a mix of surprise and something I couldn’t quite place.

When I reached the foot of the stairs, Evan smiled. “You look breathtaking… like my mate,” he said.

Heat rose to my cheeks. That was the first time anyone—other than Nana—had said something like that to me.

Obed cleared his throat. “We should hurry. The ceremony will start soon,” he announced.

Evan offered me his arm, and I took it as we walked out of the mansion toward the cars waiting outside. Every step felt surreal, and I realized that today wasn’t just about the Alpha King’s birthday… it was about me stepping into a world I didn’t yet understand.

When we entered the limo, I realized someone was staring at me. I turned and saw it was Obed.

“What? Do I have something on my face?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Obed shook his head. “No,” he said, and Evan laughed besides me as Obed turned to look at him. “You know… teleporting would have been better.”

My eyes widened. “Teleporting?” I asked, confused.

Evan shook his head. “Teleporting would have been too draining for you,” he explained. “It’s better we drive.”

So… they could have teleported instead of driving? That was insane. But it still didn’t explain why Obed kept staring at me. I narrowed my eyes and nodded, well played he had changed the subject.

But then the drive took hours, and now I understood why Obed had mentioned teleportation. My confidence in this dress had completely worn off—I just wanted to rip it off and collapse onto a bed. I was exhausted, though the others seemed completely unaffected.

Eventually, we arrived at a massive gate. As it slowly opened, our limo and several others entered. From the window, I glimpsed elegantly dressed elites—some even more extravagant than us—and I realized the maids might not have gone overboard.

When the limo door opened, Evan stepped out and offered me his arm. I took it, stepping onto the polished pathway. The fresh air hit my face, and I let out a deep sigh.

Then, unexpectedly, Evan placed my hand in Tori’s. “I have to meet the king first. You’ll stay with Tori for now,” he said. I nodded, and Tori bowed gracefully.

Obed spared me another glance before following Evan, while Tori guided me into the mansion, guards trailing closely behind.

The mansion was massive and ancient—older even than Evan’s estate. Towering pillars and intricate artwork filled every space, radiating old-world wealth and power.

A shiver ran down my spine. I had never been somewhere like this. The sheer magnitude of influence and authority was overwhelming.

Inside, everyone looked impossibly elegant, as if they had stepped straight out of a fashion magazine. Women glittered from head to toe in gold, silver, and diamonds, competing silently to be the most dazzling.

When the massive main doors swung open and we entered, my jaw nearly dropped. Gold covered every surface—from ceilings to floors, even staircases—everything gleamed.

Along the hall stood men—or werewolves—in golden armor, imposing and intimidating.

“What is this place?” I whispered in awe.

Tori bent slightly to speak quietly. “Welcome… to the Alpha King’s domain, the Night Watch Pack,” He said.

At the far end of the hall, a grand throne sat elevated, clearly where the king would appear. But then I began hearing hushed whispers.

“Why is there a human here?”

“Who does she think she is?”

Most of the voices were women, all glancing at me with curiosity—or maybe judgment.

Tori immediately noticed and turned toward them. The whispers died down instantly, and I could no longer make out any words.

I leaned toward him and whispered, “It seems they aren’t used to humans attending their king’s birthday.”

He murmured back, almost amused, “You’re not a human… just a late bloomer.”

I raised an eyebrow, puzzled by his remark.

Then, the sound of a trumpet echoed through the hall. Every whisper stopped. Conversations halted. All eyes turned toward the throne. I tried to lift my head to see, but being shorter than most, I struggled as taller guests blocked my view.

“The king shall now enter,” a voice announced.

I strained to catch a glimpse. Thankfully, the throne was high enough to give me a view over the crowd. The hall had shifted as everyone jostled for position, especially the women, who seemed determined to get as close as possible.

I wanted to see the old Alpha king Evan had mentioned—the one who had been friends with his father.

The hall fell completely silent as he appeared. He wore a magnificent royal robe, his long hair flowing perfectly down his back. When he turned to face the crowd, my jaw dropped.

“Wait… is this the 760-year-old Alpha King?” I whispered to myself. He looked like a thirty-something years old giant—tall, strong, and impossibly commanding young man or werewolf, king, whatever.

I froze, completely taken aback by his presence.