Chapter 10 Ready to Leave

DAHLIA

The knock at the door came just as I was finishing the last of the dishes. My hands were still damp when I opened it, and before I could even say a word, a blur of curly hair and bright red lipstick threw herself at me.

“Dahlia!” Zola squealed, nearly knocking the air out of me. “You look like a woman who hasn’t slept in a century.”

I blinked, half laughing. “That’s one way to say hello.”

She waved her hand dramatically. “Please, don’t thank me for my honesty. It’s a curse, really.”

Before I could respond, the pups came running, squealing her name like she was some kind of fairy godmother.

“Zola! Zola!” Liam jumped into her arms, nearly knocking her over.

“Careful, little wolf!” she said with a grin, pretending to stagger back. “You’re going to crush my chocolates before anyone gets to eat them!”

At the word chocolates, Lily and Libby’s eyes went wide.

“Chocolates?” they echoed in unison, already tugging at her dress.

“Of course, my darlings.” She opened her oversized purse like a magician, producing a small box wrapped in golden paper. “Straight from the city market. Only the best for my favorite pups.”

Their cheers filled the house as they rushed to open it, and for a few moments, the sound of their laughter melted some of the heaviness inside me. Zola always had that effect like she carried light in her pockets and scattered it wherever she went.

Once the kids had settled into the living room, she turned to me, her tone softening. “You look like you’ve been thinking yourself into a grave. What’s going on?”

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. “Everything, Zola. The ceremony, the rumors, the thought of leaving the kids here even for a day… it’s all too much.”

Zola made a face, plopping herself onto my couch. “Oh, please. You’ve survived a heartbreak, betrayal, and a wolf who couldn’t see your worth. You think a fancy ceremony is going to break you?”

I gave her a weak smile. “It’s not just that. What if he doesn’t want me? What if I get there and he looks at me and just...”

“ ...falls hopelessly in love with you?” she interrupted with a smirk. “Yes, that sounds terrible.”

I groaned. “You’re impossible.”

She laughed. “And you’re dramatic. Dahlia, listen to me. You’ve spent so long hiding your light because some fool couldn’t see it. The Lycan King might be ruthless, yes but maybe he’s not the monster people think. And even if he is, you’ve faced worse.”

I sat down beside her, my fingers fidgeting in my lap. “I’m scared, Zola.”

“I know,” she said softly. “But fear doesn’t mean weakness. Sometimes it just means you’re standing on the edge of something new.”

Her words lingered in the air, settling deep in my chest.

After a while, she clapped her hands together. “Alright, enough gloom and doom. We have work to do. The choosing ceremony is tomorrow, and you’re not walking in there looking like a tired mother of three—no offense.”

I arched a brow. “None taken, I guess.”

She stood, eyes sparkling. “Good. Now, let’s find you something that makes kings forget how to breathe.”

What followed could only be described as a whirlwind. Zola rummaged through my wardrobe, tossing clothes everywhere and muttering under her breath about my “tragic lack of fashion sense.” She made me try on dress after dress until I lost count.

“No,” she said, shaking her head at the fifth one. “You look like you’re about to attend a funeral, not seduce destiny.”

“Zola... ”

“Hush. Try this one.” She handed me a soft silver gown I’d forgotten I even owned. It shimmered faintly in the light, simple but beautiful.

When I stepped out wearing it, she froze, her mouth falling open. “Oh, goddess. Dahlia, that’s the one.”

I looked in the mirror and barely recognized myself. The fabric hugged me in all the right places, and the color made my skin glow.

Zola grinned. “Now that’s what I’m talking about. The king won’t know what hit him.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You’re ridiculous.”

“Ridiculously right,” she shot back.

As the sun began to set, Elder Sam returned to give me the final instructions about the journey to the palace. He spoke gently, his eyes full of reassurance. “You’ll leave at dawn. The guards will escort all the chosen women to the capital. Everything has been arranged.”

I nodded, my heart thudding. “Thank you, Elder.”

When he left, the silence in the house grew heavy again. The pups were already asleep, curled up together like a pile of warmth and peace. I stood watching them for a long time, memorizing every curve of their little faces.

Zola walked up behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder. “They’ll be fine, Dahlia. And when you come back, maybe you’ll come as someone the whole kingdom will bow to.”

Her words made me laugh quietly, though a tear slipped down my cheek. “I don’t want a throne, Zola. I just want a life where I don’t have to keep looking over my shoulder.”

She squeezed my hand. “Then go and claim it.”

By the time she finished braiding my hair and packing what little I’d need, the night had fallen quiet. I could feel my nerves thrumming beneath my skin, my heart beating faster with every thought of the Lycan King—the man whose name alone sent shivers through the packs.

Zola helped me into bed but lingered by the doorway before leaving. “Get some rest, love. Tomorrow, you face your fate.”

When she finally left, I lay in the dark, listening to the soft breathing of my children. My eyes drifted toward the window where the moon hung low and silver, watching me like an old friend.

I wasn’t sure what tomorrow would bring. But for the first time in a long while, I wasn’t running from it.

I was walking straight toward it, and whatever happens I was ready to face it.