chapter 3
Sophia's POV:
Father nodded slowly, his golden eyes gleaming with something that looked like long-awaited satisfaction. " I propose we hold a celebration—not only for Sophia's birthday, but for her return to us."
"A celebration?" I asked, my voice still hoarse from the emotional upheaval.
"A royal birthday celebration," Father clarified, his tone taking on the commanding quality I remembered from my childhood. "We'll invite every Alpha in the kingdom to witness Princess Sophia's twenty-fifth birthday. Let them see what they've been missing while you were... away."
Ryder's silver-gray eyes lit up with understanding, and his grin turned predatory. "Including Lucas?"
"Especially Lucas," Father replied, his smile carrying that dangerous edge that reminded me why other Alphas submitted to his authority. "Let him see exactly what he discarded. Let him understand the magnitude of his mistake."
The thought of facing Lucas again should have terrified me, but instead, I felt a strange sense of anticipation mixed with something that might have been excitement. "When?"
"Tomorrow evening," Father said decisively. "It will give us enough time to send proper invitations and make arrangements. Besides," his expression softened slightly, "you need time to prepare yourself. To remember who you truly are. Can you?"
"Yes," I said, surprised by the strength in my own voice. "I'm ready. I'm tired of hiding who I am for people who never appreciated the sacrifice."
Father leaned forward and kissed my forehead, a gesture so tender it almost brought fresh tears to my eyes. "Then it's settled. Tomorrow night, the kingdom will meet their princess properly."
The next morning, I woke to sunlight streaming through the crystal windows of my bedroom, and for the first time in years, I felt genuinely excited about the day ahead.
Father and Ryder had left early to handle the arrangements.
Now, alone in my room, I found myself pacing in front of the tall windows. My phone buzzed on the bedside table, and I smiled when I saw my best friend Chloe's contact photo—her grinning face with that signature red pixie cut.
"Sophia!" her voice burst through the speaker the moment I answered the video call. "Ryder texted me about tonight! Please tell me you're finally going to let every Alpha in the kingdom see how absolutely stunning you are!"
I settled onto my bed, unable to suppress my smile at her enthusiasm. "It's my birthday party, but yes, it's also... more than that."
"It's your grand debut as a free woman," Chloe corrected, bouncing excitedly in what looked like her bedroom. "God, I've been waiting for this day for years. We're finally going to celebrate you dumping that worthless excuse for an Alpha!"
"Chloe," I laughed, feeling lighter than I had in months.
"What? I'm just saying what everyone's been thinking." She leaned closer to her camera, her emerald eyes sparkling with mischief. "But seriously, how are you feeling about tonight? About seeing him again?"
I considered the question carefully. Yesterday, just thinking about facing Lucas would have sent me into a panic. But now... "Honestly? I'm not dreading it anymore. I feel like I can handle whatever happens."
"Good!" She clapped her hands together. "And what about all the other Alphas who'll be there? Your father's right, you know—you've been so focused on Lucas that you never noticed how many other powerful wolves would consider themselves lucky to court you."
The idea of being courted by other Alphas felt strange after years of believing Lucas was my only option. "I'm not sure I'm ready to think about romance again, Chloe. Love feels like... a luxury I can't afford anymore."
Her expression softened with understanding. "Just because Lucas couldn't see your worth doesn't mean love itself is broken, Sophia. Maybe it just means you were looking in the wrong places."
"Maybe," I said noncommittally. "But right now, I just want to focus on remembering who I am. Everything else can wait."
"Fair enough," she conceded. "But promise me you'll keep an open mind? Some of those Alphas tonight might surprise you."
Before I could respond, a gentle knock interrupted our conversation. "Come in," I called.
Margaret, the elderly servant who'd been caring for our family since I was small, entered with two younger servants. Their arms were full of elegant garment bags, and Margaret's weathered face was bright with excitement.
"Princess," she said with a respectful curtsy, "your father requested we bring you a selection of gowns for tonight's celebration."
"Oh my God, I need to see this," Chloe said from my phone screen. "Show me everything!"
As the servants carefully laid out five stunning gowns across my bed, I felt my breath catch. Each dress was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, but one immediately drew my attention.
It was a floor-length gown in pristine white that seemed to shimmer with its own inner light. The bodice was fitted with intricate silver beadwork that reminded me of moonlight on water, while the skirt flowed like liquid starlight. It was elegant, regal, and completely unlike anything I'd worn during my years as Lucas's Luna.
"This one," I said without hesitation, reaching out to touch the delicate fabric.
"Sophia, that dress is absolutely gorgeous," Chloe breathed from the phone. "You're going to look like a goddess."
As Margaret helped me into the dress, I caught sight of myself in the full-length mirror and felt a jolt of recognition. The woman looking back at me was someone I'd almost forgotten—confident, radiant, powerful.
"You look magnificent, Princess," Margaret murmured as she fastened the delicate buttons along the back. "This is how you were always meant to look. Not hidden away or diminished, but shining."
She was right. During my marriage to Lucas, I'd dressed to avoid attention, to make myself invisible so Aria could shine brighter. Muted colors, conservative necklines, modest silhouettes. I'd made myself smaller in every way possible.
"One final touch," Margaret said, producing a jewelry box I recognized immediately.
The Moon Goddess necklace—our family's most precious heirloom. The pendant was crafted from pure silver shaped into a crescent moon, with diamonds that seemed to hold captured starlight.
As Margaret fastened it around my neck, I felt a surge of power, as if the necklace itself was acknowledging my return to my rightful place.
The door opened, and Ryder stepped inside. When his silver-gray eyes found me, they widened with unmistakable pride and something that looked almost like awe.
"Damn, Sophia," he said softly, crossing the room to take my hands. "You look like the queen you were born to be."
His words sent a warmth through me that had nothing to do with romance and everything to do with finally being seen for who I truly was.
"Every Alpha in that ballroom is going to fall at your feet tonight,"