Chapter 4

Nicole Dodie arrived exactly at ten, armed with two massive cups of coffee and the determined gleam in her eyes that I knew all too well. The moment she stepped through the massive front doors of the Thornfang estate, her jaw dropped. "Holy sh—" She caught herself, eyes widening at the gleaming marble and ancestral portraits that filled the foyer. "You're living in an actual castle." I rolled my eyes, accepting the coffee she thrust at me. "More like a gilded cage." Her sharp gaze narrowed, studying me over the rim of her cup. "How are you really holding up? And don't give me that doctor face." "I'm..." I searched for the right word. "...adjusting." Dodie snorted. " Come on, we're going shopping. You need fresh air and I need gossip." Two hours later, we were standing in Moonlit Silhouettes, the most exclusive boutique in The Faellac Town. The shop catered primarily to the elite of the werewolf community, with price tags that made my eyes water. Dodie whistled as she flipped over a tag on an elegant evening gown. "$30,000? Is this made of actual moonbeams? The prices are highway robbery!" She shot me a mischievous grin. "But Alpha Damien is loaded. Might as well make the most of it." "I'm not here to bleed him dry, Dodie," I muttered, running my fingers over a rack of silks and chiffons. "This is a business arrangement, not a shopping spree." "No, this is a necessary expense," Dodie countered, pulling out a crimson dress with a dangerously low back. "You're meeting the Elders, representing Thornfang Pack as their Luna. You need to look the part." I eyed the red dress skeptically. "Isn't that a bit... much?" "It's perfect," she insisted, pushing it toward me. "Red is power. Authority. Exactly what you need when facing those stuffy old wolves. Now try it on." I didn't hesitate. "I agree with your idea" I Itook the dress and strode toward the dressing room. In the dressing room, I slipped into the silken fabric. The dress fit like it was made for me, hugging curves I usually kept hidden under scrubs and sensible clothes. The deep crimson color made my pale skin glow and brought out hidden auburn highlights in my golden hair. I stepped out,said. "Well?" Dodie's face split into a triumphant grin. "You look—" ""Why are you poor sour guys here,"," came a cold, familiar voice from behind me. I turned around at the disgusting sound. Francisco stood at the boutique entrance, his arm wrapped possessively around Bella's waist. My former best friend was draped in a designer outfit, complete with what I recognized as a custom crafted shawl—an accessory that cost more than three months of my salary. Dodie stepped protectively closer to me, her posture shifting into what I called her battle stance. Francisco's eyes swept over me, lingering on the price tag that dangled from the dress's seam. His lips curled into a contemptuous smirk. "Thirty thousand for a dress?Guess gold-digging pays better than saving lives, huh?" His gaze hardened. "But then again, what else could a penniless reject from Starfall Pack do? How else could you afford your mother's heart surgery if not by selling yourself to the highest bidder?" Beside me, Dodie tensed, ready to launch into a blistering defense,""Watch your mouth, Francisco—" But Bella cut her off. "Nicole," she said, her voice dripping with false sympathy, " Francisco and I truly love each other. You should just accept it and let us be happy." Her eyes flicked down to my stomach and back up, a cruel smile playing on her lips."Poor thing. It's not your fault you were born half-wolf." I didn’t flinch. Instead,I reached for my phone, pulling up a message I'd received that morning from Alpha Damien's assistant. With deliberate slowness, I turned the screen toward them. "The only thing I'm meant for," I said, my voice steady as ice. The message clearly stated,"is ensuring my mother receives the best care in the territory—courtesy of Thornfang Pack.. " "As for you two," I continued, nodding toward the central marketplace visible through the boutique windows, where the Pack Transgression Board displayed the week's official violations, "I believe the Elders are quite interested in the evidence I submitted regarding the misappropriation of Ashclaw Pack's medical funds." Francisco's face drained of color. "You wouldn't dare—" "I already have." The words tasted like victory on my tongue. "Shut up," Bella hissed."You're lying! Francisco would never—" "Would never get caught?" I finished for her, my voice icy. "You're right about one thing, Bella. Some of us are meant for more. Like being an honest Luna instead of the mistress of a thief." Francisco advanced toward me, rage contorting his features. "You think just because you're spreading your legs for a Alpha that you can—" But the boutique door swung open, cutting him off mid-sentence. A sleek black SUV had pulled up outside, revealing Alpha Damien's striking profile. His penetrating dark gaze swept over me, lingering on the crimson dress that clung to my body. "Nicole," he called, voice low and commanding. "The Elders' meeting has been moved up. We need to go. Now." Something in his tone—a possessiveness that hadn't been there yesterday—sent an unexpected shiver down my spine. I turned back to Francisco and Bella, allowing myself one final, cool smile. "Take care of yourselves, two fools." With deliberate grace, I glided past them, still wearing the expensive dress, feeling their stunned gazes burning into my back. Dodie followed, whispering "I'll take care of the bill" as she squeezed my arm in solidarity. As I turned away from Francisco and Bella, I didn't rush. I lifted my chin, letting my heels click confidently against the boutique's marble floor. If they wanted to watch, I'd give them a show. Alpha Damien's black Bentley idled at the curb, sleek and silent like a panther ready to pounce. The passenger door opened just as I reached it. Before I could react,Alpha Damien's hands were on me—one beneath my knees, the other behind my back. "Alpha Damien!" I gasped, more startled than angry. "I can walk—" "You're in heels," he said flatly. "And I don't want you stumbling in front of them." Them. Francisco and Bella. His jaw was clenched, his eyes unreadable. But the tension in his body told me everything I needed to know. He hadn't liked what he saw back there. With effortless strength, he lifted me into the car and set me down in the leather seat like I was something precious—or fragile. The crimson skirt rode high on my thighs, but I couldn't bring myself to adjust it, not with him still leaning over me. He reached across me to fasten the seatbelt, his fingers grazing the bare skin of my collarbone. His breath brushed my neck—warm, deliberate, possessive. My pulse stuttered. When he finally pulled back, his voice was low. "Now you look appropriate for the meeting." I swallowed. "High praise coming from you." His lips twitched—almost a smile, almost not. "You should get used to it."