#Chapter 18: The Alpha Ball

—Sienna’s POV— My dress was beautiful — and free — but my problems were bigger, taking center stage in my mind. Asher didn’t know I’d lost my wolf, so he didn’t realize just how much Julian’s words terrified me. To him, it probably seemed like I was traumatized from the attack on me. That really wasn’t it. “You’re a real queen,” Asher said from the doorway, startling me. I met my eyes in the mirror, amazed at just how exquisite I looked. Normally I wouldn’t give myself that high a level of compliment, but… This dress really was made for me. The way it fit my waist, cinching it in only to flow out wider, falling in gentle ruffles to the ground. I’d pulled my hair up in a twisted bun, braids leading along each side of my head. An old necklace of my mother’s sat around my neck, glimmering the same pale blue as the dress. She’d worn it all the time, out to any major event. It was only fitting I wore it tonight. I waved Asher away, tired of analyzing myself, a