True Blood Luna

Chapter 6

Elena’s POV

The dress shimmered in the candlelight, a deep crimson that clung to my form like a second skin. It was unlike anything I had ever worn before—bold, daring, a statement in itself. A part of me hesitated. It was one thing to decide I wouldn’t cower, but stepping into the battlefield of that ballroom meant I was ready to play their games.

Was I?

Ava stirred inside me, her energy thrumming through my veins. Yes. We are.

With one last glance in the mirror, I pulled my shoulders back and left the dormitory. The halls were quieter now, the murmurs of earlier fading into the background. Still, the lingering echoes of their laughter burned into my mind. They thought I was broken. They thought I’d disappear, tail tucked between my legs.

They had no idea.

The carriage ride to the ball was silent, save for the occasional rustle of fabric as I adjusted my gown. The air smelled of pine and burning wood, the distant hum of music growing louder as we approached the venue. My fingers tightened around the folds of my dress as the grand estate came into view—a sprawling manor illuminated by hundreds of lanterns, the warm glow casting dancing shadows across the stone pathways.

Stepping out, I felt the weight of their gazes before I even saw them. The moment I entered the grand hall, conversation hushed. Eyes followed me, assessing, judging. Some were amused. Others—those who had been part of the humiliation earlier—were clearly disappointed that I had shown up at all.

I ignored them.

The ballroom was extravagant, lined with towering crystal chandeliers and polished floors that reflected the golden light. The scent of fine wine and perfume mingled with something else—something darker.

Power.

Then, I saw him.

Damien.

He stood near the staircase, his arm draped casually over Selene’s waist, looking every bit the perfect mate she had stolen from me. My breath hitched, but I forced myself to keep moving. I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of knowing they had gotten to me.

Instead, I walked deeper into the crowd, past the murmuring elites, until I found the refreshment table. I grabbed a drink, the cool glass grounding me as I prepared myself for whatever was to come.

“Quite the entrance.”

That voice.

I turned sharply, already knowing who I would find.

The stranger from earlier.

He stood a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, watching me with that same unreadable intensity. The dim lighting cast shadows across his sharp features, his dark hair slightly tousled, as if he had just run a hand through it moments before. He was dressed in all black, the fabric hugging his broad frame effortlessly.

Something about him screamed danger.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” he mused, tilting his head slightly.

“Didn’t expect to run into you twice in one day,” I shot back, arching a brow. “You following me now?”

A smirk. “Tempting. But no.” He took a step closer, his gaze flickering over my dress before meeting my eyes again. “I don’t follow people. They tend to follow me.”

Cocky. Annoyingly so.

I let out a small scoff, taking a sip from my glass. “Well, if you’re here to waste my time, you can move along.”

He didn’t.

Instead, he stepped even closer, close enough that I caught his scent again—musk and pine, laced with something else I couldn’t quite place. A scent that made Ava restless, made my skin prickle with awareness.

“I don’t think I’ve properly introduced myself,” he murmured, his voice low. “Kade.”

Kade.

The name sent an odd shiver down my spine. It was familiar, and yet, it wasn’t.

“Elena,” I replied cautiously, watching him.

His smirk deepened, as if I had just confirmed something he already knew.

“Ah, yes,” he said, taking another slow sip from his drink. “The infamous Elena. The rejected princess. The ex-mate of Damien Blake.”

My grip tightened around my glass. “Careful,” I warned, my tone cool. “You’re playing a dangerous game bringing that up.”

Kade chuckled, unfazed. “Oh, I like danger.”

Before I could respond, a familiar, sickly-sweet voice cut through the air.

“Elena.”

I turned, schooling my expression into one of complete indifference.

Selene stood before me, draped in a silver gown that shimmered with every move. She looked the part of a Luna—poised, elegant. But there was something else in her eyes tonight. A confidence that hadn’t been there before.

“Didn’t expect to see you here,” she said, voice dripping with mock surprise.

“Clearly,” I said, mirroring her fake sweetness. “Your little stunt earlier made that obvious.”

A flicker of annoyance crossed her face, but she quickly masked it.

“Ah, you mean the posters?” She sighed, shaking her head. “Honestly, Elena, I had nothing to do with that. But I suppose people love a good story, and yours is so… tragic.”

A sharp, bitter laugh escaped me. “Tragic?” I repeated. “If that’s what you think, you really don’t know me at all.”

She smiled, tilting her head slightly. “Oh, I know you, Elena. I know you better than you think.”

Something about the way she said it unsettled me.

I was about to retort when I felt it—a shift in the room. A presence stronger than the rest.

Damien.

I didn’t even have to turn around to know he was approaching. The way the energy changed around us, the way Selene straightened subtly—it was all the confirmation I needed.

And then, his voice.

“What’s going on here?”

Deep. Controlled. Commanding.

Slowly, I turned to face him.

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. His amber eyes flickered over me, lingering just a second too long before he masked whatever reaction he had.

“Nothing,” I said smoothly. “Just catching up with an old friend.”

Selene looped her arm through his, smiling up at him in a way that made my stomach twist.

But I refused to let it show.

Damien’s gaze darkened, his jaw clenching slightly. He was angry. At me? At Selene? I couldn’t tell.

Then, before he could say anything else, Kade’s voice cut through the tension.

“Quite the reunion,” he mused, sipping his drink. “But if you’ll excuse us, Elena and I were having a rather engaging conversation.”

Silence.

Selene narrowed her eyes slightly. Damien’s fingers twitched at his side.

And me?

I simply smirked.

“Yes,” I said, turning to Kade. “Let’s not keep you waiting.”

I didn’t look back as we walked away.

But I felt it.

Damien’s stare burning into my back.