Chapter 5
996 Words
The presidential suite of the Grand Horizon Hotel was larger than my entire childhood home, a sprawling expanse of marble, gold accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city. Yet, standing in the center of it next to the King , the room felt incredibly small.
He stood by the glass, his tailored suit jacket unbuttoned, his silver eyes reflecting the distant city lights. The heavy, rotten scent of his illness still lingered around him, but his posture was as regal and unyielding as ever. He turned to face me, taking a sleek, solid gold card from his pocket and placing it on the dark mahogany table between us.
"Take a shower, clean the mud off your face, and buy something suitable," The King commanded, his tone smooth but brook no argument. "You are the King’s guest now. I cannot walk into a room with someone looking like a discarded stray. It reflects poorly on my palace."
I looked at the gold card, then up at him. "I don't need your charity."
He let out a low, dangerous chuckle. "It isn't charity, Elena. It’s an investment. Consider it the first transaction of our contract."
He gestured toward the door, where a sharp-looking woman in a perfectly pressed gray suit stood waiting with her hands clasped.
"This is Clara. She is your personal assistant while you are in my service. She will handle the logistics, the car, and your security."
He checked his heavy silver wristwatch. "I will pick you up at exactly 7:00 PM. Do not be late." Without waiting for a reply, he strode past me, his massive aura brushing against mine, leaving a trail of cold wind in his wake.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, Clara stepped forward with a polite, efficient nod. "Miss Elena, your quarters are through the double doors to the left. I have already provided a new smartphone for you on the vanity. It contains the King's direct private number, as well as my own. Please let me know when you are ready to leave for the boutique."
"Thank you, Clara," I murmured, still feeling numb.
I walked into the massive bathroom, peeling off the tattered, dirt-stained ceremonial dress that was supposed to symbolize the beginning of my life as a Luna. I threw it into the trash can without a second thought.
Stepping into the steaming water, I scrubbed my skin until it turned raw, desperately trying to wash away the scent of Caleb’s pack, my family’s betrayal, and the phantom ache of the broken mate bond.
When I stepped out, wrapped in a plush white hotel robe, I spotted my old phone sitting on the vanity next to the new one Clara had left. It was buzzing incessantly.
Curiosity, bitter and masochistic, made me pick it up. The screen lit up with dozens of missed calls and unread text messages from the past two hours.
Dad:Elena, return to the pack house immediately. Your actions tonight have disgraced this family. You need to apologize to Caleb and Eliana.
Mom:I cannot believe I gave birth to someone so cruel. Do not bother coming home tonight. We are staying at the hospital with Eliana. You have broken my heart.
Ethan:You went too far this time, Elena. Just stay away.
And then, there was a string of messages from Eliana. I opened them, my jaw clenching as I read the blatant hypocrisy dripping from every word.
Eliana:Elena, please come back! I’m so sorry this happened. I didn't mean to ruin your ceremony, I swear! I told Caleb not to reject you, but he was just so worried about me. Please don't hate me. I only want us to be sisters.
Eliana (sent 5 minutes later):Caleb is staying the night in my room. He says I make a much better Luna anyway. Have a nice night in the woods, street rat.
A cold, deadly calm settled over me. The fake innocence in front of our parents, followed by the venomous truth in private. It was her classic routine. I tossed the old phone onto the unmade bed, leaving it face down. I didn’t care anymore. Let them play their little games.
Tonight, the King was bringing the fire, and I was going to make sure they burned.
I threw on a simple silk slip dress provided by the hotel, walked out to the living area, and looked at Clara. "Let's go shopping. I need a dress."
"The car is waiting downstairs, Miss Elena," Clara replied smoothly.
Ten minutes later, we pulled up to L’Étoile, the most exclusive luxury boutique on the neutral border, catering only to high-ranking pack members and wealthy elite wolves.
The store was quiet, bathed in soft golden lighting, filled with rows of designer gowns.
I walked along the racks, my eyes scanning the fabrics until they landed on a mannequin near the center of the showroom. It wore a breathtaking, floor-length gown made of midnight-black silk, featuring a daring open back and a high slit that caught the light like liquid shadow. It was elegant, powerful, and entirely lethal. It was the exact opposite of the innocent white dress I had worn under the blood moon.
"I want that one," I told the shop attendant, pointing directly at the dress.
"I want that one! Oh, it’s absolutely perfect for the royal banquet!" a high-pitched, overly familiar voice chimed in from behind me.
I froze.
I turned around slowly, my inner wolf baring her teeth in my mind. Walking into the boutique, flanked by my mother and two of Caleb’s high-ranking pack warriors, was Eliana. She was dressed in a pristine pastel pink outfit, pointing her manicured finger at the exact same black dress.
When her eyes landed on me, her faux-innocent expression faltered for a fraction of a second before twisting into a look of absolute, mocking amusement.
"Oh," Eliana gasped, loudly enough for the entire boutique to hear, clapping her hands over her mouth. "Elena? You're safe."
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