Chapter Eleven
633 Words
Before Ronan could ask me anymore questions, the music shifted.
The loud, intense, military-style drumming of the northern packs suddenly fades out, giving way to a completely different kind of music.
This new song isn't just background noise; it is a specific, sacred, or formal piece of music. Everyone hearing it in the room knew it was time for a ritual dance, to celebrate two rival groups forming alliance together.
"Dance with me," Ronan commanded suddenly.
I blinked, looking up at him in shock through the sheer fabric of my veil. "Are you mad? Everyone is watching."
"Exactly," he said, his dark smile returning, sharp and dangerous.
"An Alpha dancing with a mysterious, hidden stranger is exactly what this court would love to whisper about. But while they are busy staring at us, trying to understand out who you are, they’ll completely miss what’s happening in the dark. Corvin playing the game, messing with Wren's head."
Without waiting for my agreement, he at once pulled me onto the polished stone floor.
"Dancing with a werewolf had nothing to do with the music. It was a silent tug-of-war for control, and I was fighting not to break."
Ronan took a dangerous, quiet move. He closed the distance between us, his hand tightening around my waist until I was pressed flat against him, I could even feel the rapid beat of his heart.
Every part of me wanted to hide in the dark and act weak, but the fire burning inside me wouldn't let me hide.
I forced myself to match his steps, with my simple gown twisting around my legs.
Standing next to him, felt like a dark shadow, pinning against his powerful, explosive power.
We were opposites, yet perfectly bounded together in the spotlight.
"You are adapting too well to this world, Delvin." He growled softly, spinning me under his arm without ever breaking eye contact. Feeling so possessive of me on the dance floor.
"You bought a girl from an auction block, Alpha," I breathed, letting the music grow louder, as i stepped right back to his embrace. "But you never for once asked what she did before ending up in those chains."
Ronan simply smiled.
As we rotated toward the edge of the floor, we suddenly began to hear the furious whisper of our enemies.
"You swore the Edevane borders were ours, Wren!"
Corvin’s voice came out as a harsh whisper, almost buried by the background noise of the room. But my ears were actively hearing every word, I caught them perfectly.
"Do you think my father risked a war with the Chiefdoms just so the Thorneclaws could hand those silver mines over to the southern packs? Absolutely not."
For once, Wren's face changed, from her perfect, royal, flawless composure to a genuinely confused human.
Her eyes widened in total shock, then instantly hardened with fury.
"Are you loosing your mind, human? We haven't even signed the treaty yet. Who gave you that information?"
"A traveler. Someone with news straight from the border," Corvin blew up because of his own fears, and he didn't see the trap coming.
"If your father is playing me for a fool—"
"Watch your mouth," Wren hissed. Her voice sounded like an angry animal, making Corvin jump back and visibly shake.
"Remember your place. You’re just a human from a dying family, and to keep living, you need our protection. Don't you dare accuse my Alpha of treachery."
From the dais, Aldric noticed the commotion.
The great Thorneclaw Alpha stoop up, he was so huge that his body was blocking out the light over the feast.
His sharp eyes scanned the room, instantly silencing everyone, making it hard to breathe as he looked for the troublemaker.
- Writer
