Chapter 11
_Kael’s POV_ “I want to look beautiful for you, Kael,” Roxanne said as she slipped her arm through mine. It was early morning, and the sunlight streamed through the windows of the dining hall where I sat eating my breakfast in silence. I hadn’t even finished my first sip of coffee when she dropped the news. “I want to go dress shopping today. For the engagement party.” She smiled sweetly, batting her lashes at me like it would soften the blow. I sighed and placed my cup down. “You don’t need me for that, Roxanne. Take your friends. Or your mom.” She pouted. “But I want you. You’re my fiancé, aren’t you? I want you to help me pick the perfect dress.” “You’ll look good in anything,” I muttered, already dreading the idea of spending hours in dress shops. “You don’t need me there to tell you that.” “But I do!” she insisted, tugging at my arm. “Come on, Kael. You’ve barely spent time with me lately. Are you avoiding me?” I looked at her. “No.” She tilted her head. “Then why won’t you come with me?” I sighed again, dragging a hand through my hair. “Because I don’t like shopping. I never have.” She raised a brow. “So you won’t do this one thing for me? Is that it?” I didn’t answer. She stepped closer, her tone dropping. “Am I not important to you?” “Roxanne—” “Don’t you love me?” she whispered. I paused. The words stuck in my throat. She continued before I could say anything. “I want you there because your opinion matters to me, Kael. I want to know what you think. I want to wear something you love. I want to be beautiful for you.” I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to meet her eyes. “Any dress will look beautiful on you. You’re naturally pretty.” A soft smile lit up her face. “Then come tell me that in the shop.” “Rox—” “Please?” she pressed, eyes pleading. “Just this once?” I stared at her, feeling cornered. I didn’t want to go. Shopping was boring. Even when my mother dragged me along when I was younger, it had always been a nightmare. Long hours, endless waiting, and nothing that interested me. But Roxanne was determined. And I was too tired to argue. “Fine,” I muttered. She beamed. “Thank you!” We left for town after lunch. The first few shops we visited were nothing short of torture. Roxanne tried on dozens of dresses, none of which satisfied her. Too sparkly. Too plain. Too short. Too puffy. “I want something elegant,” she complained as she stepped out of the third boutique. “Something regal. These just aren’t doing it.” I rubbed the back of my neck. “We’ve already been to four stores.” She crossed her arms, frowning. “I heard of a place in the Frostbane Pack. A designer boutique. Apparently, it’s amazing. Maybe we’ll find something there.” I raised a brow. “Frostbane?” She nodded. “Yes. I think it’s called Elira’s Silks. They sell all kinds of things. Not just gowns—normal clothes too. High-end stuff. I want to go there.” I hesitated. Technically, there was no issue. Our packs were on good terms. My father and Alpha Rylan had mutual respect. There had been no border disputes, no conflicts. Frostbane had remained neutral during rogue attacks too. Still, it wasn’t common for pack members to just wander into another territory without notice. “I’ll call my father,” I said. “Ask him to contact Rylan.” Roxanne clapped her hands together. “Perfect!” An hour later, we were on the road to Frostbane territory. My father had called Rylan and gotten us clearance. The gates opened for us without delay. Elira’s Silks stood near the center of the town—a large, elegant building with glass windows and a sleek sign carved into stone. It looked expensive even from the outside. Inside, it was even more impressive. The shop was massive—two stories high, with different sections for men, women, and children. Rows of dresses lined one side of the room, ranging from casual to formal. Soft instrumental music played in the background, and the air smelled faintly of roses and sandalwood. Roxanne’s eyes lit up instantly. “This is it,” she said, practically skipping toward the dress racks. I followed slowly, hands in my pockets, already scanning for the men’s section where I could disappear. “I’ll be looking here,” she said over her shoulder. “Stay close in case I need your opinion!” “Right,” I muttered. I wandered toward the men’s aisle. The clothes were nice. They were sophisticated and of high quality. Nothing like the usual boring suits. I caught myself flipping through the shirts, trailing fingers over the fabric. One caught my eye—a black linen shirt with silver buttons. Not bad. For a second, I forgot where I was. Then Roxanne’s voice rang out. “Kael! How does this one look on me?” I turned around. She stood in front of a full-length mirror in a red strapless gown. It hugged her figure tightly and had a slit that went all the way up her thigh. She twirled once, then struck a pose. “Well?” she asked. I walked over, rubbing my jaw. “It’s… not bad.” Her face fell. “Not bad?” I shrugged. “It’s a little… much.” “Much?” she repeated, offended. “I think it’s sexy.” I frowned. “It’s not you, Roxanne.” She narrowed her eyes. “Then what is me?” I looked around and pulled out a different dress—an emerald green one with off-shoulder sleeves and intricate lacework on the bodice. Elegant, refined. It reminded me of something my mother might have worn. “Try this,” I said. She took it from me, inspecting it. “Hmm… fine. I’ll try it.” She disappeared into the changing room. I turned back toward the men’s section, casually flipping through a rack of jackets. Behind me, I heard the bell on the door chime, signaling new customers. I didn’t pay attention at first. Then I heard a soft voice. “Excuse me, where’s the section for feminine underwear?” My ears perked up. That voice… Another voice answered her quietly, but I didn’t catch it. I turned slightly, glancing toward the source. That’s when I saw her. In the reflection of the mirror. She had brown hair pulled into a braid, and blue eyes that pierced straight through me. My heart stopped. No. It couldn’t be. I turned around fully, mouth slightly open. She was standing near the entrance, her lips parted in shock as she stared back at me. It was her. Lisa. She was alive. And she was here. In Frostbane. My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t move. We just stood there, staring at each other across the shop. Frozen in place. Two ghosts colliding in the middle of a designer boutique. And in that moment, nothing else existed. Not Roxanne. Not the engagement. Not the past. Just her. Lisa. Alive. And right in front of me.
