+25 Points
Chapter 189
The Night of the Gala. The big night had finally arrived. The sun went down, and the moon rose high in the sky.
I pulled the dress over my head. It felt like a weight pulling me down. I didn’t put on any jewelry. I didn’t put on any makeup. I let my hair hang flat and messy. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t see the White Wolf. I saw a woman who looked like she had lost everything.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered to my reflection. “Just hold on for a little longer.”
I put one the herbs that I got from Alice in my mouth. It tasted like dirt and old lemons. It was disgusting, but I chewed it until it was gone. I felt a strange, heavy warmth spread through my chest. It felt like my soul was being locked behind a thick stone wall.
The Pack House was transformed. There were hundreds of candles. The walls were covered in silver and black silk. It looked like a palace, but it didn’t feel like home. It felt like a trap.
At the bottom of the stairs, I saw Ovelia. She was wearing a deep purple dress. She looked at me and smirked.
“Well,” she said. “At least you’re on time. Try not to stand in the corners looking like a ghost. It makes the guests uncomfortable.”
“I’ll do my best,” I said, looking at my feet.
I walked into the main hall. It was full of people. Alphas and Lunas from other packs were there. They were all dressed in gold and jewels. When I walked in, the room went a little bit quiet. People whispered to each other.
“Is that the White Wolf?” I heard someone ask.
“She looks so plain,” another woman whispered. “I thought she was supposed to be a queen.”
I ignored them. I looked toward the center of the room.
There was Astor. He was wearing a black suit that made him look tall and powerful. And standing right next to him, her hand tucked into his arm, was Annabella. She was wearing the bright gold dress. She was wearing a diamond crown. She looked like the Luna of the Eternal Pack.
Astor looked at me. His eyes were like two pieces of ice. He didn’t smile. He didn’t even nod. He just looked away, back to the person he was talking to.
It hurt. Even though I knew it was a play, seeing him with her in front of everyone felt like a
1/4
:
< Chapter 189
knife in my heart.
+25
Points
Annabella saw me and waved. She looked so happy. She looked like she had already won.
“Faith! You made it!” she called out. She walked over to me, dragging Astor with her. “Don’t you look… practical. It’s a very sensible dress for a cold night.”
“Thank you,” I said softly.
Annabella leaned in and whispered so only I could hear. “Everyone is asking why the White Wolf is dressed like a servant. I told them you were feeling humble today.”
I didn’t answer. I looked at Astor.
“Astor,” I said. “Can I talk to you? Just for a second?”
“I’m busy, Faith,” he said. His voice was loud so people could hear. “I’m talking to Alpha Silas.”
Standing behind them was my uncle who had a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. The man refused to acknowledge me as his niece. He looked like a snake in a suit.
“Oh, let her speak, Astor,” Alpha Silas said. His voice was smooth and oily. “A wife should be allowed to speak to her husband.” He was trying to act like he was doing me a favor but I can see right through him.
“Fine,” Astor snapped. “Five minutes.”
He led me toward a small balcony. As soon as we were alone, I felt the shield go up and he blocked the view with his body.
“Take this,” I whispered. I pushed the second piece of root into his hand.
Astor didn’t ask questions. He put it in his mouth and chewed. I saw his face twist from the bitter taste, but he swallowed it.
“Midnight,” he whispered. “Silas has his men ready. They think I’m going to lead you down there to ‘discuss‘ the ritual.”
“I’m ready,” I said.
“Faith,” he said, his voice cracking for a second. “If anything goes wrong… get the kids and
run.”
“Nothing is going to go wrong,” I said. “We’re together. We don’t lose.”
He looked like he wanted to kiss me, but he stopped himself. He turned back into the cold Alpha.
2/4
< Chapter 189
“Get back inside,” he said loudly. “I’m done talking to you.”
He walked back into the party. I followed him, feeling the eyes of the guests on me.
+25 Pointe
The next few hours were a nightmare. I had to stand there while people ignored me. I had to watch Annabella feed Astor grapes and laugh at his jokes. I had to watch Ovelia tell the elders that Annabella was the “future of the pack.”
My skin was crawling. Every time Uncle Silas looked at me, I felt like a bug under a microscope. He wasn’t looking at me like a person. He was looking at me like a pawn he wanted to use.
Finally, the clock began to chime. It was almost midnight.
The music stopped. Uncle Silas walked to the front of the room.
“Friends,” he said, holding up a glass of wine. “Tonight is a night of change. We have seen our Packs struggle. Tonight we offer a gift. A ritual of healing and power.”
The guests cheered. They didn’t know what he meant.
Silas looked at Astor. “Alpha Astor, it is time. Bring your Luna. We must begin the ceremony in the quiet of the earth.”
Astor walked over to me. He grabbed my arm. He wasn’t gentle. He pulled me toward the door that led to the basement.
Annabella followed us, her eyes glowing with excitement. Ovelia was there too, looking nervous but determined.
We walked down the stone stairs. The air got colder with every step and it smelled like old blood and cold metal.
We reached the bottom. The pack basement was huge and it’s not a place that I usually visited in all these years. In the center of the room, there was a large circle drawn on the floor in black salt.
And around the circle were the jars.
Hundreds of them. They were glowing with a faint, blue light. Inside each jar, I could see a tiny, flickering flame. Those were the spirits of the stolen wolves.
I don’t know who brought them here but this was some weird s**t.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Alpha Silas said. He walked into the center of the circle. “All this power, just waiting to be used.”
3/4
< Chapter 189
He looked at me and Astor.
“Step into the circle,” he ordered.
$25 Points
Astor pulled me into the black salt. We stood in the center. I looked at the jars. I felt their pain. I felt their hunger for freedom.
Annabella stood at the edge of the circle. She was holding a silver dagger. Her face was twisted with greed.
“Finally,” she whispered. “I’ll be the White Wolf. I’ll have everything.”
Alpha Silas began to chant. The words were in an old, dark language. The air in the room started to swirl. The blue light in the jars got brighter.
I felt a pull on my chest. It felt like a hook was trying to grab my soul. I looked at Astor. He was shaking. His eyes were rolling back in his head.
“It’s working!” Ovelia cried. “Look at them!”
Alpha Silas laughed. It was a loud, evil sound. “Yes! Give me your power! Give me your souls!”
The pull got stronger. It was painful. It felt like my heart was being ripped out. But then, I felt the Moon–Shield root. The “heavy” feeling in my chest didn’t move. The hook couldn’t catch
- me.
I looked at Astor. He looked at me.
The play was over.
“Now?” I whispered.
Astor’s eyes cleared. The coldness was gone. A giant, golden light exploded from his body.
“NOW!” he roared.
cphakathi28
#vote#
6
