Chapter 108
Claire’s POV
“Mommy, you look like a princess!” Nova said.
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We were in my bedroom. I was wearing the dress I had purchased for tonight’s event. My hair and makeup had been professionally done, my hair up in a bun, and my makeup tastell and discreet. I still felt naked without my mask, especially going to a place like this, but I had no other choice. This makeup was going to have to be mask enough, even if it did nothing to hide me.
I twirled to make Nova laugh and caught sight of myself in the mirror.
My sky blue dress was covered in crystals that sparkled like diamonds even under the tungsten lights of my bedroom. The dress was sleeveless with many crystals around the bodice, going all the way up to my neck. Because of the crystals, I didn’t need a necklace, but I wore a pair of earrings and a bracelet that matched.
“We should show Uncle Ivan!” Nova said. Taking my hand, she dragged me out into the hallway. There, we started heading toward Ivan’s office.
When we entered, Ivan was looking at something on his desk. He was dressed smartly in a dark navy suit with a black tie.
“Uncle Ivan!” Nova sing–songed. “Tell Mommy she looks like a princess!”
Ivan turned. He was smiling slightly at first, the corner of his mouth quirked up as it always did when Nova asked her silly requests of him. But as he turned, as he looked at me, the smile slipped.
He didn’t say anything, just stared at me for a long moment.
Ivan was a man of few words, but I’d never seen him speechless before.
Then, in a breath, I could have sworn I heard him say, “Lena.”
That was my mother’s name.
I blinked and shook my head a little. I must have misheard.
“What did you just say?” I asked him.
He straightened a little. “Nothing,” he said. He cleared his throat. You look…” He paused a moment. “Lovely.”
“Thank you,” I said, still confused. He had definitely said something, and that something sounded a lot like name. But if he wasn’t going to tell me, he wasn’t going to tell me.
my
mother’s
There was no way he could have said Lena. He had to have said something else.
It didn’t matter. I pushed the thought from my mind.
“We should go,” Ivan said. “There will be traffic as we approach the banquet hall. We don’t want to be late.”
“Okay.” Quickly I turned to Nova.
“Good luck, Mommy. I know you can do it!”
I wished I could share in her confidence, but I smiled all the same. “Thank you, honey. Be good for the babysitters.”
“Wake me up when you come back. I want to hear everything right away!”
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Chapter 108
I laughed a little. “I will.”
Ivan held out his arm for me and I accepted it. Together, we left the pack house and went to the waiting car
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We had to cross a few pack boundaries to get to the Royal Pack where the Alpha King resided and ruled. Ivan and I made light small talk along the way, but we were both a bit short with each other. I was nervous, and Ivan was likely unhappy at being pulled to an event he usually ignored.
He never did tell me why, I wondered if he had a good reason, o if he was just antisocial. I naturally assumed the second. Glancing at him though, I wondered. I could ask him, but I doubled he would tell me the truth.
Ivan was a good friend, but he had many secrets. And those secres he guarded behind an unbreakable lock
There were still many things about him I did not know, things I had already accepted that I would never know,
This might be just one more of those things.
“We’re here,” Ivan said then, startling me from my thoughts.
I looked out the window, watching as we approached the extraordinary golden palace. Lights shone on the massive building, painting it in a sea of colors. Fireworks popped above the roof.
“Garish,” Ivan said.
Yes, but it seemed as if the King liked to throw a party.
With so much glam and glitter on display, I would have to work extra hard to stay vigilant. I needed to contain my awe and wonder to focus on my task.
First thing first, I needed to meet with the Alpha King. We’d never met, so I would have to introduce myself and then try to convince him to hear me out.
It had only been a couple days since Justin had made his threats. Even if he had put his lawsuit in with the Royal Pack, it would take time for it to find its way to the Alpha King for his judgement. I should still have time to convince him that Justin was being misled by the traitorous Daphne.
It shouldn’t be too late.
The car came to a stop in front of a large part of the estate I assumed was the ballroom. Ivan exited the car first, then came around to my side to offer me his hand and then his arm.
Ivan held the invitation in his hand, but even so, there was a long line of people trying to get into the ballroom. Some were cast to the side, with guards pulling them away.
A party like this, it seemed everyone in the kingdom wanted to be inside. I tried to contain my excitement, knowing I needed to stay on task. But even with all the parties I had attended in my life, I’d never been to something as big and
elaborate as this.
The guards at the door accepted our invitation and allowed us inside.
The minute we stepped through the open doors, my eyes nearly bulged straight out of my head.
The ballroom was massive and positively covered in silver balloons and streamers. Crystal chandeliers hung down, lighting up the room. Wait staff bustled around, a tray of appetizers at every nook and corner. One step in the room, and a flute of champagne was slipped into my hand.
“This is amazing,” I said.
“Stay focused,” Ivan said. “I don’t want to be here any longer than we need to be.”
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Chapter 108
“Right,” I said, trying to push down my childish wonder once more.
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“Alpha Ivan,” said an older woman as she approached us. “I never thought I’d see you here again. At least not without… Oh.
you Lena! Forgive me. I had heard that died.”
My heart leapt up into my throat. Lena? Did this person know my mother?
“Ms. Watts, this isn’t Lena,” Ivan said, his voice tight. “This is Clate.”
“Oh…” Ms. Watts removed her glasses, cleaned them with a cloth then returned them to her face. She looked closer at me. “Oh, I see the differences now. How curious, dear. You look just like Lena” She flitted her gaze to Ivan, yet before she could say more, Ivan ushered me away.
“Nice talking with you, Ms. Watts,” he said before we turned.
“Who was that?” I asked.
“Someone with poor eyesight,” Ivan said. He was filled with tension now.
I didn’t have all the facts, but I was starting to understand why he didn’t want to come.
I hadn’t seen him this on edge in a while.
Gideon’s POV
After handing over my invitation, I was allowed into the ballroom.
Under my arm, I had a folder of evidence.
I only needed a chance to talk with the King.
AD
