Seraphina's POV
I stayed in the shadows, sipping the same untouched drink I'd been holding for the last twenty minutes. The music floated through the night air, blending laughter and clinking glasses. From my corner, I watched the gala unfold like a well-rehearsed play.
Near the center, Alpha Daniel laughed too loudly as he spoke with the other Alphas—a classic showman. Everything about him screamed dominance and pride, from the way he held his drink to the way the others listened when he spoke.
A little further down, Jake stood with Riley, clinging to him like a parasite in glitter. She kept tossing her hair, giggling, and pressing herself against him like she was made of glue. Jake, of course, looked smug and flattered, like this was his rightful kingdom. I hoped they'd trip over each other and fall into the punch bowl.
And then, to the far right, I saw Lira.
In a dress that sparkled more than the moonlight, she stood beside one of the most handsome men in the werewolf world.
Alpha Kane.
He was one of the youngest reigning Alphas in the north. Powerful, ruthless, and looked like he'd walked out of a war and into a suit. He was the man Lira warned me to stay away from.
Apparently, she had staked some sort of claim over him, like he was a piece of meat. Everyone in the werewolf world knew that Lira was head over heels for him and wanted to marry him.
Unfortunately, he was not her mate.
Right now, he was standing still, arms crossed, giving Lira a look that practically screamed, "Get away from me." But of course, Lira being Lira didn't get the hint. She laughed, leaning closer, and brushed something off his coat that wasn't even there.
A disgusted look flashed across his face. Seeing that, I have to bite back a laugh. She was trying too hard, and failing beautifully.
I moved my gaze away and looked at the other wolves who paired off and filled the dance floor. Many of them looked excited and hopeful. Some were probably meeting their mates tonight. Some were just here for show. But none of it involved me.
I kept to my corner, the wallflower, the cursed one. Out of sight, out of trouble. Because, just as always, when you don't go looking for trouble, trouble finds you anyway.
Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Frowning, I turned and my breath caught immedietely. My eyes widened in shock when I saw Alpha Kane standing right beside me, giving me an amused smile.
His presence was strong and impossible to ignore. He stood tall and confident, wearing a dark suit that made him look even more intimidating.
"Care to dance?"
I blinked.
Wait, what?
Was he serious?
Out of all the people here, why would Alpha Kane ask me to dance? I stared at him, completely thrown off. My heart gave a startled flutter, and for a moment, I wondered if I'd imagined it.
I opened my mouth, ready to say no. Absolutely not!
There was no way I was going to dance with him. I didn't want to draw more attention to myself. I had made it through most of the night by blending into the background.
A dance with Alpha Kane would be like stepping into a spotlight I never asked for. But just as I was about to speak, I felt it—that sharp, burning feeling. Someone was watching me.
I turned my head slightly and scanned the crowd.
Then I saw her.
Lira.
She was standing stiffly, her lips pressed into a tight line. Her hands clenched around her silver clutch so tightly I thought it might snap in half. Her perfectly glossed lips parted just enough to reveal the rage burning behind her eyes.
She looked like she'd just been slapped across the face. In fact, she looked like she was ready to tear me apart. Her gaze dropped to Alpha Kane's outstretched hand, then back to me.
Her fingers clenched at her sides, and for the first time tonight, I truly felt fear. If looks could kill, I would have dropped dead on the spot.
My heart sank. This was not good.
Alpha Kane took a step closer. "It's just a dance. I promise, I don't bite," he said lightly, almost teasing.
"No... It's not that," I said quickly, backing a step away. "I just—I don't really dance."
His brows drew together in a slight frown, like he wasn't used to being turned down. For a second, he looked confused. But then, something in my expression must've given it away—my hesitation, my fear—because his gaze flicked over, right at Lira.
He sighed, a bit annoyed. "Is it because of her?"
I didn't answer. Instead, I turned around and walked away as fast as I could. No—ran. Not too fast to draw attention, but fast enough to escape that moment. Whatever games they were playing, I didn't want any part of it.
I had been invisible all my life. I didn't want to become someone's entertainment now.
I moved through the crowd and ducked into another quiet corner near the edge of the field. My heart pounded in my chest, not from the run, but from the panic. That was too close.
I leaned against the cold stone, breathing heavily. "Ten more minutes," I whispered to myself. "Just ten more, and I'll be gone from this place forever."
The gala continued, couples danced, and the elders chatted. The world carried on like it always did, with no one paying attention to me. I closed my eyes and waited. But peace never lasted long around here. When I opened my eyes, I saw them.
Lira and Marina.
They were making their way straight toward me. Their heels clicked perfectly in sync. Their smiles were too polished, too fake. Lira had a wine glass in her hand, filled to the brim with deep red liquid. A very familiar setup. I knew this game. I'd seen it before.
I already knew exactly what was going to happen next.
They were going to "accidentally" spill it on me.
Ruin my dress.
Make a scene.
Humiliate me.
And honestly? I was counting on it.
Little do they know, they're about to do me the biggest favor of the night. Nothing says "time to leave" like a ruined gown.