*~Gabrielle's POV~*
We arrived at the High House, and it looked like the polar opposite of our own. The walls were ancient and Gothic. A glowing moon hung directly above, illuminating the night. People were bustling in and out of the High House. Maidens my age were scattered around, some gossiping, others running errands, and many blushing as male wolves tried to impress them.
And I couldn't help but wish I were one of them.
As soon as our carriage touched the ground, the crowd fell silent and turned to us. They stared, awestruck, at our carriage and began murmuring to one another, which made Mother smile.
"Gabrielle, dear, please put this on," she said, handing me a mask. I accepted it hesitantly and tied it around my neck.
"No one must see you until I tell you to reveal yourself. Is that clear?" she asked.
"Yes, Mother," I replied as our carriage slowly came to a stop. I wanted to peek inside the High House, but she tapped my hand and shot me a stern look.
She pressed a button beside her, and the curtains slowly opened. I could see a large crowd already seated, with tables arranged for what appeared to be important guests. A guard stood on a rock, holding a book and calling out names as people stepped forward to take their seats.
Soon, he announced my sisters' names, and I instinctively leaned forward to look.
"All hail the maidens from the Forbes House!" he called.
Annabelle and Isabelle walked in slowly and took their seats. The crowd began to buzz with whispers and gossip, especially from the men seated directly opposite them. Then the guard turned toward our carriage and called out Mother's name. She turned to me.
"I will be going in now. You will only step out when I send your sisters to get you. I want your debut to be beautiful," she instructed, adjusting herself in the carriage. She snapped her fingers, and Levy swayed his sword as the guard announced:
"All hail Her Royal Priestess, Lady Arielle, the predecessor of the current White Wolf, and the current mother of the Forbes House!"
"All hail!" everyone echoed in unison.
Mother gracefully stepped down from the carriage, savoring the moment. All eyes were on her as she walked over to my sisters and took her seat beside them. She waved with a smile, while the older men across from them glared. She returned their glares with a smirk.
"You have called for a ball tonight, Lady Arielle," one of the elder men spoke up quickly, and the rest nodded in agreement.
"Don't get ahead of yourself, Elder Grayson," she replied gracefully. "Let's wait for the Alpha before we start any unnecessary talking."
"Unnecessary? Do you think I don't have better things to do at home than attend your unnecessary ball?" Elder Grayson barked.
Another elder chimed in, "Well, his father, the former Alpha, is here," he said, pointing to the man seated next to the large, empty throne-like seat. "And what makes you think you have the power to call for a ball or gathering in the High House, Lady Arielle?"
"Since when did I not have the power?" Mother asked, raising an eyebrow with a touch of feigned confusion.
"You no longer possess the White Wolf. The day you lost your daughter, you lost all your powers, old lady," he barked again.
Mother laughed. "Oh, Elder August… when have you ever not been funny? Calling me an old woman? If I'm old, then I wonder what your wretched wife is," she said casually.
He flared up.
"Don't you DARE!" he roared, standing and howling as the other elders tried to pull him back into his seat.
"Oh, come at me, August. I DARE YOU," Mother snapped, rising to her feet and striding toward him. My sisters whispered for her to sit down, but she glared at them, and they quickly returned to their seats.
"You don't want me to, old lady," Elder August said with a bitter laugh, and the others chuckled in agreement.
"Oh, I dare," she whispered darkly. "Leave him," she ordered the men restraining him. When they hesitated, she barked louder, "I said LEAVE HIM!"
They released him instantly, stepping away. The two of them faced each other in eerie silence.
"Oh, Mother…" I whispered, tightening my grip on the rod inside the carriage.
"You were saying…?" she asked him, standing right in his face.
He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His tongue twisted oddly, and he gasped, unable to speak. Panic seized his expression as he stumbled backward, moving like a frightened cub. His mates rushed to his aid, and murmurs began to rise around the gathering.
Even the former Alpha stood up, alarmed, followed by everyone else present. Mother simply smirked in satisfaction.
"SILENCE!"
A deep, masculine voice thundered through the entire courtyard, jolting everyone—including me.
The voice came from right beside my carriage. I quickly peeked through the side, my breath catching in my throat.
Goodness. Even from the side view, I could tell he was an extremely gorgeous man.
"All hail His Majesty, Damien von Moretti, the current Alpha of the Riverdale Pack and ruler of all the lands of California," the guard announced.
"All hail!" the entire gathering echoed, with Mother, the elders, and even the former Alpha rising to their feet.
I immediately sat back down before anyone could suspect someone was inside the carriage.
He walked toward his throne with power, purpose, and absolute control. Wolves, some in their true forms and others in human form, trailed behind him like a royal entourage.
His aura was magnificent—overwhelming. It was not just Alpha-level; it was beyond anything I had ever felt.
I couldn't stop myself from watching. I strained to see his full face. Then he took his seat.
As his full face came into view, I nearly stumbled out of the carriage.
An aquiline nose. Heart-shaped lips. Piercing eyes. A tall frame. A masculine build. And a face so gorgeous it looked as if it had been carved by the gods themselves.
Everyone gradually took their seats as he did, but he didn't look at them.
His gaze turned to Mother, dripping with utter disappointment.
My heart dropped. Is it… HIM?