"Of course not!" Lyra rolled her eyes like June had said something silly. "I just worry about her, you know? She spends so much time by herself, doing so little. It can't be healthy for the mind. But I suppose when you're not strong enough for a busy schedule like some of us..." She trails off meaningfully, then brightens. "Oh! That reminds me—Castor's family is hosting my introduction party this Wednesday, to formally introduce me to his side of the family and everyone who's anyone will be there. The guest list is incredibly exclusive. Luna June, you will be in the city, correct? Will you accept my invite?"
It would be stupid to think that Lyra will invite Adele, she doesn't even acknowledge Adele is sitting right there, listening.
"Only if Adele join us for the party." Adele was about to refuse but stopped, when she felt June's hand over hers.
"Oh! Of course," Lyra said sweetly. "Why wouldn't she?" She turned to Adele at last, "You'll come too, won't you, sister?"
"Y-yes!"
Lyra beamed. "Wonderful, then it's settled. Now my Love, let me show you our garden. The Eledweisses and roses are in full bloom and we can use this chance to get to know each other better."
Castor chuckled before pulling Lyra closer to give her a smacking kiss on the lips, before nodding toward the table. "Excuse us." They exchanged brief goodbyes with the ladies and left together.
"Adele… I hope I didn't overstep," June said gently. "I didn't mean to push you into anything you didn't want. If the invitation made you uncomfortable—"
"No," Adele shook her head. "It will be a lie if I say I'm not uncomfortable, but Lyra is right. I… I can't always stay alone. I will attend."
"You won't be alone," June said firmly. "I'll be there with you. If it gets overwhelming, we can leave."
Their conversation drifted to June's pregnancy and other mundane things. By night Adele recieved an invitation envelop from Lyra's maid, which was placed on top of her desk. But Adele was kneeling inside her bathroom, throwing up for the third time. She wasn't sure whether it was because of the spoiled food from that morning, or the tight, coiling dread in her stomach of the social event looming ahead. Whatever the reason was it caused a dreadful night for Adele.
----
The party at Ivor estate started at six in the evening. Everything was perfect, expensive and elegant.
Objectively, the party was well organzied. The music was upbeat, and the dance area was packed, the food was tasty and plentiful, and there was a wide section of beverages.
The mood was good, people were friendly, and they all thrilled to leave a good impression on future Alpha Castor and soon-to-be Luna Ivor, his mate Princess Lyra.
But Adele was utterly alone, sipping a lone drink in some dark corner of the garden.
Her phone had buzzed that morning with June's apologetic message along with a crying emoji:
[Adele, I'm so sorry. The baby gave me false contractions. Doctor says I need complete bed rest for the next few days. Caspian won't let me leave. I tried to convince him but he's being impossible. Please forgive me!!]
She'd made up her mind standing in front of her mirror all dressed up in a simple blouse and jeans, to almost not go. But then she remembered her own resolution, to not hide anymore, to find herself a mate, to prove her worth and win her father's pride.
What are her other options? Nothing. None.
So here she was, a princess that was wearing clothes that were too shabby for this party by any standards, compared to the flowing sundresses and designer outfits the other women wore.
Adele kept her face carefully neutral, while keeping her eyes fixed on the lake in the distance.
Ignore them, just ignore them. She told herself as she heard people murmur about her.
"There you are!" Suddenly Lyra appeared and linked her arm through Adele's with surprising warmth, pulling her toward a group of young women who trailed behind her.
"Girls, this is my sister, Adele!" Lyra announced brightly. "Adele, these are my friends from university—Melissa, Charlotte, and Sophie."
Three pairs of eyes turned to assess Adele with curious gazes.
"It's so lovely to meet you!" Melissa added meaningfully, she was tall with auburn straight hair and dressed in a striking red gown. "Lyra talks about you all the time."
Does she? Adele wondered guessing what other things Lyra could possibly have said about her.
"I'll leave you girls to chat," Lyra said, already glancing toward another group of guests. "I need to make the rounds, new hostess duties and all. But Adele, stay with them, okay? They'll take good care of you."
"So, Adele," Charlotte another brunette leaned in after she saw Adele keeping quite while those three chatted with themselves. "Have you tried the pastries yet? They're from that famous bakery, what was it called...Ah! Blissturo."
"Not yet."
"Really? You should! Come on, let's get some." Charlotte hooked her arm through Adele's with easy familiarity, leading her toward one of the dessert tables.
"So, what are you?" Melissa asked Adele casually, taking another bite of the cake as they all now leaned against a standing table.
"I'm sorry? I didn't get it."
"I mean your rank," Melissa clarified, unfazed. "Sophie and I are Betas, and Charlotte here is an Alpha. So… what are you?"
Adele fell silent.
"Oh." Melissa blinked, then laughed lightly, when Charlotte quickly elbowed her in the side. "I forgot about your… condition."
A test conducted during a wolf's early teens determines their rank. For Adele, however, the results never came. She could easily pass as a human, a species rare in this world, if not for the fact that everyone knew the late Luna had given birth to her.
"Are you enjoying the party? Lyra mentioned you don't get out much. " Charlotte quickly tried to change the topic.
"It's beautiful, the gardens are stunning." She was grateful that they were including and not being rude to her.
"Aren't they? The Ivor family spares no expense."
"I heard Lyra's dress is being custom-made by Madame Rousseau," Sophie commented.
"Wow! That's a six-month waiting list normally. Even for our girl, how did she managed that?" Melissa squealed but honestly, she was jealous inside.
"Castor has both money and connection. He is a dangerous combo!"
How Melissa saw it, Castor was a trio with his handsome features. From the beginning, when Lyra introduced them she was stealing glances at him and blushing profusely. For her Castor marrying Lyra won't make him any less handsome. Every movement of his was seductive. She wondered what else he can do with those lips, and with the rest of his hard body. Oh! how she wanted to snag him for herself, just a taste will be enough. One night.
"Aren't they, Melissa?"
"Huh?"
"Princess Adele's eyes, aren't they pretty?" asked Charlotte.
"Oh! Yes, yes, they are." Melissa agreed but thought inwardly, what kind of stupid question was that?
She eyed Adele's plain clothing once more and wondered, one daughter wandering around like some dirt-gathered strays, while one daughter drips in luxury admired by all. She tsked, internally. Even though Sophie was poor, at least she wasn't pathetic enough to dress herself like this… museum piece.
Adele blinked, surprised and happy by their nice compliment. "Thank you."
The conversation drifted to fashion, then to makeup, then—inevitably—to men.
"Did you see Alpha Viktor Sandborn? He is here today." Melissa whipped out her phone, "He is very handsome! This one was taken three months ago when he visited Vilan. I have joined an exclusive discord, so we exchange snack-related information there, I can't believe it.....I was so shocked by him, that I forgot to click some hot pics of him, today."
"But isn't he a married man?"
Melissa made a face that clearly said 'so what?'. She hadn't really liked this self-righteous commoner she-Alpha b*tch. "What about you, Sophie? Anyone catching your eyes today?"
"There's this omega from the Silverwood Pack. We've been messaging...."
An omega? Thought Melissa, she deemed the topic not of her interest as she was not stupid and turned to ask Adele. "What about you, Princess? What's your type?"
Adele froze, "My... type?"
"In men!" Melissa clarified hiding her irritation. Why is she pretending she doesn't understand? Does she live under a rock? Fine! "Tall? Dark? Lean? Athletic? Intellectual? Or someone else?"
"I—I don't really know," Adele stammered. She'd never thought about it. Men had never truly interested her.
"Oh come on," Sophie said playfully. "Everyone has a type. Don't be a buzzkill, Princess. Give us atleast something."
"I suppose..." Adele searched for her type in the books she had read. "Someone soft-spoken. Intelligent. Someone who's... kind to me."
Gods! I guess, at this rate a handshake would be enough to make this boomer wet, was Melissa's thought.
"This won't do! You're being too vauge." Melissa narrowed her eyes impatiently, "OK! Let's do this. Look around the party right now. Is there anyone here who catches your eye? Anyone who fits your 'type'?"
"I don't think—"
"Come on!" Sophie urged. "Just look. You don't have to do anything about it. Just point out someone you find attractive."
"Alright." Adele turned to scan the garden party, Whom should I point to? This is pointless. I don't even know what I'm looking for.
Then her gaze caught on someone standing near the lake's edge, his back to them, one hand in his pocket as he talked to someone with head full of raven black hair.