Chapter 2

"You're not interested in Archer?" Samantha asked, almost shouting. She's looking at me like I'm impossible. "Are you even for real?"

I shook my head up and down. "Yes, I am not. Is there anything wrong with that?"

Samantha closed her eyes like she was calming herself and opened them again. "I can't believe you, Leila!"

"Why?" I nonchalantly asked.

"I guess I haven't seen Archer yet, am I right?" she asked. I nodded. "Figured. Because if you do, you'll want him for yourself, too."

"I don't think so, Sam. I mean, is he that great?" I asked. "I've heard some things about him before, but I don't really care that much. I heard he's scary."

Samantha snapped her fingers in front of me. He is, but he's hot! It makes sense that you don't know much about him because he's kind of aloof. He usually wanders on the mountains to patrol and make sure that he's maintaining peace in the kingdom."

"He fights the rouges?" I asked. She nodded.

"He does, and usually alone."

I nodded, fully understanding that his might and power definitely run in the family.

"Just last year, he handpicked the sentinels himself who would join him in his hunt to capture all the rouges that were imposing a threat to the kingdom, and since then, he has never failed to bring one whenever they're out on a hunt," she told me.

I mentally noted that I should wish that our paths would never cross because I don't think I will be able to handle the intimidating aura of his based on Samantha's description.

"I heard of that. His name's always in the newspaper, but they've never shown his face," I said.

Samantha bounced closer to me, and now we are both engrossed in the topic. "If you're thinking that he's mighty and all that, what if he's ugly? He is not. You know Mandy from the other pack?"

I nodded. I know her. We're not friends, but I knew her during one of the peace meetings with other packs that my dad made me come to.

"So, her cousin's serving at the Ealaris Palace, and they could swear to the Moon Goddess that Archer Sinclair is everything but ugly. He's a really fine man that any girl would want, Leila."

"But why doesn't he have a mate?" I asked.

My best friend frowned. "I don't know. There's a rumor circling around the kingdom that Archer was cursed by the Wolfsbane Goddess for being ruthless, but some also say that she predicted that he would never have his mate ever since he was young."

"And him not having a Luna might hinder him from inheriting the throne," I said, drawing out the conclusion.

"Yes. That is why the Alpha king arranges the ball annually to find a suitable Luna for the Alpha heir. Do you think they will be able to find one this year?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Who knows?" 

Samantha giggled and nudged me. "That is why we should come. This could be our last chance to be Archer's Luna."

I silently laughed. "Do we even stand a chance there?"

"Me?" Samantha pointed at herself. "Probably not. But you?" She pointed at me. "You stand a chance with him. Your father's also an Alpha of a pretty reputable and strong but small pack. You're pretty and absolutely amazing in everything that you do. I hate to admit it, but your stepmother's pretty influential on society too, so why would there be no chance for you?"

My cheeks heated with the shower of compliments directed at me. "I don't know. I don't really aim to be a Luna."

***

"Is there anything else that my daughter could try on? I want her to wear the most gorgeous gown your atelier has to offer," Aunt Violet said.

I sighed at my seat and continued to busy my eyes with the people, carriages, and basically everything that was happening outside the window of the Atelier house.

"How about your other gorgeous daughter over here, Madame?" the designer asked her, and then he turned at me with his eyes twinkling. "Is there a particular dress that you fancy, my dear? I am sure my dresses will all look stunning on you."

I glanced at my aunt Violet and saw that she was already glaring at me with her wicked eyes.

"Don't mind her, darling. That other daughter will not be attending the ball, so just leave her alone there," she said in her sweetest tone but full of firmness and authority.

We've been shopping and walking around with mostly me following the two, and yes, I would really appreciate being left alone right now.

The designer's eyebrows perked up. "Oh no, why is she not attending?"

"She can't attend, dear," my aunt answered.

"That's a shame. I could totally envision her—what was your name again, my dear?"

"Leila Pierce," I answered.

"What a beautiful name! It means daughter of darkness, but you definitely look like a lady of light, Leila. I could see you leaving everybody in awe with my dress on your body," he said. "So, why can't you come to the ball?"

"Because she said so," I said, referring to Aunt Violet.

Aunt Violet cleared her throat to get our attention and then sinisterly smiled. "I think Vivian, my only daughter, wants to try more of your gowns. Shall we, Yves?"

Yves, the designer, awkwardly nodded. Before they entered another room, he quickly gave me a worried look in his glance, but I just smiled at him before facing the window for, I don't know, how many times now.

Everybody was busy attending Vivian, and my boredom is striking, so I walked out of the Atelier house to breathe some fresh air, but I was so intrigued when I saw a bunch of our kind fussing that later on became a commotion.

"Excuse me, what is happening there?" I asked a passer by.

"Archer Sinclair did it again," he curtly said.

Just then, my pair of hazel eyes locked into the pair of silver eyes of a man.