Chapter 6

"We're here," the woman said to me.

I stopped walking when I realized where I was standing right now.

"Why? What's the matter?" she asked. Among all the stories that she told me when we were walking towards here, I can only remember her name: Tatiana.

"I shouldn't have come here," I murmured, finally realizing what I had done. "I can't be here."

I want to knock my head off.

Tatiana's face was now etched with confusion. "What do you mean?"

I smiled and told her, "Nothing. You can go ahead inside."

She eyed me suspiciously. "Are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Well, then..." Tatiana waved at me before she let herself enter the gigantic and enormous entrance of the palace.

From here, I could hear the lively music and loud rustles from the inside.

I turned around to walk away and go back to our manor, but a smiling face greeted me.

"Good day, lady. Are you invited to the ball?"  He said. He looks like one of the attendants who's assisting the incoming guests.

"Yes, but—"

I couldn't even finish what I was saying because the man immediately ushered me inside, and my mind was so out of it that I just let him usher me inside.

"Welcome to the Ealaris Ball, which Alpha Sinclair is hosting himself. What can I do for you, my lady?" he asked when we were past the entrance.

"Nothing. Please be on your way. I'll look for my best friend," I politely said, and he obliged.

And so, I cautiously walked around to find Samantha in the hopes that Aunt Violet wouldn't spot me.

"A drink, my lady?" a servant offered. On his hands is a tray of glasses filled with sparkling white wine.

I looked around, and after that, I raised my arm and got myself one. Everybody seems to be enjoying and blending in well with this on their hands. "Thank you."

The servant bows and makes his way to find visitors who might want more.

There are a lot of unfamiliar faces that I am seeing right now. The mate-less werewolves of the 3 sections of the Kingdom of Ealaris gathered here today, and it made me realize that the chosen one is among one of... us.

"Hey," a lady with a wide smile said in passing. "You look great!"

"Hi," I said back. "I am not sure about that, but thank you!"

She stopped in front of me.

"No, you look stunning in your dress! My friends saw you enter, and we're all admiring how beautiful you are!" She gestured her glass for a toast. "I'm Irene."

"Oh, thank you, but this is just my everyday dress." My cheeks surely turned pink with the compliment. I accepted her toast, and our glasses clinked. "I'm Leigh."

I sipped the wine.

It's too bad that I can't even tell her my real name to be safe. She seems nice.

"I would love to trade faces with you, Leigh."

She waved good-bye and proceeded to walk.

I continued to roam around carefully while being conscious of my surroundings. I don't want either Aunt Violet or Vivian to see me here.

My eyes caught a familiar blue ball gown a few meters away from me.

Vivian was too busy laughing, chatting, and probably boasting about herself with the ladies in their circle for her to notice me, so I continued walking while remaining on the sides of the huge ballroom.

Suddenly, my gut-feeling stroked, and I felt that somebody was looking at me right now.

"No way..." I murmured.

I hope that it's not Aunt Violet, whoever that is.

I left my almost empty glass of wine at the vacant table that I saw and went on my way. Then, my feet took me to a spot where nobody was around.

This is the perfect place to stay still and hide from all the people. My feet are also a little bit hurting from walking around here and there when I noticed a small doorway on my right side.

I stilled my breathing and calmed myself so I could rest a bit before I resumed finding Samantha when I heard faint voices that were coming just near where I was.

I looked around, but nobody seemed to be paying attention to it but me.

My curiosity wouldn't let me stay still, and so I walked to where the voice was coming from.

I got close to the voices, and now I could hear them much clearer.

"Did anybody see you?" a voice asked.

"No. I made sure that nobody would," another voice answered.

I walked closer to the voices so I could hear what the two of them were saying.

"I'm so nervous, mother. What if your plan fails?" the second one asked. "We should’ve done the original plan."

"And what? Are we just supposed to trust your plan to charm him? Dear, he didn't even bat an eye earlier when you introduced yourself to him again," the first one said.

"He looked for her," the younger one said. There seems to be disgust in the tone of her voice.

"After tonight, he won't give even a single glance at her. He wouldn't even remember that he knew her, dear. Tomorrow, he will only look at you for the rest of your lives."

My breathing hitched. It took me a moment, but I finally know whose voice I'm hearing right now.

It is Aunt Violet and Vivian's.

"Are you sure that is going to work?" Vivian asked.

"When did I ever do something that failed?" the aunt asked.

Vivian didn't answer, but her silence screams 'Never'.

"Where is he right now?" Vivian asked.

"He is upstairs. Wait—no. Don't go there yet, dear. We need to give it a little bit of time for it to take effect," Aunt said.

I heard Vivian’s sigh. "I'm shaking, but I can't wait."

"Calm down, my dear. I will tell you when it is time for you to go to him," Aunt assured.

"I'll try."

"After tonight, you will officially be Archer Sinclair's Luna, my dear Vivian."