Sabrina’s POV
The sound of my heels clicking against the floors was faint, but it didn’t exactly matter. The steady hum of loud music that was coming from the live band was all the sound I needed to hear. Not only was it melodious, it signaled the fact that what I had been looking up to for quite the longest time, was going to be coming into fruition today, and I couldn’t wait. I was so excited, it made me wonder how I hadn’t burst into my mini victory dance yet.
As I walked, I caught a fleeting glance of myself on a glass surface and I couldn’t help the huge smile that made its way to my lips.
I was clad in a silver dress that hugged my torso firmly, before flowing down from my waist and settling on the tip of my toes. My heels elevated me a bit, giving the dress a kind of floating effect. The dress’ edges were hemmed with a white flowery lace that matched the flower pastels scattered around my dress. To top it all off, the dress had a flattering neckline that left nothing to the imagination when it came to my cleavage.
I smirked.
I looked good and I knew it.
“Lady Sabrina.” Someone called out to me once I was settled into the grand hall in the palace. It was the designated spot for the ball tonight, and thanks to my efforts, it looked like something straight out of a fairytale.
“You look gorgeous tonight.” the voice said as soon as I turned to him.
“Thank you.” I didn’t hold back my grin at the compliment passed at me. He was a guest at the ball… I mean, obviously. I just didn’t remember his name but I played it cool.
“It’s just a little something I put together last minute.” I lied through my teeth. I’ve had the dress ready for over two months and I have had to watch my diet to make sure I still fit in it today.
“And the hall too?” he started, as he looked around.
“Amazing,” he finished.
I knew exactly what he meant. I had done a very amazing job and I knew it.
The musicians’ harps reached a high crescendo and descended, as the lights blinked, almost like the two elements were in tune with each other.
I allowed myself to revel in more compliments as I strolled around. I knew a good number of the guests that had shown up, and each one of them had literally the same thing on their lips; nothing but praise and adoration for me.
“Sabrina darling.” I smiled the moment another voice reached my ears. I recognized whom it belonged to immediately.
“I have been looking for you” she said as I turned to her with a huge smile mirroring hers.
“Good evening, mum.” I greeted Xander’s mum with a smile and a courtesy. With the wave of her hand, she brushed it off, before pulling me into a warm embrace.
“I have been here for a while. I’ve been making sure the guests are enjoying themselves.” I explained.
“You work too hard.” Xander’s mother took my hands in hers. She was dressed so elegantly as always, and if I didn’t know her personally, I would have easily come to the conclusion that she was the Luna waiting for her Alpha.
“You should relax and enjoy yourself. Tonight is the best opportunity and I think you should enjoy it to the fullest. I mean, look at you, you look gorgeous, fit to be queen. So relax, hmm?” she said.
My heart fluttered at her statement. She had a soft spot for me and I knew it. But I loved when she complimented me. I lived for it. It was why I was constantly trying to impress her. So she would see I’m fit for her son. And she did.
Xander was the reason behind this ball. He was the reason why I had put so much into it, and the reason I was here. While I was okay with partying and dancing with everyone else in our circle, something tugged at my chest. As much as I hated to admit it, I was nervous.
I had a plan. I’ve had it for the longest time. It had been nothing but an imagination initially, but tonight I was going to bring it to reality and nothing was going to stop me.
I was going to propose to Xander tonight.
Yes, you heard me right. It sounded awkward at first, but after a little self deliberation, I realized it was just my mind trying to talk me out of taking what was mine, who, more accurately, who was mine.
Xander and I had been close since childhood, and if he didn’t say it, I knew there was something else underneath it. It surpassed our friendship, and I had been able to pick up on it quite quickly. Like I needed any more confirmation, people around us had always hinted that we got together, some of them more subtle about their suggestions, with the others taking a more direct approach.
Whatever it was, they were right, and I was going to ask Xander to make me his Luna tonight, and in front of everyone too. I was loved by everyone, so I could bet my life they would support me. The pack had been without a Luna for a while, and who else was better by Xander’s side except me? No one. If he hadn’t realized it all this while, he was going to do so tonight. All he needed to do was to show up first.
Welcoming the man of the hour, our beloved king and ruler,” The herald’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as the hall went silent and the middle automatically parted.
“The Alpha and his Luna!”
My breath hitched in my throat as I stared at the gold plated double doors. Did I hear wrongly? Huh?
Gasps filled the hall as trumpet tuts filled the room as the doors slowly inched open. Sweat lined my palms and I fought the urge to wipe them against my dress but the moment they stepped into the hall, that urge disappeared immediately.
My heart almost stopped.
Xander had just walked in, but he wasn’t alone.
“Who’s that?” I had barely muttered under my breath, before others took it up. Whispers filled the room, with each and everyone of the guests asking the same thing.
‘Who is she?’, ‘Did the herald say Luna?’…
So I didn’t hear wrong. You have got to be kidding me.
As everyone questioned Xander’s guest, more comments followed, and it struck something deep inside me.
“She’s so beautiful.” Someone whispered. “Is she from our pack, where has she been all this time?”
“She’s like an angel.” Anger snaked in between my veins as their comments continued to reach my ears. “I’m sure the goddess specially handcrafted her from scratch.”
“My goddess, she looks like she was born to be queen” another person near me said.
I let out a loud hiss at that statement. She wasn’t all that, but that wasn’t even my problem.
Who the hell was she and what was she doing with MY Xander?
While the rest of the crowd basked in her beauty, I took to doing something else. I stared as hard as I could, trying to figure out who she was. There was no way Xander knew someone I didn’t. I narrowed my eyes as I zoned in on her face.
After what seemed like forever, my eyes widened in shock.
No. Impossible.
“Kieran?!” My eyes widened in shock.
Saying her name out loud made it even more real. I could see her clearly now. It really was her. My chest tightened. This fucking bitch. She has the audacity!
What the hell did she think she was doing?
I wouldn’t have known it was her at the first glance. Compared to how measly and raggedy she looked before, she looked like a goddess tonight. An angel even, and it infuriated me all the more.
“Kieran?” Xander’s mum called out by my side. For a moment, I had totally forgotten that she was still by my side.
“Who’s she? Do I know her?” she asked curiously. I turned to her as she looked at me with a wide smile. She looked so happy. And that pissed me off. No way.
“Yes you do” I let out through gritted teeth.
“She’s that stupid commoner we threw out of the house the other day.” I said.
I didn’t wait till I was given a response. I turned my eyes back to Xander as he walked towards the throne set out for him. My anger intensified by a million times as Kieran trailed after him.
How dare she?!
My insides lit up in flames. I was hot all over and if I didn’t do anything about it, then I was going to burst into a million pieces. I forced myself to blink. Maybe if I did, I would realize that all of this was a joke and nothing more. I was simply hallucinating.
But I wasn’t. More and more people bowed and curtsied to the king, and she was still by his side, smiling like the biggest fool on earth.
“Excuse me, mother.” I doubted she had actually heard me, but I didn’t wait for a response. I was out of the hall within seconds.
A cold gust of wind hit me the moment I stepped outside, but it wasn’t enough to calm me down. Instead, it stoked the rage all the more.
“Argh!” I yelled into the night. “How dare she?! Who exactly does she think she is?!”
My entire body shook with rage so blinding, I could murder someone.
“Someone you need to put in her place.” Another voice broke into the night. Startled, I spun on my heels just to come face to face with the last person I expected. “Alice?”
“Yes, Sabrina.” Alice walked towards me. “What’s wrong? You can talk to me.”
“I don’t have time for this.” I shook my head.
“I need to clear my head and think straight, or else my plan will be ruined.” I muttered.
“What’s your plan?” Alice asked again.
“Maybe I can help?” She asked and I studied her for a second.
Maybe. I mean, she told me about the whole Kieran being a witch and charming Xander’s mind thing.
“I wanted to propose to Xander tonight.” I let out after a few minutes of silence.
“I wanted to propose that he makes me his Luna, the Luna of this pack. But now, that slimy girl just had to show up and ruin it.”
“Who said she has?” Alice drawled. Unlike her usual tone, there was something else underneath it. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued.
“Nothing’s stopping you, Sabrina. You can go ahead with your plan, and nothing is going to happen. What? Kieran? What the hell is she going to do?”
I allowed Alice’s words to settle in my mind, and the more they nestled in my brain, the more I realized she was right. I could still go ahead with my plan, irrespective of who had shown up.
“So what do you say, Sabrina?” Alice drawled. “Are you going to let her just waltz in here and ruin it all?”
“Never.” I hissed. “I’m going to go back in there and ask Xander to make me his Luna. And fucking expose the bitch for who she truly is.”
A rogue witch.