~Yulia
I was a nervous wreck by the time Issa helped me with my back zip.
I wasn’t supposed to ask for his help. It should have been something I could handle on my own but I realised in the end that I needed his help, since he was technically the only one close.
It was either him or the Craven birds.
Surprisingly, he was a total gentleman as he helped me with it. His eyes never strayed and he made no snarky remarks.
Well, only the rate of his breathing shifted and I felt goosebumps scatter across my skin when his warm fingers brushed my back.
I didn’t even know he was done until he spoke.
“You look ravishing.” His eyes finally roamed my body hungrily.
I felt a tingle in both my nipples and a slight twitch in between my legs.
“I don’t think that’s something you should say to your niece.” I avoided his gaze as I tried to regain my composure.
“You are more than my niece, Yulia.” His tone grew serious and I could feel his eyes on me.
“Don’t get any ideas, I don’t want your Craven crows to perk at me.” The thought of them made me shiver and cringe. Yet I knew that I was going to have to tolerate more of them.
Issa suddenly grabbed my left shoulder in such a soft way that I thought he was going to undress me. He turned me around so I was facing him.
“You are nervous.” It was a statement and not a guess.
“And you are a very complicated wolf.” I kept my voice steady, trying not to get lost in his scent.
He smiled. He looked so dashing in his tuxedo.
“I promise you, no harm nor disrespect will come to you, Yulia Moonshadow.” His face grew serious with his vow.
There was also a different glint in his eyes as he looked at me. His eyes began to glow a stronger green before it switched to the crimson I had come to fear.
Yet, there was no hostility in his aura. It flowed a brighter crimson color before going back to its usual forest green.
It was almost as if the crimson glow had appeared as an assurance to seal the vow made to me. An involuntary shiver seized me in that moment and I felt my wolf stir with need- need for his primal and powerful aura.
I realised that I had been staring openly, so I shook my head and thought of a conversation to start on the spot.
“So… tell me what to look forward to at the party. I don’t want to embarrass you.” I slowly stepped away from him, creating a little space between us.
I was afraid that I would rip my clothes off if he asked me to.
He smiled and turned his head slightly. He had refused to comb his hair as he preferred it rough, curly and long. It gave him a roguish and handsome appearance.
“A lot of fat and snobbish werewolves, some magicians and witches.” He smirked.
“And a lot of past flings,” I added.
“Yes, unfortunately,” he admitted with an amused smile.
“What of the Order?” I was still curious about them.
“Yes, they are a group of covens of witches, a group of werewolves and a group of other night creatures who make the rules.”
Then he stopped as if giving it an after thought before speaking again.
“You should steer clear of them.”
“Why?” I frowned.
“They are not dangerous, they just like to… buy people.” There was an uneasiness in his tone. Almost as if he was speaking from experience.
“Buy people?” I furrowed my brows at him.
“Don’t worry, you will see what I mean,” he concluded.
A knock sounded on the door. “My lord,” it was Emilia. “They await your presence.”
“I will be there.” He turned to me. “Because of my new status, you will be put in the spotlight.”
“What?”
He headed out before me. Reluctantly, I followed him. I was going to have to rely entirely on his promise.
“Ladies and esteemed gentlemen, may I present the Creature of the hour, Lycan King Issa Frostwood of Blue Lake Pack!” A male voice announced from the hall of the party.
I was not even there yet but I could already feel the ambiance of the place. Lana would have loved to be here.
There was a loud and adoring applause after the introduction. I walked out of the room. When I got to the large and wide spiraling marble steps, I raised my head high and adjusted my dress.
The stairs were covered in red carpet.
“May I have your attention, Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you, the niece of the King, The Lady Yulia Moonshadow!” The voice I heard belonged to an old man dressed in a neat suit coupled with white gloves.
All eyes fell on me. I sucked in a breath and carefully descended the stairs. “Please, don’t fall,” I whispered to myself.
I was afraid to look down because my head was already raised. I was not expecting to be introduced publicly so I was totally caught by surprise. My anxiety doubled and Yara did not make things any better by dancing around my core.
“Please don’t fall,” I whispered again as I slowly took the stairs.
‘Yulia, it’s okay. You got this. I am right here if you need me,’ Issa’s voice entered my head at the right moment.
It was like a switch because I suddenly felt more confident and took the stairs more gracefully. Issa was waiting by the base of the stairs, his arm extended.
I gratefully took it, glad that I did not have to cross the floor on my own.
“That was a loud spotlight,” I whispered as I heaved a sigh of relief.
“Don’t worry, it won’t happen again.” A smile took over his face.
“Issa…” A very mature and powerful voice called.
He was a broad shouldered man who had white hair by the sides of his hair, leaving the upper part black and shiny.
“Deucalion,” Issa said and shook the man.
The man looked at me with a twinkle in his eyes. “Issa never mentioned that his niece was such a beautiful young lady.”
I smiled. “Thank you so much, you’re an eye catcher yourself,” I blurted out before I realised it and my face went pink from embarrassment.
Deucalion raised his brows in surprise before releasing an uproar of laughter. Even his laugh was loud and boisterous. It forced heads to turn in our direction.
“I have not heard that phrase in a while, you have made my night today, Lady Yulia,” Deucalion declared.
“I am glad I could help.” I smiled.
“Issa, introduce me, do not be rude,” Deucalion urged.
Issa sighed and shook his head. “Yulia, this large creature is Deucalion Craven, Founder and CEO of Stag Industries.”
I froze at the last name.
“And you are Yulia Moonshadow,” Deucalion said.
This was the father of the Craven Sisters! Did he know that Issa was fucking his daughters on a daily basis?
I had so many questions.
“Pleased to meet you, Alpha Craven,” I said with a bow.
“Please, call me Duke, all my friends call me that.” He sent me a pleasant smile.
“She has no interest in being your friend, Duke,” Issa answered. “You have your Luna to deal with.”
I corked my brows at Issa’s defensive stance and it suddenly clicked in my head that Issa thought Duke was trying to flirt with me.
Of course he wouldn’t- or would he?
“Don’t be mean, Issa,” Deucalion teased.
A large clock sounded. It was twelve midnight. The atmosphere in the room shifted and it felt as if things were just starting to get real.
“The Announcement is about to commence, Ladies and gentlemen, I suggest that you all prepare yourselves.”
Even the old man’s voice had grown serious. It was a big deal and I was probably the only person in the room taking things lightly.
“The Order has arrived!”
A group of impeccably golden adorned dresses walked into the room and I was instantly hit with an overwhelming feeling.
What was this feeling? What did it mean?