Zara’s POV
“You look breathtaking in that dress,” Luke said as he took my hand in his.
“Well, thank you,” I replied, feeling my cheeks warm as he left a butterfly kiss on the top of my hand.
“You cleaned up nicely yourself.”
Luke gave me one of his mother’s older dresses. He assured me that his mother would not object, as
he had received instructions to discard it and donate it to a charitable organization.
My eyes grew wide when he showed me the dress, and my hands instinctively reached for it-it was
so pretty.
A light, silver-colored silk material made the dress. It had an open back and a very revealing low-cut
front. It was one of the most beautiful dresses I have ever laid my eyes on. I couldn’t believe that
anyone would just throw out such a rare jewel.
“I had to,” he stated teasingly. “A princess needs to have a prince with shining armor next to her.
Besides, if I didn’t polish my armor a bit, I would have looked like a poor peasant next to you, and we
don’t want that! Do we?”
Luke was so full of himself, and it made me chuckle in response. He always had a way with words,
and he knew what to say to put me in a better mood.
“Shall we?” He asked, holding out his arm for me to take.
“Of course,” I replied, hooking my arm with his.
We were already a few minutes behind schedule, but that was because I had to do my hair and
makeup by myself.
Our driver was patiently waiting for us at the slick and fancy car. The driver opened the passenger
door for us and waited for me and Luke to get in.
“Fancy ride,” I commented, taking a seat.
Luke said, “It’s fit for a princess and her prince.” He tapped the window to instruct the driver to
drive.
I reclined, sensing a slight tingling sensation in the depths of my stomach.
Was I doing the right thing?
Will Nicolas be there?
Will he make a scene?
“Of course he will!” Kaya yapped. “He is the host!”
I sighed. I was aware of the risks involved in attending the ball. I also know that going with Luke
would certainly complicate things, but it was still my duty as Luna of my pack to attend the ball.
Will Nicolas do something when he sees me with Luke?
Will he challenge him?
“He is going to be pissed,” Kaya mused, seemingly pleased and excited about that idea. “It serves
him right… he can’t have his bread buttered on both sides.”
Another sad breath escaped my lips. Just thinking of Nicolas made me want to cry. Today had me
emotionally spent.
For some reason I didn’t want to anger Nicolas… or upset him for that matter. I didn’t want to see
him jealous or possessive. He has no right to feel that way-he is in love with someone else.
Yet, while my mind stated one thing, my heart screamed another.
Why is this so hard?
“Penny for your thoughts?” Luke asked, interrupting my pity party.
“Just thinking,” I said, forcing a smile onto my lips.
I still didn’t want Luke to know the real reason for my sudden visit.
“Thinking about what?” He asked curiously as he lay forward and raised his eyebrows in a taunting
gesture. “Us?”
I chuckled, rolled my eyes, and moved away from him.
“No, I’m concerned about what your mother might say when she sees me wearing her dress. Are you
sure she will be fine with me wearing this dress?” I asked, changing the subject.
“I am,” Luke said, reaching out for my hands and taking them in his. “Now stop worrying. We will
have a wonderful time tonight; I am sure of it.”
I slowly nodded, carefully pulled my hands back to my lap-hoping Luke wouldn’t take offense-and
sat back in the seat.
However, I couldn’t get rid of this unsettling tingling sensation in my stomach.
Something was wrong, but what?
I took a deep breath, blamed my nerves, and my gaze traveled to the outside of the car.
A smile crept on the corners of my lips as I stared at the sky. It was already pitch black outside, the
stars bright against the dark sky and the moon lazily sticking out her head behind the mountains.
“I can just imagine how beautiful the light display must be at the carnival tonight,” I muttered to
myself.
It was difficult not to think about Nicolas, no matter how hard I tried. My thoughts kept on racing
back to him.
I could just imagine how frustrated and confused he must feel.
“Sorry, what did you just say?” Luke mumbled behind me, and I knitted my eyebrows together. He
seems to be preoccupied by something or someone.
I shifted my gaze just enough to see what he was doing, and the light on his phone caught my
attention. He was reading a message.
A cold, yet unfamiliar look flashed across Luke’s eyes, and I froze in my seat when the same cold
feeling ran down my spine.
“Did you see that?” Kaya asked, stepping closer.
“I sure did,” I replied. “And it’s making me uncomfortable.”
Luke’s face hardened while his jaw muscles tightened. He seems irritated about something.
“Is there some kind of emergency?” I asked.
“No, why do you ask?” Luke replied, knitting his eyebrows as he lifted his gaze toward me.
I gestured to the phone in his hand.
“It’s just my mother asking where we are,” Luke replied and smiled. “They are about to start. Alpha
Nicholas has delayed his proceedings.”
Luke’s phone suddenly rang in his hand, causing his face to darken and his jaw to tense as he saw the
name on the screen.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“It’s for you,” he said, his gaze shifting to me.
“Me?” I shrieked, shocked. “No one knows…”
“It’s Levi,” he said, handing me the phone. “Answer it…! I don’t have anything to tell him.”
I shivered. The coldness in Luke’s tone didn’t go unnoticed.
I took the phone, pressed the answer button, and slowly took it to my ear.
“Zara speaking,” I slowly said. My voice sounded dry and scratchy to my ears.
“Oh Goddess, Zara!” Levi’s hysterical voice came through the receiver. He sounded panicked, as if
something horrible had happened to someone close to us. “Are you okay? Where are you?”
A cold shiver ran down my body, and my gaze shifted toward Luke. He stared out the window with a
sinister grin on his face.
“”I-I am on my way to the fundraiser ball,” I whispered, my breathing catching in my throat.
“What’s going on? Where… where are you?”
“There was an attack!” Levi rushed through his words. “There is blood everywhere….”
My heart raced as I froze in my seat. What the f*ck happened?
****