Zander’s POV.
The next evening arrived far faster than I had anticipated. It felt as though the hours had slipped through my fingers, leaving me with no time to prepare for the weight of the night ahead. I stood in front of the mirror in my room, adjusting the cuffs of my tailored black suit. It was a suit reserved for moments like this-formal, high-pressure events where every detail mattered. The fabric was smooth and fitted perfectly, the sharp angles of the jacket emphasizing the authority I had to project. Every line of the suit was flawless, every crease intentional.
My reflection stared back at me, cold and composed, the image of what an Alpha should be-strong, unyielding, and always in control. But tonight, the control felt fragile, like it might crack under pressure at any moment.
I descended the stairs to the foyer, my footsteps echoing off the polished wood. And that’s when I saw her. Aria. She was standing at the base of the staircase, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe. It was as if the world around me had fallen silent, leaving only her in focus.
She wore an emerald green dress that clung to her curves in a way that was both elegant and enticing. The rich color made her glowing skin seem even more radiant, and the soft waves of her dark hair framed her face perfectly. The dress had a slit down one side, revealing just a hint of her leg with each subtle movement-enough to catch the attention of every man in the room but not enough to cross the line of propriety. She didn’t just look beautiful. She looked regal. She looked like a queen. *My queen.*
I cleared my throat, breaking the spell she had unknowingly cast over me. “Let’s go,” I said gruffly, my voice lower than usual. I motioned toward the car idling outside, trying to mask the way my chest tightened just from looking at her.
She nodded silently, her expression unreadable as she followed me out the door. The tension between us was palpable, but neither of us acknowledged it.
The drive to the Moonlight Pack’s estate was quiet, the kind of silence that felt heavier with every passing mile. Aria stared out the window, her gaze distant and her posture perfectly upright. She had a way of making even stillness look poised. I wanted to say something-to break the silence-but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, I focused on the road ahead, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly. The tension from earlier, the unspoken questions between us, lingered like a shadow in the car.
“Are you nervous?” I finally asked, my voice breaking the silence.
She turned her head slightly, her expression calm but guarded. “No,” she replied, her tone neutral. “Why? Are you?”
I let out a small laugh, though it lacked any real humor. “I don’t get nervous,” I said simply, keeping my eyes on the road.
She didn’t respond, and the quiet stretched between us again.
When we arrived at the estate, the sight before us was as grand as I expected. The Moonlight Pack’s mansion was enormous, its towering white columns and sprawling gardens lit up by golden lights. The driveway was filled with luxury cars, and the air buzzed with the hum of conversation and laughter that spilled out from the grand hall.
As we stepped inside, the full weight of the event hit me. The hall was packed with Alphas, Lunas, and high-ranking members of various packs. The chandeliers above cast a warm glow over the room, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors and the glittering jewelry of the guests. The air smelled of expensive perfume and champagne, and the sound of clinking glasses blended with the low hum of political conversations.
The moment we walked in, all eyes turned to us.
I felt the familiar weight of their gazes, the unspoken expectations that came with my position. As Alpha, I was used to being watched, scrutinized, and judged. But tonight, they weren’t just looking at me-they were looking at her.
Aria walked beside me, her back straight and her chin held high. She moved with a quiet confidence that rivaled even the most seasoned Lunas in the room. She didn’t falter under their stares, her composure as perfect as the dress she wore. It was impossible not to notice how the men’s eyes lingered on her, their appreciation obvious.
I should have been proud-and a part of me was-but another part of me, one I didn’t want to acknowledge, felt unsettled. It wasn’t jealousy, though. It was something deeper, something I couldn’t put into words.
We greeted a few Alphas and Lunas as we made our way through the crowd. The conversations were polite but shallow, filled with the usual pleasantries and small talk. I shook hands, exchanged smiles, and made sure to project the strength and authority expected of me. Meanwhile, Aria stood by my side, offering the occasional polite nod or word when addressed.
Everything was going smoothly-until I saw her.
Lyra.
She stood near the edge of the room, her golden hair cascading down her back in perfect waves. She held a glass of champagne in one hand, her silver gown shimmering under the chandelier’s light like liquid moonlight. The dress hugged her figure, drawing attention to her every move. She was stunning, just as she always had been, but the sight of her made my chest tighten-not with admiration, but with a mix of anger and shock.
I hadn’t seen her since that night. The night I walked away from her betrayal and swore never to look back. The memory burned in the back of my mind, a wound that had never fully healed.
But now, here she was, standing in the same room as me, as if nothing had ever happened.
She turned then, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on me. For a brief moment, her expression faltered, surprise flickering across her face. But it was fleeting. Her lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile, one that made my blood boil.
“Zander?” Aria’s voice pulled me back to reality, snapping me out of the haze Lyra’s presence had thrown me into.
I looked down at her, realizing I had been staring. Her brow was furrowed, concern flickering in her eyes as she searched my face.
“Are you okay?” she asked softly, her voice careful, as if she wasn’t sure what had caused the change in my expression.
I forced myself to nod, even though my jaw was clenched so tightly that it felt like my teeth might shatter. The pressure in my chest was unbearable, and no matter how much I tried to push it down, it refused to go away. “I’m fine,” I said curtly, my voice sharper than I intended. But I wasn’t fine. Not even close. My hands itched to do something-anything-other than just stand there. I couldn’t let Aria see how much Lyra’s presence was unnerving me.
But then Lyra began to move toward us. Her steps were slow and deliberate, her hips swaying slightly as if she owned the entire room. With every step she took, her smile grew wider, more confident, more calculated. My stomach coiled tighter with each stride. I couldn’t stop staring, even though I wanted to. I already knew-this night was about to take a sharp turn, one I hadn’t prepared for, one I wasn’t sure I could control.
Aria must have noticed my change in demeanor. I felt her eyes on me, and when I glanced down, her expression was no longer neutral. Her curiosity was written all over her face, her brows slightly furrowed as if trying to piece together a puzzle. “Who’s that?” she asked softly, her voice careful, cautious.
I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. The words wouldn’t come. How could I explain who Lyra was in just a few seconds? How could I explain what she had been to me, what she had done to me, and why I never wanted to see her again? My throat felt tight, and my heart pounded in my chest, but I stayed silent.
Before I could figure out what to say, Lyra was standing in front of us. She stopped just a few feet away, her eyes locking onto mine as though Aria wasn’t even there. It was as if she didn’t see her, didn’t acknowledge her existence. Her gaze was sharp, calculated, and entirely focused on me.
“Zander,” she said, her voice smooth and sweet, but laced with something venomous, something dangerous. It was the kind of voice that could lure you in and destroy you at the same time. “It’s been far too long,” she added, her lips curving into a smile that I knew all too well.
I felt my fists clench at my sides, the tension coursing through my entire body. My first instinct was to turn and walk away, to leave her standing there without a single word. A part of me wanted to pretend she didn’t exist, that she was nothing but a bad memory I had already buried. But I couldn’t walk away. Not with Aria standing beside me, watching, waiting for some kind of explanation.
“Lyra,” I said stiffly, forcing her name out through clenched teeth. My voice was colder than I intended, laced with anger I couldn’t entirely hide. “What are you doing here?”
Her smile didn’t falter, but I saw something flicker in her eyes. It was subtle-there and gone in an instant-but it was enough to put me on edge. Something dangerous lurked beneath her polished exterior, and I wasn’t sure what she was planning. “I was invited, of course,” she said casually, shrugging one delicate shoulder. Her tone was light, almost playful, but there was a sharpness beneath it. “Alpha Kael always loved having me at his events.”
The mention of my late brother hit me like a punch to the chest. A sharp pain shot through me, so quick and intense that it made it hard to breathe. But I didn’t let it show. I couldn’t. I kept my face neutral, my expression cold. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing how much her words affected me.
Aria, however, didn’t miss the shift in the air. Her gaze darted between Lyra and me, her brow furrowing even further. “Zander,” she said quietly, her voice hesitant but steady. “Who is this?”
Lyra’s attention finally shifted to Aria, her sharp eyes taking her in for the first time. Her smile changed, taking on a new edge-something cruel, something meant to cut deep. “Oh,” she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. “I didn’t mean to be rude.” She tilted her head slightly, her golden hair cascading over her shoulder as she extended her hand toward Aria. “I’m Lyra. Zander and I… well, we used to be very close.”
Aria’s hand didn’t move toward hers. Her eyes widened slightly, the words sinking in and visibly shifting her posture. She stiffened, her expression freezing as she processed what Lyra had just said.
I felt my jaw clench tighter, anger bubbling dangerously close to the surface. I wanted to lash out, to tell Lyra to shut her mouth and leave, but I knew this wasn’t the time or place for a scene. The room was full of Alphas, Lunas, and countless others who would love to see me lose control. But Lyra’s presence alone was threatening to rip open wounds I had spent years trying to bury.
“Enough,” I snapped, my voice sharp and cutting through the tension like a blade. “Lyra, enjoy the party. Aria and I have things to attend to.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, I placed a hand on Aria’s back, guiding her away from Lyra and deeper into the crowd. I could feel the heat of her body through the fabric of her dress, but she didn’t resist as I steered her away. I didn’t look back, but I could feel Lyra’s eyes on me, watching us as we walked away. It was like being hunted, her gaze heavy and unrelenting, like a predator tracking its prey.
Aria didn’t say anything as we moved through the crowd, but I could feel the tension radiating off her in waves. Her silence was louder than any words she could have spoken, and I knew she had questions-questions I wasn’t sure I was ready to answer.
This night had only just begun, but already, it felt like I was fighting a war I wasn’t sure I could win.