Mrs. Haverford carefully wrapped me in a soft silk bathrobe with a mirror-like sheen. As I made my way out of the bathroom, my gaze met my reflection in the mirror, and I couldn't help but let out a gasp of surprise. The fabric clung to my curves, accentuating every feature as if I was completely bare. My ample bosom and shapely hips were highlighted in a way that held me captive to my own reflection.
"I did tell you, didn't I?" Mrs. Haverford giggled mischievously as she observed my reaction.
"Could I possibly have another bathrobe, preferably made of cotton?" I requested, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"No, everything you see here was personally chosen by Jordan himself. This particular one was specially selected for you. Did you not like it?" she inquired, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
"I... I love it," I managed to whisper.
"Time to go now," Mrs. Haverford declared, taking hold of my hand and leading me out of the bathroom. As I stepped forward, every movement seemed to take on a hypnotic, almost dance-like quality. A deep sense of shame washed over me.
As I entered the bedroom, I froze in my tracks at the sight of Jordan, lounging on the bed with his attention focused on his phone. We made our way towards the walk-in closet in silence. Just as I was about to enter, I couldn't resist stealing a lingering glance at Jordan once more, grateful to him for keeping his promise, only to discover that his narrowed and intense gaze was fixed on me. Embarrassed, I quickly averted my gaze, and Jordan chuckled softly.
As I stepped out once again, adorned in a simple dinner gown, Jordan gracefully got up from the bed. He gently grasped onto my shoulder and planted a tender kiss on my forehead, refraining from kissing my lips as though he was forbidden to kiss my lips.
Taking my hand, our fingers intertwined, sending waves of electricity surging through my veins.
"Baby, you look absolutely stunning," Jordan complimented, a genuine smile adorning his face as we made our way out of the room.
"Thank you," I whispered softly.
As we ventured further, I couldn't help but notice a group of men dressed in military camouflage standing solemnly. Their heads slightly tilted downwards, and they maintained their positions.
Jordan carried himself with ease and grace, his gaze straight ahead, in stark contrast to me, who couldn't resist stealing glances at the enchanting chandeliers that illuminated the castle's grandeur at night.
At the end of the staircase, in the vast open space, a remarkably tall woman stood, clad in a flowing Queen's robe. She was encircled by five armed men. As soon as she caught sight of Jordan and me descending slowly, she bowed her head in reverence.
"Good evening, Your Savage Grace," the woman greeted humbly, her head still lowered.
"Queen of the Nights, what brings about this unexpected visit at such a late hour?" Jordan inquired, his pace slowing slightly.
"Your father has been trying to reach you multiple times, but your phone is switched off," she replied.
"Did he leave a message for me?" Jordan probed further.
"Yes, Your Grace," the woman confirmed.
"What did he say?"
"My son is feeling unwell today. Your father commands you and Kayla Damien to oversee the full moon festival, lead the ritual of the Bloodmoon, in case there is a new member tonight, and ensure the success of the mating ball," the woman, whom I presumed to be Stanley Morgan's mother, remained with her head bowed, awaiting Jordan's response. However, silence hung in the air for a few moments.
"What's wrong with Stan?" Jordan asked with a glint of concern in his voice.
Queen of the Night lifted her head and responded, "I don't know, but Stanley hasn't been himself since he came back from your birthday party."
The Queen's eyes slowly moved towards me, locking with mine. Gradually, her stare transformed into a deep frown. A soft gasp escaped her lips when her gaze moved to my upper shoulder and settled there.
"Is this some kind of coincidence?" The Queen let out.
"What coincidence?" Jordan asked. However, the woman remained silent, her attention fixated on me.
I followed her gaze in the direction she was staring at, only to discover she was looking at my big birthmark that resembled a scar, shimmering under the silver light that was in the castle.
It suddenly struck me that Jordan had entered the room earlier after speaking to Stan Morgan and the first thing he did was touch my birthmark. Now, Stan's mother was making a similar gesture. I couldn't help but wonder why both the mother and son were acting so weird.
"Where is Kayla Damien?" Jordan asked and my heart skipped a beat and began to pound like a drum in my chest.
I had never attended the full moon festival with the White Fangs when I was a member of the pack, but I had heard that wolves mated passionately with their chosen mates once the festival concluded.
It was a tradition that those who hadn't found their mate were not allowed to attend the full moon festival and mating ball. Conversely, those who had already scented their mates were required to attend with them.
Jordan noticed the tension that was going on inside me and gently squeezed my palm he was holding gently to assure me that I am safe with him. However, his assurance did not make my heart stop beating erratically.
"Kayla...is...at Howling Haven already," the Queen sputtered, her eyes still fixed on my birthmark.
"I'll join them in the next two hours," Jordan said as we continued walking towards the dining area.
"Thank you, I'll inform your father right away."
"Mrs. Haverford," I heard the Queen call. Though I didn't look back, my ears perked up to hear why the Queen was summoning Mrs. Haverford.
"Did my son speak to that cursed human slave?" The Queen murmured, her question flew into my ears. I turned and locked eyes with Mrs. Haverford. Mrs. Haverford shook her head and returned her gaze to the Queen.
"Stan neither saw nor spoke to her," Mrs. Haverford responded.
"Please, come with me."
The next thing I heard was footsteps as the Queen and the men that came with her walked towards the exit.
I wasn't angry that she called me a cursed human slave. It was a name I had been answering to since I was six years old. However, I was scared of their weird reactions.
.
Tears welled up in my eyes as we made our way towards the dining room. The room itself was elegantly decorated, with a long, polished wooden table taking center stage. Crystal chandeliers that hung from the ceiling cast a soft and warm glow across the room. The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings.
As we reached the table, my heavy heart weighed me down, making it difficult to focus on the meal before me. Jordan, sensing my distress, stared at me intently. I mustered the strength to lift my teary eyes, only to meet his gaze. I quickly looked away, licking my trembling lower lip.
With a gentle gesture, Jordan reached out, taking hold of my hand and using his other hand to guide my face back towards his. Tears continued to stream down my face, falling onto the table. For a few minutes, neither of us spoke, the silence hanging heavily in the air.
Finally, Jordan broke the silence, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Lia, you mean more to me than you realize. You complete me," he said, his eyes narrowing with emotion. At that moment, I wished I could transform into a werewolf, just to be by his side instead of Kayla. Knowing that I could not made me feel so useless.
It was hard not to feel like Stan Morgan had intentionally kept his distance so that Jordan would take the lead in the full moon festival, knowing Jordan had to be there with his fated mate.
"Baby, my heart was irreversibly taken from me sixteen years ago - the day I hesitantly threw that snowball at you," Jordan said with a hushed tone as he walked me back through the memory lane. Through my tears, a flicker of a smile graced my face.
"What about your wedding with Kayla that the news has gone viral around the world?" I inquired. Jordan continued to stare at me, his expression devoid of emotion. Given how much Kayla Damien was needed by his side, I already knew the answer. My heart shattered once again, just as it had on the day the news of their engagement broke the internet.