Elsa gasped, placing her hand on her chest dramatically at Kaene's reaction.
Meanwhile, his mother remained uneasily calm, simply sipping a little from her wine before she raised her head to look at Kaene.
"Talk about what, dear son?" She asked, throwing me a brief disdainful glance before she fixed her attention on her son.
However, Kaene didn't give her a response, instead folding his arms in front of his chest and staring sternly at his mother.
The extended stare forced his mother to get up with a harrumph before she followed him to goddess knows where to have their discussion.
"You." Elsa suddenly pointed at me, calling my attention with a scowl on her face. "What did you tell the Alpha, hm? I bet you fed him with your lies as usual?"
My brows snapped into a frown. What was she talking about?
"I don't know what 'lies' you think I've fed the Alpha, Elsa," I muttered simply, taking a seat across from her on the dining table. "But I don't need to tell him lies. I simply told him the truth as it is."
To my surprise, Elsa sniggered mockingly, her gaze cold. "You may have the rest of the pack deceived, but I know your dirty little secret. And it's only a matter of time before it leaks out to everyone else. Especially Kaene."
My heart sank as a cold shiver ran down my spine just then.
She didn't sound like she was bluffing with her words. So, what secrets could I possibly have to hide except...
'Beta Negan.' I gulped, my body tensing at the thought.
Could Elsa know something about that? About our forbidden affair? Or was it all just mere suspicions?
Before I could wrap my head around it, Elsa got up, a glass of wine in her hands as she made her way to the stairs while mumbling something that even I couldn't hear.
After she said whatever she said, she giggled to herself, giving me one last dirty look before she disappeared.
Almost instantly, Kaene emerged from the living room with his mother who had a scowl on her face.
"I hope you enjoy the Luna ball." She muttered with a bitter tone, glaring at me before she snatched her glass of wine and walked out of there toward the stairs as well.
What was it with these women and wine?
"Come on." Kaene stretched his hand, beckoning me. "You have a lot of learning to catch up with if you want to even stand a chance in that ball."
I reluctantly took his hand, getting up from the table as he took me to the etiquette tutors he told me about earlier.
Gosh, it was going to be a long way before the ball.
.
.
After days of grudgingly following the teachings of various etiquette tutors on eating, dancing, and other stuff, the long-awaited day finally came.
The day of the Luna Ball.
Luckily for me, there hadn't been much drama before this day, except for the occasional harmless encounters with Elsa.
I didn't know what Kaene told his Mom, but the woman now barely registered my existence, always regarding me with nothing but silence whenever I was near.
I mean, it would be nice to have the woman interacting with me as a member of the family instead of an outcast, but the silence was way more acceptable than the insults or subtle threats.
"Ma'am, you look breathtaking!" Miranda breathed out in shock as I stared at myself in the full-length mirror in my suite.
The gown for the ball had arrived as promised the night before the ball and I'd already tested it out, but the feeling of trying it out again was still almost as good as the first time.
Miranda and Brittany were helping me put on the gown and also helped with my makeup.
Who would've known the two were good at other stuff besides gossiping?
"I think I like it," I muttered, a slight smile curling up my lips as I took one final spin with the gown.
It wasn't your traditional ball gown but was a royal blue form-fitting strapless gown with blue crystals decorating it from top to bottom as well as a silk cape of a lighter blue shade that flowed elegantly behind.
It also flowed slightly on the ground but not too much, allowing me to hold onto it without fearing that I would trip.
The tailor had listened to my directions and took away the scarf and gloves which I'd found unnecessary. Who the heck wears those to a ball?
It was a Luna ball, not a winter Ball.
Just then, I glanced at the time on the wall clock. It was already seven thirty PM… Almost time to welcome guests.
"Alright, let's go." I blurted, grabbing a purse and my phone before rushing out of the suite, followed by my maids.
The venue of the ball was the hall where it had all started. The hall where the entire pack had gathered to witness the picking of the next Moon's Chosen... AKA, me.
Except this time, not just any normal pack member would be invited. Only the nobles and influential people of the pack would attend as well as dignitaries from other neighboring packs.
The thought of meeting other Alphas and Lunas of other packs was anxiety-inducing, but I took in a deep breath as I stepped into the lavishly decorated hall.
"You girls go stand close to my seat, please." I directed Miranda and Brittany, bracing myself for my duty for tonight.
Before the ceremony itself, I had to stand at the entrance of the hall and shake the hands of guests, welcoming them.
And it seemed the guests had begun trooping in in their numbers, first starting with top members of the pack.
"Ah, Luna Phoebe..." The Delta of the pack shook my hand as I curtsied respectfully.
The disdain in his voice was hard to miss, but I ignored it, merely flashing him a smile before fixing my attention on the other guests.
Welcoming the guests took about thirty minutes, and dignitaries of other packs received my greeting with more kindness than members of Blue Moon.
How ironic.
"Well, you look ravishing." A voice spoke up just then with a whistle, forcing me to turn my gaze in its direction.
Beta Negan approached the entrance with a smile, his weirdly quiet assistant following behind him.
My face heated up with a blush which I tried hard to suppress as I shook his hand. "Welcome, Beta–"
"Don't even think about it, Phoebe." He dangled a finger at me when I was about to address him by his title.
We both chuckled, making me feel a little more relaxed.
I'd welcomed Elsa Thatcher and her father a few minutes ago, and that had been... Interesting. Let's just say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree after all.
Suddenly, as I finally withdrew my hand from Negan, my nose caught the familiar scent of someone who made my wolf feral.
Took him long enough…