Chapter 7

Before Marcus could even blink, Nathan moved.

“ She’s mine to deal with. Step back. ”

For one terrifying second, I genuinely thought Nathan was going to shift and tear him apart right here in the

allway.

Then, all at once, Liam shoved in between them, rolling his eyes. “ Seriously? An Alpha dick – measuring contest

utside Garrett’s office? ”

Neither Alpha backed down. Their heavy auras slammed together, filling the hallway with a suffocating, crushing

ressure.

Liam sighed. “ If Dad sees you, we’re dead. Calm down. ”

A slow, dangerous smirk returned to Marcus’s face. “ Well, that was interesting. ”

Nathan didn’t relax. He turned his head just enough to glare at his Beta. “ Blake. Take her away. Now. ”

Blake didn’t hesitate.

“ Come on, ” he said, grabbing my arm and moving directly between the two Alphas, shielding me completely from

Marcus’s hungry gaze.

I moved quickly beside Blake, hurrying down the hallway. My pulse hammered wildly against my ribs as we left

he confrontation behind.

I wanted to escape. I wanted to hide from the terrifying intensity of these powerful men. But even after we turned he corner, the burning weight of Nathan’s eyes felt scorched into my back.

The last thing I heard before stepping outside the building was Marcus’s voice echoing through the stone corridor. So, who is she, Nathan? ”

C

Blake pushed open the large, heavy doors leading outside, and the warm sunlight hit my skin. I stopped for a econd, just taking it in. Fresh air. Real sunlight. A soft breeze moved through my damp hair, and birds chirped

omewhere near the gardens.

Without realizing it, I smiled,

Blake noticed.

“ You’re really happy just being outside, ” he said quietly, watching me with a strange, searching look.

I looked down, shifting my weight nervously.

“ I wasn’t allowed outside much, ” I admitted softly, my voice barely a whisper. “ They had usually kept me locked away. ”

12:18 pm

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Blake didn’t answer right away — I glanced at him, my heart stopping. Did I say too much? Will he think I’m

pathetic?

But his expression only darkened, his jaw clenching. I was starting to realize something about Blake. Unlike Nathan, who let his rage explode, Blake hid his emotions deep. But his eyes gave him away every single time.

Before either of us could say anything else, loud arguing echoed from a nearby path.

“ For the Moon Goddess’s sake, it was an accident! ”

A sharp female voice snapped back. “ Those shoes cost more than your entire life, you idiot! ”

Nyx groaned dramatically inside my head. “ Great. One of those mean girls. Just what we need. ”

Near the nearest house, a beautiful blonde young woman stood glaring furiously at Jessie. She wore an expensive vory dress, her makeup and perfect curls completely flawless. She looked like old money, royalty, and pure trouble.

Jessie looked completely unimpressed, crossing her arms.

“ You stepped right in front of me, ” Jessie shot back. “ Maybe next time, stop admiring yourself in every window

and watch where you’re going. ”

The blonde’s face turned bright red with fury.

“ Great, ” Blake muttered beside me. “ Jessie’s picking a fight with Stella again. What a surprise. ”

The argument faded as Jessie turned away from the girl, but before the blonde left, her sharp eyes locked onto

The glare she gave me was pure poison: cold, sharp, and full of instant hatred.

I trembled, shrinking back. I didn’t even know her. Why did she look like she wanted me dead already? Was my existence really that disgusting?

“ Maybe she just hates everyone, ” Nyx suggested hopefully.

“ Maybe, ” I thought back.

Jessie jogged over to us, still looking irritated from the clash.

“ Well? ” she asked, her eyes immediately moving to me with deep concern before narrowing at her brother. “ How did it go with the Alpha King? ”

I forced a small, fake smile. “ It was fine p>

It was a total lie. My mind was spinning, filled with terrifying thoughts of Alpha Ryan. Eventually, my cruel ex – mate would find out where I am. And soon he would drag me back to that hell.

“ The Alpha King is still deciding, ” Blake answered smoothly, cutting off my downward spiral before I could panic.

Jessie threw up her hands. “ She’s not a rogue spy! Ridiculous! ”

Blake raised an eyebrow, a tiny smirk tugging at his tips. “ And how exactly are you so confident? ”

“ Because I know everything you know, ” Jessie replied smugly, tossing her dark hair.

Blake let out a low groan. “ That’s terrifying. ”

“ It should be. ”

Despite the weight in my gut, a tiny laugh escaped me.

Jessie pointed dramatically at me. “ There! See? I like her already. ” Then she snapped her fingers, looking at Blake. “ Oh! Dorothy wanted me to check if Alpha Marcus had arrived yet. ”

“ You could’ve asked me through the mind – link instead of running all the way out here. ”

“ Yes, ” Jessie agreed shamelessly, grinning. “ But then I wouldn’t have been able to steal Emily away from you. ”

Before I could even react, she hooked her arm firmly through mine. “ We need her in the kitchen anyway. ”

Blake narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “ For what exactly? ”

Jessie’s grin widened into something mischievous. “ To sit there and look cute while we force her to tell us her

entire life story. ”

“ Fine. ” Blake finally gave in under his sister’s pressure, shaking his head. “ Then you’re responsible for her. If Nathan sees her wandering alone, he’ll lock her back up. ”

Jessie saluted him lazily. “ Yes, Beta. ”

“ You’re impossible, ” Blake muttered.

“ I’m adorable, ” Jessie shot back.

Blake rolled his eyes, starting to walk away. But he stopped after a few steps, turning back to face me.

r “ By the way, Emily – you’re staying in Poppy’s room tonight, ” he said calmly. “ She practically begged me to let you share her room, so it’s already settled. ”

A strange, overwhelming sensation washed over me. A real room? Not a dungeon cell. Not a dark storage closet or a cold kitchen floor. An actual, safe room with a bed. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back.

Once Blake left, Jessie grabbed my wrist and guided me back toward the kitchen. “ Come on. Dorothy needs our help. ”

She wasn’t wrong. The kitchen was total chaos by the time we returned, packed with wolves preparing a massive welcome dinner. Dorothy stood right in the middle of the madness, barking orders.

“ No, not that sauce! Who burned the bread?! Moon Goddess, give me strength tonight! ” Dorothy shouted, throwing her hands in the air.

12:18 pm

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Poppy jumped right back into work, while Jessie shamelessly stole fresh vegetables directly from the cutting

boards.

I tried to help, too. Really, I did. I wanted to be useful. I wanted to prove I wasn’t a burden. But everyone moved so fast and worked so perfectly together that I mostly just got in the way, my bruised ribs aching with every sudden

movement.

At one point, my hands shook as I grabbed heavy tray, and I nearly sent an entire platter of roasted meat crashing onto the floor. Dorothy caught it one handed without even looking, her reflexes insanely fast.

“ Absolutely not, ” she said firmly, taking the heavy tray away from me. “ You’re banned from carrying expensive

hings. ”

Jessie laughed so hard she nearly dropped her spoon. I looked down at the floor. I can’t even hold a tray right. I

really am useless.

“ I’m sorry, ” I whispered, bracing myself for the harsh words I usually got back home.

But Dorothy’s expression softened instantly. “ Oh, sweetheart, I’m teasing. ” She gently patted my shoulder, pointing me toward the bread baskets instead. “ Here. Fold napkins. Much safer for your poor hands. ”

Carrying the baskets, I walked into the breathtaking dining hall.

To my right, three residential floors were stacked above the hall like open galleries, their warm brown wooden Dalconies and bedroom doors wrapping around the massive space. To my left, the entire wall was made of towering

winding its way up along the glass to the floors above. It looked like a

glass windows, with a grand wooden staircas

uxury estate from a magazine.

Setting my baskets down on one of the long tables, I started arranging the napkins, soaking in the festive warmth.

By the time we finished carrying everything out, the tables were groaning under the weight of the rich food. The

sheer scale of the crowded dining hall felt completely unreal.

Dorothy wiped her hands on her apron and smiled at us warmly. Alright, everyone. We’re all done here. Thank

You so much. ”

Poppy immediately turned to me. “ Okay, we still have time. ”

“ Time for what? ” I asked, confused.

Jessie answered for her, a predatory gleam in her eyes. “ To make you hot. ”

My eyes widened in sheer panic. “ No, please ”

“ Yes, ” both girls answered together, dragging me toward the stairs.

Twenty minutes later, I was back inside Poppy’s room, completely losing a battle I never had a chance of winning. Poppy curled my blonde white hair softly, letting the waves fall over my shoulders, while Jessie applied makeup.

“ You have insane bone structure, ” she muttered, leaning back to inspect her work. “ It’s kind of rude, to be fair. You look like a literal model. ”

don’t think she’s listening, ” Poppy whispered loudly, twisting another strand of my hair. “ Do you realize half the young wolves at dinner are going to forget how to breathe when they see you? ”

I nearly choked. “ That’s not funny. ”

“ It absolutely is, ” Jessie replied with a grin.

Poppy laughed. “ Honestly, she’s right. ”

My face burned.

Jessie pointed the makeup brush at me. “ And Nathan is definitely going to lose his mind. ”

My stomach twisted with nerves. “ Please stop embarrassing me, ” I begged.

“ Not happening, ” Jessie said cheerfully. “ I’ve waited all day to see his face. ”

“ I’m starting to panic, ” I warned.

That only made the girls laugh.

Poppy pulled a black dress from her closet. The fabric felt soft, with long sleeves and a closed back to cover my cars, and the neckline was perfectly tailored. It looked new, and way too expensive for someone like me.

“ Oh, no, ” I whispered, shaking my head. “ I can’t. ”

“ Oh, yes, ” Poppy corrected, pushing the dress into my arms.

“ I can’t wear that. It’s too beautiful. ”

“ It’s just a dress, Emily. Wear it, ” Jessie deadpanned.

My cheeks grew hot as Poppy gently nudged me toward the mirro after I changed.

The dress hugged my slim waist perfectly, and the black fabric made my white – blonde hair grow under the lights. My silver eyes popped, the makeup hiding the dark circles of exhaustion.

I hardly recognized myself. Poppy clipped on some pearl earrings, and Jessie finished the last touches, then

tepped back with a proud grin.

I stared at the reflection. I had never been pampered like this. In the Gray Moon pack, I had been forced to wear ags. I had been hidden away like a dirty secret.

My eyes instantly welled with hot tears.

lessie pointed a makeup brush at me like a weapon. “ Absolutely not. Don’t you dare. ”

I blinked quickly, forcing the tears back, a watery laugh escaping me.

“ If you cry. ” Jessie warned, “ the mascara runs and all my hard work dies. ”

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Then suddenly, RIING.

Poppy scrambled across the bed and grabbed her buzzing phone.

“ Hello? ” Her face fell instantly, “ You’re kidding me right now. ” She dramatically covered the speaker, looking at us. “ Doctor Reed is calling me into the clinic. Again. ”

“ Why do you have to go? ” I asked, feeling a sudden pang of auxiety. I didn’t want them to leave me.

Poppy hung up, tossing the phone onto the bed with a heavy sigh. “ I’m interning there. I want to be a pack healer, so I need the practice hours. But he always does this! ”

Jessie groaned loudly. “ Every single time Alpha Marcus comes to visit, Doctor Reed magically invents some

medical emergency to drag you away. ”

“ I know! I still haven’t even seen Marcus because of him. ” Then, she noticed the sudden fear on my face, and her expression softened. “ Hey, keep smiling, Emily. You look gorgeous. Don’t let anyone intimidate you tonight. ”

A few minutes later, Poppy rushed out the door, leaving us.

After ten minutes, Jessie said, “ Come on. Dinner is starting. Let’s go show the Alpha what he’s missing. ”

We stepped into the grand corridor. From below, the loud sounds of deep voices, booming laughter, and festive

gathering for the welcome dinner. Hundreds of wolves.

music drifted up. The entire pack wa

Jessie started down the grand wooden staircase, then stopped, turning back to look at me.

I was stuck at the very top step, my body completely locked up. A cold chill wrapped around my ribs, squeezing he air from my lungs. Panic clawed at my throat.

It was just one dinner, but all I could think about was hundreds of pairs of eyes staring at me, judging me, maybe hinking that I’m the pathetic rogue spy underneath the pretty dress.

I can’t do this.

Jessie’s expression softened. “ Emily … ”

I couldn’t move. My feet were glued to the floor.

Slowly, helplessly, I forced myself to look down into the crowded, chaotic hall below.

And my breath caught.

Right at the center table, Nathan was already staring directly up at me.

12:19 pm

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Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.