bChapter /bb192 /b

    ra’s POV

    It happened in the blink of an eye.

    One second, we were all breathing, and the next, chaos.

    b“/bWATCH OUT!” Cael shouted, his voice raw with panic.

    He moved in a sh, rushing to stop Paya. Save wasn’t far behind him, but it was toote.

    Prince had already reached Vessa, that sharp pin aimed straight at Babtine’s face-

    CLUNK!

    Vessa’s hand shot out, faster than anyone could track, grabbing Prince’s wrist. With one swift yank, she sent the pin ttering to the floor.

    Prince let out a shrill, desperate scream.

    Her sickly face twisted in fury. She tried to grab the pin with her other hand, but Vessa was quicker, catching both of Prince’s wrists in a grip that looked like iron.

    With one fluid movement, Vessa tossed her over her shoulder. Prince crashed to the ground with a sickening thud, her slippers flying into the crowd, narrowly missing a guest’s head.

    “AHH!” Prince’s scream cut through the air, pain and humiliation in every note. Her tears stained her pale face.

    “She attacked me!” Paya wailed, her voice shaking with fake anguish. “My head–my body–it all hurts! I’m dying!”

    “Prince, darling!” Lord Roy rushed forward, scooping his daughter into his arms.

    His eyes burned with fury as he red.

    “You hurt my daughter,” he hissed, his voice seething with anger.

    Vessa’s coldugh rang out. “Oh, I hit back, but what was I supposed to do? Just stand there and let her shove a pin into my eye?”

    ra stepped forward, standing beside Vessa, her eyes never leaving Lord Roy’s twisted expression. “With all due respect, Lord Roy, your daughter deserved what she got. She just attacked someone. Do you need reminding of who she attacked? The future Luna of the Blood Moon Pack?” ra’s words were sharp, cutting through the tension in the room.

    Lord Roy flinched, his face paling.

    “She hasn’t even married him yet!” Prince’s voice was venomous, her eyes shing with jealousy. “She’s not even the Luna yet–just some… woman!”

    Vessa’s voice rang out, firm and unyielding. “You’re wrong. Even if I’m not marrying Alpha Cael, I’m still a soldier. I’ve fought for this pack. Defended our borders. I have thousands of soldiers under mymand. What have you ever done, Prince?”

    Prince’s face twisted in fear, her lips trembling. “-…”

    “You think iyou /ican just walk into this pack and attack someone like me without consequences?” Vessa’s voice dropped dangerously. “Let me remind byou/b, attacking a veteran is no small matter.”

    Prince’s eyes widened in fear, her breathing out in quick gasps. “W–what do you mean? What are you going bto /bdo to me?” bHer /bbvoice /bwas bbarely /bba /bwhisper, shaking with terror.

    Vessa gave her a cold, disdainful look. “I’m telling you, Prince, tell me why you did this before I lose my patience and bthrow /bbyou /bbinto /bbthe /bbcells/bb. /b

    b1/3 /b

    1:29 bWed/bb, /bb20 /bbAug /b

    Prince shivered, her eyes darting back and forth between Vessa and her father. “Dad… Dad, did you hear her? She’s threatening to lock bme /bup”

    Lord Roy’s jaw clenched, his face unreadable. “Did you really do this, Prince?” His voice was tight with emotion, his eyes looking at her like a bfather /bwho’d just realized his child’s darker side. “You could have asked for anything. Any jewelry. But to steal from the future Luna? That’s disgraceful”

    “I didn’t steal!” Prince’s voice broke, desperation flooding her words. “I’m not a thief!“.

    “Watch yournguage,” Lord Roy hissed, ncing nervously around the room. “You’re speaking in front of the Alpha and all these guests.”

    “I’m not a thief! That jewelry is MINE!” Prince’s voice rang out, defiant and wild. “I’m the future Luna of the Blood Moon Pack! Not her!*

    The room gasped in shock. Whispers spread like wildfire. Everyone turned to Cael, their eyes wide with questions.

    There was a time when they all knew what kind of man their Alpha was, how he’d been with women before–was Prince just another one of his past flings?

    Cael’s jaw tightened, his eyes widening in disbelief.

    “Are you insane?!” he snapped, stepping forward, his face red with frustration. “This is the second time we’ve met! We barely even talked! What the hell makes you think you can just call yourself my Luna?”

    “Because you love me!” Prince’s voice was soft, pleading, but full of an aching desperation. “I remember the first time we met… in my living room, when my father introduced you to me… You were so handsome, and I knew, from that moment, you were there for me…”

    “No! I was there for pack business!” Cael shouted, his frustration boiling over.

    But Prince didn’t hear him. She was lost in the memory, her eyes zed as she spoke in a low murmur.

    “You picked up my hand, kissed my fingertips, and said, ‘Lady Prince, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiled faintly, remembering. “Your eyes, like amber… and then you told my father, ‘Anyone would be lucky to marry your daughter, Lord Roy.‘ You proposed to me!”

    Cael’s face turned redder, if that was even possible. “That wasn’t a proposal!” he exploded. “If that’s what you call a proposal, I must’ve proposed to

    millions of women!”

    Prince froze, her face stricken with confusion, and then she copsed, her shoulders shaking with sobs. “I know you yed the field back then, but l don’t care! I love you! We’re special! I’ve been waiting for you, Cael! Why haven’t youe for me?”

    “Take her away!” Cael barked.

    Two soldiers immediately stepped forward, grabbing Prince and dragging her toward the packhouse.

    Lord Roy made a move to follow them but stopped. He turned to face Cael and Vessa, bowing low, his voice full of shame. “I… I’m so sorry, Alpha Cael. Luna Vessa. My daughter has been ill for some time now… sometimes she hears things that aren’t there. She isn’t well.”

    “You should get a doctor for her,” Cael said, his voice clipped. “I’m letting it go tonight, but if she does anything like this again-”

    “I promise it won’t happen again!” Lord Roy said quickly, backing away. “I’ll keep a closer eye on her.”

    “And you owe ra an apology,” Vessa reminded him, her tone cold.

    Lord Roy turned slowly, and with a deep sigh, walked up to ra, lowering his head in apology. “I’m sorry, Princess ra. I allowed my emotions bto /bclou my judgment. You were only stating the facts, but I let my love for my daughter blind me.”

    ra gave him a small nod. “It’s okay. Everyone got worked

    up tonight.”

    Lord Roy offered a grateful smile. “And I shouldn’t have spoken ill of your friends. King Dorian seems like a good man… Smart, capableb… /bif he bes your husband, I’ll be behind himb./bb” /b

    ra cleared her throat, stopping him in his tracks. “Thanks.”

    Wedb, /b20 bAug /b

    Dorianb, /bwho had overheard everything, grinned and gave Lord Roy a mock salute, “We’ll be sure to invite you to the wedding”

    The thief was caught, the jewelry returned. The drama had ended for the night, and the guests began filing out, heading to their cars.

    Cael squeezed Vessa’s hand and turned to go back inside. He patted Dorian’s shoulder as he walked past. “Good job tonight.”

    Dorian smirked, leaning in. “Does this mean I have

    your permission to

    marry El

    ra?”

    Caelughed. “I just said ‘Good job!‘ Don’t push it.”

    “Well, I’m d I could help.” Dorian chuckled.

    ra’s thoughts drifted as she listened to their banter. Where was Thorne?

    She had seen him in the crowd earlier, but now, he was gone. Why wasn’t he standing with everyone, collecting his credit like Dorian?

    “…ra?”

    She snapped back to reality. Cael and Vessa were already gone, leaving her alone with Dorian on the staircase.

    “Care for a nightcap?” Dorian asked with a grin.

    “It’s almost two in the morning,” ra said, raising an eyebrow. “A littlete for alcohol, don’t iyou /ithink?”

    His grin widened. He took a step closerb, /bbrushing his fingers through her hair with a yful gesture.

    “Then let’s do something that’s perfect for the night,” he said, leaning down and whispering in her ear, his voice low and seductive.

    “…You can call the shots here, my dear princess.”

    iAD /i