NovelEnglishChapter 36
Ella
1 froze on the staircase, my fingers curling tightly around the banister. “What do you mean
Alexander won't be attending?”
Gabriel's sneer deepened. “Sophia called. She needed him for something urgent.” He shrugged as if it were
obvious. “So he decided not to go tonight”
A knife twisted in my chest. | should have known that even after everything, Alexander would drop it all the
moment Sophia called to him, but it still hurt.
“I see,” | said evenly, descending the remaining steps. “I take it he couldn't be bothered to tellhimself, so he
sent his minion?”
“He's busy.” Gabriel's eyes flicked over my dress again. “Well, at least you won't need to wear that dress now
since you're canceling”
“Who said | was canceling?”
Gabriel blinked. “You can’t possibly be planning to go alone.”
“And why not?” | grabbed my clutch from the entryway table. “My nwas on the invitation too, you know. Not
just Alexander's.”
“It wouldn't look right for the Luna to attend without her Alpha. Think of the impact it'll have on his campaign.”
| almost laughed at that. As if Alexander gave a damn how it would “look” for either of us when he abandoned
In the past, perhaps | would have simply nodded and retreated back upstairs. No, not “perhaps*“-similar
situations had happened before, and | had chosen to stay home.
| would have changed out of my dress, washed off my makeup, and spent the night alone while Alexander was
off doing Goddess-knows-what with Sophia or anyone else whose company he preferred over mine.
I would have been the perfect, understanding Luna, sacrificing her own happiness for her Alpha’s.
But not tonight. Not anymore.
| was done letting Alexander dictate my life. | was done letting him makemiserable. | had put effort into
getting ready for this party. | was looking forward to visiting my old home. And | wouldn't let him ruin that for
me.
“Lilith!” I called out, my voice echoing through the foyer. “Lilith, are you home?”
A moment later, Lilith appeared from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dishcloth. “Yes? What is it?”
“Would you like to cto that party withtonight? The one at Stormhollow?”
Lilith’s eyes widened, darting betweenand Gabriel like a deer caught in headlights. “Oh! I... well, I'm not
dressed for-"
“I don’t mind waiting for you to get changed,” | assured her. “Please? I'd really appreciate the company.”
Lilith hesitated for another moment, but then nodded. “Giveten minutes to freshen up.”
She hurried upstairs, leavingalone with Gabriel once more. His face had darkened with each passing second,
and when | turned back to look at him noticed that his cheeks were trembling with rage.
“This is ridiculous,” he hissed once we were alone again. “You can’t go parading around another pack’s territory
without your Alpha, especially not dressed like... that.”
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My blood boiled. “Excuse me?”
1/3
Chapter 36
“You heard me. That dress is inappropriate enough with Alexander present. Without him, you're just asking for
trouble. You need a chaperone
| stepped closer to Gabriel, something dark and powerful surging through me. It was the sfeeling I'd had at
the theater, when I'd finally stood up to him in front of everyone. And it felt good.
“Maybe you've forgotten yourself, Beta,” | said, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, “so letclarify:
what | wear is none of your business. Where ! go is none of your business. And what | do with my twhen my
husband is too busy with his precious Sophia to fulfill his obligations is definitely none of your business.”
Gabriel's nostrils flared. “As Beta, it's my duty to-"
“As Beta, it’s your duty to show respect to your Luna.” | straightened my spine. “But since you seem incapable of
that, perhaps you need a reminder of exactly who | am.”
| hadn’t used my Luna Voice since that day outside Alexander's office.
But in this moment, with rage burning through my veins like acid, | couldn’t hold back.
“Gabriel,” | commanded, “you will be silent until I give you permission to speak again.”
Gabriel's mouth snapped shut, his eyes widening in shock. He tried to open it again, but no sound cout.
Panic flashed across his face as he realized what had happened.
“You will driveto Stormhollow,” | continued firmly. “You will act as my silent chaperone for the evening, since
apparently it's so important to you. And as my chaperone, you will not cause any scenes, nor will you disrespect
Gabriel's face contorted with fury, but he remained silent.
“Nod if you understand.”
After a moment of rigid resistance, Gabriel jerked his head stiffly.
“Good.” | turned away from him just as Lilith churrying back down the stairs, now dressed in a simple but
elegant navy blue cocktail dress with her silver hair pulled back into a neat bun. She looked beautiful, as always.
“Ready,” she said, slightly out of breath. Then she noticed Gabriel's thunderous expression. “Is everything
alright?”
“Everything's fine,” | assured her with a grin. “Gabriel has kindly offered to drive us to Stormhollow and act as
our chaperone for the evening. Isn't that right, Gabriel?”
Gabriel glared atbut nodded again.
| beamed and turned back to Lilith, holding my arm out for her. “Shall we go, then?”
-The drive to Stormhollow was long and silent. Gabriel white-knuckled the steering wheel the entire way, his jaw
clenched so tight | thought he might
crack a tooth. Lilith sat besidein the backseat, occasionally chatting about inconsequential things to fill the
awkward silence, but she was silent and tense most of the tas well.
As we crossed into Stormhollow territory, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. The landscape was achingly
familiar-the rolling hills, the dense forests, the winding river that cut through the heart of the pack land. I hadn't
realized how much I'd missed it until now.
“It's beautiful here,” Lilith remarked almost wistfully. “I'd almost forgotten...”
| shot her a sidelong glance. “You've been to Stormhollow before?”
Lilith’s cheeks reddened, and she waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, you know. Just passing through here and
there.”
“I see. Well, it is a beautiful territory,” | said softly. “I used to run through these woods as a child. It was my
escape.”
2/3
TUUC, PA] ESS
Chapter 36
The memories almost madetear up. Those were the days before everything went to shit. Before my father
remarried Before my half brother w born. Before | was forced to marry a fated mate who didn’t want me.
Before my one year death sentence,
Lilith noticed my shift in mood. She didn’t say anything-just reached over and squeezed my hand. | held onto her
fingers like a lifeline. We dayed the that, silent, until the car wound its way up the long, tree lined driveway that
led to the Stormhollow mansion.
It looked exactly as | remembered. Sprawling and elegant, gray stone and dark wood, tall windows glowing
golden from within. The gardens weerd in full bloom even at nighttime, a riot of color and fragrance that brought
back memories of playing hide and seek among the rosebushes.
That was back before | realized that cherry blossoms smelled far sweeter than roses.
Gabriel parked the car, and immediately a small crowd of paparazzi who had been waiting by the driveway
surged forward, cameras flashing, hews of my return to Stormhollow after five years had clearly spread.
| wondered how many of them had been tipped off specifically to catcharriving with Alexander. Well, they
would be sorely disappointed Perhaps Alexander would regret his decision to run to Sophia in the morning when
the tabloids showed pictures ofarriving by myself.
Gabriel opened the car door for us. We stepped out into the flashing lights, Lilith and | arm in arm, Gabriel
trailing sullenly behind.
The photographers immediately caught onto the fact that Alexander wasn’t with us, but | kept my head high and
my expression neutral as we made our way to the entrance. | didn’t bother answering any of the questions as to
where my husband was. | also didn’t try to quell the rumors.
Maybe it was tfor him to face the consequences. It wasn’t my fault that he chose Sophia over me. | figured
he could see how his actions impacted his campaign and maybe, just maybe, he would learn his lesson.
Finally, the massive oak doors swung open, revealing the grand foyer I'd known so well as a child. Crystal
chandeliers. Wooden parquet floors that still creaked in all the places | remembered. A sweeping staircase led to
the upper floors where my old bedroom was located.
But the familiar space did little to soothe my frayed nerves as we entered the main ballroom. The moment we
stepped through the archway, a hush fell over the crowd. Heads turned, conversations faltered, eyes widened.
| could practically hear their thoughts. The Alpha’s daughter, returned at last. But where was her mate? Why had
she calone? And dear Goddess, what was she wearing?
Across the room, | spotted my father in deep conversation with sofficials from the pack. When someone
whispered in his ear and gestured in my direction, his head snapped up.
Our eyes met across the crowded ballroom. His expression immediately turned icy, and he made a beeline for
me.
“Ella,” he said stiffly when he reached us, barely acknowledging Lilith and Gabriel with a nod. He grabbed my
arm and roughly pulledcloser. “Where is Alexander?”
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08:38 Tue, 19 Aug
Chapter 36
The memories almost madetear up. Those were the days before everything went to shit. Before my father
remarried. Before my hall brother was born. Before | was forced to marry a fated mate who didn’t want me.
Before my one-year death sentence.
Lilith noticed my shift in mood. She didn’t say anything-just reached over and squeezed my hand. | held onto her
fingers like a lifeline. We stayed like that, silent, until the car wound its way up the long, tree-lined driveway that
led to the Stormhollow mansion.
It looked exactly as | remembered. Sprawling and elegant, gray stone and dark wood, tall windows glowing
golden from within. The gardens were in full bloom even at nighttime, a riot of color and fragrance that brought
back memories of playing hide-and-seek among the rosebushes.
That was back before | realized that cherry blossoms smelled far sweeter than roses.
Gabriel parked the car, and immediately a small crowd of paparazzi who had been waiting by the driveway
surged forward, cameras flashing. News of my return to Stormhollow after five years had clearly spread.
| wondered how many of them had been tipped off specifically to catcharriving with Alexander. Well, they
would be sorely disappointed. Perhaps Alexander would regret his decision to run to Sophia in the morning when
the tabloids showed pictures ofarriving by myself.
Gabriel opened the car door for us. We stepped out into the flashing lights, Lilith and | arm in arm,
Gabriel trailing sullenly behind.
The photographers immediately caught onto the fact that Alexander wasn’t with us, but | kept my head high and
my expression neutral as we made our way to the entrance. | didn’t bother answering any of the questions as to
where my husband was. | also didn’t try to quell the rumors.
Maybe it was tfor him to face the consequences. It wasn’t my fault that he chose Sophia over me. | figured
he could see how his actions impacted his campaign and maybe, just maybe, he would learn his lesson.
Finally, the massive oak doors swung open, revealing the grand foyer I'd known so well as a child. Crystal
chandeliers. Wooden parquet floors that still creaked in all the places | remembered. A sweeping staircase led to
the upper floors where my old bedroom was located.
But the familiar space did little to soothe my frayed nerves as we entered the main ballroom. The moment we
stepped through the archway, a hush fell over the crowd. Heads turned, conversations faltered, eyes widened.
| could practically hear their thoughts. The Alpha’s daughter, returned at last. But where was her mate? Why had
she calone? And dear Goddess, what was she wearing?
Across the room, | spotted my father in deep conversation with sofficials from the pack. When someone
whispered in his ear and gestured in my direction, his head snapped up.
Our eyes met across the crowded ballroom. His expression immediately turned icy, and he made a beeline for
me.
“Ella,” he said stiffly when he reached us, barely acknowledging Lilith and Gabriel with a nod. He grabbed my
arm and roughly pulledcloser. “Where is Alexander?”
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