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Elise felt like she couldn’t breathe.

The moment the large oak doors to the hall were opened and she stepped into the room, the whole place and crowd went immediately quiet.

Her silver–lined gown shone across the rooms, hugging her body in all the right curves of her frame, with crystals lined from top to bottom of the dress. The crystals matched the pieces framed to her perfectly curled locks.

The form–fitting off–shoulder dress lay delicately on her dainty shoulders; the hand–tile of the first mermaid dress hugged all her curves with the split by the side, riding up to her thighs to show off her exquisite skin.

“You can do this,” she assures herself as she walks into the room with her head held up high, even as the whispers begin to erupt

Some stared at her in awe and envy or intrigue, while a large number of the wolves began to look at her with so much contempt and distrust.

Knowing that they had all heard what transpired between her and Alvira, they must think that she was this evil person and that Alvira was a saint.

She walks down the steps to meet Kaide, whose eyes are glazed in awe. “You look beautiful, wow,” he mutters under his breath, and Elise smiles quietly with a quiet note of appreciation on her lips before she compliments him.

Immediately, she spotted Vienna, who made her way to where they stood. “Look at you, so beautiful, the life of the party tonight.” Vienna said, and Elise felt so happy to have someone who felt like an older sister since she never had one.

She was hardly allowed to speak to any of the females back in her pack on her father’s orders, who told her that she was of royal blood and was not meant to mix with low–born wolves.

“You think so?”

“People cannot get enough of looking at you, Elise; you are glowing.” Vienna replies.

She is right,” Kaide says, his gaze never leaving Elise’s frame, not even on

“I think the main reason they are all staring is that they believe I pushed their beloved future Luna down the steps. Elise says she is trying to make a joke about it, but Vienna caresses her arms to assure her that she doesn’t believe the rumors.

Before vienna and Kaide share a look as she comes closer to Elise, she says, “You did nothing wrong. I believe you,” she assures Elise whose heart warms from it..

“Thank you so much, Vienna, Elise says. She turns around, trying to control the urge to bite her lips and ruin the perfect lipstick that Hana had put on. Her gaze meets Taz, whose eyes are locked with hers, and an unreadable expression on his face, like he is still trying to believe she did that to Alvira.

Taz was settled by the pillars before, but his gaze shifted to Vienna, who was standing with Elise, and his eyes shone. It was a short moment, but Elise noticed that as Tazmin made his way to them.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Is the moonshine wine making me hallucinate, or am I in the presence of two beautiful women?, no goddesses!” He flirts his way into the conversation.

He had appeared behind Vienna, who didn’t notice him, so she almost froze in shock from his heated breath that fanned against her skin as a blush grew on her face.

“Hello, Taz. You look handsome, Elise mutters. As Taz eyes studies Viennas frame, his gaze momentarily darkened with intrigue before he turns back Elise.

15:37 Sun, Sep 1 GBG.

“And you look gorgeous, Red,” he compliments.

She could see the apprehension in his gaze as he tried to study her. “Thz,” Kaide warns as he looks at his friend, a hard gaze that causes tension between them while both females freeze, but they are both interrupted when the doors open, announcing the entrance of Alpha Rygan and his intended, Alvini.

Her crystal blue gown contrasted with the black and silver–lined white of her betrothed, making her stand out. There was a smug smile on her face as she held onto Rygan’s arms.

They marched elegantly to the center, with everyone in awe and in praise of their compatibility and how beautiful Alvira looked. All eyes were on her now, but Rygan’s gaze was on Elise, whose heart skipped when she met his gaze.

It felt a sizzling fiery tension between them that made Elise feel like she was about to burst from just locking eyes with him, and every second they spent looking at each felt like torture, She had to look away to stop that burning feeling from rising

again

The room quieted down, and Elise was confused as to why, until she raised her head to see Alvira making her way towards her “Elise” She calls with a sickly–sweet forced tone.

“Thank you so much for coming,” she called kindly, taking Elise’s hand in hers and squeezing it. She pulled off the most innocent facade perfectly for the public, who all began praising her kindness to Elise even after what had transpired between them.

Elise tried to tug her hand off as quietly and calmly as possible, but Alvira held on tighter. “Tonight will be a night we won’t all ever forget,” she whispered before she let go and walked to the center stage.

Rygan is on the edge of losing it all, but Elise shakes her head and sends a message down the bond: “Don’t do anything. please,” she begs.

The night continues as the ranks of the newly jurned wolves are announced before the celebration continues. Kaide takes Elise to the dance floor while Taz takes Vienna, who was happy to dance with her dream man, and Elise is happy for her friend.

“You look like you’re not in a good mood.” Kaide called, gaining her attention; she just smiled back as they swayed.

She didn’t know much about how her smile affected Kaide, who watched in awe of her, or what power she held in her paws as Rygan watched in jealousy from his throne, occupied by elders and other wolves who wanted to greet and talk to him

All the more, he had to take a couple of cups of wine to stop him and distract him from interrupting Kaide and Elise’s dance.

Alvira takes note of this as she stands up, taking a champagne flute and hitting it with a small spoon to pause the music and gain the audience’s attention.

“Indeed, today is a beautiful day,” Alvira starts, “Our pack has gained more blessed shifters, and all the more, I was saved from my attack with minimal harm, and I’ve forgiven any grievances toward that person,” she says, and everyone’s gaze is pulled to Elise.

What the hell is she playing at? Elise wondered as she stood firm, her head still high. She wouldn’t be fazed by the stares.

“But what I’d like to announce today is that I’ve been more than blessed,” she called with a smile. As of yesterday, I found out that I’m expecting!” She called with a wide smile.

It makes Rygan freeze in confusion as the alpha looks from Alviga to Elise; no one expected the drastic turn of events that

Alvira announces,

“I am pregnant.” She reveals with a wide smile, Elise could only watch as the crowd roars wild with celebration while it all felt like a lucid dream.