As the maids dressed her up, Eleanor’s thoughts drifted to Amiel and Sadie.
She wasn’t done with them yet–not by a long shot.
But her parents? That was a different knot altogether.
She didn’t hate them. They were her mother and father, and the people who raised her.
But maybe she wanted them to finally hear her out. To see what she’d carried for so long. She didn’t want revenge. She wanted understanding. Closure.
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
The door opened, and Colt stepped in.
Eleanor blinked once. But then the smile he wore told her everything she needed to know.
It was Cal who offered a boyish, lopsided grin as he waltzed over. “Colt said this whole banquet was his idea. My brother hates parties. But since you’re important to us, we might as well go all out.”
Eleanor smiled faintly. “Thank you, Cal. I know you’ve been busy with the clinic. And the hospitals in the city. Yet you’re here, supporting me.”
“For you. I’ll do anything. You know that, right?”
Eleanor nodded slowly, lifting her gaze to meet those spellbinding blue–grey eyes.
He reached up and gently tilted her chin. His gaze dropped to her lips, which she hadn’t realized had parted slightly.
‘It seems like you want to kiss me,” she whispered.
‘What about you?” he asked. “Do you want it?”
Before she could answer, the door swung open again and Colt stepped in, his jaw tight, his eyes already locking on Cal’s hand still near her face.
‘No wonder you’re taking so long,” Colt muttered.
Cal just chuckled. “What, is it a crime to admire her beauty?”
Colt exhaled. With one stride, he took Eleanor’s hand. “The guests are arriving. Let’s go.”
Eleanor didn’t protest. As she stepped past Cal, she met his eyes briefly, but said nothing.
The guests turned their attention to the top of the staircase as Colt guided Eleanor into view.
‘This is Luna Eve,” Colt announced, pressing a reverent kiss to her knuckles as he gazed into her
eyes.
Eleanor kept her face calm. She knew the name change was for protection. But as the guests clapped and bowed their heads respectfully.
She made her way down the stairs, smiling politely, offering nods and small greetings.
‘Luna Eve.” That’s what they kept calling her.
Then Colt was approached by an alpha, who leaned in to whisper something urgent.
Doce Broken Twice Claimed.
1/13 19.0%
3:38 am
The moment the words left the man’s mouth, Colt turned to Eleanor.
“I’ll be back. Something’s happened near the borders–rogue activity. Cal’s already on it, but they need me. Just stay here. I’ll handle it fast,” he said before reluctantly stepping away to handle the matter.
As she stood alone, having wandered from Colt’s side, Eleanor found herself surrounded by faces but truly accompanied by none.
And then her chest tightened, spotting Sadie who had just arrived.
Her sister stood among a tight cluster of women from the Duskridge pack, laughing far too loudly, trying far too hard.
Sadie caught sight of her.
For a second, her face went pale with shock. But it was gone in a blink, replaced by a sneer of mockery.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the tragic little blind girl,” Sadie drawled, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. “I didn’t know they were letting charity cases into banquets now. Or did you sneak in with the waitstaff?”
Her friends laughed. One of them whispered something that made Sadie smirk wider.
“What are you wearing anyway? That dress looks like it belongs to someone important. Goddess, don’t tell me you’re trying to pretend you belong here. Still clinging to those useless dreams of status? Just because someone let you borrow a pair of heels doesn’t mean you stopped being pathetic.”
She took a step closer, circling Eleanor like a vulture. “Tell me, do you even know where you are? Maybe you’re lost again. Or maybe you’re here to beg for money?”
Sadie cocked her head and gave an exaggerated gasp. “Oh wait–my bad. Do you even know whose banquet this is? Must be hard when you can’t even see the host.”
“Your friends should be the ones looking for the exit. I don’t allow dogs at my party,” Eleanor said with a raised brow. And then she turned to the redhead woman. “And you, Sadie? You’ve always been the mutt sniffing at my heels, desperate to wear a crown you didn’t earn. You bark the loudest when you’re the most threatened. Maybe next time, try entering a room without the stench of jealousy choking everyone out.”
A few of Sadie’s companions exchanged awkward glances, some even taking small steps back.
Sadie’s face flushed with fury. “Who do you think you are to say that!” She raised her hand to slap Eleanor.
But Eleanor caught her wrist mid–air, gripping it tightly.
Her emerald eyes locked onto Sadie’s, now wide and fuming.
And then she leaned in just slightly. “I’m the host of this banquet, Sadie. I’m Luna Eve.”
Sadie froze. The color drained from her face.
And then her eyes darted across the Luna’s face, scanning her carefully. “Y–You can see?”
Eleanor chuckled, releasing Sadie’s hand with the same ease someone might flick away a bit of lint. “Of course I can. From the very beginning. I’ve seen everything–your lies, your schemes, every desperate little stunt you pulled to steal what was mine.”
Chapter 11
3:33 am DDDD
“You’ve spent your whole life trying to become me,” Eleanor added. “But all you’ve managed is becoming a cautionary tale in heels.”
Sadie’s lips quivered, the air knocked out of her mockery.
And then Amiel arrived.
3:38 am
