Chapter 157
The private dining room of Silver Crest, Moonshade Pack’s most exclusive restaurant, gleamed with subtle luxury. I sat alongside my brother and Alpha Kael, our celebratory dinner marking the newly formed alliance between our packs.
1 straightened the hem of my navy dress, wishing I’d chosen something less formal. The small table created an intimacy I wasn’t prepared for, especially with how Alpha Kael kept glancing my way.
“For our new alliance,” Alpha Kael proposed, raising his wine glass. Candlelight caught the ruby liquid, casting red reflections across the white tablecloth. “The beginning of prosperity for both our packs.”
Alaric lifted his glass. “May our friendship and cooperation endure.”
I joined the toast with a practiced smile, though my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
“Especially grateful for your presence, Lysandra,” Alpha Kael added, extending his glass specifically toward mine. Our glasses clinked, the sound sharp in the quiet room.
“Thank you for the invitation,” I replied automatically.
As our meal progressed, Alaric and Kael delved into alliance specifics–trade agreements, border security protocols, medical resource sharing. I contributed when necessary, but found myself increasingly distracted.
“This alliance was my objective from the start,” Kael admitted, cutting into his steak with precision. “Securing cooperation with Moonshade Pack has been my priority for months.”
Alaric nodded, looking satisfied. “Your proposal clearly demonstrated the best fit for our needs.”
Something in Alpha Kael’s tone made me look up. Behind his cordial business demeanor lurked something more calculated -a political agenda I couldn’t quite identify. His gaze lingered on me a beat too long whenever I spoke.
I pushed my chair back slightly. “Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen.”
“Of course,” Alpha Kael stood as I rose–old–fashioned pack etiquette that Alaric had never bothered with. “Take your
time.”
***
In the bathroom’s solitude, I exhaled deeply and checked my phone. Notifications had accumulated throughout dinner, including several news alerts. The headline of the top article made my stomach clench:
“ALPHA ALARIC HUMILIATES SILVERBLOOD LEADER: Complete Breakdown of Today’s Pack Alliance Drama”
I tapped the article, scanning the content with increasing dismay. The reporter had transformed my brother’s already harsh rejection of Tristan into something even more brutal, adding embellishments and supposed “insider quotes” that painted Alaric as a hero who’d stood up to the “tyrannical” Alpha Tristan.
The comments section was worse:
“Alpha Alaric is right. We’ve heard rumors about Tristan’s marriage years ago. Who was that woman? He never p acknowledged his marriage OR his divorce.”
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Chapter 157
“She just disappeared. Did he kill her?”
“Maybe. Or paid her to keep quiet. If an Alpha can’t keep his Luna, his leadership abilities are questionable.
I gripped the marble countertop, surprising myself with the anger building in my chest. These people knew nothing about our situation, yet felt entitled to speculate on my life, on things they couldn’t possibly understand.
Stop it, I told myself firmly. Stop thinking about Tristan. Stop caring what people say about him.
I checked my appearance in the mirror–complexion a bit pale, eyes too bright. Taking a deep breath, I reapplied my lipstick and headed back toward the private dining room.
As I rounded the corner in the dimly lit hallway, a familiar figure stepped into my path. My heart stuttered momentarily as I found myself face–to–face with Tristan.
His presence in this restaurant, on this night of all nights, couldn’t be coincidence. Yet the brief surprise that flashed across his features seemed genuine.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said, blocking my path.
I kept my expression neutral. “You haven’t left our territory yet? Please move aside, my companions are waiting.”
“Your companions?” His eyebrow rose. “Kieran? Or is your brother arranging your social calendar again?”
“That’s none of your business,” I replied coldly.
His gaze shifted to the hallway behind me, toward the private room I’d exited. Understanding dawned in his eyes. “You’re here with Alpha Kael? Interesting.”
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