Free Web NovelChapter 23: Chapter 23 Social Gathering
Christina’s POV
The Sabreridge pack’s pack house sat majestically atop a private hill, as if the Alpha bloodline that owned it was too powerful to share territory with common wolves. The only way up was a winding mountain road that made my stomach lurch with each twist and turn.
Lately, all anyone in the northern territories could talk about was the elusive Alpha of the Sabreridge pack.Word was he’d returned from overseas and was a serious contender for Alpha King. It was like some celebrity politician running for president or something.At this point, my curiosity was burning to see what caused such commotion among the packs.
Traffic crawled up the mountain as the northern territories’ elite wolf families clogged the road with their luxury cars. We hadn’t even reached the summit when Ysolde told our driver to pull over.
She exited first while I followed, tugging my dress down an inch—a futile effort. I was already uncomfortable with the exposure, preferring practical clothing over this display.
Technically, I should have arrived with Hudson to maintain our engagement façade. But he’d sent a message saying he’d be running late. Of course he would be.
Ysolde hooked her arm through mine as we continued up the path on foot, her supportive presence steadying my nerves.
The dress she’d selected for me was... provocative.The crimson satin dress had that old Hollywood elegance, flowing like the famous green gown from Atonement but in deep red. Sleek lines that emphasized every curve before pooling at my feet in silk. Far from my typical understated style, but tonight wasn’t about comfort zones—it was about making an entrance.
The slit was dangerously high,one wrong move and I’d be facing the pack council for indecency. I’d paired it with silver stilettos that accentuated my calves and made my ankles look sharp.
By the time we reached the pack house gates, I couldn’t help but stare. Even the entrance exuded dominance.A massive wrought-iron monstrosity with gold accents and enough marble to house every Greek god and their extended family.
Now, the Carlisles weren’t exactly a minor pack. Ysolde’s family practically controlled Highrise’s social scene, and her brother had been expanding their territory and business holdings aggressively. Still, even she raised an eyebrow at the unmistakable display of wealth. It was like stepping into Gatsby’s wet dream.
"Is that... a fountain inside the gate?" she whistled.
I nodded."With flamingos. Real ones." My enhanced senses picked up their distinctive scent even from this distance.
We’d barely stepped into the ballroom when everyone in the place turned toward us.
Heads swiveled. Mouths parted. Champagne flutes paused mid-air.
Ysolde made quite the entrance. She wore a strapless silver dress that hugged her curves perfectly. She looked like a silent film goddess from the golden age of Hollywood.I figured I didn’t look too shabby either.
I scanned the room looking for Hudson. No sign of him. Just a crowd of manicured women and botoxed men pretending they weren’t silently assessing each other’s pack status and bloodline strength.
He’d apparently decided this gathering of packs was the perfect setting for me to meet his parents for the first time,public enough so they wouldn’t bare teeth or start interrogating me about my bloodline and wolf strength. Crowded enough that any "nice to meet you" would be short, polite, and over before anyone could sense the weakness in my bond with their son.
While Ysolde and I were busy scanning the crowd, the crowd was busy evaluating us. The women looked like they either wanted to compliment our dresses or commit a felony. The men stared at us like we’d invented cleavage.
"That’s Ysolde Carlisle from the Carlisle pack," someone whispered behind me, their enhanced hearing not accounting for mine. "But the one next to her? Who is that?"
"Christina Vance," someone else replied with smug certainty. "She’s bound to Niall Granger. The mating ceremony is coming up soon. No wonder she’s glowing."
"Pfft, glowing my arse. Everyone knows she’s just clinging to Niall. He doesn’t even want her as his Luna. Has another female marked for that position, apparently."
"Please. Christina Vance is barely Luna material. Even her own Alpha father doesn’t support her."She’s nothing but a coffee shop girl, isn’t she? Word is she only landed this engagement because of the fated mate bond with Niall. Clearly, latching onto The Frostpelt Pack is all that’s saving her from going Rogue."
The women were gossiping as if I lacked enhanced hearing. Every word carried to us as clearly as if they’d shouted it across the territory.
Ysolde’s eyes flashed dangerously, a low growl building in her throat. She took one look at the group and started moving toward them.
"Ysolde," I grabbed her wrist,"Not here. It’s the Sabreridge’s territory.If you challenge someone in this ballroom, both our packs will face consequences."
She huffed."They’re the ones breaking pack etiquette. If this bloody dress weren’t so restrictive, I’d be over there turning cheeks into handprints."
I understood her protective instinct, but I wasn’t angry. Their gossip was so outdated it wasn’t even offensive,it was just pathetic. The real power players would already know Niall and I had severed our bond.
Although... Niall probably hadn’t announced it. Definitely not to Louisa. And certainly not to the pack allies who’d inform her.
Because if there was one thing Niall Granger’s wolf couldn’t tolerate, it was the idea that I had rejected him first.
"Are you just going to let them disrespect you like that?" Ysolde growled softly.
"Absolutely not."
I used to accept such treatment. Every challenging glare, every whisper, every woman who told me I’d never be strong enough to be Luna. I endured it because I thought Niall was my fated mate. I thought he was worth putting up with all of it. free𝑤ebnovel.com
Newsflash: he wasn’t.
So I picked up a glass of cranberry juice from the drinks table, and approached the gossiping women with deliberate steps.
The loudest one stood front and center, drowning in some weird lavender chiffon creation. Pearls everywhere—big ones, like she’d raided her grandmother’s jewelry box.
They went quiet the moment they spotted me. Blinked, smiled, as if they hadn’t just been trashing my reputation.
I smiled back, extending the glass to Miss Lavender. "I would’ve offered you soap, but since I don’t carry those in my clutch, you’ll have to make do with cranberry juice to cleanse that mouth." frёeωebɳovel.com
She didn’t take it. Just stared at the glass as if it contained silver.
I didn’t move. Just stood there, arm extended. Waiting.
The silence stretched.
A few people turned to watch.
I still didn’t move.
Whatever expression was on my face must have told her this wasn’t a bluff.
If she didn’t drink that juice, I wouldn’t hesitate to dump it on her hair.
