The farewell with Azriel and Zaria passed in a blur of laughter, tight hugs, and a few heartfelt promises. As I hugged Zaria tightly, I promised we’d find a way to visit each other soon, even if it felt like wishful thinking.

Azriel, ever the Stoic, nodded at me once, his serious eyes softening just enough to make me believe him when he said, “This isn’t goodbye.” It wasn’t, not really, just a change in pace for all of us.

Yeon had insisted we escort Zaria and Azriel to the train hub, using Father’s seal—technically his, too—to secure them spots on the fastest bullet train back to Odristan. It was a small kindness that guaranteed they wouldn’t face delays. After that, it was straight back to the estate, where, unsurprisingly, Mother was waiting at the door, looking ready to incinerate us.

“You are late,” she snapped, her eyes narrowing like twin blades. “The Irving’s will be here in less than an hour.” Her gaze swept over us before she issued her orders like a sentinel general. “Gwen, assist Celeste with her dress. You two’” she pointed at Yeon and Cullen, “’join your father in the study.”

I didn’t wait for further scolding. I took Gwen’s arm and led her upstairs as we snickered at mother’s reaction.

When we entered my room, I wasn’t surprised to find two new attendants waiting, both holding up garments carefully selected for tonight’s dinner. Mother’s handiwork, no doubt. One of the attendants, an elf with striking silver hair, bowed before speaking. “Lady Celeste, we have prepared garments designed for tonight’s occasion.”

I glanced at Gwen, who gave me a reassuring smile and nodded. “Draw me a quick bath,” I said, brushing past them. The grime of the town square still clung to me, and the last thing I wanted was to feel out of place while trying to charm Lycans.

The attendants worked lightning fast, and Gwen excused herself to get ready while I cleaned up. I didn’t linger in the bath. Mother storming in to “motivate” me wasn’t a risk I was willing to take. Once I was clean, dried, and oiled, I returned to my room, where the attendants wasted no time.

I had never been fond of formal dresses. They always felt constricting, too much fabric and accessories designed to make me look like something I wasn’t. But I stood still as they worked, letting them drape the silver-and-blue gown over my shoulders, tighten the waist, and adjust the sleeves until they were satisfied.

When Gwen returned, now in an elegant dark gown of her own, she joined my attendees in putting i the finishing touches. Her hands deftly smoothing out a stray wrinkle on my dress. Her amber eyes swept over me appraisingly. “You look” regal,” she said.

I turned toward the mirror, letting out a soft sigh. “I look like my mother.”

The gown was beautiful, a blue like the depths of a moonlit ocean, its bodice studded with elaborate elvish embroidery. The loose sleeves were trimmed in the Oriental style, a subtle nod to Mother’s lineage. I looked different, but the image staring back wasn’t unrecognizable. It felt like a version of me I hadn’t fully met yet. For the first time, I felt” close to worthy of the role Gaia had forced on me.

“Ready to charm the House of Irving?” Gwen teased, her lips curving into a sly smile.

I huffed, smoothing a non-existent wrinkle from my sleeve. “Charm might be asking too much. I’ll settle for enjoying it.”

She laughed softly. “That’s the spirit.”

As we descended the stairs to the dining hall, the sound of unfamiliar voices reached my ears. The Irving’s had arrived early. Lycans, as a rule, were as punctual as they were politically savvy. Their strength wasn’t just physical, it extended to the way they manoeuvred within the Sovereignty.

When we entered, my eyes swept the room. Father stood near Alpha Devon, their heads close as they spoke in low tones. To the side, Yeon and Cullen were engaged with two other men, likely Alpha Devon’s sons, if their striking resemblance to him was any indication. Surrounding them were five more Lycans, their stances were relaxed but watchful.

And then there was Mother, and she looked as radiant as she always did as she caught sight of me. “There you are, Celeste,” she announced. All eyes turned my way as she gestured for me to join her.

I stepped forward, offering a slight bow. “Forgive my tardiness, House of Irving.”

“No apologies needed, Your Grace,” Alpha Devon said, his deep voice filling the room. He moved toward me, each step loud and heavy. He was bigger than I’d expected, towering, really, and his presence was almost paralysing. His piercing grey eyes locked onto mine, and I swallowed against a dry throat.

As much as I tried to focus on decorum, my gaze kept snagging on the glaring absence of any women in Alpha Devon’s party. No Luna. No daughters. Just sons and their entourage—an entirely male assembly that only raised more questions. Did he not have a Luna? Or worse, did he once and lose her?

The thought should’ve been an idle curiosity, but it wasn’t. Not when my heart was pounding in my chest like it was trying to stage an escape. Not when my throat felt like it had been stuffed with cotton. This was more than idle attraction; I’d hoped it was a passing phase, but no. My body had other ideas.

The dryness in my mouth, the way the rest of the room blurred around him, the heat that crept up my neck. All of it pointed to one undeniable fact: I was very attracted to Alpha Devon.

And not the polite, oh-he’s-handsome kind of attraction. No, this was the sort of pull that left me flushed and faintly dizzy, like I’d just sprinted up a hill. Aroused wasn’t a word I threw around lightly, but there it was, crashing into me with all the subtlety of a boulder.

I swallowed hard, hoping no one noticed the slight hitch in my breath. This man hadn’t even spoken more than a few words to me, and yet my body was responding as though he’d whispered a hundred sinful things in my ear.

And the worst part? I liked it.

A lot.

Gaia, help me.

“Lord Irving,” Mother’s voice sliced through my increasingly inappropriate thoughts, “allow me to introduce my daughter, Celeste Le Torneau.”

I straightened, nodding politely, even though the flutter of nerves in my stomach was anything but polite. It became impossible to ignore as Alpha Devon’s attention shifted fully to me, his sharp, steel-grey eyes locking onto mine like I was the only person in the room.

“Lady Celeste,” he said, and my name had never sounded so enticing. His voice was deep, rich, and just rough enough to send an involuntary shiver down my spine. It wrapped around me like a silken cord, and for a moment, I forgot how to breathe.

“Alpha Devon,” I managed, summoning a polite smile that didn’t at all reflect the riot of emotions in my chest. His gaze lingered, a moment longer than necessary, before he gestured toward the table.

“Please, sit.”

The table was a masterpiece of elegance, every detail meticulously arranged to meet Mother’s uncompromising standards. Priceless silverware gleaming under the glow of chandelier light, framing an array of dishes that filled the air with the mouthwatering scents of roasted meats, fresh herbs, and warm bread.

Father, as was his custom, sat at one end of the long table while Alpha Devon claimed the other. I, of course, was seated to Alpha Devon’s immediate right. Gwen settled beside me, with Yeon and Cullen farther down, strategically placed to balance the family’s presence.

Throughout the meal, I couldn’t help but notice Alpha Devon. Not just the occasional glance—no, my attention was practically magnetized to him. It wasn’t just his striking features, though those alone could undo even the most composed noblewoman. It was his attentiveness, the way his sharp eyes flickered from one person to the next, cataloguing every movement, every word. He sat there, relaxed but watchful, like a predator waiting for just the right moment to strike.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t immune to it. Not even close.

My eyes wandered to him more times than I cared to admit, tracing the strong line of his jaw and the stubble that pointed to an unruly softness behind his otherwise composed exterior. His lush black hair was combed neatly back, but I couldn’t stop imagining how it would feel between my fingers, or how his face might feel beneath my touch.

And then, as if he could sense the direction of my thoughts, his gaze lifted from his meal and locked onto mine.

It wasn’t a casual glance. It was a full, deliberate meeting of eyes that hit like a thunderclap. His stare held me in place, steady and commanding, like he’d peeled away every layer of pretence I was wearing. My heart stuttered, my hand tightening around the stem of my goblet just to remind myself I had something to hold onto.

The corner of his mouth twitched, so faintly it could’ve been my imagination.

Before I could linger too long on the thought, or the way it sent a spark of heat through me, Mother’s voice cut in.

“Celeste.” Her tone pulled my attention away. “I may have neglected to introduce you to the young Lord Irving.” She gestured toward one of the two men who had been chatting with my brothers. “Lord Darric Irving.”

I turned my gaze to him, dipping my head in a respectful bow. Darric was” well, fine. Dark-haired, clean-cut, and neatly dressed in a way that showed his careful grooming. Handsome enough, I supposed, but I felt no flicker of interest, no spark. Seeing as he was my parents” choice, I had a sinking feeling this wouldn’t end well.

Darric smiled pleasantly, flashing his dazzling teeth. “I’ve heard wonderful things about you, lady Celeste. None of them, however, could have prepared me for how lovely you are in person.”

Ah. A charmer. Of course.

“Flattery,” I said, quirking an eyebrow. “A bit of a playboy, are we?”

Darric chuckled, a light sound that was probably designed to disarm. “Not at all. Just someone who appreciates beauty when he sees it.”

I forced a polite smile, but my mind was already wandering back to the opposite end of the table. To the real reason my heart had been racing all night.

Alpha Devon’s gaze was no longer on me, but the awareness of him lingered. Meanwhile, Darric continued speaking, something about his family’s legacy and how much he admired House Le Torneau. I nodded at the right moments, keeping my responses minimal.

“Tell me,” Darric said, his tone shifting to something resembling genuine curiosity. “What do you like most about your role as Supreme Successor?”

I blinked, utterly caught off guard. Of all the bland small talk I’d been expecting, that wasn’t it. My mind scrambled to form a coherent answer that didn’t sound entirely disingenuous.

“It’s rude to put a lady on the spot like that, Darric,” Alpha Devon interjected. “Besides, it’s bad manners to discuss politics over a meal. I trust Lady Celeste isn’t offended?”

There it was again, the way he said my name. It wasn’t just a name any more; it was a spell, and he was wielding it far too effectively. My breath hitched, my thoughts scattering like startled birds.

His gaze was back on me, and I had no idea how to handle it. Alpha Devon didn’t simply look at someone, he commanded their attention, drew them in, made them feel like the only thing in the room worth noticing. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to melt under that gaze or meet it head-on like some kind of challenge.

“I’m not offended,” I managed to say. “But I appreciate your concern, Alpha Devon.”

The corner of his mouth twitched again, as though I’d just passed some unspoken test. “Good.”

Darric chuckled, though the sound was a touch awkward now. “I meant no offence, of course. I only wanted to know more about what drives you, Lady Celeste.”

“Curiosity is admirable,” Alpha Devon said mildly, his gaze never leaving mine, “but timing is everything.”

It was a polite scolding, but the subtle shift in Darric’s expression showed he felt it. I tried not to smirk, focusing instead on taking a sip of water to calm my nerves.

Dinner had suddenly become far more interesting than I anticipated.

The rest of the meal passed in polite conversation, with Gwen occasionally leaning over to make a quiet comment that would draw a laugh from me.