Chapter 5 Could It Really Be

In front of the mirror, my hands trembled as I reached for the zipper of the dress. The fabric brushed over my skin like water, smooth and cool with every shift. It looked stunning, maybe more than I could pull off. Wearing it made me feel unfamiliar, like I had stepped into someone else's life.

I turned slowly, letting the skirt fan out around my legs. The movement pulled me back to childhood, to those clumsy spins where I used to wish my dresses would twirl like the princesses I watched on screen. That younger version of me would've loved this moment. The woman I had become only felt like she didn't quite belong in it.

From behind, Jessa and my mother watched closely, their eyes picking apart every detail.

"Ava..." My mother let out a soft sigh, the kind that always carried quiet judgment. "You didn't even fix your hair?"

Without thinking, I reached up to touch it. Jessa had already done what she could, and I thought it looked nice. But my mother's expression said otherwise.

"I thought it looked fine," I murmured, my voice barely steady as heat crept across my cheeks.

Jessa exhaled sharply and rolled her eyes.

"Not even close. Come here, we'll fix it. You didn't plan anything, did you? We'll just throw it into a bun."

She seized my arm and guided me toward the vanity, pressing me down onto the chair. My mother stepped in right after, her lips set in a tight line.

"Sit properly," she said as she placed both hands on my shoulders. "Pull your stomach in. That dress is spilling over your hips. You look ridiculous, like a sack of potatoes. If your father didn't need to parade you in front of the other packs just to prove you're still alive, I wouldn't have brought you."

Her attention shifted to Jessa.

"What's that saying again?" she asked. "Can a cow's ear ever turn into a handbag?"

I pressed my lips together, forcing the tears back. A question lingered in my mind about why the pack cared so much about my condition, but I already knew asking it would only set her off.

That little girl who once admired herself in the mirror still lived somewhere inside me, but every sharp word chipped away at her, draining the brightness she used to carry.

Without hesitation, Jessa grabbed my hair and worked through it, smoothing and tugging until it formed a neat, polished bun.

"I'm not doing this for you," she whispered near my ear. "You owe me big for this, Ava. I'm only getting you ready because it benefits me. You don't even have a place here anyway."

I gave a quiet nod, not saying a word. I understood exactly what I was in their eyes, nothing more than something weighing them down. Still, for tonight, I had to step into the part they expected from me and force a smile no matter how hard it felt. Just a little longer.

Freedom was close. I kept repeating it in my head like a prayer while my body shook under their constant judgment.

My mother reached for my chin, tilting my face from one side to the other before letting go with a short nod.

"At least you don't look like a beggar anymore," she said. "For Moon's sake, Ava, learn how to carry yourself. How do you think this reflects on me? Didn't you even think to wear earrings?"

I held the truth back. She hadn't given me anything since I was twelve, and the only thing I owned was a braided friendship bracelet from when I was thirteen. Of course, that had no place here.

Jessa moved in next, taking over my makeup. Her hands worked fast and sure, reshaping my face before I could even process it.

"Don't move," my mother said, her hand settling on my shoulder. "You'll mess it up. Jessa, be careful with the shade. She can't look sick. People will start talking."

I forced myself to breathe slowly, trying to steady the tension inside me. By the time Jessa stepped back, the reflection staring back from the mirror didn't feel like mine anymore. My skin looked flawless, my eyes darker and sharper, and my lips burned with a bold red.

"There," Jessa said with a satisfied glance. "At least you look acceptable now."

Another quiet sigh slipped from my mother.

"That's enough."

I pushed myself to my feet and brushed my fingers over the fabric of the dress. My pulse raced, and my stomach twisted tight. For tonight, I had to become exactly what they wanted, a perfect she-wolf who stayed quiet, polite, and obedient. Just one last time.

After this, I would be gone.

Not long after, I walked into the ballroom just behind my family. My parents took the lead while Phoenix stayed at Jessa's side. I followed behind them like an afterthought, the dull shadow trailing behind polished figures. My mother and Jessa gleamed under the lights with their jewelry, while I wore nothing at all.

The Lunar Gala unfolded in stunning detail. Crystal chandeliers cast shimmering light across the hall, the marble floors mirrored every movement, and the walls were dressed in rich curtains and priceless artwork.

I scanned the room, hoping to find a quiet corner where I could disappear, but my father caught my elbow before I could slip away.

"Ava, come here," he said, already pulling me along toward a well-dressed older man.

I forced a smile, reached out my hand, and offered a soft greeting. One introduction blurred into the next, names and faces slipping past me without leaving anything behind.

The thick mix of perfume and hollow laughter pressed down on me, making it hard to breathe. My father kept steering me deeper into the crowd, and that was when I caught sight of a man observing us. He looked older than Alpha Renard, yet there was something sleek and controlled about him, almost like a predator holding back.

"Alpha Steele," my father said, his tone carrying an edge of restraint.

"Beta Grey," the man answered, his voice low and unsettling.

One by one, my father presented Phoenix and Jessa, then his hand clamped around my arm without warning.

"This is Ava, my youngest."

"It's nice to meet you," I said, my voice uneven. "The place is... really beautiful."

Steele's attention settled on me, his eyes tracing the crescent scar beneath my ear. The corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

"So this is Ava," he said. "We've been waiting for you to step into our circle."

My words stumbled over each other as a wave of unease crept in.

"I'm not really..." I hesitated. "I've never been involved in any of that."

"Call me Xavier," he said smoothly. "Our Silver Moon pack is proud to host this year's Gala. Having the Blackstone pack here makes tonight all the more significant."

A polite smile settled on my face, even though my thoughts were scattered. It was obvious he held no fondness for my father or Phoenix. For a fleeting second, a reckless thought crossed my mind, wondering if he could help me. But no Alpha would take on someone broken like me.

Xavier lifted his glass in my direction.

"You have quite a remarkable daughter, Beta Grey," he said, his tone layered with something I couldn't quite read.

My father's hand tightened around my arm, and the strain in his posture became unmistakable.

Another figure stepped closer, and my father stiffened further.

"Beta Ashbourne," he greeted, his voice edged with cold restraint.

Jessa moved ahead, glowing in her deep blue gown.

"Kellan Ashbourne, Beta of the Westwood pack. It's a pleasure to meet you," she said.

The man gave a slight nod before his attention shifted to me. His gaze locked onto mine as he reached out his hand. Without thinking, I placed mine in his. He brought it up and brushed his lips against my skin. A shiver passed through me, like he was quietly reading through every layer I tried to hide.

"And you are?" he asked, his voice soft yet sharp enough to leave a mark.

Before I could even speak, my father yanked me away from him.

"Ava, my youngest daughter," he said flatly. "Go spend time with people your age."

I didn't hesitate. I used that chance to slip away, leaving Kellan and the rest behind without a second thought.

As I moved through the ballroom, confusion filled my mind. None of it made sense. Why was he suddenly paying attention to me? And why had my father brushed me off so quickly?

I glanced back over my shoulder. Kellan was still watching me, his gaze fixed and impossible to read. A chill crept down my spine.

I needed to get out.

I stepped outside into the garden, where soft lantern light washed everything in pale gold. Cool air surrounded me, and for the first time that night, I managed to breathe. Quiet murmurs, hushed laughter, and the sounds of hidden intimacy drifted through the space. I turned my head away, heat rising to my face.

Reaching into my bag, I pulled out my phone and opened the ride app. My finger hovered above the screen as I set the destination. Moonlight Terrace Hotel. All it would take was one tap. Grab my things, get a car, and I'd finally be free.

Just as my finger was about to tap the screen, a strong hand closed around my arm, pulling a sharp gasp from me. I spun around at once.

A man stood in front of me. He was tall and built, with dark hair and eyes that cut straight through me. The fabric of his suit brushed lightly against my skin, smooth like silk.

Something stirred deep inside me, something unfamiliar yet instantly recognized.

Desire.

Damn.

Could it really be?

"Where do you think you're going, little wolf?" he said, his voice low and rough, sending a shiver down my spine.

I parted my lips, but nothing came out. My heart pounded wildly against my chest. His hold tightened, firm enough to almost hurt. I couldn't move, caught between the instinct to run and the pull to stay, to fall straight into him and forget everything else.