If I spent tonight without anyone so much as glancing my way, I would consider it a victory.
“Eyes on us,” Maya murmured. “Left. Far wall.”
Well, I should have known it was too much to hope.
I didn’t turn. I didn’t need to. I could feel them. Whispers curling through the crowd like smoke. Some recognized me. Some were just guessing. But they all watched.
Most knew the story already, at least the one Celeste had meticulously constructed.
Kieran was hers. I stole Kieran. Kieran came to his senses. He was hers again-and this time she had no intentions of letting him go.
Lucian moved slightly closer, his presence solid at my side. “Still want to stay?”
I nodded once. “None of them matter, not really.”
“Good,” Maya muttered. “You keep that chin up, girl, and the second you’ve had enough, say the word and we’ll go get McDonald’s and a shit ton of alcohol.”
I shot her a grateful smile.
“Look who crawled out of hiding.”
The voice was nasal and unmistakable. Emma
I turned slowly, schooling my expression into something neutral. She stood just a few feet away, flanked by Abby and one of Celeste’s other friends, Davina.
The trio looked like shiny bridesmaids in their matching silver dresses. I was willing to bet anything that Celeste’s dress was gold. I wondered if they noticed the symbolism.
“Oh, don’t let us interrupt,” Emma cooed, tilting her head like a curious vulture. “We just wanted to see for ourselves. You know, if the tragic little wallflower actually had the nerve to show her face in public.”
Lucian raised a brow, clearly unimpressed. “If this is how you greet guests, no wonder the coat check line is empty.”
Abby ignored him. “You’ve got nerve, showing up after everything”
“I was invited,” I replied calmly.
“By Celeste,” Emma jumped in. “Out of pity.”
“Pity,” Maya repeated, dry as dust. “That’s what this is?” She waved a hand at the gold- drenched room. “Because it’s giving low-rent award show with a sugar daddy budget?”
Abby’s eyes narrowed. “At least she doesn’t show up to events looking like a funeral date.”
“It’s called elegance,” Maya replied without missing a beat, “though I wouldn’t expect your second-place trophy looking ass to recognize it.”
I snorted.
“You always did think you were better than everyone,” Emma hissed, turning her venomous glare on Maya. She was definitely still bitter about Ethan.
“I don’t think.” Maya smirked. “I know, sweetie.”
Emma took a step forward, and Maya raised a brow, unflinching. “What? What are you going to do?”
She stretched her hand out. “You gonna drag me outside and find a body of water to throw me into?”
“You bitch-“
Davina placed a hand on Emma’s arm, pulling her back. “Cool it, Em.”
It was comical to see them try to compose themselves, and then, the focus back on me,
Abby said, “Just remember you’re only here because Celeste allowed it. You don’t belong anymore.”
“I would rather make out with a cactus than belong inside Celeste’s ego with a glitter filter.
That landed. Emma’s mouth opened, then shut. Abby looked like she wanted to lunge.
“Come on,” she finally spat. “Let’s not waste time on ghosts.”
The three of them flounced away in a flurry of glitter and cattiness, heels clicking like war drums on the polished floor.
“Bye, girls!” Maya called out after them in a sing-song voice. “We should do this again sometime.”
Davina had to grip Emma to keep her from turning back, and Maya and I snorted.
Lucian leaned in, murmuring, “Well handled. That was the most entertaining shit I’ve seen in a while.”
“Something tells me that’s the mildest altercation we’ll have tonight,” I chuckled.
Maya cracked her knuckles. “That was stretching; I’m ready for Celeste now.”
“Easy, Tiger,” I said, accepting the champagne flutes a passing waiter gave us.
We’d barely clinked glasses when a shift rippled through the room.
A sharp crash sounded from somewhere at the back of the room-glass on tile, followed by the startled hush of nearby guests.
The music didn’t pause, but the conversation dipped for a beat as everyone turned in the direction.
“What now?” Maya murmured.
I squinted, trying to make out the commotion, and sighed.
Of course, a spectacle this gaudy couldn’t unfold without a bit of chaos to match.
SERAPHINA’S POV
I turned just in time to see a tray skittering across the marble floor, glasses shattering into a glittering mess.
A young Omega in a waiter’s uniform knelt on the floor, frantically trying to collect the shards with her bare hands, where red welts were already forming.
Gasps and whispers rippled through the ballroom, but no one moved to help.
Instead, the attention of the nearest guests was fixated on a tall Gamma male who stood just a few feet away, looking down at the Omega with a disgusted sneer.
“You idiot, you almost spilled wine on my shoes,” he barked. “Do you know how much these cost?”
The Omega ducked her head. “I’m sorry, sir. I tripped, I didn’t mean-‘
“Didn’t mean?” His voice rose high enough to garner whatever attention wasn’t already on the spectacle. “You Omegas never mean anything until you ruin something. Maybe you should watch where you’re walking instead of trying to flirt while on duty.”
Maya’s jaw clenched. “Oh, hell no.”
She and I were instantly on the move, but then a sharp voice cut through the air like a blade. “What is going on here?”
A woman in a crisp gray uniform stormed toward them. The head maid, Laura, I realized. I recognized her from past events I’d helped organize, like the Spring Moon Festival and the annual Solstice Ball.
Although Leona was the recognized Luna of Nightshade, as Kieran’s wife, I’d helped in event planning, mainly sticking behind the scenes with the Omegas, who were much nicer to me than any other pack members.
Except Laura. She seemed to think her position somehow elevated her Omega status and spent her time looking down her nose at anyone unfortunate enough to be under her.
The head maid turned on the Omega. “What have you done, Imani?”
Imani. My heart sank. I remembered her now-a hardworking, soft-spoken woman. She had a son, barely four, and she worked double shifts out of pack duties to make ends meet.
We’d spoken once about childcare struggles during pack events, and I’d once held on to her son while she worked.
Panic and shame battled in her eyes before she lowered them and said quietly, “It was an accident.”
Laura’s voice went cold. “Tonight is a night for perfection, and accidents-especially ones that inconvenience guests-will not be tolerated. How dare you embarrass Lady Celeste with your incompetence?”
“I…I’m sorry.” Imani’s voice trembled, and my hands formed into fists.
“Not to me,” Laura snapped. “You will apologize to our guest, clean this mess up, and then we will discuss appropriate disciplinary action.”
“But he??e cornered me in the hallway, and then now,” Imani whispered, just loud enough for us to hear. “I was just trying to get away”
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