Estelle’s POV

Vivian continued, “He was just a gracious host, as every great king should be.”

Mockery laced through her words. But beneath the venom, it sounded almost like she was pitying me.

Despite her words, Vivian looked like she was about to crumble. Her face went from bitter satisfaction to complete devastation in seconds. Without another word, she turned and fled the ballroom immediately, disappearing into the crowd of dancers and socialites.

Her three friends exchanged worried glances before hurrying after her, their heels clicking rapidly against the marble floor.

“Don’t mind her,” Caleb said quietly beside me. He’d been watching the entire exchange with careful eyes. “Rosalind has strong backing. It might not even be Zayne’s choice to select her as his first dance, but the wishes of the council.”

I kept my gaze fixed on the dancing couple in the center of the ballroom.

“She and her family hold significant political power in lycan territory,” Caleb continued, “While it doesn’t affect werewolves much, it’s still proper standing here.”

I watched the way Zayne and Rosalind moved together across the dance floor. They did look like a good match from an outsider’s perspective. It was also obvious that Rosalind held deep affection for Zayne. Not once did her eyes leave his face.

However, this wasn’t something for me to think too hard about. My engagement wasn’t built on romance, but mutual political benefit. It didn’t matter who he danced with so long as our arrangement still stood.

Zayne surely had his own reasons for not wanting to pick Rosalind as his queen. I, on the other hand, needed him to stabilize my position in the Blackmoon Pack, as well as the rest of werewolf society.

The logical part of my mind knew this. The tightness in my chest suggested otherwise.

“Caleb,” I said, turning away from the dance floor. “I’m tired. I wish to leave.”

His eyebrows rose slightly. “Are you retiring to your room? I can escort you upstairs.”

“No.” I adjusted his jacket around my waist again, suddenly feeling the weight of the entire evening. “The official events are over, right?”

Caleb frowned but nodded.

“In that case, I wish to leave lycan territory. There’s no need for me to stay another night when everyone else is leaving soon anyway.”

Caleb studied my face for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll prepare the car.”

I followed him through the ballroom toward the exit, careful not to look back at the dance floor. The torn fabric of my dress rustled with each step.

We made our way through the ornate corridors of the lycan palace. The party had just started, and since the Lycan King had just started his dance, most guests were unwilling to leave so early.

This was a good chance for them to mingle. Until the day Zayne Silvius officially announced his bride, everything still had room for change.

“The car’s ready,” Caleb said when we reached the main entrance.

I slid into the passenger seat without bothering to change out of my damaged gown. The ripped fabric bunched awkwardly around my legs, but I couldn’t bring myself to care.

Caleb started the engine and pulled away from the palace grounds. The headlights cut through the darkness as we began the long drive back to the neutral territory near Blackmoon.

The countryside rolled past outside my window. Dark trees lined the road, their branches creating shifting shadows in the moonlight. It was peaceful compared to the intensity of the ball.

My phone began to buzz in my clutch.

I pulled it out and saw Asher’s name lighting up the screen. Multiple text messages had come through while I’d been dealing with Vivian and watching Zayne dance. A new one just came in, but I ignored it.

I set my phone to mute and cleared the notifications without reading them.

Asher and I had nothing more to discuss at this moment.

Surprisingly, there was a missed call from Zayne. It didn’t ring for long before the call ended, and he didn’t leave a voicemail. My finger hovered over his contact name, debating if I should dial him back.

“Everything alright?” Caleb asked, glancing at me before turning his eyes back onto the road.

“Mhm,” I said, humming under my breath.

I turned it face down on my lap and looked out the window instead. It started to pour heavily, with thunder and lightning flashing through the night sky.

There was no point in calling him back. The call had lasted so short that it could’ve easily been an accident.

Our alliance would still stand. Even if Zayne Silvius had a change of heart and wished to call it off, knowing him, he would’ve found a way to properly discuss this, rather than do it over a call.

No matter our relationship, Zayne Silvius was a man worthy of my respect. He had brought the lycan society to new heights, and with it, the prosperity of the allied werewolf packs as well. He was an impressive leader, and his personal life wouldn’t erase all of his accomplishments.

After what happened with Asher, I had learned that my feelings will need to be separated from business. In this case, our collaboration with Zayne Silvius was mere business.

“You know,” Caleb said thoughtfully, “the politics surrounding Zayne Silvius’s marriage are more complicated than most people realize.”

I turned to look at him, unsurprised that he was bringing up the topic. Caleb was an observant man. He must’ve noticed my discomfort.

“Yes,” I said. “You mentioned that Rosalind was the council’s top choice for his mate.”

“Rosalind’s family represents old money and established power. She’s the safe choice.”

“And I’m not.”

“You’re the unknown variable,” Caleb corrected. “Blackmoon is an established werewolf pack, but that was our fathers’ era. Now, you’re considered as a new, untested in their world. Not to mention, the lycans will naturally favor their own.”

It made sense from a political standpoint. Zayne would face pressure to choose the path that offered the least resistance.

“Does it matter?” I asked. “Our arrangement serves both our purposes regardless of council preferences.”

“True. But—”

Caleb’s response was cut off by a sudden sputtering sound from the engine. The car jerked slightly, then continued forward.