The Forbidden Heiress At The All Male Alpha Academy-Chapter 215: The Unity Gala

Theo stood alone before the mirror.

The dress Cain had sent to her was made for concealment. It was high-collared, brushing against her jaw. The sleeves went all the way to her wrist, followed by net gloves that she wore over her fingers.

All the way down to her toes, the green gown fell. Its embroidery sat on the edges of the dress, subtle but beautiful.

The maids had left a few minutes ago after helping her with her make-up and hair. She looked less dead, with the black circles properly concealed. The only truth in her face was her eyes.

A stranger’s eyes.

Her amber eyes looked diluted, and the colour subtly changed from amber to black whenever she lost focus.

She lifted her hands slowly, watching the faint tremor in her fingers through the transparent net. The gloves matched the dress, fitted and soft, obscuring the blackened lines that pulsed beneath her skin like something alive. She could feel it crawling deeper, taking over.

And something told her, she wouldn’t last long.

Theo leaned closer to the mirror, breath fogging the glass.

’I’m still here,’ she told herself.

But the thought didn’t settle right. It felt distant, like a memory trying to recall itself. There were bigger gaps now in everything that crossed her mind. Moments where she felt lighter, like parts of her were being shaved away in places she couldn’t reach. The lab had taken even more days and nights from her. That endless pressure behind her eyes when the injections burned and her veins lit up like dying stars.

From the very beginning, she had stopped counting.

Thirty-three days, ten hours, thirty-three seconds...

That was where she had stopped. That was where she had passed out. And now, she had lost count.

The door opened behind her, and she watched through the mirror as Cain walked into the room. He was wearing a designer tuxedo with a green tie. His hair was styled backwards.

He looked different than what she was used to seeing everyday.

He walked up to her, and placed both hands on her shoulders, "A lot of things would happen tonight, Runaway," He said, "things you’d witness, and those that... you’ll be gone before it happens," He leaned into her shoulders and whispered, "This subject’s soul would completely disappear before the night ends, and she will be spared of all the pain and torture she’s gone through,"

Her eyes flickered for a moment. Relief? Guilt? Excitement? She wasn’t sure herself. It all felt numb. She could barely feel anything but hollow.

"Give me your hand," He said.

He extended his palm, and she placed her hand on his. He took off the gloves she was wearing, and pulled out a syringe filled with the dark fluid, but this one glistened with something that made whatever she could feel left crawl.

"This is the final trigger," He said as he pulled off the cap and brought the needle close to her veins, "And you’ll finally be free,"

It pierced her skin and vein, and he injected the whole thing. She expected instant pain, but it didn’t come as she had expected. Instead, she lost every feeling in her head and fell forward on his chest.

She could feel it spreading. A catalyst for the rest to act even faster, even harder. The pendant glowed on her neck, and she heard the demon laughing inside of her. A sinister, excited kind of laughter.

After a few minutes, her numb legs weren’t so numb anymore and she stood back on her own. Cain had already worn her gloves back on.

"Could you...," She gritted, "Tell me what date and time it is right now?"

He didn’t answer for a while and just when she thought he wouldn’t, he replied, "It’s October 13th, 3:17pm"

October 13th.

That means she’s spent over a month in that lab.

And it also meant, it’s been Two month, two days, and 15 hours since Zeke and Sylas died.

"Let’s get going, or we’ll be late,"

It was the first time she was leaving the house since she stepped in.

They got into a waiting helicopter behind the castle and took off into the sky. The journey was for a few hours, and Theo was pretty sure they had the east territory and were headed for the west.

They arrived a few hours till midnight and dropped. A car was waiting for them, and they hopped on for another thirty minutes ride before arriving at their destination.

The moment they dropped, Cain walked over to her and fixed her arm to his like she was his date - which she was. Together, they walked forward toward the Grand Hall that towered ahead.

It was her first time in the west, and the air here smelt differently. Liam’s face flashed inside her mind for a moment, then she blinked and it was gone, leaving her clueless on what she was just thinking of.

Different cars and limos were parked in front of the hall, and it seems like she and Cain were the last to arrive.

Two guards stood by the door, and flung it open the moment they got close. Warm light spilled into the night like molten gold.

Music rolled out first, threaded with old-world instruments. The Grand Hall of the West glowed from within, its arched ceilings visible even from the entrance, carved black stone and glass rising like a cathedral built for politics, and Chandeliers burned overhead with soft amber light, reflecting off polished marble floors that glittered with dark and silver.

Theo felt it immediately.

Whatever was left of her blood pushed against many wolves inside. Instant rejection. Bloodmoon and Dark horse.

Cain’s fingers tightened subtly around her arm, possessive, almost amused. They stepped inside together, and conversations faltered immediately

Every head in the room turned and eyes followed them in that careful way Alphas did when they were measuring threat and influence all at once. The West’s finest were gathered here: Alphas and Lunas draped in tailored suits and gowns, old bloodlines hidden behind perfect smiles.

At the far end of the hall, banners hung from the ceiling in deep obsidian and forest green.

UNITY GALA, They read.

Theo almost smiled.

Unity, when Cain already held the strings.

She felt his satisfaction like a hum beside her, steady and pleased. This was his stage, and the West was merely hosting it.

They moved forward and the crowd parted. Cain nodded here and there, acknowledging respect that had once been resistance, even though it still carried so much resistance underneath it.

She caught her reflection briefly in one of the towering mirrors lining the hall. She appeared regal, untouchable and composed.

A woman in the arms of the most powerful Alpha alive.

No one could see the truth beneath the silk.

No one could see that the soul inside that body was thinning, unraveling thread by thread.

Footsteps approached from the left, and the surrounding Alphas straightened almost unconsciously, a ripple of deference passing through the crowd.

Theo didn’t turn at first. She was too busy holding herself together, too busy fighting the strange drifting sensation behind her eyes, like she might blink and the demon would emerge.

Cain looked up, and his composure changed to an interesting glint, "Well," Cain said smoothly, lifting his chin a fraction, "If it isn’t the host himself,"

Theo turned, and her heart stuttered.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, her mind caught between recognition and nothingness, before it hit her all at once.

Liam.

He looked older than she remembered, and his hair had grown back. His blonde hair was drawn back , exposing a face that had lost its softness. His eyes were colder, emptied, and West-blood power coiled beneath his skin like a sleeping beast.

When his gaze landed on her, something flickered.

It disappeared as fast as it came.

"Alpha Cain," Liam said, inclining his head respectfully, "Welcome to the West. I’m glad you could attend,"

Cain smiled, looking pleased, "I wouldn’t miss my own celebration," He replied lightly, "You’ve done well. The hall, the guest list... very impressive."

Liam’s lips curved faintly, but something twitched in him, "Unity requires presentation,"

"Indeed," Cain’s hand slid possessively against Theo’s arm, "I believe you’ve already met, but I’ll be making the introductions again,"

Theo felt the word companion like a brand.

"This is Theodora Hallowell," Cain continued, his tone casual, and proud, "My... partner,"

Liam’s eyes dropped to her eyes, and Theo met his gaze for a heartbeat. Her mind swam back to their time together at Gravemont, and the emotions she felt was too much for her fragile self because she felt a sharp pull in her chest, and a pressure behind her eyes before amber bled toward black again, and she had to clench her jaw to keep from swaying.

Liam noticed. His fingers curled once at his side.

"Theodora," he repeated quietly, as though testing the name on his lips for the first time, "It’s good to see you again,"

The word ’Good’ echoed hollowly in her head.

She searched herself for anything she felt toward him. Despite the pain, she found very little. In her head, Liam meant nothing to her anymore.

"You look..." Liam continued, being careful, "Different,"

Theo’s lips parted, and for a moment, she almost said his name.

Almost asked why.

Almost asked where his father was.

But the thought slipped through her fingers like smoke again.

"She’s been through a transformation," Cain replied instead, "One that will redefine the balance of power,"

Liam’s jaw tightened just a fraction, "I see," he replied, his gaze never leaving Theo’s face, "I hope the West has been... accommodating,"

Theo forced herself to speak, and as it came out it sounded more like the demon’s than hers, "It’s beautiful," she said, "You did well,"

Liam flinched slightly.

Because she hadn’t said ’You’ the way she used to.

Because there was no warmth in it.

Because she sounded like she was already half gone.

"I’m glad you think so," He said after a moment. Then, to Cain, "If you’ll excuse us shortly, the opening address will begin. Unity must be... affirmed,"

"By all means," Cain replied.