Chapter 92

Ella POV

I sat across from Alexander in the car, watching him as he focused intently on his phone. He was likely catching up on emails or checking in on one of his businesses—he rarely wasted a moment, even while traveling.

Dressed in a perfectly tailored three-piece suit with gleaming gold cufflinks, Alexander looked every bit the part of a powerful, influential figure. He didn’t notice me watching, so I allowed myself a quiet moment to take in his appearance. He was effortlessly charming and undeniably attractive.

Whenever we were out in public, people would steal glances, unable to resist his magnetism. Alexander had long been the most eligible bachelor in the kingdom, and it was no mystery why he practically had a fan club.

Just as it was no mystery why David despised Alexander. Alexander embodied everything David wished he could be—handsome, charming, well-liked, and undeniably wealthy. David hadn’t anticipated our attendance, yet his public invitation to all alphas and lunas was a glaring oversight.

Alexander was indeed an alpha, and I, his future luna. Which meant that the invitation was extended to us. He wouldn’t be able to deny us entry.

I glanced out the window, recognizing the familiar landscape of Lunar Lake territory. We would arrive at David’s event in just a few minutes. I took a steadying breath, attempting to calm the rising tension within me.

“Are you all right?” Alexander asked, his gaze now shifting toward me.

I forced a smile, giving a small nod. “Yes, of course.”

He chuckled softly. “That wasn’t very convincing. Try not to worry—I’ll be with you the whole time. Nothing can go wrong.”

“I know,” I replied, trying to steady my voice. “I’m just trying to get into the right headspace to deal with this. I still can’t believe he’s pretending as if nothing happened.”

“He’s going to pay for what he did to you,” Alexander said, his tone turning sharp and resolute. “It’s only a matter of time.”

I gave him a grateful nod. “Thank you.”

Silence settled between us as we looked out at the passing town. The car began its approach to the central park of the Lunar Lake capital. David’s family estate wasn’t far from here, and with limited venues in the area large enough to host an event of this scale, an outdoor setting was the most likely choice.

The gardens came into view, scattered with finely dressed guests mingling under the late afternoon sun. I caught sight of Amanda welcoming guests, her demeanor poised and friendly. A surge of anger flashed through me but faded as quickly as it came.

I reminded myself why I was here; anger wouldn’t serve me now. This was about control, about showing David that his actions had not and would not break me.

Our car pulled up to the entrance, and Alexander stepped out first, coming around to open my door with an extended hand. I took it, stepping out gracefully, and immediately caught the murmurs of surprise from the crowd around us. I flashed a brilliant smile in Amanda’s direction, relishing her wide-eyed, open-mouthed reaction.

David appeared beside her, no doubt drawn over by the stir of our arrival. His eyes locked onto me, widening with a hint of panic. Without hesitation, I linked my arm through Alexander’s, and together we strode directly toward them, exuding confidence.

David took a step forward, hissing under his breath, “What are you doing here?”

“You invited all the alphas and lunas,” Alexander replied coolly. “It would be rude not to accept such an invitation.”

David’s expression hardened. “If you’re here to make a scene because of the hotel–”

“This has nothing to do with that,” I interrupted smoothly.

“Then why are you here?” he demanded, his gaze flicking to Amanda, who still hadn’t recovered her composure.

I smiled, directing my attention to Amanda. “To congratulate my best friend on her engagement, of course.”

As I looked her up and down, I noted her emerald green dress—a familiar, silky gown with a jeweled belt that I’d seen her sister wear before. Standing beside David in his standard suit, she looked perfectly acceptable, yet Alexander and I radiated a different level of sophistication. I straightened, offering my hand to Amanda with a pleasant smile.

“Congratulations,” I said. “You look lovely.”

Amanda’s jaw tightened, but she forced a polite smile as she took my hand, squeezing it with as much strength as she could muster. “Thank you.”

I returned her squeeze, letting her know I was not to be intimidated.

“If you make a scene, I’ll have you arrested,” David muttered, glaring as I withdrew my hand from Amanda’s grasp. “You can’t prove anything. You’ll only embarrass yourself.”

Feigning innocence, I shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Turning to Alexander, I smiled up at him. “Shall we go inside?”

“Whenever you’re ready, darling,” he replied, his voice soft yet pointed as he led me forward, leaving David and Amanda in our wake.

As we made our way into the garden, I could hear the whispers around us, but I kept my head high, refusing to acknowledge them. Alexander stayed close at my side, his ever-present charming smile adding to our composed appearance.

Slowly, I realized the murmurs weren’t judgmental or negative; when I finally mustered the courage to look around, I noticed nods of approval, even admiration.

My gaze settled on the Alpha and Luna of Briar Rose. As soon as we made eye contact, they headed toward us. Alpha Alistair Rose extended his hand to Alexander, who shook it with an easy smile.

“It’s good to see you again,” Alexander said.

“And unexpectedly, at that,” Alistair replied with a slight smirk. Tall and slim with pale hair and sharp features, he gave off a refined aura, though his smile was surprisingly warm.

Luna Danica moved to greet me, pulling me into a quick, reassuring hug that caught me off guard. “I wondered if you’d come,” she said quietly.

“We were invited,” I replied, trying to keep my tone light.

“Which was odd, I thought,” she added, giving me a squeeze before pulling back. “You know, we were at the restaurant that night, when the truth about their bond was revealed. Scandalous of them to do this, after how they strung you along.”

I nodded, averting my eyes as an unexpected pang of emotion tightened my chest.

Alexander interjected smoothly, “That’s precisely why we’re here—David needs to be reminded of his obligations to Ella in light of his shameful treatment.”

Alistair nodded thoughtfully. “A man must pay his debts,” he murmured, understanding clear in his eyes.

Our conversation was interrupted by the sudden buzz of a microphone. All heads turned to the pagoda in the center of the garden, where David and Amanda now stood before the crowd. Though he tried to maintain his composure, David’s gaze kept flickering toward me, a subtle strain in his expression as he began to speak.

He thanked everyone for attending and spoke glowingly of Amanda, praising her “virtue,” which prompted a few audible scoffs from those around us.

“We’ve decided to move forward with our marriage because we’ve come to realize our love is undeniable,” David declared. “We may seem rushed to those on the outside, but we’ve been in love for years. I wanted to give the other Alphas and Lunas a chance to ask any questions you might have, and I assure you that the future of the Lunar Lake pack is secure. There will be no disruptions to trade or alliances.”

Alexander’s hand settled at the small of my back, giving me a gentle push. Taking the cue, I stepped forward and raised my voice. “I have a question.”

A ripple of whispers swept through the crowd as David’s strained smile froze, his eyes locking onto me.

“Yes, Miss Rowan?” he asked, his voice tense. “What’s your question?”

“It’s very simple,” I replied, meeting his gaze unflinchingly. “You and I had a contract that, if you betrayed or misled me, you would owe me a portion of the farmland that borders our packs. You’ve broken that contract.” I paused, letting the weight of my words settle over him. “When can I expect payment?”

The crowd fell into an electrified silence, all eyes on David as his expression twisted with barely-contained anger.

I met his gaze steadily, daring him to deny me. I could hear people around us shifting closer to hear his response. I smiled, waiting for him to reply. He had no choice, and he knew it. His anger could touch me here, not with Alexander on my side and the Alphas of the kingdom looking on. This time, David was at my mercy.