Chapter 40

God only knew what I was walking into...

I swallowed my nerves and dug up the courage to head over to where the Lycan Luna and Lorenzo were waiting for me backstage. Of course, Cate was not too far behind me. She must have sensed my uneasiness and decided to feed off of it with a nasty parasite.

Her smug smile led the muscles in my stomach to clench with worry until the two of us finally came upon our Luna. I kept my head down out of respect as well as fear.

“Ladies,” the older woman greeted us in a light tone.

Cate and I spoke unanimously. “Luna.”

This was it. I was awaiting my punishment for having altered the dance routine at the last second. My heart was pounding viciously in my chest. I closed my eyes and painfully awaited the consequences; however, I was met with a warm embrace of the Luna’s hands instead.

She’d grabbed me by the shoulders and squeezed with bubbling encouragement.

“Oh, Eleanor,” she praised. “Of all my years watching that same traditional dance, I have never seen a more beautiful and exhilarating performance.”

My whole body went stiff as stone. Wait, what?

My jaw went slack as my eyes grew wide in surprise while Cate was gawking in utter disdain. I briefly glanced past the Luna to steal a glance at Lorenzo who returned my baffled look with a subtle smile and knowing wink.

I didn’t know what to say, I was at a complete loss for words. “I...W-Well, I—”

“You’ve given us a perfect demonstration of the very morals that we believe should always exist between the packs. The idea that kindness can still exist between enemies,” the Luna explained.

For the very first time, all evening, I let out a long breath of relief. I felt my self-preservation finally begin to crack and I too became overjoyed by the accomplishment. Lorenzo stepped forward and pulled me into his arms where I welcomed the glorious feel of his warmth.

“You were incredible, sweetheart,” he whispered into my ear.

I felt my cheeks flush under his praise as I turned back to face the Lycan Luna.

“Thank you, I’m both honored and grateful for the compliments,” I said. “But, if I’m being completely honest, Your Majesty, my reason for having altered the routine while on stage was because Cate had purposely tripped me earlier during the performance.”

Cate took her chance to step forward and pointed a harsh finger directly at me and snarled.

“That’s a complete lie! How dare you accuse me of something so immature as tripping you during such an important performance. If anyone should be judged it’s you! You and your tacky dance moves were so ridiculous and outlandish that you nearly knocked me off the stage—”

“That is enough!” the Luna shouted. Her eyes glowed a golden sheen of yellow while a vicious, unforgiving growl vibrated from within her chest.

Thank God, Lorenzo was still holding me by his side because Cate had gone stiff with fear. Our Luna turned her direct attention toward Cate. All of her previous pleasantness was lost and was replaced by fierce authority.

“Cate Bellagamba, your unorthodox tactics against Miss Wright have not gone unnoticed. It has been made clear on numerous occasions that your need for childish antics has surpassed your ability to represent yourself with maturity and professionalism,” she said sternly. “I hereby declare you as ineligible to join the Royal Ballet team.”

My lower lip fell open, I was stunned. Cate, on the other hand, was seconds away from complete hysteria. The corners of her eyes filled with tears and a terrible tremble broke through her body.

“No. No, wait! Please!” she begged mournfully. “Please, give me another chance to prove myself. You’ll see that I am worthy of joining the Royal Ballet team. Oh, please! It’s what I’ve been training for my entire life.”

The Lycan Luna hadn’t even acknowledged Cate’s words with an answer. “Come, you two,” she hummed. “It is time that we head to the main reception hall for refreshments. I’m sure there are many admirers who are eager to meet our star ballerina tonight.”

Attention aside, I was looking forward to wrapping my hands around a nice cold glass of water.

Lorenzo chuckled in agreement and slipped his arm around the small of my back.

“I agree, Your Majesty. I couldn’t be more proud of my Luna, and I cannot wait to show her off.”

Cate’s POV

Cate watched with silent rage as the three of them headed off the side door of the stage. Her fists were clenched at her sides, making her knuckles turn white from anger.

‘How dare they choose someone like Eleanor to praise and place in the spotlight,’ she thought bitterly. ‘That praise and attention belongs to me!’

In her mind, Eleanor was and will forever be just a lowly wolf. A nobody. A server with zero prospects and no real talent.

Yet, somehow, that lowly wolf managed to ‘weasel’ her way back into Lorenzo’s life and snatched him away from Cate. Now Cate was not only without her Alpha, but her long-time enemy had found a way to capture the praise and devotion of their Lycan Luna.

“It’s Eleanor’s fault,” she hissed.” She’s the one that caused me to mess up. She changed the routine. She’s taken everything away that rightfully belong to me!”

Her very purpose behind all of her hard, devoted work had been washed away in the midst of just a few seconds. The more she thought about it, the more that rage simmered dangerously inside of her.

“I will not allow this to go on,” she muttered to herself. Her eyes glowed a malicious shade of red beneath her long black lashes. “I vow, here and now, that I will find a way to bring Eleanor Wright down. I will bring Lorezon and Eleanor’s relationship to an end if it’s the last thing I do.”