Chapter 4 Unbroken Stare

Luna Lorraine’s kindness hurt Irene more than Eugene’s cruelty.

Even after everything her son had done, she still treated Irene like a daughter.

That only made the thought of leaving more painful.

“Look,” Luna Lorraine said as she lifted a dress from the box. “You’ll look beautiful in this.”

Irene stared at it.

The dress was elegant and soft, clearly chosen with care.

“I picked it especially for you,” Luna Lorraine added.

For a moment, Irene could not speak.

There had been a time when she had dreamed of becoming Luna Lorraine’s daughter for real.

She had imagined building a home with Eugene. She had dreamed of having a family and finally finding a place where she belonged.

Now, that future was gone.

Ruby would take the place Irene had once believed was hers.

The thought still hurt, but she forced it aside.

Irene could not blame Luna Lorraine for Eugene’s betrayal, even if her silence had caused its own kind of pain.

She was trying to help now.

“Come on,” Luna Lorraine said gently. “Try it on.”

Irene accepted the dress.

“All right.”

She did not want to attend the celebration.

She did not want to see Eugene.

But she could not remain trapped inside her room forever.

So she changed.

By the time Irene entered the pack house that evening, music and laughter filled the air.

The celebration was being held to welcome the Lycan pack.

Irene could not ignore how strange that felt.

These were the same people the werewolves had once fought along the borders. Some of the Lycan warriors had killed people Irene knew.

Some of her own pack’s warriors had never returned.

Yet tonight, the two sides drank together as if the past had disappeared.

It had not.

Irene saw it in their forced smiles, careful conversations, and the tension that never completely left the room.

Peace had been declared.

Trust had not followed.

“You look beautiful.”

Skylar stepped in front of Irene with a proud smile. She had done Irene’s hair and makeup herself.

Irene glanced at her reflection.

The dress fit perfectly. Her hair was carefully arranged, and her face looked calm.

She looked like the future Luna everyone had expected to see.

Only her eyes revealed the truth.

“You’ve been hiding for a week,” Skylar said quietly. “You can’t keep doing that.”

Irene looked away.

“I don’t know how to act as if nothing happened.”

“You don’t have to.”

Skylar squeezed her hand.

“But you also don’t have to let Eugene decide what happens to the rest of your life.”

Irene gave her a small smile.

It was not real, but Skylar still seemed relieved to see it.

“That’s better.”

They entered the main hall together.

Irene immediately felt people watching her.

She knew what they were wondering.

Why had she disappeared?

Why was she not standing beside Eugene?

Why had they stopped appearing together?

The rumors had already begun.

Skylar leaned closer.

“Don’t worry. There are so many people here tonight that you probably won’t even see Eugene or Ruby.”

Irene’s steps slowed.

She hated hearing their names together.

“Let’s go outside,” she said.

They slipped into the garden, leaving most of the noise behind.

Cool air brushed Irene’s face as she drew a slow breath. For the first time that evening, she could think clearly.

Lanterns hung between the trees, and music drifted through the garden.

Lycans moved among the pack members with quiet confidence.

This was Irene’s first time seeing them so closely, and the stories had not been exaggerated.

The men were enormous, towering over nearly every werewolf around them. Even while casually walking through the celebration, they looked like warriors prepared for battle.

The women surprised Irene even more.

They were strong and confident, carrying themselves in a way that made many of the werewolves around them appear smaller.

Irene had heard stories about female Lycan warriors. There were fewer of them, but they fought beside the men without hesitation.

Seeing them now, Irene believed every story.

“I can’t believe anyone can actually be that tall,” Skylar whispered as a male Lycan passed them.

Irene barely reached his shoulder.

She glanced at him before looking away.

She was not in the mood to be curious tonight.

Something about the gathering felt wrong.

Perhaps it was the uneasy alliance.

Perhaps it was the way everyone seemed to be waiting for something.

Or perhaps it was simply knowing that Eugene was somewhere nearby with Ruby.

Coming here had been a mistake.

Irene had thought the hardest part of the evening would be seeing Eugene.

She was wrong.

Without warning, the music stopped.

Every conversation died with it.

The garden fell silent.

Irene turned toward the entrance.

Someone had arrived.

Every Lycan immediately stepped aside, clearing a path through the crowd.

Whoever had entered was clearly important.

Irene tried to see him, but too many people blocked her view. Moments later, quiet conversations began again, and the music slowly returned.

Skylar pulled her toward the crowded paths surrounding the pack house.

Stalls lined both sides, selling food, drinks, jewelry, weapons, and other goods. Pack members and Lycans moved between them, still watching one another carefully.

The crowd soon became too much for Irene.

There were too many voices.

Too many people.

Too many curious eyes following her.

“I’m tired,” she said quietly. “I want to sit for a while. You can keep looking around.”

Skylar immediately appeared concerned.

“Are you sure?”

Irene nodded and pointed toward a nearby drinks stall.

“Go. I’ll wait here.”

Skylar hesitated.

Irene gave her a small smile.

“You’ll miss everything if you stay with me.”

Skylar studied her face, clearly unconvinced. Then she gave Irene a playful look.

“Fine. But don’t disappear.”

“I won’t.”

Skylar finally walked into the crowd.

The moment she was gone, Irene’s smile faded.

She approached the drinks stall and sat down.

The old man behind the counter smiled warmly when he recognized her.

“Oh, Irene!”

His cheerful greeting caught her by surprise.

“Do you have anything sweet?” she asked.

“Of course.”

He quickly prepared a large glass filled with a bright red drink and placed it before her.

“Thank you.”

Irene took a sip before lowering the glass.

The sounds around her gradually faded into the background.

She tried not to think about Eugene.

She failed.

She remembered his smile.

His promises.

The way he had once looked at her as if she were the only woman in his world.

Her fingers tightened around the glass.

That was what hurt the most.

Part of her still remembered the man she had loved.

That made letting him go even harder.

Then Irene felt it.

Someone was watching her.

She slowly lifted her head.

A man stood across from the stall, staring directly at her.

Irene froze.

Perhaps she was imagining it. Maybe exhaustion was making her paranoid.

She looked away briefly, then glanced back.

He was still there.

Still watching her.

He had not even tried to hide it.

Irene’s fingers tightened around her glass.

She did not know who he was or why he was staring at her.

But the longer their eyes remained locked, the more certain she became.

This stranger had not noticed her by accident.

He had been watching her on purpose.

And he had no intention of looking away.