Chapter 4

My new room was the most secluded one in Kane's castle—small, dark, and damp. Moss covered the walls, and the air smelled musty.

Arya followed me to the door.

"Your old room was where the Lunas of past generations stayed. Kane said since we're about to bond, I should stay there before the wedding ceremony," she said, her tone dripping with smugness.

I ignored her and silently started picking up the things that had been thrown on the floor.

"Now I understand. You drugged him last night, then sent me to his room, hoping that out of gratitude, he would make you his Luna. But too bad. Kane saw through everything.

"All those times you followed him around, begging for his love, and he never acknowledged you. Now, that's even more impossible.

"I came to tell you…

"Tonight, there's a banquet. Kane invited all the Alphas from Alliance Pack to attend. It's going to be grand. He plans to announce our engagement.

"He wants you, as his sister, to present the engagement ring to us at the banquet and bless us."

I finished gathering my things and prepared to leave. "Sorry. I'm going home. No time for this. Let him find someone else."

Arya stopped me. "Is it that you don't want to go, or you're too scared to go? After all these years, the one he's with is me. If you're sad about it, just cry. After all, it's me who's receiving the pack's blessing, not you."

I was in a hurry to get home for my blind date, and I pushed past Arya, who was blocking my way. "I really have something urgent to take care of. Sorry, but I'm not going. I'll wish him well at the next engagement."

I hurriedly grabbed my suitcase and left, leaving Arya standing there, her face turning dark with anger.

By the time I returned to the shabby room with my suitcase, Arya was already gone.

I threw my suitcase onto the bed and began searching for a dress to wear. Just a moment ago, James had contacted me through the communicator to tell me that my blind date match, Cesare, would also be attending Kane's engagement banquet tonight.

We could meet in advance.

Most of the guests had gathered in the banquet hall near the throne, waiting for the engagement ceremony to begin. I wore a simple white gown, standing behind a fountain a little farther from the throne, feeling both nervous and a bit excited.

How would I meet Cesare?

To leave a good impression on him, I had taken the time to do my makeup carefully and pinned my hair up.

"Scarlett, you clearly said you weren't coming, so why are you here?" Arya's voice rang out behind me, both surprised and angry.

"You're so crafty. Not only did you come, but you also dressed up so nicely. Are you trying to steal my spotlight as Kane's fiancée?"

A few noble girls who were with Arya gathered around me. "I heard she drugged Kane just to become his Luna."

"How shameless! She's the Alpha's sister from Thorn Pack, yet she's so disgraceful."

Arya laughed coldly, and right in front of the girls, she tossed the diamond ring Kane was going to propose to her with into the fountain. "Oh, no, my diamond ring! Where did it go? Who stole it? Kane's going to chop off her head!"

I didn't expect her to use this trick, and I was caught off guard.

One of the girls shoved me, and my footing slipped. Before I knew it, I fell into the fountain.

"Scarlett, you're jealous that Arya's caught the Alpha's eye, so you stole the diamond ring he was going to propose to her with and tried to hide it in the fountain. But instead, you ended up falling in yourself."

The crowd gasped and laughed.

I wanted to just walk out of the fountain, but my white, sheer dress was soaked, exposing my skin, chest, thighs, and the rest of my body.

Looking around, I spotted a small statue in the fountain that I could hide behind. I crouched behind it, but the water from the fountain splashed all over my head.

"Scarlett, why are you hiding back there? Did you jump into the fountain hoping Kane would come to rescue you?"

"Well, that's not going to work. The fountain isn't the ocean. It won't drown you. Kane won't come to save you."

"Is she crazy? Is she really trying to get the Alpha's attention like this?"

More and more people gathered around, standing by the fountain, watching me. The sound of laughter and mockery filled the air.

My vision blurred, and the cruel words continued to hit me, mingled with the shifting shadows of people through the water's reflection.

Finally, Kane must have noticed the commotion and walked over.

He stood there coldly, watched me, and spoke words colder than the water in the fountain, "Scarlett, I know you're upset tonight and want to get my attention this way.

"I'll just say this. Since I'm close with your brother, I only see you as a sister. As such, I advise you to stop liking me."

Hearing that, I stayed hidden behind the statue, but I still stuck my head out and emphasized, "I already have a mate. I don't need to do this to get your attention."

The banquet hall fell silent for a moment before it erupted into even louder laughter.

"Mate? Who doesn't know she has feelings for Kane? If Kane doesn't mark her, she'll be alone forever."

"Is she out of her mind? Spinning such a ridiculous lie."

"Scarlett, I never thought you would resort to lying just to make me regret not caring for you."

Arya's laugh grew even more mocking. "Scarlett, you stole my ring. Once you find it, you'd better give it back.

"Come on. Hurry up and pull her out. Don't worry, Scarlett. I'll forgive you. Just don't catch a cold."

As I was about to be dragged out and almost fully exposed in front of everyone, I shouted in rejection, "No!"

"If you really had a mate, why isn't he here right now to defend you?"

Kane gave another order that filled me with despair. "Get her out of there."

The cruel, twisted faces in the crowd swayed before me, and I thought, "It's over."

Suddenly, a deep, commanding voice rang out, instantly overpowering all the mocking laughter, "I'm Scarlett's mate."

I turned around to see the doors to the banquet hall swing open. A tall figure stepped into the room, backlit by the light.

"I'll see who dares to hurt my fiancée."