002

Zara POV

The silk dress clung to my body as I stepped out of the changing room, my heart hammering so hard it echoed in my ears. The fabric was finer than anything I had ever worn before, smooth against my skin, but it felt like a shackle, a reminder of the mission I couldn’t escape.

The grand hall of the pack house was alive with celebration. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, their golden light casting a warm light over the crowded room. Laughter and chatter filled the space, the clinking of glasses mixing with the distant melody of music. Every high-ranking Alpha and Beta from the neighboring packs was present, their powerful scents thick in the air.

I swallowed hard, my hands clenching into fists as I searched for him, Alpha King Cade.

The most feared werewolf in existence. A man who never revealed his face, hidden behind that golden mask.

A sudden hush spread through the room. The shift was almost like a blur, but I felt it, a ripple of tension passing through the crowd. And then, he entered.

The sight of him stole the breath from my lungs.

He was taller than any man in the room, broad shoulders draped in a dark coat, his every step radiating dominance. The golden mask covered the upper half of his face, only revealing the hard line of his jaw, sharp and chiseled like it had been carved from stone. His aura was suffocating, thick with power.

People bowed as he passed, their heads lowered in respect, or fear. He ignored them all, walking with measured, purposeful strides, like a king surveying his kingdom.

This was the man I was supposed to seduce? I felt sick.

I had seen Alphas before, powerful men who ruled their packs with strength and authority, but Cade was different. He wasn’t just an Alpha. He was an Alpha King. A predator.

And I was supposed to walk up to him and steal from him?

My hands trembled as I took a deep breath. I had no choice. My family’s lives were on the line.

"Zara," a voice hissed in my ear. I turned sharply to see Alpha Bradlyn standing close, his lips curled in amusement. He held a glass of wine lazily in his hand, his sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe.

"You clean up well for an Omega," he murmured, leaning in as his breath fanned over my skin. "Now, do as you’re told. Make him notice you." I forced myself not to recoil, my nails digging into my palms.

Cade had reached the high table at the front of the room, where the most powerful Alphas sat. He didn’t take a seat. He merely stood there, a silent observer, his presence overshadowing every man in the room.

I felt the weight of the task pressing down on me.

My feet moved on their own, one step at a time, my dress swaying lightly with each movement. The scent suppressants were still working, masking my scent completely, which meant I could get close without triggering any instinctual reactions from him.

As I neared the high table, my throat tightened. I felt eyes on me, Alpha Bradlyn watching from a distance, other pack members whispering, and then, Cade’s head turned slightly towards me.

The mask concealed most of his face, but I could feel his gaze locking onto me, assessing, calculating.

I forced myself to keep moving, each step measured, my heart slamming against my ribs.

A servant carrying a tray of wine glasses passed by, and I reached for one, my fingers steady despite the storm inside me. With deliberate grace, I turned, just as the servant stepped past me and let my body brush against Cade’s side, the glass in my hand tipping slightly, The deep red liquid spilled over the sleeve of his dark coat. A calculated accident.

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Silence followed.

I felt my stomach twist as I lifted my gaze, meeting the sliver of his face that wasn’t hidden by the mask. His jaw tensed, the muscle ticking slightly.

Shadows clung to him, like darkness bent to his will.

"I—I’m so sorry, Alpha," I stammered, my voice soft, carefully laced with just the right amount of fear and innocence.

The room was too quiet. Then, his voice. Deep, smooth, but edged with something lethal.

"Who are you?"

His words were not loud, but they carried through the hall like a command, freezing my blood. I forced my expression into one of nervousness, lowering my gaze slightly but not enough to appear weak.

"My name is Zara, Alpha King," I said, my voice steady.

He didn’t move. Didn’t react. The weight of his presence was suffocating, pressing down on me with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for.

Then, he turned slightly, lifting a hand. A servant appeared instantly with a fresh glass of wine.

Cade took it without looking away from me.

"Zara," he repeated, as if testing the name and I swallowed, nodding.

A long silence stretched between us. My pulse raced, my skin burning under the scrutiny of his unseen eyes.

And then he barked out the order "Leave."

The single word struck like a blade, slicing through my chest. I blinked "I—"

"Now." 

It wasn’t a request. Heat rose to my face, I had expected suspicion, maybe even curiosity but outright dismissal?

Humiliation crawled up my spine, but I forced myself to bow slightly before turning on my heel. As I walked away, I felt the weight of Alpha Bradlyn’s glare on me. I had failed.

I barely made it out of the hall before a rough hand grabbed my arm and yanked me to a corner.

"What the hell was that?" Bradlyn’s voice was sharp, furious. I yanked my arm free, my own anger rising. "What did you expect? He’s not some fool who can be easily swayed!"

Bradlyn’s jaw clenched, his fingers tightening at his sides. "Figure it out, Zara. Because if you don’t, your family dies. You have until the end of this night to make him notice you."

And with that, he stormed away, leaving me alone in the darkened hallway.

I pressed a hand to my chest, feeling my heart pounding like a drum. The Alpha King had dismissed me like I was nothing.

I had failed, But failure wasn’t an option.

Taking a deep breath, I straightened my shoulders. I had to try again, because if I didn’t…

I would lose my family.