Delilah is in trouble

Eleanor pov

I stood in the middle of my room, surrounded by a battlefield of my own discarded dresses. Silky fabrics in shades of emerald, crimson, and gold lay crumpled across the floor, each one tossed aside after I’d decided it wasn’t “right.” My closet doors hung open, it's been an hour, and I couldn't decide on what to wear.

“Why is this so damn hard?” I muttered, running a hand through my hair in frustration.

Nicholas’s family was coming tonight. The Shadowood pack, with their reputation for ruthlessness and their dominance power, I can't believe such a family is just an hour away from stepping into our home. My sister Delilah, of course, would be the star of the evening, dazzling everyone with her charm and beauty. But I... I couldn’t just fade into the background. Not tonight.

I picked up a deep burgundy dress and held it against myself in the mirror. It was elegant, with a high neckline and a subtle slit up the side, but it felt too restrained. It will appear too formal. I tossed it onto the bed and reached for another option—a sleek black gown with a plunging neckline. I stared at it for a moment before shaking my head. Too bold.

“What am I even trying to prove here?” I sighed; I sat on the edge of my bed.

The truth was, I didn’t know how to present myself. I wasn’t like Delilah, who could without giving command attention in any room she entered. She’d probably show up in something breathtakingly daring, turning heads and leaving Nicholas’s family speechless.

But me? I wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Not really. And yet, the thought of being overlooked—or worse, judged—by Nicholas’s family as the first child made my chest tighten.

I reached for a soft lavender dress, its flowy fabric light and unassuming. It was pretty, but maybe too simple for an occasion like this. I set it aside with a frustrated groan.

“Why do I even care?” I muttered to myself.

Since I’d been told I couldn’t have children, my worth had been questioned—not just by my family, but by myself. I knew after this night I’d buried myself in pack responsibilities, proving my value in ways that didn’t involve being a Luna or bearing heirs. But tonight felt different to me. I felt the weight of the unspoken expectations pressing down on me.

10 minutes after, I stepped outside, the fabric of my black gown I later chose clinging to my body as I adjusted the neckline for what felt like the hundredth time. The dress was elegant, with a plunging neckline and a subtle slit that ran down one side. It was bold but not too bold at least, that’s what I kept telling myself and wanted to believe. I wasn’t used to dressing up like this, and this is making me nervous already.

The sound of my heels clicking against the polished wooden floor echoed through the hallway as I descended the grand staircase. I am still doubting my choice of dress.

Was it too much? Or is it not enough? Or I should just go back inside and change it again.

As I reached the bottom of the staircase, my mother, Clara, was the first person I saw. She stood near the entrance hall; she was looking around the flurry of activity going on. Workers bustled around her, hanging garlands of gold and white along the walls, arranging flowers on long banquet tables, and rushing trays of food to the kitchen. The air was filled with the scent of roasted meats, freshly baked bread, and a hint of vanilla from the candles lining the hallway.

When her gaze landed on me, she paused for a while. “You look beautiful, Eleanor,” she said.

Her compliment came as a surprise to me. My mother wasn’t exactly known for handing those out. “Thank you, Mom,” I said, my voice steady despite the awkwardness of the moment.

The pack house was alive with preparations for Nicholas’s family’s arrival.

“Have you seen Delilah?” my mother suddenly asked, her tone shifting back to its usual briskness.

I frowned, as I glanced toward the staircase behind me. “Not yet. I thought she’d be down by now.”

Clara’s lips pressed into a thin line; she narrowed her eyes slightly. “She is late. This is an important night, and Nicholas’s family won’t tolerate any disrespect.”

Delilah? Late? Disrespectful? That’s a stretch. If there was one thing Delilah excelled at, it was making an entrance when no one least expects, and I think tonight won't be an exception.

“I’ll go check on her if she doesn’t show up soon,” I said, though the thought of dealing with Delilah pre-event theatrics is giving me a headache already.

“Good,” Clara said, her attention already shifting back to the workers struggling to hang a particularly stubborn garland. Then she paused, she looked at me with a softer expression. “And Eleanor…”

“Yes?”

Her hesitation caught me off guard and worried. “I know tonight isn’t easy for you. But you’re representing this family, too. Remember that.”

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. “I will, Mom.”

She turned away, barking instructions at a worker who looked seconds away from dropping a massive floral centerpiece.

As I climbed the stairs to Delilah’s room, I felt uneasy. She was never late for anything, especially not something as important as this. If Nicholas’s family arrived and she wasn’t ready… I didn’t even want to imagine the chaos that would ensue.

When I reached her door, I knocked softly at first. “Delilah?” I called out, pressing my ear to the wood. Everything was silent.

I knocked louder this time. “Delilah it’s me. Are you in there?” It's Still nothing.

Pushing the door open, I stepped inside, and the sight that greeted me only deepened my worry. The room was so quiet, the air of her room was filled with the faint scent of her favorite lavender perfume. Her room looked like a mess, her makeup brushes and palettes scattered everywhere, as if she’d started getting ready but abandoned the effort midway. A half-empty glass of water sat on the table.

“Delilah?” I called out again, my voice trembled. I looked around the room, if I could see any sign of her. Her bed was unmade, the covers were tangled in a heap, and her closet door was ajar, revealing a few dresses hastily pulled from their hangers.

I moved further inside, checking the bathroom if she was there. But I couldn't find her there again.

Where could she be?

I suddenly heard a faint, muffled sound coming from the far corner of the room. I turned toward the window seat, the curtains hung low, it was partially obscuring the space. Slowly, I walked closer and pulled the curtain aside. I found her curled up on the cushioned bench, she pulled her knees tightly to her chest, as she buried her face in her arms. Her shoulders shook with silent sobs, and this sight of her like this is new to me, it is unlike the fiery, confident sister I knew.

“Delilah,”

I knelt down in front of her. “What’s wrong?”

 Her tear-streaked face turned toward me.

“I’m in trouble, Eleanor,”. She said,

“What do you mean by ‘in trouble,’ Delilah?” I asked.

“You can’t just say something like that and leave me hanging.”

She hesitated; she twisted her fingers nervously in the hem of her dress. Just as she seemed ready to say something, a sharp knock on the door interrupted us.

“Miss Delilah,”. one of the pack attendants said.

“The Alpha’s family has arrived. Your presence is requested in the main hall for the introductions.”

She froze immediately she heard the speaker, panic written all over her face.

I squeezed her shoulder gently. “Delilah, whatever It is, we’ll talk about it later. But right now, you need to pull yourself together. You know this introduction is very important for the packs and it has to go smoothly, don't let anything ruin it.”

"I know it’s hard, but you need to hold it together, please for tonight. After the introductions, we’ll talk. I promise. But right now, the entire pack is waiting, and Nicholas’s family is here. This is too important to mess up.”

She bit her lip, her eyes were glistening with her unshed tears, but she nodded reluctantly.

“Good,” I said. “You’ve got this. Just be confident, act as the beautiful Deli everyone knows. No one has to see what’s going on inside, not tonight.”

Delilah took a deep breath, wiping her eyes quickly before standing. She straightened her shoulders, smoothing out her dress.

“I’ll be fine,” she said.

I gave her a reassuring nod. “Yes of course. Now, let’s go show them what we’re made of.”

She walked toward the door, she paused for a moment as if she wanted to say something more, but instead, she squared her jaw and opened it. Together, we stepped out into the hallway, the hum of sounds of people from the main hall growing louder as we descended the staircase.