Chapter 5

Emily

I spent the next three days trapped in my room. I only occasionally got meals from the staff, and sometimes even those were forgotten.

They were sometimes oversalted, which gave me the impression that Chloe was further sabotaging them.

I wasn’t surprised she would go that far. But I was surprised that she had time with all the commotion about the engagement party.

I spent my days surfing the web, reading books, and painting on the easel that had once been my mother’s. There wasn’t anything else to do but wait.

However, if it meant not agreeing to another marriage planned by my parents, I’d love to stay there for weeks, maybe even months.

On the third morning of being trapped in my room, Chloe came marching in. She didn’t knock or announce herself, but barged in, stomping her high heels shoes.

“Well, dear sister, I have come to give you an opportunity,” said Chloe with a sly smile. I’d been sitting on my bed, reading a book. I barely even looked up at her.

“What is that?” I asked.

“You’ll have one chance today to get out of your room. Come and help me get ready for my engagement party, and then maybe I’ll consider allowing you to come too.”

She phrased it like I had a choice. I had no doubts that she already went to my father, and he gave her permission to treat me like a servant today. It was another form of punishment.

“Yes, Chloe,” I answered.

To my disappointment, it took three hours to pick out a dress for Chloe. I’d never seen her so anxious before.

It didn’t help that we didn’t know much about the Alpha of Titanfang. The man kept a low profile.

Chloe desperately wanted his approval. And she didn’t know how to get it. In her mind, the wrong dress would ruin his impression of her. She needed to look like the refined and elegant lady she thought he wanted.

“If you don’t choose something soon, we are going to be late,” I reminded Chloe. She paced around her large walk-in closet. Occasionally, she stopped to inspect a dress, but then she’d toss it to the floor.

“I feel like none of these outfits are good enough. I need to look my best, and these dresses are all old!”

If I wanted to get out of here, I had to find a way to help her.

“Maybe it’s about the right accessories,” I said. I picked out a white dress embroidered with gold roses. “This dress screams bride-to-be, right? Now you just need to pair it with fresh items.” After looking through her closet, I found a golden scarf, gold shoes lined with rhinestones, and a necklace with a gold heart pendant.

“Not bad I guess,” said Chloe as she looked it over. “But you forgot rings.”

“I don’t think you should wear any. This is an engagement party, right? That means your groom-to-be will probably give you a ring, and you will want that ring to stand out.”

Chloe giggled. “I guess you are good for some things.” Instead of rings, she grabbed a series of gold bangles.

“Get ready to do my makeup.”

If I thought picking out a dress was challenging, then I wasn’t ready to do Chloe’s makeup. All she did was bark orders at me and tell me I was doing it wrong before finally accepting the way I did her makeup.

An hour later, Chloe was finally ready to go, and I was excused to get myself ready. My step-mother was waiting by my bedroom door.

“You’re very lucky to be going to this party. Be sure not to embarrass this family or upstage Chloe. Pick out the simplest dress you have, wear no makeup, and no jewelry. You have fifteen minutes. You’d better be in the car by then or we will leave with you.” With a huff, Hannah turned and left.

I grabbed one of the only dresses I had, which was a black summer dress printed with light pink daisies along the bottom of the skirt. I wore a pair of black ballet flats, pulled up my hair into a loose bun, and grabbed my phone.

I made it to the car in time as the family got in.

The party was at our family’s vacation house on an island outside the capital. My father had volunteered it to the Alpha of Titanfang to make a good impression.

The house was usually only used in the summer when we wanted to go on trips. It was a ten bedroom villa located right on the beach. It made for a perfect location for an engagement party.

Hannah and Chloe, along with a few Omegas, had spent most of their time directing and making the place look perfect. All the furniture on the first floor had been moved into storage to make more room in the house. They’d hired a caterer, a classical music band, and who knows what else.

It was packed full of Alphas and Betas from packs all around the area. Omegas walked around the room with gold trays, carrying drinks and various appetizers.

My job was to stick to Chloe and help her with whatever she needed. As the party started, she became surrounded by friends and strangers alike. When I wasn’t running to grab Chloe a drink, fixing her curls, or washing her shoes, I tried to listen in to their conversations.

These kinds of events are a great way to get information.

“So Chloe, how did you meet the Alpha?” asked a blonde she-wolf.

“Oh, it’s the sweetest thing! We met one night at the Gold Sun, and he saw me from across the room. He told me I was the most beautiful girl in the world, and that he had fallen in love at first sight.” I had to resist rolling my eyes.

“I didn’t know the Alpha could be so romantic,” said a he-wolf with a snicker.

“Usually he’s so cold,” said a mousy she-wolf.

“Not with me. When we are together, there’s so much fire between us. You might not even recognize him as the same man!” Chloe said with a musical laugh.

“How did you do it?” asked another she-wolf.

“It’s easy. All I have to do is be myself. The Alpha appreciates that much. He’s so in love with me, I don’t even have to do anything at all.” The crowd swooned, and I wanted to gag.

Chloe’s story were all made up. She didn’t even know what the Alpha looked like, or at least she didn’t think she did. She doesn’t even know who he is.

That was when the Alpha of Titanfang walked over to us.

My heart skipped a beat. It was him. The stranger from my one night stand.

Chloe’s mouth dropped open. She hadn’t expected the Alpha of Titanfang to be her ex-boyfriend, the very same one she had cheated on.

He didn’t even seem to notice her. His eyes were on me.

I blushed. His stare was so intense that it felt like he was reading my mind.

It didn’t help that he was so incredibly handsome. He wore a classic black suit with a crisp white shirt. His hair was styled carefully so that not a strand was out of place. He towered over everyone else and commanded all of the attention in the room.

He stood before me and Chloe, as I stood behind her. Chloe giggled, but he didn’t pay her any attention. Those dark eyes didn’t leave me.

My heart was thundering so loud, I worried he would hear it. The room started to spin. I think I forgot how to breathe for a moment.

“Hello, my fiancée. The party is about to start, why aren’t you dressed yet?”