Chapter 4: Jealous Alpha

Chapter 4: Jealous Alpha

The festival night was one of glittering opulence, full of undercurrents of power, rivalry, and unspoken words. Despite the festive lights casting a warm glow throughout the hall, Cassia felt more like an outsider than ever, an unwelcome ghost haunting her own pack’s celebration. Lady Morwenna had seen to her attire personally, ensuring that she would be “presentable” for the night. The dress she had selected was undeniably beautiful, but it was far from the gowns worn by the other women of the Nightshade Pack. The fabric, a dark, muted silver, was simple, lacking the intricate embroidery and embellishments that adorned the outfits of the high-ranking wolves in attendance.

As Cassia slipped into the gown, she noticed how it clung to her, highlighting her slender frame while still managing to make her feel like a servant rather than an esteemed guest. It was sleeveless, with thin straps that left her shoulders bare and a modest neckline that drew just enough attention without being suggestive. The skirt was long and plain, flowing down to her ankles, but there was a roughness to the fabric that rubbed uncomfortably against her skin—a constant reminder that she was there to serve, not to shine.

When she glanced at herself in the mirror, she barely recognized the girl staring back. Her eyes, usually dull with weariness, held a slight glint of defiance tonight. The pull of the moon was strong, tugging at the edges of her control, and for a moment, Cassia felt the fierce presence of her wolf, Lynx, just beneath the surface, desperate to break free. Lynx had a fur as pure as freshly fallen snow, her eyes a deep, icy blue that could pierce through the darkest night. She was wild, powerful, and utterly unyielding—the very opposite of the submissive, beaten girl the Nightshade Pack saw.

She took a steadying breath, willing Lynx back, knowing she couldn’t let her wolf take over. Not tonight. Not with the pack’s most important guests milling about, their keen senses catching every shift in mood and scent. She turned, her hand lingering on the simple silver pendant resting at her throat—a relic from her mother, one of the few things she had left to remind her of the parents she could barely remember.

The hall was filled with the mingling scents of the Nightshade Pack and their guests from Blackwood Pack, led by the formidable Beta, Lucian. The alliance between the two packs had been in negotiation for weeks, a delicate balance of mutual benefit and political necessity. Cassia moved through the crowd, her eyes downcast, serving drinks and food with the quiet efficiency expected of her. She could feel eyes on her now and then, some laced with pity, others with contempt. But there was one gaze that lingered longer than the others, and each time she dared to glance up, she found Lucian watching her.

Lucian was unlike any wolf she’d ever met. He had the kind of presence that commanded attention without ever needing to raise his voice. His dark hair fell in loose waves around his face, his jawline sharp and strong, and his eyes—a deep, stormy gray—held a quiet intensity that seemed to see right through her. There was a sense of restrained power about him, as though he could unleash a force as wild as her own Lynx if provoked. And yet, his gaze was not hostile. It was curious, as though he was studying her, searching for something hidden beneath the surface.

Cassia felt the heat rise in her cheeks each time his eyes found hers, a strange thrill mixed with trepidation. She couldn’t afford to draw attention, especially from someone as important as Lucian. But the more she tried to avoid him, the more aware she became of his presence, an unspoken pull that seemed to grow stronger as the night wore on.

Across the hall, she could feel Rhett’s eyes on her as well, colder, sharper, filled with an emotion she couldn’t quite decipher. There was anger there, and something else—something darker, twisted up in his own pride and resentment. She knew he hated to see her here, among the pack’s honored guests, hated that she existed at all in a world where his duty and desire constantly clashed.

Rhett’s memory slipped back to that night, the first time he’d claimed her. It hadn’t been planned—nothing about it had been calculated. She had come to him, fragile yet unbreakable, and he had found himself unable to resist. But with the dawn came the realization that no matter how much he wanted her, no matter how much she stirred something wild in him, her status as an omega and her bloodline made her impossible.

Now, watching her move through the room, a part of him burned with something close to jealousy, though he’d never admit it. Lucian’s eyes on her only made it worse, an irritating reminder that others could see the strength she tried so hard to conceal.

Cassia’s mind was focused on her duties, though she felt a small tug of relief as she managed to slip away to a quieter corner, out of sight of Lady Morwenna. She took a moment to catch her breath, her hand going instinctively to her necklace. The pendant was cold beneath her fingertips, a steadying presence in the midst of her chaotic emotions.

"Long night?" a low, smooth voice murmured beside her.

She looked up, startled to find Lucian standing closer than she’d expected. His expression was unreadable, though his eyes held that same curious intensity.

“Beta Lucian,” she replied quietly, bowing her head slightly in respect. “I… yes. It’s been a long night.”

He tilted his head, studying her with a faint smile that was neither mocking nor pitying. “You’re not like the others, are you?”

The question caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn’t know how to respond. There was something in his tone, a note of understanding that made her chest ache with a longing she didn’t want to acknowledge.

“I… don’t think I am,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

Before he could reply, she felt a cold presence nearby—a familiar scent that sent a shiver down her spine. Rhett’s gaze was fixed on her, his jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with a dangerous intensity.

“Cassia,” he said sharply, his tone biting. “You have duties to attend to. This is not the time for idle conversation.”

Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver, a slight smirk playing on his lips as he met Rhett’s glare. “I was simply offering her a moment’s reprieve,” he said calmly, his voice unruffled. “After all, it’s a long night, even for those who serve.”

Rhett’s eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low growl. “Cassia knows her place. I’d appreciate it if you respected our pack’s customs, Lucian.”

The tension between them was palpable, and Cassia felt herself shrinking beneath their gaze, caught in the invisible tug-of-war between them. Lucian’s eyes flickered to her once more, a quiet reassurance in his expression before he inclined his head and stepped back.

“Of course, Alpha Rhett,” he replied, his tone respectful, though there was a hint of defiance in his eyes. “Forgive me.”

Cassia watched as he moved away, his presence leaving a lingering warmth in his wake. She barely had a moment to collect herself before Rhett turned to her, his expression hard, his voice laced with barely controlled anger.

“I don’t want to see you near him again, do you understand?” he said, his voice a harsh whisper. “You’re a disgrace to this pack. Don’t embarrass us further.”

The words cut deep, colder than the winter winds that swept through their territory. Cassia forced herself to meet his gaze, her own eyes filled with a mixture of pain and defiance.

“Yes, Alpha Rhett,” she replied, her voice steady despite the tremor in her heart.

He held her gaze for a moment longer before turning and walking away, leaving her alone in the shadows, the weight of his words pressing down on her. She felt Lynx stirring within her, her wolf’s fierce energy filling her with a strength that both frightened and thrilled her.

As the night drew on, Cassia slipped back into her duties, the weight of Rhett’s words still heavy on her heart. Yet, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something had changed—that the quiet defiance flickering within her was growing stronger, fueled by the small, fleeting connection she’d felt with Lucian. It was a spark, a fragile hope that refused to be extinguished.

And as she moved through the hall, her gaze found Lucian once more, across the room, his eyes meeting hers with a promise she couldn’t quite understand but desperately wanted to believe.