Chapter 08

Alesha Stokes — Step 2: Surviving the Winter Ball

I barely slept.  

Every time I closed my eyes, he came back.  

That body—sculpted as if the gods themselves had carved every inch. Warm, damp skin under the dim light, long dark hair cascading over broad shoulders. And those eyes…  

Those damn red eyes that looked like they were devouring every piece of me.  

I woke up multiple times throughout the night, breathing heavily, trying to push away the images that haunted me. But it was useless. My body was still burning, and the sensation of being so close to that man lingered on my skin.  

As the morning light crept into the room, I sat up in bed, rubbed my face, and gave myself a few light slaps to shake off any lingering drowsiness.  

"Alright… Enough of this."

Today was the ball.  

The highly anticipated Winter Ball, where kings, alphas, and the elite gathered to flaunt their power and influence. But more than that, today was the day I would find out the truth.  

If the man in the bath was really the Supreme Alpha…  

If he was truly Matthew Dawolf…  

Then he wasn’t the invisible monster everyone made him out to be. And he definitely wasn’t gay—of that, I was certain.  

My cheeks burned as I recalled that scene, his cock growing harder with every step he took toward me, as if it was nothing, as if it was completely natural.  

I took a deep breath, trying to banish the memory of that night.  

I needed to figure out exactly who I was dealing with.  

I got out of bed and started getting ready, splashing cold water onto my face from the basin. But no matter how hard I tried to focus on the day ahead, my mind kept wandering back to that humiliating moment.  

That man…  

I pressed my lips together, annoyed at myself.  

"Stop thinking about it! You have a plan. Stay focused."  

But before I could even gather my thoughts, a series of sharp, impatient knocks echoed against the door, making me jump.  

My blood ran cold.  

Was this about last night?  

Had he told someone?  

Or… was it him?  

My breath hitched for a second, but I quickly shook my head and clenched my fists. Whoever was on the other side, I needed to stay calm and act accordingly.  

Swallowing hard, I took a deep breath and turned the doorknob.  

As soon as I opened the door, my body relaxed slightly.  

It was just the housekeeper.  

I wasn’t sure if I should feel relieved or worried by the stern look she gave me.  

"Finally!" she huffed, crossing her arms. "I hope you don’t plan on lazing around all day like a sloth."

I let out a quiet sigh, masking my relief.  

"I was just about to come down… " 

"Well, I hope so! Today is the ball, and you, newbie, have work to do.Don't think that just because you're a beginner, you'll be bumming around"

She kept complaining, listing all the tasks I was supposed to complete. But as she spoke, my mind remained trapped by the question burning inside me.  

Would he be at the ball?  

And if he was… how would he react to seeing me again?  

That feeling was eating me alive.  

The housekeeper, noticing how distracted I was, let out an impatient grunt, looking at me with pure disdain.  

"You'll be in the kitchen for most of the ball, helping serve the tables. I don’t want you getting distracted or disrupting the service."  

She handed me a small bag and a simple dress—slightly more refined than the usual servants' attire. The fabric was dark, with subtle details on the collar and sleeves, clearly designed to make the staff look more presentable.  

"Hurry up and get dressed," she continued. "Some guests have already started arriving… This isn’t just any ball. People from distant places will be here, staying at the castle for a while. Everything must be flawless. We don't want them thinking the servants here is unskilled or insignificant."  

I listened carefully, but relief immediately washed over me when I realized I wouldn’t have to spend the entire night surrounded by nobles, Alphas, and high-class figures. At least not directly. Staying in the kitchen and helping serve the tables would keep me away from the main chaos… and, most importantly, away from him.  

I let out a quiet sigh, accepting the outfit without question.  

"Understood."  

The housekeeper narrowed her eyes, as if expecting some sign of resistance from me. But when I simply turned to get changed, she just muttered something under her breath and walked away down the hall.  

As soon as I closed the door, I took a deep breath and started getting ready.  

I tied my hair back, washed my face one last time to shake off the lingering traces of sleep, and got dressed. The fabric was more fitted than I had expected, subtly accentuating the curves of my body.  

When I looked at myself in the small mirror in the corner of the room, I saw a completely different version of myself. More put together. More… feminine.  

Inside the small bag were a few beauty items—nothing fancy. A faded lipstick that looked like it had been used for at least three generations and a nearly empty blush compact.  

"Am I supposed to use this?" I asked myself, having no clue how.  

All I knew was the forest and hunting—nothing beyond that.  

I let out a nervous sigh and applied it hesitantly.  

Just a little. But even that was enough to see a striking difference.  

"I never thought I could look good wearing something like this…" I murmured, surprised at myself. But I quickly snapped back to reality.  

I needed to stay focused.  

Tonight, I would finally discover who the Supreme Alpha was—the one everyone feared.  

And nothing could go wrong.