Chapter 11

Anabelle Mixon – An intruder in my plans?  

The night was perfect.  

Every detail of the Winter Ball had been meticulously planned to impress. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, music echoed softly through the air, and the scent of expensive wine mingled with the sweet fragrance of flowers arranged in every corner of the grand hall.  

But honestly? None of it mattered to me.  

The only reason I was here, dressed like a true goddess, was him.  

The Supreme Alpha.  

With each passing year, my patience grew thinner. Ever since I could remember, he was all I ever wanted. He was my goal.  

My destiny.  

Yet, he had always kept me at a distance.  

Since childhood, I had done everything to stay close to him. I followed him through the palace corridors, watched his training sessions, tried to invite him on outings… But he never looked at me the way I wanted him to.  

Never.  

And now that I was a woman, there were no more excuses.  

No man had ever resisted my charms, my allure, and I had prepared myself for this night— the night Matthew Dawolf would finally claim me as his.  

Yes, our fates were intertwined. He just didn’t know it yet.  

My father, the Prime Minister, was his greatest political influence, his closest advisor. And I knew that gave me power. And, of course... I intended to use it.  

The Winter Ball was the perfect opportunity.  

“My dear, you look stunning.” A lady commented as she passed by, and I smiled, feigning modesty.  

Obviously, I did.  

My choice of dress had been intentional. Deep blue, so dark it was almost black. The fitted bodice accentuated my silhouette, my curves. The jewels adorning my neck gleamed under the candlelight.  

My light brown hair cascaded in perfect spirals over my delicate shoulders.  

Everything was carefully planned to draw his attention.  

There wasn’t a single man in the entire kingdom who didn’t desire me.  

And then, the grand doors swung open.  

A flutter of excitement surged in my stomach.  

He had arrived.  

My breath hitched for a moment as he stepped into the hall, his overwhelming presence silencing the room for a brief instant.  

Tall. Cold. Magnificent.  

His hair was tied up at the top of his head, his black attire flawless, his posture effortlessly dominant… A true king among men and wolves.  

I sighed dreamily as I watched him enter.  

I couldn’t take my eyes off him.  

The entire ballroom was fixated on him.  

The Supreme Alpha had that effect. His presence was a force impossible to ignore. Every step he took echoed like the beat of a drum, making the weaker ones lower their heads in either respect or fear.  

But not me. I had always watched him, always studied him, searching for every nuance, every fleeting expression that slipped past his cold mask.  

And now… he was hunting for something.  

I felt my entire body heat up, my face burning.  

Was he… looking for me?  

My heart pounded in my chest.  

And then, our eyes met.  

The air around me grew heavy.  

I smiled—a trained, calculated smile, subtly seductive. My body instinctively prepared to go to him, but…  

He looked away.  

Abruptly. As if I were insignificant.  

I felt like my head was going to explode with rage.  

What?  

Why? Why did he always have to do this?  

He had ignored me for as long as I could remember. Always keeping me at a distance. But now, after all this time, after I had finally become someone worth noticing, he still treated me like this?  

I took a deep breath.  

No.  

He was distracted. That had to be it. There was no way he would ignore me like that.  

My eyes followed his gaze, trying to understand what had caught his attention.  

I started moving.  

I followed his steady steps, getting closer and closer.  

From a distance, I spotted one of the lords of the local territories near the table—Lord Thomas Bowe of Blue Valley. He seemed to be the only one still oblivious to the Supreme Alpha’s presence, chatting away, rambling to some pathetic servant girl who barely seemed capable of holding a conversation.  

"These filthy peasants…" I thought, watching intently.  

Matthew walked toward them at a slow, deliberate pace.  

Then, he stopped.  

Right behind her.  

My hands clenched tightly when I noticed how close they were.  

My Matthew… and that useless little wench.  

My fingers curled in, my nails nearly digging into my own skin.  

What is he doing?  

Silence swept through the hall the moment the Supreme Alpha halted.  

And finally, Lord Bowe realized he was there.  

It was as if a monster had entered the room. In that instant, we all knew—the Supreme Alpha was serious. Focused.  

Then, his voice cut through the air.  

"My servants are not for sale."

The entire hall seemed to hold its breath.  

Lord Bowe, standing before that insignificant creature, turned pale. His hand trembled slightly as he lowered his head, bowing almost immediately.  

 "F-Forgive me, Your Grace! That wasn’t my intention! I was merely complimenting… the service… The entire kingdom knows your servants are the best…"  

I let out a quiet sigh, feeling my heartbeat slow just a little.  

Ah, so that was it.  

The Supreme Alpha had only come here to put that stray dog in his place. It was expected. After all, no one dared to cross the line without facing the consequences.  

But then…  

Matthew said nothing.  

He didn’t move.  

He just stood there. Waiting.  

A shiver ran down my spine.  

What is he waiting for?  

"Just have the guards drag him out already,"* I thought, irritated by the delay.  

I looked more closely.  

The servant girl was tense, frozen in place, seemingly too dumb to understand what was happening—like the uncultured fool she was.  

But what angered me the most… was that he was still there. Behind her.  

My stomach twisted.  

I stepped closer, not taking my eyes off him, trying to decipher that silence.  

Then, slowly, she turned to him.  

Hesitant, but she turned.  

And I saw the exact moment their eyes met.  

The Supreme Alpha’s crimson gaze gleamed in the hall, locking onto her.  

And then…  

He smiled.  

My heart nearly burst from my chest.  

No.  

He never smiles…  

But now, he was smiling at her.  

I wanted to rip my own skin off at the sight of it. That smile belonged to me.  

My breathing turned erratic, and for a second, I thought I might faint.  

That bitch… would pay for stealing my attention.