CHAPTER 9

I wasn’t the only one shocked by my sister’s sudden appearance. What was she doing here? Not like it’s unlike her not to come out unexpectedly to a place, that was Elsa for you.

The room stilled as she made her entrance, utterly unfazed by the weight of the gazes that followed her. Elsa bounded in like she owned the place, her eyes scanning the hall before locking onto me. A wide grin spread across her face as she hurried over, her movements brimming with exaggerated enthusiasm.

Because there is absolutely no way she can be that excited to see me, that isn’t the way she is.

My back stiffened instinctively. Elsa never brought good news—only chaos.

“Oh my, how much I’ve missed my big sister!” she exclaimed, her voice honeyed with fake warmth. Her eyes sparkled, but there was no joy behind them, only calculation, the way she always looked when she was up to something.

We stood there, locked in an unbearable silence as the entire hall watched. My pulse raced, my mind scrambling for an appropriate reaction, we have never had an interaction like this, there has never been a moment where we felt like sisters.

Especially when she knew she was more beautiful than me and obviously there was zero need for her to wear a mask because she had zero scar on her face.

Finally, I forced a smile and rose to my feet. “Elsa? You surprised me! Oh my god, how are you doing?” I pulled her into an embrace, masking my unease behind a bright façade.

Her arms tightened around me briefly before she pulled away, her grin unwavering. Without an invitation, she took the empty chair beside me, settling in as though she belonged.

“You can tell how much they’ve missed each other,” the Alpha of the Moonshine Pack remarked, his tone cheerful. A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. If only they knew.

My fingers curled into the hem of my dress beneath the table, gripping so tightly it was a wonder the fabric didn’t tear. What is she doing here? With her comes trouble and I know she didn’t come with a good news either.

Elsa introduced herself to those around like she couldn’t keep that part for a long time and wanted them all to know who she was.

The party resumed, but Elsa wasted no time making her presence known. In mere minutes, she had charmed the room, her laughter ringing out and her words carrying weight they didn’t deserve.

That was one thing about her, she has a presence and always makes sure people around her knew that she was present in a place without wasting much time.

I stayed quiet, too angry to trust my voice. The heat in my chest burned hotter with every glance sent her way, every laugh drawn by her stories. When it became too much, I excused myself, feigning exhaustion.

“Oh, that’s a pity,” Elsa chirped, rising with me. “I’ll walk you out.”

Her hand extended toward me, an unspoken dare. I hesitated before taking it, plastering on another smile. We stepped into the night together, the air between us thick with unspoken tension.

The silence stretched until I couldn’t bear it any longer. I pulled my hand from hers, turning to face her. “What are you doing here, Elsa?”

Her brows lifted in mock surprise. “What? I can’t visit my dear sister in her new pack. Since when is that a rule?” There was a smile on her face, the one that showed me she knew exactly what she was doing here and didn’t have a care in the world.

“You know exactly what I mean.” My voice was sharp, and my anger was barely contained. “The last time I saw you, you mocked me for being mated to this pack’s future Alpha, you mocked me for my scar and for being rejected and yet here you are. You ran away from your responsibilities, and now you just show up here? What do you want?”

Elsa laughed, soft and bitter, shaking her head. “Did I expect a warm welcome from you? What was I thinking? I know you too well to know how shaken up you will be once I turn up, why does that give me pleasure?”

Her smile turned cold as she leaned closer. “You think the makeup on your face makes you my equal now? Don’t kid yourself.”

The veiled threat sent a chill down my spine, but I didn’t flinch. “Is that all you’ve got? Because if so, you’re wasting your time.”

“Oh, please,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes. “Can we stop with the hostility? You act like I’m the villain here.”

“You are the villain,” I shot back. “I know what you’re capable of, and I won’t let you cause trouble here.”

Her smirk widened, taunting me. “Well, you’re not wrong about one thing. I came to take what’s mine, and I will. Whether you like it or not.”

She turned on her heel and sauntered back toward the hall, her hips swaying with practiced confidence.

I stayed rooted in place, fists clenched at my sides. She always did this—always showed up to steal whatever sliver of happiness I managed to find.

“Why are you standing out here in the cold?”

The voice startled me, and I turned to find his eyes fixed on me. My breath hitched, the intensity of his gaze rooting me to the spot.

“No… nothing,” I stammered, dropping my gaze to the ground.

The silence between us stretched, but he didn’t leave. When I finally looked up, his expression softened, his eyes searching mine.

“You should go back inside. The cold will be too much for you.”

Without waiting for a reply, he walked away, leaving me alone under the moonlight.

I stared after him, my heart pounding. Oh, Moon Goddess, why did you give me this man who confuses every thought in my head?

Shaking my head, I sighed. She must have her reasons—and one day, I’d understand them too.