CHAPTER 36: THE DANCE THAT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN

Lucien stands before the mirror in his room, fingers trembling slightly as he pulls at his tie.

Too tight.

Too stiff.

Too suffocating.

He adjusts it again, loosening it just enough to breathe.

His reflection stares back, tired eyes, tense jaw, the exhaustion of someone who already lived three lifetimes of pretending.

"I should’ve escaped when I had the chance," he mutters.

But guards caught him at the wall. He was not the type to want to engage to this family event , nor had any interest in it , it was the only time he accepted the title of black sheep more than anything else .

Now he’s trapped in the backseat of a pristine black car, rolling toward the event he dreads most.

He pulls out his phone to distract himself, only to see the screen flooded with headlines:

HUNTER DASTIN & TRACY MEADOWS: THE NEW POWER COUPLE

THE ENGAGEMENT RUMORS BEGIN

MEADOWS PRINCESS CAUGHT SMILING AT FUTURE ALPHA

Lucien’s grip tightens. He slams the phone down beside him.

A hollow sigh escapes. This is going to be a party to remember

"Great. Pretend house. Pretend family. Pretend life."

He sinks back into the seat as the building comes into view.

Reporters pack the entrance like a storm.

Flashlights burst in rapid succession.

The guards struggle to keep the crowd contained.

The first car stops.

Mr. and Mrs. Dastin step out gracefully, tall, polished, powerful.

Reporters explode in noise.

"Dastin patriarch! Look here!"

"Mrs. Dastin, over your shoulder!"

"Smile for the left camera!"

They glide inside without a flinch.

The second car rolls forward. Lucian sighed as he looked out the window , and carried whatever courage that he had inside of him

Lucien steps out.

A gasp sweeps through the crowd, as if they’ve seen a secret unveiled.

Whispers erupt immediately:

"That’s Mr. Dastin’s first son!"

"I didn’t know he was THAT handsome..."

"What a waste, imagine if he were born alpha."

"He’s gorgeous up close."

Lucien’s expression stays blank.

He’s used to this.

He hates it, but he’s used to it, but he still hates the unnecessary attention he has to bring upon himself that is why

He walks past them quietly, stopping beside Merida.

She gives him a warm, motherly smile.

He ignores her, eyes fixed straight ahead.

Merida sighs gently.

She expected nothing else. But she was glad that he still managed to come regardless

The next car halts.

Hunter steps out.

Instantly, the reporters erupt, shrieks, flashes, someone even faints near the barrier.

Hunter’s presence is overwhelming:

Tall, composed, perfectly fitted suit, aura sharp and commanding.

His alpha pheromones ripple through the air, even kept tightly controlled.

Lucien’s heart stutters as his gaze lingered at him far longer than necessary

Damn.

Why did he have to look like that tonight?, he looks like a god damn Greek god

Hunter’s eyes flick briefly toward Lucien.

But Lucien looks away instantly, his heart hammering like it could pop out of his chest

Another sleek car stops behind Hunter’s.

He steps forward, opening the door smoothly, extending his hand.

Tracy emerges like she’s stepping onto a stage.

She grabs his hand, beaming at the reporters as if they personally came for her.

Lights flash wildly.

"is Tracy Meadows , she has finally arrived"

"they look so good together"

She hooks her arm into Hunter’s. Her smile widened as she heard the murmurs from the crowd

"Let’s go!" she chirps, glowing with excitement.

Lucien watches from the side, stomach twisting unpleasantly. Oh right , they are officially a couple , no biggie he tried to reassure his heart but it failed, miserably

Hunter’s eyes meet his for a fraction of a second, cold, unreadable.

Lucien looks away again.

Suddenly another car arrives, uninvited.

Timothy steps out casually, with a smirk plastered on his face as he adjusted his cuff of the suit

Beside him stands his mother, dressed elegantly, wearing a smile too sweet to be real.

The reporters were already on them , taking photos of them immediately

Lucien blinks in confusion ,the Gray’s family?

"...Were they invited?" he mutters to Merida.

Merida shakes her head.

"Nope. But we can’t exactly kick them out. Not with this many cameras."

Tracy turns, and freezes when she sees Timothy.

Her jaw drops.

"BATHROOM GUY is Hunter’s cousin?!" she whispers sharply.

Hunter stiffens at the name "bathroom guy."

Tracy’s eyes widened "wait did i say that?, no you must have had me wrong " she nervously laughed as she looked the other direction as Hunters eyes narrowed in suspicion but didn’t bother to dwell further

Mr. Dastin steps forward, face unreadable.

"Evening, Mrs. Gray," he says calmly.

Mrs. Gray beams, too wide to be genuine.

"Mr Dastin" she began "Oh, we only came to celebrate the reunion of the Meadows and Dastin families," she chirps, bowing slightly.

Cameras continue flashing, capturing every second.

Mr. Dastin leans closer, close enough that only she can hear.

His voice drops into ice.

"I hope you don’t cause a stir tonight," he murmurs.

"And I heard you visited my late wife’s tombstone."

Mrs. Gray freezes her smile cracks but doesn’t fall " is it a problem to go and visit my best friend Mr Dastin?"

"I made it very clear," Mr. Dastin continues, tone low and lethal, "that no one is to go near her. Especially you, whether acquittances or not "

A cold shiver runs down Mrs. Gray’s spine.

"This will be the last time I hear of such... disrespectful actions."

He straightens, expression smooth again, voice now warm enough for the cameras.

"We welcome the Gray family to the party."

Reporters cheer.

Mrs. Gray bows her head politely, but her jaw is tight with anger.

The grand doors open.

A wave of warm light and murmuring voices spills into the entrance. Chandeliers shimmer overhead, casting gold across marble floors. Elegant guests mingle, their expensive colognes and pheromones blending into an intoxicating haze.

Lucien steps inside last, right behind Hunter and Tracy.

Tracy clings onto Hunter’s arm like she’s securing a trophy for display.

She laughs too loudly at anything he says.

She keeps angling her body toward cameras, tugging Hunter with her every chance she gets.

Hunter, expression blank and posture rigid, moves like a machine.

He lets her cling.

Lets her smile.

Lets her preen.

But he doesn’t look at her.

Not even once.

Lucien feels every second of it burning beneath his skin.

Merida walks beside him, nudging him gently.

"Breath, darling," she whispers, "your face is showing too much."

She smiled " i know you hate party’s but for this one , try to smile a little hmm?"

Lucien forces his jaw to unclench. This isn’t about the party anymore , he thought

He watches Hunter as he helps Tracy fix her earring, Tracy giggling and reaching to smooth imaginary dust off his chest.

It shouldn’t hurt.

But it does.

Across the hall, Timothy leans against a pillar, already holding a glass of champagne.

He scans the room, eyes landing on Hunter and Tracy, then shifting to Lucien.

He smirks.

Lucien’s eyes narrowed "why is he looking at me like that" he said

Merida whispers, "Let him be. He’d die for attention."

But Timothy doesn’t approach, not yet.

He’s waiting.

Watching.

Hunter turns, just slightly, scanning the crowd.

His eyes catch Lucien’s. He looked more handsome tonight , he looked so soft under the glow , but yet he cant do anything , nor try to compliment him , not with Tracy stuck on him like a leech

For a heartbeat, just one, everything else blurs.

Lucien looks away first.

Hunter’s jaw flexes. Stop ignoring me chiquittin

Tracy pulls him closer, breaking the moment.

"Hunter, come take pictures with me near the fountain!"

Hunter doesn’t respond.

He simply allows himself to be dragged.

Lucien swallows the bitterness rising inside him, and he walked the other direction

The music softens.

Lights dim.

Mr. Dastin steps onto the stage, commanding silence with nothing but his presence.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he begins, "the Meadows and Dastin families welcome you. Tonight marks the beginning of a strengthened partnership, one built on trust and legacy."

All eyes turn toward Hunter and Tracy.

Mr. Dastin lifts a glass.

"And as tradition dictates, the evening begins with the symbolic dance, our future successors to lead the first step."

Tracy gasps, delighted.

Hunter stiffens.

Lucien freezes.

"No..." he whispers under his breath.

But the crowd is already moving out of the way, forming a wide circle.

Reporters ready their cameras.

Tracy pulls Hunter forward eagerly.

"This is perfect! Come on!" , oh my heels , everything is going perfect , and soon we will be the top of the headlines tonight , we have to get many more pictures , so that our fans have more reasons to be screaming all the time

Hunter doesn’t move.

He looks... disgusted?

Or conflicted?

It’s hard to tell.

Tracy tugs harder.

"Hunter! Let’s go!"

Hunter’s eyes slide past her, directly onto Lucien, this time he didn’t look away

Lucien’s breath catches.

Tracy turns, confused. Where is he looking at?,

"Hunter?" sha said as she followed his gaze , landing to Lucian , why is he looking at his brother? , she thought as she tried to tug hem but he stood as hard as a rock

Hunter doesn’t look away from Lucien.

The air thickens charged, dangerous, suffocating.

Their eyes lock.

And everything else, music, cameras, guests, falls silent.