CHAPTER 483: LINGERIE SHOPPING

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Chapter 483

~Zara’s POV~

I gave Aira a deadpan stare.

"Unless you want to," she added with a playful wink. "I bet Snow would love to see you in those when you arrive."

I rolled my eyes, trying to keep a straight face, but the smile broke through anyway. "Alright, fine. Let me call Tempest first."

Aira clapped like an excited child being handed candy.

I picked up my phone and hit the call button. Tempest answered almost instantly. "Zara!" Her voice was as vibrant and bold as ever. "Missed you, woman."

"It’s been what? A few hours apart?"

"Still. At least indulge me in my joyful mood."

"Fine. Holla." Tempest chuckled. "You’re really coming to Starshine?" I asked, leaning back against my desk.

"Just got off the express wing," she said. "Touchdown in about an hour."

"We’re thinking of meeting at the Crescent Mall," I said. "There’s a lingerie store calling our names, apparently."

"Oh yes," Tempest laughed. "That’s exactly what I need. Tell Aira she’s a queen for suggesting it. I’ll meet you both there by noon. And Zara?"

"Yeah?"

"Don’t wear black today. You need colour. Maybe crimson. Show them you still burn."

I blinked, then chuckled. "Sure thing, General."

When I hung up, Aira already had her purse in hand.

"I take it she’s arrived?"

"She’s in. She may want to visit Koda first before spending time with us."

"Lol, perfect. Come on, finish up a bit and let’s go for breakfast first."

Zara glanced at her watch. "I still have a bit of time. You go on ahead. I will prepare a few things and head for a quick meeting."

Aira seemed let down, but now wasn’t the time. I know spending time with the girls would take hours, but there was work to be done.

"Alright. See you around 11:30 a.m."

"Sure."

***************

By noon, we were at the boutique. The place was floor-to-ceiling elegant—soft lights, velvet drapes, and lace displays that looked more like museum art than garments.

We walked through aisles filled with silk and satin, sharing laughter that felt as if it had been lost and was now being rediscovered.

Tempest arrived shortly after, sweeping in like a summer storm. Her hair was piled high in an elegant bun, makeup flawless, eyes already scanning the racks with a military-grade focus.

"Ladies," she said, arms wide. "Let’s buy things our enemies wouldn’t believe we wear."

And just like that, the hours slipped into something lighter. Easier.

For a while, there was no meeting, war, wolves, or alliances. Just three women. A dressing room. And the kind of friendship that didn’t need explaining.

"Zara. Zara. Look at this one."

Aira held up a striking red two-piece outfit that looked like it could fit in a royal bedroom or on the pages of a magazine that most good daughters would never admit to buying.

The lace was incredibly delicate, almost see-through in spots, and the little satin ribbons dangling from the garter belt practically shouted, "Take me off slowly."

I blinked. "That’s not even underwear. That’s... lingerie cosplay."

"Exactly!" Aira’s grin stretched from ear to ear. "You’ve been CEO, Queen Luna, and Divine Alpha. Now it’s time for your villain arc—seductress edition."

Tempest came up behind her holding something even worse—or better, depending on perspective. It was black lace, thong-style, cropless, with tiny silver chains at the side that glinted in the soft boutique lights.

I choked on my own breath. "Tempest!"

"What?" She asked in mock surprise, looking way too proud of herself. "It’s functional. Fashionable. Deadly. Snow’s going to take one look at you in this and forget whatever noble oath he made this morning."

Aira leaned over and added in a whisper, "He’s not going to make it out of your office if he sees that under your blazer. I bet he’d bend you right over the desk—papers flying, assistant traumatized, full chaos mode."

Tempest snorted. "If there’s one thing Snow knows how to do, it’s claim what’s his. And I bet he’s had to hold back for weeks. Show him this, and he’ll let go."

I tried to wave them off with mock indignation, but heat was already creeping up my neck. "Okay, okay. That’s enough."

But they saw through it.

Aira’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Hold on... wait. You have had office sex, haven’t you?"

Tempest gasped, then grinned like she’d been handed front-row tickets to drama night. "Oh my goddess, Zara, you naughty—where? On the desk? Chair? Conference table?"

I covered my face. "I’m not telling you this."

"So all three, then," Aira concluded with wicked delight.

"I hate both of you."

Tempest smirked. "Actually, you love us. Now spill. Were there documents involved?"

"I—!"

And that’s when I bumped into someone. A shoulder grazed mine hard as we burst out laughing. I turned quickly, already apologising. "Sorry, I wasn’t—"

My smile faded.

The woman in front of me looked just as surprised as I felt. Her shoulder-length, perfectly curled caramel hair framed her face, and her green eyes were striking, highlighted with fancy makeup.

Her lips were painted a bold red that seemed almost dangerous.

She had a designer purse dangling from her elbow, and when she locked eyes with me, her lips twisted into a bitter sneer that spoke volumes about her feelings.

"Zara," she said slowly. "Wow. I wasn’t expecting to see you here. But of course... always showing up where you don’t belong."

I folded my arms, my smile returning—but colder now. "Clarissa."

Clarissa. My cousin from my adoptive father’s side. The family member who would smile at me during dinner, but then whisper about my "wolf genes" when she thought I wasn’t listening. She even flirted with my ex as soon as I turned my back.

"You’re looking..." I paused and tilted my head. "Used."

Clarissa’s nostrils flared. "Still smug, aren’t you? But don’t get too comfortable. You’re not untouchable. You think your title and your husband will protect you forever? You’ll lose it all one day."

I took a step forward, the amusement never leaving my face. "Are those the words of a failure who took a dog’s vomit only to realise it wasn’t food?"

She stiffened.

I didn’t stop. "Tell me—how was fucking Ivan behind my back while I was dating him? Did he cry after? Or were you just the warm body until he got bored again?"

Aira whistled low, slow-clapping with a grin.

Clarissa’s eyes widened, and I saw the spark of shame, the one she thought she buried with her contour.

"I don’t know what you’re talking about," she snapped.

"Oh, please," I said. "The hotel receipts are public record. You used his loyalty against me. Now you want to pretend it never happened?"

Clarissa stepped forward, clearly ready to fire back, but Tempest blocked her path like a sudden wall of steel in heels.

"I’d think carefully before I speak if I were you," Tempest said in a low, calm voice. The kind of tone that said she was trained to kill and didn’t mind adding one more to the list.

Clarissa’s mouth opened—then shut.

Aira sauntered beside her and cocked her head, eyes gleaming. "Jealousy’s a bad look on you, darling. But then again, losers always find something to say."

I leaned closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. "Just hope you haven’t jumped into Ivan’s dad’s bed next. Since you like married men."

Clarissa looked like she’d been slapped. Her expression twisted as though she was trying to hold composure, but her fists clenched too tight and her chin quivered just enough.

"You think you’re better than me because you married a powerful man?" she hissed.

"No," I replied coolly. "I know I’m better than you because I didn’t have to fuck my way through the leftovers of mine."

Clarissa turned on her heels, heels clicking sharply on the marble floor as she stormed off—her silence louder than any insult she could have flung.

As soon as she disappeared around the corner, Tempest exhaled, looking impressed. "Damn. Remind me not to ever get on your bad side."

"I warned you," Aira added, looping her arm through mine. "This one’s got claws under her silk."

I finally laughed, the tension loosening from my spine like someone had unclenched a fist around my heart. "Gods. I haven’t done that in years."

"Felt good though, didn’t it?" Tempest smirked.

"Yeah," I admitted, smiling wider now. "It really did."

Aira grabbed a purple lace set from the rack and held it up. "Then I say we celebrate your verbal assassination with matching panties. I vote this one."

Tempest nodded. "Only if we toast to never lowering ourselves again."

"Agreed," I said.

We walked toward the register with laughter trailing behind us like perfume. Clarissa’s bitterness was already fading like a bad stain on good silk.

Let the past rot. We were here, glowing, strong, and beautifully untouchable.

And I hadn’t even picked my revenge outfit for the summit yet.