Jayden was stunned by the theme of the party, but he was even more surprised that Penelope was aware beforehand. She glanced sideways at him, eyes gleaming like she'd been waiting for this exact moment.

"Don't worry, Jayden. I came prepared." she said.

Then with a subtle flick of her wrist, a glow of spatial energy shimmered from her storage ring. In her hand appeared two sleek black masks, crafted not just with wealth, but artistry. She held them out delicately, like offerings.

The first... meant for Jayden, was sharp, edged, cut in angles that resembled a wolf's visage. The eyes narrowed into golden slits, and claw-like streaks etched along the cheekbones gave it a predator's aura. It wasn't just a mask. It was a statement: dangerous, untamed, untouchable.

The second... hers, was elegant flame. Black lacquer kissed with streaks of molten crimson and gold, curling upward in arcs that flared like embers caught mid-dance. A fiery crown that didn't overwhelm her beauty but framed it.. made it burn brighter.

She stepped closer, the soft perfume of her hair brushing against him as she held up his mask first. "This one suits you," she teased, fastening the strap gently behind his head. Her fingers lingered a heartbeat longer than necessary, brushing his jaw. Then she slid her own mask into place, and the transformation was instant.

Lady Penelope Isley no longer stood beside him. No, now it was a fire goddess cloaked in elegance, flame behind porcelain, untouchable.

She hooked her arm through his with unshakable confidence. "Now," she said softly, eyes gleaming from behind the mask, "We enter properly."

And together, they descended into the grand hall.

Music swelled around them, strings and piano spilling into a dance-like rhythm that set the entire hall swaying. Silk gowns whispered across the marble floor. Laughter rose like sparks. The air smelled of wine, magic, and ambition.

But as they walked in step, the room reacted.

Heads turned. Masks tilted. Conversations stumbled and faltered. Nobles, tycoons, senators, and heirs all froze to watch them. Whispers rose like waves.

The wolf and the flame walked together, and their presence ignited something primal in the crowd... curiosity, jealousy, even unease.

Some could still recognize Penelope even though she was under a mask... not many people had blonde hair, purple eyes, and chooses to wear a mask that depicts fire.

Therefore, recognizing Penelope was easy. But the part that gave them headaches was... who was the silver-haired person walking beside her?

Penelope was known to be a star maiden... a woman who was too good for any man on this earth. All the rich and influential men that had ever courted her were rejected, and none of them had the potential to even be her date.

When invited to parties, she would either go alone, or go with Cassandra. But for the first time in history, she had a man beside her.

Everyone at the party were stunned... some rejected suitors jealous. But they all had one thought:

"That person beside her was either a very influential and powerful figure from another planet... or a royalty.

If only they knew it was just a simple teenager.

Jayden didn't miss the sharp looks from nobles hidden behind smiling masks. Neither did he miss the way the orchestra seemed to play louder, as though even the music sought to rise and match their entrance.

Penelope leaned just slightly toward him, her words like a secret meant only for his ears. "Remember, Jayden.. behind those masks, these people reveal more than they hide. Watch closely tonight." she said sharply.

Jayden nodded. He walked tall, unfazed, his expression carved with calm amusement. He wasn't intimidated, and he wasn't there to blend in or make friends.

He was there with Penelope.

And that alone made tonight dangerous.

As they reached the polished marble floor, the swell of attention pressed in like heat. Every masked figure seemed to pause just a little too long, their gazes weighing and dissecting. Jayden felt the atmosphere shift...soft music and laughter still filled the air, but beneath it ran an undercurrent, sharp and predatory, as though the masquerade was a battlefield dressed in silk.

Penelope, however, was untouchable. Her arm threaded through his, posture regal, the faintest smirk curving her lips. With each step she guided him like she owned the hall. And maybe, in a way, she did.

The first to approach was a man in a fox mask of ivory and gold, draped in a robe stitched with threads of midnight blue. His smile was smooth, though Jayden felt the calculation dripping from it.

"Lady Isley," the man purred, bowing low. His gaze flicked quickly to Jayden. "And your... companion. A rare delight to see you gracing us tonight."

Penelope tilted her head, all poise. "Lord Kaelen. Still wearing the fox, I see. Careful, people will start thinking it's your true face." she teased.

Soft chuckles rippled from nearby onlookers. Jayden almost smirked but kept his expression locked behind the predator's mask.

Kaelen straightened, unruffled. "And you've brought... quite the guest. A wolf, is it? Fitting." His words carried the faintest edge, a test.

Jayden's eyes glimmered faintly behind the slits of the mask. He didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he inclined his head, voice calm but edged with steel. "Better a wolf than a fox who hides behind tricks." he muttered.

That hit hard.

Kaelen's lips froze for half a second before the smile returned.. thinner this time. He excused himself smoothly, but Jayden could feel the daggers in the man's retreating gaze.

Penelope's lips quirked as they moved on. "Not bad," she murmured under her breath, amusement dancing in her tone. "You bite when cornered. I like that."

Jayden shrugged. "I've just never been a fan of foxes."

Penelope simply chuckled and dragged him deeper into the room.

They glided through clusters of nobles, each masked figure a blend of charm and malice. A woman in a feathered swan mask leaned close, her perfume cloying, voice sweet as honey.

"Penelope," she greeted with a sly smile. "It's been a while."

Penelope smiled back. "It sure has, Lady Johanna. How have you been?" she asked.

"Oh, you know, traveling and partying like I always do," Johanna replied with a smug smile. Then her gaze turned to Jayden and her lips curled into a grin. "And who is this striking young man? Surely not a stranger to our circles, dressed as he is."

Penelope's hand squeezed lightly against Jayden's arm before she answered. "He's with me. That should be all the introduction required." she answered. Her voice was calm, but sharp as a knife.

Johanna's painted smile faltered just slightly at the steel in Penelope's tone. She excused herself with a graceful bow, but Jayden caught the flicker of envy in her eyes before she turned away.

It went on like that.. smiles, bows, veiled questions, subtle jabs dressed as compliments. Jayden stayed sharp, letting Penelope's effortless poise lead the rhythm. But with every exchange, he began to understand what she'd meant earlier: behind masks, people reveal more than they hide.

Some eyes gleamed with greed when they looked at Penelope. Others with suspicion when they looked at him. A few lingered too long, like predators scenting new prey. And through it all, Penelope thrived.. fire behind a mask, untouchable, but always calculating. She was clearly experienced with this.

At one point, she leaned closer, her lips brushing his ear as if whispering a secret joke. "They're circling. Testing you. Don't worry, Jayden. By the end of the night, they'll either respect you... or fear you."

Jayden chuckled softly under his breath, masking it as a polite laugh to a passing jest. "Why not both?"

Penelope eyes glittered with delight behind the flame mask. "Exactly. Now you're getting it." she giggled.

The orchestra swelled.. violins and cellos weaving a melody that threaded through the hall like silk. The masked nobles began drifting toward the dance floor, their gowns sweeping across marble, their partners bowing and clasping hands as though this was less a dance and more a ritual.

Penelope's fingers tugged lightly at Jayden's arm, drawing his attention from the shifting crowd. She tilted her flame-shaped mask just enough for him to see the knowing smirk behind it.

"It's time," she whispered. "We've greeted, we've endured... now we dance."

Jayden arched a brow behind his wolf-carved mask. "I'm not much of a ballroom type."

She chuckled, the sound low, teasing. "Nonsense. You'll learn. Just follow my lead like the last time... unless you'd prefer to let them think the wolf can't keep up with the flames."

That was all the provocation he needed. With a faint smirk, Jayden extended his hand. "Fine. But if I step on your toes, that's your fault for dragging me into this."

The smirk she gave in return could have lit the room. She placed her hand in his, warm and deliberate, and together they stepped onto the polished expanse of the dance floor.

Eyes followed. Whispers rose. The music soared.

At first, Jayden moved stiffly... counting steps, mirroring Penelope's fluid grace. But his instincts kicked in quickly, muscles adapting like they always did in battle. Each turn became smoother, each step more confident. The wolf was learning to prowl to music, and it showed.

"You're catching on fast," Penelope murmured, spinning under his arm. Her gown flared like fire itself, the mask's flames gleaming under the chandeliers.

Jayden pulled her back with effortless strength, his hand steady at her waist. "I guess I learn fast," he said with a grin.

Around them, dancers moved in elegant patterns, but Jayden and Penelope stood out... his raw, predatory energy tempered by her fiery elegance. They weren't just dancing; they were commanding the floor. Each step was a declaration: wolf and flame, untouchable, unstoppable.

Whispers grew louder at the edges of the hall. Names were murmured, guesses thrown, eyes narrowed. Who was the masked wolf moving with Penelope? Why did she allow him so close, so boldly, in front of everyone?

Penelope leaned in during a slower step, her lips just beside his ear. "They're all watching. That's good. I want them to know that I've been taken." she said with a knowing smile.

Jayden smirked, holding her gaze through the slits of his mask. "I hope you realize... you've just painted a target on my back."

Her laugh was soft, but there was fire in it. "Then bare your fangs, Jayden. That's what wolves do."

And with that, the dance carried on... smooth, deliberate, and impossible to ignore.