?Chapter 56:

“Holy crap,” I breathe, staring at the stranger in the mirror. “I look like I’m about to win an Oscar or something.”

Seraphina giggles, clearly pleased with herself. “I’m happy you like it,” she says, bowing slightly.

Like it? Understatement of the year. This girl’s got the golden touch. She could be styling celebrities any day now. I so love my appearance.

But then, reality hits. My excitement dims just a bit as I remember… I don’t really belong here. I’m not one of them. This is my first big appearance, and I have no clue what I’m walking into. Nerves bubble up in my chest, and the whole idea of this fancy dress-up starts to feel a little too much. My hands are sweaty, and I’m damn nervous. I draw in a breath and then release it, repeating the exercise three times. After that, I’m feeling just fucking fine.

“You ready to go downstairs?” Seraphina’s voice pulls me back to the present. She steps away after adding the final touches to my makeup.

I take a deep breath, smoothing out the fabric of my dress. “Yeah, I’m ready. Let’s do this.”

With Seraphina leading, we head down the stairs. The soft click of my heels on the marble floor does nothing to calm my nerves. The closer we get to the venue, the heavier my breathing bes. Sweat pools in my palms, and I swear I’m about to start hyperventting.

The sound of ssical instruments and low murmurs fills the air as we approach the entrance. Crap, this is really happening. I mentally p myselfe on, Jasmine, you’ve got this.

“You’ll make your entrance here,” Seraphina says, bowing slightly before she scurries off, leaving me to fend for myself.

Great. Just freaking great.

Straightening my spine, I step into the hall, my heart thudding in my chest. The ce is packed, and as soon as I enter, every damn Lycan’s head swivels in my direction. Their lips move, whispering God-knows-what, but their eyes stay glued to me, judging, evaluating.

Ignoring their stares, I scan the crowd, frantically searching for Ryder. I need him right now, like a lifeline in this sea of predators.

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Then, I feel it. His eyes on me. Piercing through the crowd. I follow my instincts, snapping my head toward the far corner of the room. And there he is.

My heart skips a beat. He’s standing there, looking like he just stepped off the cover of GQ—broad shoulders and a tailored ck suit. His left hand is casually tucked in his pocket like he owns the ce. Well, technically, he does. His confidence? It’s ridiculous. Sexy. Intimidating.

And those eyes? Those ocean-blue eyes pin me to the spot. My stomach flips. How on earth did I manage to get my hook on Ryder Kael?

Taking a deep breath, I start making my way through the crowd, feeling like a mouse trapped in a room full of hungry cats. The Lycans keep staring, their gazes flicking over my dress, my hair, my very existence. It’s not entirely hostile, but it sure as hell isn’t friendly either.

I can practically feel their noses twitching, picking up the scent of the lowly Omega in their midst.

And Ryder? He hasn’t moved an inch. He’s just standing there, watching me struggle, a smirk ying on his lips. Oh, he’s enjoying this. I can see it in his stupidly perfect face. He’s leaving me to fend for myself.

Typical.

The murmurs grow louder, and suddenly, the room’s attention shifts. I nce in the direction of the new hubbub and… oh great, Isabelle. She struts in, her long blonde hair packed into two ridiculous ponytails. By the Moon Goddess, even on a dinner night, she still dresses stupidly. Someone needs to teach her how to dress like a…

She’s grown up for real, not like some Barbie dolls. Barbie dolls are even prettier than she is.

Her electric blue dress is a fashion disaster, but hey, it’s working—she’s got everyone’s attention.

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