CHAPTER 26: A BITTER-SWEET DECISION

At least I hadn’t left his room with sore legs. Instead, I had left with a red palm after slapping Alpha Dawn once again. I had no regrets, but he was clearly offended when he demanded that I leave. So, I was mentally preparing an apology for when he showed up again.

As I got off the elevator that took me back to my room, my mind rewound to the event in his bedroom. Honestly, I hadn’t even known what exactly happened. All I knew was that I enjoyed it. I enjoyed every bit of it—which was crazy. That was a fucked-up thing to enjoy. Alpha Dawn had asked me not to tell anyone—which, of course, I wouldn’t—so it was definitely something no one, not even a pin, should know about.

Regardless, by the time I closed my hand around the door handle to my room before pushing it open, I had concluded that what happened with Alpha Dawn in his bedroom was part of the breeding effect.

However, what I wasn’t prepared for was seeing the Luna sitting cross-legged on my bed. My heart froze immediately.

She stood as soon as I stepped into the room, my hand trembling as I shut the door behind me.

Dressed in a black evening gown with a stylish bow adorned with diamond details, she stood tall and confident—and it had nothing to do with the six-inch heels she had on.

"H-hey, Luna."

"You met with the Alpha today?" she asked, her tone more like an affirmation than a question.

I nodded, already dreading her reaction.

"He explained to me earlier that he would like to see you later today to let you in on more ideas about the breeding process. So, I’ll let you off the hook."

Relief washed over me, but that also meant she had met with the Alpha. I pushed the thought aside and continued listening attentively.

"The Annual Prestige Gathering is tomorrow night. I’ll send the outfit I want you to wear. Also"—she leaned closer, lowering her voice to a whisper—"I’ll introduce you to someone special. It’s time for you to be useful to me."

I nodded and bowed my head low until she exited my bedroom. Then, I collapsed onto the bed, remembering that I had a favor to return to the Luna—after all, she had erased my Omega scent and saved me from possible execution if I were ever exposed for pretending to be an Elite wolf as an Omega.

The dress did not arrive until the following day, in the sweltering afternoon. When I unwrapped the package delivered by one of the maids, I immediately understood why she insisted on sending it herself.

It was a boring dress—plain white, knee-length, flared, and long-sleeved, with a tiny bow at the chest. The neckline was entirely closed, leaving no room for even a hint of cleavage. Not that I wanted to flaunt any, but it felt like she was sending me a message.

A few hours later, three maids arrived to dress me for the party. I was dipped into a bathtub of body wash, bath salts, and essential oils. They scrubbed and cleaned me as though preparing me for another night of breeding. They even used shaving cream on me.

When they finally settled me before the dressing table and the blonde maid pulled out a dress sack I hadn’t noticed them carrying earlier, suspicion crept in.

These women weren’t from the Luna. The Luna hadn’t sent them.

When they revealed the dress inside, my suspicion was confirmed. A corset crop top designed to expose my cleavage, paired with an upper-thigh-length tight skirt that came with long extra fabric and a waist chain detail. It wasn’t a gown for a formal gathering—it was a clubbing outfit. The exact opposite of the dress the Luna had brought me.

The Annual Prestige Gathering was a yearly event for Alphas, Lunas, and Betas from Packs within the region. It was the place where Betas, Lunas, and Alphas met to connect and form possible alliances between Packs. The dress was completely inappropriate for the occasion.

"I can’t wear this. Sorry," I told the maid who held the dress out to me.

The maid dropped it and turned to the first maid—the eldest of the three, looking to be in her late thirties.

She nodded once and pulled out her phone, dialing a number. The person on the other end picked up after three rings.

"She has refused to put on the clothes, Alpha."

I sat up straight. Alpha Dawn sent the maids and the dress?

The woman nodded at whatever the Alpha said, then handed the phone to me. I accepted it, cleared my throat, and pressed it to my ear.

"Put on the clothes," was the first thing I heard from him.

"Alpha Dawn, I can’t. This is not appropriate for the event," I protested.

"It is an event organized by me. I get to decide what outfit is appropriate and what isn’t."

I couldn’t even tell him that the Luna had already sent me a dress, and that it was impossible to disregard her and wear something this revealing instead.

"Wear the outfit, Bambi."

There he goes again—saying my name like a prayer and making me sway all over again. Fuck him.

"You have to understand. I can’t show up like this as your breeder. People will talk."

"Let them talk," he breathed on the other end of the line. "I want you to wear this clothes for me, not for them. I want to see it on your skin."

I sighed, frustrated. "I’m sorry, Alpha. I really can’t."

The Luna would have my head if I showed up not only in an entirely different dress from the one she sent but also in something so revealing.

He paused for a moment before saying, "If I see you in another dress, I’ll rip it off you right there, in the party. You know me. Wear that attire and come to my bedroom. We’re leaving together."

I sat up, my heart pounding. "What?"

"You heard me right. You’re my date. Let the maids put you in that attire and meet me—" He stopped himself. "Wait, no. I’ll come to you. See me in an hour."

By the time he hung up, sweat had already broken out on my forehead, and my throat was suddenly dry. This was a nightmare.