Owned By The Alpha Brothers

Ciara.

Alden was nowhere in sight. I had waited in my room for over an hour, and when he still hadn't shown up, I decided to go to his own room to check, but the door was locked and it was apparent that he wasn't inside. I searched everywhere I could think of; the kitchen, the library, the garden, but there was no sign of him anywhere.

I held up my long ball gown with both hands and was about to leave the palace to check if Alden was at the arcade or at the fancy restaurant he had taken me to the other day.

"Lady Ciara," Katrina, my new maid, called.

"Katrina, have you seen Alden?" I asked.

"No one has seen him, my lady. The ball started over an hour ago. All the guests have arrived already, and it will be a slap on His Majesty's face if you arrive later than you already are," Katrina said. "But, Alden-"

I was cut off by Liam who happened to just walk towards where we are at that point. "He probably developed cold feet and left. That's how selfish he is. He couldn't even suspend his cowardice to accompany you to the ball," Liam stated. I glared at him. "Do not speak about Alden in that manner. I'm sure he has a good reason as to why he isn't here yet."

"Keep telling yourself that," he said then stretched his hand out to me. "I'll be your partner. It will be weird if you go into the hall this late alone," Liam said.

I looked at Katrina and she nodded, urging me to accept his gesture.

"Fine, but don't let this fool you into thinking that I have forgiven you," I said through clenched teeth, placing my hand in his.

"I am sure you will have completely forgiven me by the end of today," he said, wearing a sly smirk as we walked to the hall together hand-in-hand.

The doors opened and when we stepped in, all eyes turned to stare at us. There were people whispering but I wasn't sure about what they were saying. I held onto Liam's hand even tighter, staring at the floor because I couldn't look up at anyone.

"Look up," Liam said to me, and I did as he instructed, raising my shoulders and walking confidently even though I was dying inside.

Thankfully, it was a masquerade ball and my face was partly covered. Most of their faces were covered as well and I couldn't tell who and who were staring at me, so I felt a little better.

"Greetings, Alpha, Luna," I said, bowing low as soon as we got to the throne.

"Greetings," the Alpha said, nodding his head in approval.

"Where where is Alden?" the Luna asked, searching around for Alden with her eyes.

"He stood her up," Liam responded.

"Alden stood her up? Who does he think he is? And why would someone as elegant as you want to go out with that mama's boy anyway?" a robust woman dressed in a flare cotton knee-length dress, asked.

The Luna clenched her fists in annoyance, seething with rage. "Caution your good-for-nothing sister," she said in a low tone to the Alpha, before standing up and disappearing behind the curtains.

"Alice, now, that's no way to speak about your nephew," the Alpha said.

"Greetings, Lady Alice," I said to her.

"Greetings, my dear. Oh, my favorite nephew," she said, wrapping her arms around Liam, so much so that she almost strangled him.

He was visibly suffocating. "Aunt Alice... let me go," he said, as I suppressed my laughter.

"I'm pleased to see you after a long, long time. I hope your journey was peaceful," he said to her, once she had freed him from her embrace.

"It really was," she said, then took off her badly knitted cow-shaped mask. A frown appeared on her face as she shook her head in disapproval. "Here comes the adulteress' son. At least, his mother wasn't a miserable servant," she said under her breath.

I looked forward and saw Blake. I already knew it was he due to the mate bond despite the heavy mask he had on that covered every part of his face. What bothered me was the fact that he was in the company of a girl who was dressed so beautifully in one of the most luxurious gowns at the ball, designed with precious stones and befitting of a princess.

They both said their greetings and I could feel my heart beating angrily with jealousy. The girl's voice was so soft and soothing, and the attention I had gotten from the crowd had now been stolen by her. I didn't enjoy being in the spotlight, but it shocked that she was now in my spot.

"You... you seem oddly familiar," Alice noted. "Are you that Savannah girl Blake used to run around the Pack with back then?" she asked.

The girl took off her mask, revealing herself to be the most beautiful girl I had ever seen in the Silver Crest Pack, with the most delicate and most perfect features that were ever created.

I wasn't just jealous of her at this point. I disliked her. No, I hated her.

"Yes, it is I. My name is Samantha by the way, not Savannah," she corrected.

My mouth flew wide open. Samantha? As in Blake's first love? The girl that broke his heart? What were they doing together? Why was he looking at her so fondly? Why?

"It's time for the dance," the MC announced and almost everyone stretched out a hand to their partner or anyone they liked and began dancing to the melodious tune being played by the musical band.

The frown on my face deepened, watching Blake and Samantha together in slow dancing, his arms wrapped around her waist and hers resting upon his shoulders.

"Shall we?" Liam asked, and adamantly, I took his hand and let him lead me to the dance floor.

The more he twirled me around, the more I stared longingly at Blake, wondering how he could move on so fast and hating that he looked so happy with someone who wasn't me.

I couldn't concentrate on my dance with Liam and kept on stepping on his toes and missing all the turns, despite having practiced with Alden who still wasn't around. Liam was right. He had actually stood me up.

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"Sorry," I apologized for the umpteenth time after stepping on Liam's foot again.

He glared at me and I could see he was desperately trying to conceal his anger, but he kept on dancing regardless.

The band began to play a different tune, something a little bit faster and I reasoned that Liam might probably not be able to walk again by the time we were done, so I politely stepped back.

"Please, I need some fresh air, but I'll be right back," I excused myself.

"Be quick," he said, and I saw him half-limping to have a seat beside his father.

I gave a small smile and walked out of the hall, where I used my eyes to search for Alden hoping to see if he was in the area and hoping he had a good reason for standing me up. I wanted to forgive him, but he needed to give me a reason to. Just then, someone grabbed my hand from behind and a smile appeared on my face.

"Alden!" I exclaimed, beaming happily as I turned around, but the smile faded away as soon as the person took off his mask.

"Lady Ciara," his thick voice resounded in my ears.

My eyes widened in shock and I could hardly find the right words to say. How could I, when I was seeing someone I believed might have been dead?

It was Josiah the guard who had helped me escape from my former Pack and had risked his life to save mine.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"What... what are you doing here?" I stuttered.

"I am here to take you back to the Moonstone Pack," he replied.