lle's

g glow of torchlight. With every step I took, the heavy red silk of my gown whispered again

doors, two armored Royal Guard

rk," the guard on the left mocked. "T

doorway. "This ceremony is for the highbor

earhead was inches from my chest, letting a sliver o

he two guards stiffened, their smirks freezing a

ietly. "Before I remind you of t

nged a panicked glance, and p

open, and a blast of ligh

candles. Long banquet tables groaned with roasted meats and golden goblets. The high nobi

d Alpha King Alaric Beaumont in his black and

rrowed beh

. In our pack's sacred tradition, white was the color reserved exclusively for the reigning Luna

ouette crossed the thresho

A suffocating silence swept th

eyes lock

abelle? In

a! Is she trying to hide that

disfigured daughter trying

replaced by a look of performative pity. Beside h

stare and began my march

k. C

steady war drum. I didn't rush. The deep crimson train of my gow

the dais and stopped

hall. "Isabelle. Who gave you permission to leave your quarters? Take your pitiful,

e... please. I know how bitter you must feel about your ruined face and your father's shameful treason. But mu

ftly, nodding in agree

a broken, ugly outcast

my lips curled into