Tabitha's POV

Two days later, the day of the engagement party finally arrives and the whole Aldair estate is unrecognizable. The entire courtyard is transformed into a grand venue, with deep navy and silver draping the tented ceilings, which reflect the pack's signature colors. The place smells faintly of fresh pine, expensive cologne, and champagne. The estate screams of so much wealth and luxury that I momentarily forget I used to live in a one-bedroom apartment with my mother just a week ago.

"Is everything in order?" my Mom asks one of the maids while scanning the whole courtyard area that will host all the guests. It is so huge you can build another mansion there. "I need everything to be perfect."

My Mom is a meticulous woman, especially with things that involve parties and anything grand. She's got keen attention to detail-I'd say she has a talent. She was just born in the wrong tax bracket, so she wasn't able to put her talent into use. But since she's marrying Emery Aldair, she's finally finding herself in a position where her talent can shine. And honestly? She deserves it.

The estate has been buzzing with people since sunrise, and for once, the Aldair brothers haven't stirred up chaos. They've been surprisingly tolerable the past few days. Still a bunch of assholes, sure, but at least they've been showing up for lunch since that crazy target-shooting stunt. They keep their words, I'll give them that.

Out on the upper balcony, I spot Reed with Ian and Wilson. He's dressed in an all-black tux, two buttons undone at the collar, exposing a tattoo scrawled across his chest. A cigar rests between his fingers. He's half-listening to whatever Ian's saying, barely nodding. Then his eyes cut toward me.

For a second, he just stares. Then he takes a slow drag off his cigar before blowing the smoke in my direction.

I look away. Why am I even staring at him? I should pull my shit together.

I shift my attention to the courtyard that is now slowly being filled by guests in expensive suits and designer gowns. I see some familiar faces I haven't seen in years. And I'm not excited to meet them again.

"Tabitha, come here for a second," Mom calls softly from behind me. I turn to find her making her way over. She looks stunning in her cream-colored gown that hugs her figure modestly and falls in soft, elegant folds to the floor. When I was younger, people would tell me that I look like my mom and I wouldn't believe them. I always felt that she's too beautiful to be compared to me. And her age now doesn't even dull her beauty.

She reaches up and tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "There," she says, taking a step back to look at me properly. "You look gorgeous."

"So do you. Really. That dress is perfect on you."

Her lips twitch, but the worry doesn't quite leave her eyes. She glances toward the entrance, where more guests are beginning to arrive in clusters, greeted by butlers in sharp uniforms. She keeps adjusting her bracelet, fingers tugging at the clasp for the third time, unable to keep still.

"You nervous?" I ask, though it's quite obvious. I just want to get her attention off the wave of approaching guests.

She exhales slowly, her smile faltering. "A little. There are a lot of people coming tonight. Not just from Crystal Ridge, but from the Stormblood and Deathclaw packs too. Emery says some of the council members will be here as well."

I glance around, then back at her. "You'll be fine. You're good at this."

She really is. While Dad and I are introvert to the core, my Mom is an extrovert through and through. She is good at mingling with people and entertaining guests. I know she'll do well tonight.

"Thanks, sweetheart," she offers me a more relaxed smile.

I give her a reassuring smile. I want her to face the guests confidently-although I can't say the same thing for myself. I feel the same nerves she does. Maybe more. Because I know who else is expected to arrive tonight. I know who I might run into.

Yennifer Wix.

The thought alone makes my stomach twist. Facing the Aldair brothers again was one thing, but meeting another one of my worst bullies is another.

Before I can spiral any further, Emery steps in from the side, his arm snaking easily around my mother's waist.

"It's time, honey." He leans in and presses a kiss to her cheek. "Guests are starting to arrive. We should go welcome them."

"Of course." Mom nods quickly.

She glances back at me and smooths down the side of my dress one last time, like she's memorizing me before walking away.

"You look beautiful," she whispers. "I'm so proud of you."

I manage a small smile. "You're the one in cream silk, Mom. You look like you belong on the cover of a magazine."

That earns a soft laugh from her, though there's still worry behind her eyes.

"I'll be right behind you," I tell her. "Go on."

Emery gives me a curt nod before steering her gently toward the main courtyard. I stand alone in the hallway for a while as I try to settle the nerves swarming in my stomach.

Okay, Tabitha, you can do it. Inhale. Exhale.

I remind myself that I have to be bolder-shameless even, now that I'm back. I cannot show any signs of weakness because otherwise, I'll be the same girl who escaped this island five years ago. I refused to be that cowardly girl again.

As I make my way toward the courtyard, I catch sight of the rest of the Aldair brothers. Evren stands near the entrance, adjusting the cuff of his deep charcoal suit. His black hair is slicked back, revealing the sharp lines of his face. He is sporting the usual indifferent expression he wears everywhere and with everyone. Meanwhile, Luca stands near a marble column with a glass of wine in his hand. The party is barely starting and yet he's already halfway through his glass. Well, werewolves do not get drunk that easily, anyway. He might as well be drinking water. His navy velvet jacket is perfectly tailored, every button in place. His hair is neatly styled, not a strand out of line. Even without a tie, he looks sharp, like he wouldn't be caught dead looking anything less than polished.

Then, there's Jace. He's the last to appear as he steps out from one of the side rooms. He runs a hand through his tousled hair. He scans the crowd of guests until his eyes land on me. I quickly avert my gaze.

I clear my throat and move toward one of the marble statues near the edge of the courtyard. From here, I'm mostly shielded from the crowd. I have no interest in mingling, no appetite for fake smiles or forced pleasantries. If I could melt into this column, I probably would.

Fortunately, the attention shifts to the front of the courtyard when Alpha Emery and my mom step up to the podium to officially commence the party.

"Thank you all for coming," Emery begins in his usual commanding voice that immediately catches the attention of everyone. "Tonight, I'm proud to introduce the woman who will stand beside me as my wife, Isla Huxley."

There's a round of applause. My mother smiles warmly at the crowd.

"This engagement is more than just a union between two people. It is a celebration we share with our pack and our allies. I am grateful to have you all here tonight to witness the beginning of this chapter," Emery continues.

More applause follows. But as I scan the crowd, I can tell some of the smiles don't quite reach their eyes. A few guests clap just enough to be polite. None of them would dare challenge Alpha Emery's decisions out loud, of course. Not here. not now.

I glance toward the edge of the crowd where my mother and Emery begin mingling with some of the high-ranking guests. I catch sight of them exchanging small talk with Alphas, Betas, and council members of the Crystal Ridge pack as well as from the other packs as well. Then, my eyes drift to Yennifer who is just a few meters away from them.

Oh shit.

She's standing near the champagne fountain, laughing with Isabel Carter-the Crystal Ridge Beta's daughter-and two other women I immediately recognize. Eris and Vina. Her loyal minions since high school. Just seeing their faces sends a chill up my spine. My fingers tremble before I can stop it.

Then, Yennifer turns her head towards me. My heart jumps to my throat in panic. I quickly snatch a wine glass from a passing waiter and bring it to my face, pretending to sip. Then I quickly walk toward the towering engagement cake like it's a damn fortress. I station myself behind it, half-covered by the giant multi-tiered monstrosity.

This is pathetic.

I told myself I'd be strong this time. I swore I wouldn't be the girl who hides anymore. But old fears don't die just because you've grown taller or learned to bite back. Especially not when that fear is a living and breathing evil incarnate named Yennifer Wix.

I exhale slowly, trying not to sweat through the satin of my dress. I'm fine. Everything's fine. I'll get through this party. I have to! For my mom...

"Boo!"

"Ah, Crap!" My heart slams against my chest as I jolt in place, nearly knocking over the base of the cake. I spin around, already flustered, and come face-to-face with a man who looks like he stepped out of a damn catalog. He bites his lip as if suppressing a laugh.

The man raises his hands slightly in a harmless gesture. "Sorry," he says, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Didn't mean to scare you. Though, hiding behind the cake? That one's on you."

My cheeks heat as I get a better look at him. He's tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a dark, well-fitted suit that doesn't scream for attention but clearly wasn't bought off the rack. His tie's loosened, just enough to look effortless instead of lazy. The kind of guy who knows how to carry himself.

"I wasn't hiding," I lie. "Just... taking a breather."

He looks amused. "Fair enough. It's a full house out there."

I nod once, trying not to fidget under his gaze. There's something curious in the way he studies me. He's got that quiet sense of authority around him that reminds me of Emery Aldair.

"I'm Arthur, by the way..." he says, finally extending a hand. "Arthur Beckett. From the Stormblood Pack."

Wait, Arthur Beckett?

Tabitha's POV

"You're Yoseff Beckett's son?" I gasp.

He sheepishly rubs his nape. "I guess you know my father."

"Everyone on this island knows your father!"

The Becketts own the majority of the fishing and shipping lines in Kaelara island which puts their family on equal footing in terms of wealth and influence with the Aldairs! Plus, Yoseff Beckett is the Alpha of Stormblood pack which makes this guy...

"You're the heir...the future Alpha of Stormblood pack?" My mouth blurts out the fact before I can stop it. Holy shit. This man is as much royalty as my asshole step brothers. That's why he's got the same powerful air around him-he's got the Alpha blood too!

"You sure know a lot about the packs around here," he notes. "Especially for someone who's..."

"Human?" I finish for him with a tilt of my head. "Well, yes. My father is human, and I got that from him. But my mom is a she-wolf which is the reason why I'm quite versed about all the pack stuff. I'm Tabitha Huxley."

Recognition flashes in his eyes. He snaps his finger in realization.

"You're Alpha Emery's stepdaughter!"

"Yup, that's me."

"That's awesome. Congratulations on your mother and Alpha Emery's engagement. This party is magnificent." Arthur says and raises his glass for a toast.

I chuckle and bump my glass lightly against his. "Thanks, my mom worked hard for it.."

Arthur offers a small smile.

"Have to say, you look a little familiar."

My brows lift slightly. "Really?"

"Yeah. Can't quite place it though. Have we met before?"

"I used to live here. My mom and I left the island five years ago. We only just came back recently." I shrug.

"Ah," Arthur nods. "Then that might be it. We probably crossed paths back then."

"Maybe," I say. "Though I doubt I would've forgotten you."

That earns a quiet chuckle from him. "A lot has changed on the island since then. Has anyone shown you around yet?"

I shake my head. "Not really. I don't think anyone's offering."

"Then maybe you're just waiting for the right guide." Arthur raises his glass again, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Oh, he's charming and polite. Not what I expected from someone with Alpha blood. Guys like him are supposed to be too busy to waste time on girls hiding behind cakes, yet here he is, generous enough to offer his time without acting like I'm beneath him. He doesn't carry himself like a snob either, not like my broody step brothers who walk around like everyone owes them air.

Maybe this is finally my chance to meet a decent friend now that I'm back on the island.

"You know what? That sounds-"

"There you are." Jace suddenly pops out of nowhere and cuts through our conversation.

"J-Jace?" What is he doing here, interacting with me? It doesn't look like he's here to strike up a friendly conversation, not with his brows tugged into a frown as he glances between Arthur and me. His lips curve into a grimace like he just smelled something sour.

"Jace." Arthur nods at him. "I was just talking with your step sister here. She's got a way of making this place feel a little less stiff, I'll give her that."

Jace's jaw tightens and his eyes flick to me with a cold, sharp glance before he speaks. "You're out here flirting with a guest while our parents are looking for you?"

"W-What? I'm not flirting!" My face flushes in embarrassment as I shyly glance at Arthur.

"Hey, man. I was just striking up a friendly conversation. That's all," Arthur explains calmly.

Jace scoffs. "That didn't look friendly to where I was standing."

What's his problem? He's bulldozing in the middle of our conversation and now he's throwing this crap at me?

"Let's go. My dad and your mom are looking for you," he mutters without waiting for a reply, and completely ignoring Arthur who is staring at us in confusion. He looks one step away from arguing with Jace.

I stumble a little as Jace pulls me along, my fingers still caught in his grip. We barely make it a few steps before a familiar presence blocks our path.

"Well, look who decided to show her face." Yennifer steps right in front of us, her red gown clinging like blood to skin.

Yennifer's smirk stretches so wide it nearly splits her face. But nothing about it is friendly. If anything, she looks ready to tear me apart, especially when her eyes flick down to where Jace's hand is still wrapped around mine, then slowly rise back up to meet my gaze. She is being flanked by Vina and Eris.

"Well, hello there, Chubbyta." The insulting nickname rolls off her tongue like it's still scrawled on a bathroom stall in the Crystal Ridge High girls' restroom. "Not gonna lie, I didn't recognize you at first. I thought your mom had another daughter or something. You really gave up the snack drawer, huh? What happened? Did you run out of pastries back in the mainland?"

Bitch.

"Maybe that's why she decided to come back here," Vina seconds, snickering beside Yennifer. "She's probably looking for another fridge to raid."

Eris snorts. "I'll give her a month, tops. And she'll be back to her porky habits."

"I don't have time for this. Why don't you girls find another one to bitch with?" I snap.

"Oh look, she's learned to talk back. What is it, Chubbyta? You think you're part of the Aldair clan now, so that makes you untouchable? Is that it? You think you're one of them?" Yennifer takes a step forward as she mercilessly hurls the words at me.

"Yennifer..." Jace calls her in a warning tone.

But she only turns her grin on him, utterly shameless. She even has the brazenness to point at me as if to emphasize her point.

"Can you believe this, Jace? This clown is your new stepsister?" Her eyes narrow as her voice dips into that syrupy malice I remember too well. He stares at me with nothing but pure disdain. "No matter how you dress her up, she's still the same pathetic nobody who used to cry in the locker room."

"Yennifer! Mind your tongue," Jace hisses, stepping in like he's two seconds away from dragging her out of the party himself.

But Yennifer doesn't even flinch. She folds her arms and gives me a slow once-over, clearly enjoying the attention. The longer she stares, the more my skin crawls. A few nearby guests have started to glance our way, murmuring under their breath. I catch Evren and Luca a few meters away, their eyes trained on us with growing interest.

"I guess the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree," Yennifer says, then leans in closer to whisper so only I can hear. "Must be nice, slipping into the Aldair name like it's a free pass. No effort or backbone, just shamelessly riding on power that was never yours to begin with... just like your mother."

"Of course you'd be mad. You've been trying to claw your way up the social ladder since high school. And now someone else got a shortcut you didn't," I clap back.

Yennifer's eyes narrow. Her lips twitch in anger but no words come out of it as if she's taken aback by my words. Even Vina and Eris falter for a second, their smirks flickering as they glance at each other in awkward silence. For once, Yennifer doesn't have the audience laughing with her.

"Y-You bitch-"

"Oh, save it, Yennifer." I cut her off with a roll of my eyes. "You can have Jace all you want. Enjoy the drama. I'm going to see my mom. Unlike you, I don't have a habit of ruining parties just to be the center of attention."

I pull my hand free from Jace's and step away without looking at him. I keep my chin up as I stride towards the stage where Mom and Emery are still chatting with some of their guests.

Behind me, Yennifer hisses, "Watch her strut like she owns the damn pack now."

I don't look back, but the shuffle of heels against the tile and the sharp scrape of a table dragging across the floor yank my attention. My eyes flick toward the dessert table.

Yennifer's fingers are pressed against the edge, a glint in her eyes that sends a jolt through my chest.

"Oops," she mutters as she nudges the cake, causing it to wobble in the air and slide off the table.

Shit!

Gasps rise through the crowd as the cake descends to my direction. But before it can crash into me, a figure darts out from the crowd. Evren cuts between us and swats the cake midair, redirecting it toward the side. The towering mess of sponge and icing explodes against Vina, who shrieks as frosting splatters all over her pale yellow gown.

"What the hell, Yennifer?" Vina screams, icing dripping off her curls.

Yennifer stares at the scene in stunned disbelief, eyes wide as the cake splatters all over her friend's gown. Vina angrily stomps her teeth while wiping her cake-drenched dress. Around them, shocked murmurs rise and heads whip toward the chaos. Even Eris looks like she wants to disappear.

Yennifer snarls and shoves past Evren, dropping to snatch a chunk of ruined cake from the ground. "You can't even get humiliated right, you pathetic parasite!" she spits, then hurls the mess straight at me.

I gasp as the bits of the ruined cake smacks across my chest and neck, splatting all over my blue dress. I just stand there, stunned, while icing clings to my skin and soaks into the fabric of my dress. The guests around us gape at us in shock. The cozy music that has been playing since the start of the party halts to reveal the chaotic mess that is us.

"Yennifer!" Jace snaps, his voice cutting loud across the courtyard. "What have you done?!"

"Jace, it's her fault-"

"Enough!" Evren's shout follows right after. I've never heard him sound this furious.

But I can't focus on any of it. All I see are the rows of eyes of the guests that are glued to me like I'm some kind of circus act. Some of them whisper behind their glasses, others smirk like they expected this all along. I catch my mom's face in the distance, her head tilting as she cranes her neck to see what's happening. Emery stands beside her, following her gaze.

Too many curious eyes, too many ridiculing smirks.

Too many people around me...

I can't take it.

Tabitha's POV

Suddenly, their faces morph into the familiar faces of my high school bullies. I hear the laughter. Feel the heat crawling up my face. Just like back then. they're all looking. All judging and hurling painful words at me.

Suddenly, I'm back in the same hell that I fought so hard to escape five years ago.

I can't breathe.

I need to get out of here.

"Tabitha..."

I ignore Evren's voice and do the only thing that I'm good at... run away.

"Tabitha!"

I rip my arm from Evren's grasp when he tries to reach for me. I hear more people calling my name, maybe Jace, maybe my mom, but I don't look back. I can't look back. I need to get out of here!

I don't stop. I just run, pushing past the stone path. My aching heels scrape the edge of the gravel as I dart straight toward the trees beyond the estate. Away from the lights. Away from them all. The familiar spread of the woods welcome me as I dart towards the towering trees. It reminds me of the last time I went there, I was also trying to run away from the bullies who were chasing me.

Nothing has changed. I can't even keep the promise to myself not to run away again.

In the end, I just can't... I still haven't escaped, after all.

The sharp branches claw at my arms as I dive deeper into the woods, , brambles scratching my legs as I tear through the undergrowth. I just need to breathe. Just need to be alone. But something behind me snaps, like someone just stepped on a dry branch.

What's that?

I glance over my shoulder, just a quick look, but it's enough to throw off my balance. My foot trips over a root and I tumble forward, crashing hard onto the rough ground. Pebbles bite into my palms.

"Ouch..." I mumble while clutching my bruised knee.

My heart hammers nervously against my chest as my eyes drift to the three massive shapes emerging from the thicket.

Werewolves.

Oh shit.

Their muddy fur clings to their hulking bodies and their eyes glowing a sickly red. The look bigger than any I've seen during high school. And there's something menacing in the way they look at me... they look bloodthirsty.

They let out a terrifying growl. Their teeth glint wet as their tongues drag over their jowls like they've already imagined having me for lunch.

"S-Shoo!" I scramble back and blindly grope on the ground until I find a rock and a thick fallen branch. My fingers tremble, but I hurl the rock at the one who steps closer. "Get away from me!" I scream.

The rock bounces uselessly off its flank. It doesn't do anything but anger the werewolf closest to me. It snarls, lips peeling back, and then it lunges at me. I thrust the stick out with both hands, catching its jaws mid-snap. If it wasn't for it, the large canines of this beast would have snapped my head directly. The werewolf clamps down on the branch, the splintering wood groaning as the wolf thrashes, frothing like it's rabid.

"Tabi!" Jace's voice rips through the trees.

I whip my head toward the sound. Through the blur of branches, four figures break through the woods-Jace, Luca, River, and Evren. Their expressions harden as they catch sight of me, pinned beneath a snarling wolf.

Without hesitation, they shift mid-stride. They transform into four huge werewolves-even bigger than these three who are attacking me. Their eyes sheen in intense gold, contrary to the dull silver eyes of the rogue wolves around me.

Luca's wolf form, a storm-gray blur with streaks of charcoal down his spine, is the first to strike. He barrels into the rogue nearest me, his jaws locking around its hind leg as he drags it away from my body and slams it into the trunk of a tree.

Jace follows a heartbeat later, his pitch-black fur rippling like smoke across his powerful frame. He collides with the second rogue mid-pounce, slamming it into the dirt before pinning it by the throat, golden eyes burning with fury.

I press my back against a tree, clutching the broken stick like it'll still save me. I watch in horror as blood spatters across the ground.

Reed's massive figure crashes through the underbrush next. His coat is a deep, burnished bronze with russet tones catching in the moonlight. He leaps clean over a fallen log and sinks his teeth into the shoulder of the third rogue before it can lunge at Luca from the side. The rogue snarls and twists, but Reed holds firm, muscles straining as he yanks it to the ground and slams a heavy paw across its face.

The fight is so intense that the ground trembles beneath their weight. Snarls and crashing bodies echo through the trees and then, with a sudden crack, a rogue's heavy body smashes into a tree trunk, sending a huge chunk of jagged rock flying in my direction.

I don't have time to scream. My eyes go wide as the stone hurtles straight for me. But something silver-blue streaks across my vision.

Evren.

He throws himself between me and the rock, his massive wolf form absorbing the full brunt of the impact. The boulder bounces off his flank and thuds harmlessly to the side. He staggers slightly, claws scraping against the dirt, but doesn't fall. His glowing gold eyes flash back at me and then narrow as if silently asking if I'm okay.

I clutch on the branch tightly, unsure how to react.

My eyes flick back to the raging fight and realize that the rogues are no longer moving. They revert back to their human forms as their lifeless bodies twist half-hidden in the underbrush. It's over.

One by one, the brothers shift back in their human forms. Heat floods my face when I realize that they are all naked. I quickly avert my eyes. But they don't seem to care. None of them reach for clothes or shift to hide themselves as they approach me.

Jace steps into my space. He scans me from head to toe. He lifts a hand, almost hesitant, and reaches toward my face.

"Tabi... are you hurt?" His fingers graze my cheek.

A sharp jolt zips across my skin where he touches, like I'd brushed against a live wire. I gasp, recoiling slightly.

What was that?

It's not pain. It's heat... almost like his finger had left a scorching mark on my cheek. It burns in a way I don't understand.

He stares at me, confused. "Did you feel that?"

Before I can answer, Luca steps in. His hand brushes against mine as if testing a theory. Another spark rips through my wrist. I flinch again.

"What the hell?" Luca mutters, eyes narrowing as he looks between me and his brother.

Reed doesn't wait. He presses his fingers along my collarbone, and the reaction is instant. My breath hitches as another shock erupts through my nerves. It's like fire and static all at once. My entire body trembles.

Evren narrows his eyes when he also reaches out and cups my chin, forcing me to meet his eyes. The second his skin touches mine, that same heat thrums in my stomach. The sensations grow overwhelming, like a cloud of heat that slowly envelops my whole body. I don't understand what's happening.

Something inside me stirs. It feels like a rush of invisible threads latch onto my soul and tug me closer to them. Something is pulling me towards them. It's like pieces of me have gone missing and the only way to be complete is to be with them. I don't understand what I'm feeling.

"No way," Luca mutters under his breath as if realizing something that I don't. He stares at me as if he is seeing me for the first time.

Reed steps back half a pace, chest rising like he can barely keep his voice steady. "Fuck. It's her."

Evren's grip on my chin tightens slightly, his intense golden eyes pierces into my skin as he leans in and whispers...

"Mine."

What? No... This can't be.

"You're our mate," Jace growls under his breath.