"Oh, crap" Riana whispered to herself wondering what was worse, seeing her former lover Raphael who was definitely not having a slight interest on her that night, or hearing the orchestra screechy attempt to welcome Wesley strolling into the ballroom with his mistress clung on his arm.
To her, their presence was like some moving advertisement of debuting a new perfume called Betrayal.
It was just a day before that she had signed the divorce papers. 'Efficient' her inner Wolf Geena was not liking it either.
The murmurs spread fast, hungry to kill her reputation. Every Wolf that caught a glimpse of her was whispering behind their expensive champagne flute.
"Poor Riana"
"Delilah is a better Luna"
"Riana is no match for Delilah"
"Riana should not have shown her face in Mystic Town"
It went on for several minutes, pretending she was not at all bothered by the mockery she heard while she stood watching Wesley pouring his admiration on Delilah.
Maintaining her elegant composure, she took a slow, deliberate sip of another glass of champagne and forced a smile to those who were watching her. "Well, I suppose subtlety was never his strength, I guess his affair is now made official"
Stella, who was still standing by her side was oblivious to Riana's social carnage, "Urgh, men are useless" she fixed her hair which did not need any fixing and smiled so bright it could blind someone at twenty paces. Waving her hand elegantly, Stella's words surprised Riana, "That is why I need to win as the Gala Queen tonight"
Riana blinked at Stella, "How exactly would it help you by winning?"
Stella leaned closer, whispering like she was revealing state secret only for Riana to hear, "Because if I win, my husband will never look at another woman again. Just me (she paused and wrinkled her nose), and definitely never be Delilah. Ever"
"That's your strategy?" Riana almost choked on her champagne, "Glitter your way to force your husband to love you?"
"You're mocking me" Stella pouted and squinted her eyes at Riana not liking her words, "As if, you did not glitter your way to make my brother notice you. Look at what you are wearing tonight. He'll definitely notice you"
She sighed, "Riana, winning this title shows dominance, confidence and beauty. Men love confidence more"
Stella was not wrong with her opinion. It was just a few seconds ago that Riana thought she saw Wesley noticing her presence. She arched a brow and spoke her words with her eyes scanning the ballroom to locate any of her family members, "Oh honey, men love convenience. Confidence only attracts them until she starts talking back"
"That's so cynical!" Stella crossed her arms, "Well, maybe if you try to win the Gala Queen title, Wesley will not go sniffing around Delilah' panties. Delilah has confidence, strength, and beauty (she stared at Riana's body) and she is sexier"
"I never said I did not want to win tonight" Riana's words made Stella gasped. Stella wanted to argue but soon realise that Riana was no longer standing next to her.
Standing at the other side of the ballroom, Wesley did not expect to see his wife at the Moon Gala. He had waltz into the Gala being prepared to face politics, pretentious good handshakes and the good performance of an Alpha to show strength and dominance with everything under control.
Having Delilah by his side, clinging to his arm like a glittering accessory was just for one reason to support her return to win the Gala Queen title, again.
'Beautiful' his inner Wolf Vega growled low and hot.
'Vega, stop! I chose Delilah. She is our Mate'
But seeing Riana stand across the ballroom in a gown that clung like sin and moonlight, gave him a strange feeling that night. Her shiny golden hair swept up, her posture regal, her smile cutting enough to draw blood. Every wolf in the room had noticed her, but it was Wesley's chest that tightened ignoring her importance in his life.
He forced his eyes away. He had a woman beside him now. A beautiful one. Stronger. Eager. Convenient. His true Mate.
"Wesley?" Delilah's voice snapped him back. She was smiling up at him, doe-eyed and fragile-looking in a gown that shimmered like champagne. "Are you even listening?"
He wasn't. "Of course," he said automatically.
She sighed dramatically, the sound rehearsed. "I was saying, if I win the Gala Queen title tonight, maybe my father will finally notice me."
He blinked. "Your father? Why does that matter?"
"Yes, my father. I told you before. Have you forgotten?" she said softly, eyes glistening. "Winning just the Moon Gala Queen title in the previous event was always my regret. Silly me as I failed to secure the actual Moon Gathering victory to bring glory to her father. You do know, it is important for me to claim that honor. And.. well, I want to make you proud of having me"
He gave her the polite nod he'd mastered over years of diplomacy of having a mistress. "I understand. I'm here for you."
She smiled, squeezing his arm gently showing her affection. "It'll mean something, having you by my side when I win, again"
Wesley's mind wasn't on her words. His eyes had drifted again - unwilling, traitorous - back to searching for Riana.
'She came to get your attention', his ego sneered. 'That's what this is. She quit the company, now she shows up here. She wants me to chase her'
'She got your attention tonight, did she not?' Vega's reply was low and dangerous, making Wesley felt a pain in his chest.
Then, he caught sight of his sister Stella gliding toward them-smiling like a predator with lipstick.
"Oh, this is rich," Stella announced as she approached. "Delilah, darling, I didn't know you were attending this year, again. Though I suppose if there's a Gala Queen title to chase, you'd appear like a moth to a tiara."
Delilah stiffened, still clutching Wesley's arm. "Stella. You look. sparkly. Are you here with Eddie, your husband?"
"Eddie is not your concern" Stella grinned not liking it when someone asked about her husband who was busy talking with his friends than standing next to her. He was beginning to distance himself from her after she gave birth to their child which caused her to gain some weight.
"So, tell me, Delilah, do you also plan to dance with my brother tonight, or are you just here for the crown?"
The surrounding wolves pretended not to listen but absolutely were. Wesley sighed through his nose. "Stella, go find Eddie. Do not -"
"No, no, I'm curious," Stella continued brightly. "Because last I checked, crowns don't usually come with attached men. Or brothers."
Delilah's smile cracked. "You're implying something inappropriate."
Stella gasped theatrically. "Implying? Oh no, dear. I'm asking. There's a difference."
Vega was laughing now, the deep, rumbling kind that only made Wesley's irritation worse.
But even through the chaos, Wesley's gaze drifted again to Riana. She wasn't looking his way. Not once.
"I don't feel well" Delilah whispered, cunningly feigned weakness, "Darling, can you get me a glass of water?"
Before Wesley could move, he saw Stella already pulling Riana's hand to appear in front of them.
"Riana, my dear gorgeous sister-in-law, tell me, are you not bothered about your husband coming here with another woman?" Stella's words did not have any effect on Riana.
To her, the divorce already took effect. Seeing Wesley with the mistress did not bother her much anymore, and she did not want to make a scene out of it.
But perhaps, the news was yet to be made public and had made her look like a weak fool.
"Wesley, the dance is starting. Are you not going to dance with your wife?" Stella took a glance at Delilah and then to Riana, scheming her way to cause a rift between her competitors to win the Crown.
.
Just as Riana was about to reveal her divorce from Wesley to Stella, Wesley stepped in, "Riana is never good at dancing, so it is best she not making a fool of herself tonight to try to dance"
"Besides, I promised to be Delilah's dance partner and couldn't back out now" he offered his arm for Delilah to take and left Riana and Stella staring at them.
"He is such an idiot for having her as his mistress"
"Why do you say that, Stella?"
"Forget him. Now, let's find a good gentleman to dance with you"
"You don't have to do this, Stella. I can take care of myself"
Stella snorted and rolled her eyes, "I'm not doing this to help you. I just want to create enough drama to get everyone here to take their gaze away from that b*tch who once tried to flirt with Eddie"
"By having me to dance with someone?"
"No, silly" Stella chuckled, "Wesley will not like it to see you dance with anyone. He is the jealous type"
Riana laughed out loud with her hand closing her mouth, "You do know he was forced into marriage with me. It was never about love and definitely he would not be bothered if I dance with another man tonight"
"I know my brother. Shut up and just let me go through with my plan"
Unfortunately, due to Wesley's status, no one dared to invite Riana to dance. They waited for the next song, still not suitors came to dance with Riana.
Eddie came over to ask Stella to dance with him, leaving Riana standing alone at one corner waiting for anyone to dare to dance with her.
The third song came to air. A song that brought her many sweet memories of Mystic Town. A slow ballad.
At that moment, Raphael was in sight. He looked exactly as she remembered – too controlled, too calm, too dangerous for her sanity.
And he was not part of Riana's plan tonight. 'I sense trouble' Geena whispered.
Their eyes met.
For a heartbeat, the room felt smaller, quieter, like the orchestra had stopped just for them.
To her surprise, he extended his hand towards her. "Dance with me"
