Chapter 38: He’ll Be Here Soon

Olivia’s POV

​It was 1:00 PM the next day when Doctor Vance told me to close up for the day, explaining that Lucian had demanded I return to the packhouse early. I swallowed hard as I left the clinic, wondering why Lucian suddenly wanted me back at the mansion.

​As I made my way through the territory, I kept glancing toward the diners and corners, hoping to catch sight of Owen. He was supposed to come for the money last night, but he never showed up, and I still hadn’t seen him today. I didn’t know whether I should feel relieved or worried. People didn’t usually blackmail someone for thirty thousand dollars and then simply forget to collect it. If anything, his disappearance made me even more nervous because now I had no idea what he was planning.

​When I reached the living room, I found Gloria, the kind young maid, waiting for me with a shopping bag in her hands.

​"Alpha Lucian sent me to give you this," she said, holding it out to me.

​I frowned, wondering what on earth he had sent me this time. I thanked Gloria and was about to take the bag when a maid passing through the room glanced at us.

​"I don’t understand why Alpha Lucian is being so nice to her," she muttered. "Not after what her father did."

​She walked away before I could react, leaving me staring after her with a deep frown. What exactly had Alpha Kenneth done? This wasn’t the first time someone had spoken about him as though there was something more than the war between the two packs. Even Lucian had once asked whether my father had kept me blind to what he’d done. I was beginning to realize that something else must have happened during the war, something serious enough that the people here still hated Kenneth for it. Apparently, the real Annabel was supposed to know what that something was. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the real Annabel, which meant I had absolutely no idea. But I needed to find out.

​I took the bag from Gloria and headed upstairs. Once inside my room, I placed it on the bed and opened it, pulling out a beautiful, silver, glittering dress. Unlike the first dress Lucian had sent me, this one was far better. It had elegant shoulder straps, fitted beautifully at the waist, and the length would fall just below my knees. Okay. Much better. Apparently, Alpha Lucian had finally discovered that women’s dresses could come with enough fabric to actually cover their bodies.

​Inside the bag were matching silver heels and a sleek silver clutch purse.

​At the bottom of the bag, I found a folded handwritten note. I opened it and immediately read:

​Wear this for the summit. We leave at 5:00 PM.

​That was it. No greeting, no explanation, not even his name. Typical Lucian.

​I dropped onto the bed with an exhausted sigh and stared at the ceiling. I was going to attend a high-profile public function with Alpha Lucian, which meant that once again, I had to pretend to be Princess Annabel. Every person I met was another person who might know something about her that I didn’t. Every conversation was another opportunity for me to say the wrong thing and expose myself. And considering how wonderfully my luck had been going lately, what could possibly go wrong?

​By 5:00 PM sharp, I was completely ready. I stood in front of the full-length mirror, taking in my reflection as I sucked in a deep breath. The silver dress fitted me perfectly, the heels matched beautifully, and I had tied part of my hair back with my mother’s silver ribbon. After nearly drowning for that ribbon, I wasn’t planning to let it out of my sight anytime soon. A month ago, I never could have imagined myself dressed like this or living this kind of life. Then again, a month ago, I hadn’t imagined pretending to be a dead princess and marrying one of the most feared Alphas alive either.

​A firm knock sounded at the door before a guard called from the other side, "Princess, Alpha Lucian is waiting downstairs."

​I sighed, picked up my clutch, and left the room. When I reached the bottom of the grand staircase, a guard opened the heavy front doors for me. I stepped outside and immediately saw Lucian standing beside a black car, dressed in a sharp coffee-brown suit.

​For a moment, I paused on the steps as our eyes met. His eyes didn’t hold their usual coldness. Instead, his expression was completely blank, giving me no clue what he was thinking. I swallowed hard and continued down the steps, but Lucian didn’t look away. His eyes remained on me until I finally stopped directly in front of him.

​His gaze moved slowly over me before returning to my face, and he gave a brief nod. I wasn’t sure whether that meant I looked beautiful or merely acceptable. With Lucian, I was beginning to think those were probably the same thing.

​Without saying anything else, he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. When he opened it, a diamond ring sparkled inside.

​I frowned. "What’s that?"

​"A ring."

​I stared at him. "I can see that."

​"It’s for formality’s sake," he said flatly. "We’re attending as husband and wife. I don’t want unnecessary gossip."

​I opened my mouth to argue, but what exactly was I supposed to say? No?

​I reluctantly reached for the ring, but instead of handing it to me, Lucian caught my hand. I froze as he calmly slid the diamond ring onto my ring finger himself. My eyes dropped to our hands, and I swallowed when I realized it fitted perfectly.

​Of course it did. Why wouldn’t the fake wedding ring for my fake marriage fit perfectly?

​Lucian released my hand as though nothing had happened, turned around, and climbed into the back seat of the car without saying another word. I stared after him for a second before walking around to the other side and getting in, making sure to leave enough space between us.

​For the next thirty minutes, neither of us spoke. I stared through the window at the passing scenery while the diamond on my finger occasionally caught my attention. Every time it did, I quickly looked away. Lucian remained silent beside me, and somehow, his silence only made me more aware of his presence.

​Eventually, the car slowed at the heavily guarded border of another territory. I looked up at the large stone archway ahead and read the words carved across it:

​THE MOON PACK

​I swallowed hard as the guards inspected our vehicle before allowing us through. After another few minutes along a winding private road, a massive packhouse came into view. Cars were parked everywhere, from expensive luxury vehicles to heavily guarded SUVs, making it obvious just how many important people were already inside.

​When the driver stopped, Lucian stepped out first. I opened my own door before anyone could come around to do it for me and walked over to stand beside him.

​"Don’t wander around," he said without looking at me.

​I frowned. "I’m not a child."

​He had already started walking.

​I followed him as a Moon Pack guard guided us toward the entrance. We eventually reached a pair of towering double doors that stood wide open, revealing a grand banquet hall filled with soft music and the low sound of conversation. I slowed for a second, staring inside as my stomach tightened.

​This was it.

​I followed Lucian into the hall, and almost immediately, heads began turning in our direction. The room was filled with Alphas, Lunas, royals, and other important people dressed in expensive clothes. I could feel their eyes following us as we walked, but I lifted my chin, straightened my back, and kept pace beside Lucian. Princess Annabel wouldn’t shrink beneath their stares. At least, I hoped she wouldn’t.

​Lucian exchanged brief greetings with several people before a host led us toward a table reserved for him. When we reached it, Lucian stepped behind my chair and pulled it out for me. I paused for a second, genuinely surprised by the gesture. Was this the same man who had once threatened to send my corpse back to my father’s pack in a wooden box? Apparently, summits came with miracles. Then I remembered where we were. Of course. He was putting on a show.

​I sat down, and Lucian took the seat beside me. Two older men and a woman were already seated at the table, and after Lucian exchanged formal greetings with them, one of the men turned toward me with a friendly smile.

​"You must be Princess Annabel, Alpha Kenneth’s daughter."

​I smiled politely. "Greetings."

​"It is truly nice to finally meet you. You were never one for attending large social gatherings."

​"I usually preferred quieter settings," I replied, hoping the excuse sounded natural.

​"Well, perhaps you’ll do us the honor of playing the violin for everyone tonight," he said with a smile. "You usually played behind closed doors back at the palace, but it would be wonderful to finally see you perform live."

​My entire body went rigid.

​Shit. Shit.

​My fingers tightened around my clutch beneath the table as my mind desperately searched for an excuse, but before I could come up with anything, Lucian spoke.

​"My wife won’t be playing tonight. She’s unwell."

​I immediately turned toward him, but he didn’t even look at me. He simply lifted his glass and took a slow sip.

​The older man’s expression changed. "Oh. My sincere apologies, Princess. I wasn’t aware."

​"It’s fine," I managed.

​As the conversation moved on, I leaned slightly toward Lucian. "Thank you," I whispered.

​He gave no response, not even a glance, but I didn’t care.

​He had absolutely no idea what he had just saved me from.

​Again.

​A moment later, a woman who appeared to be in her late forties approached our table and greeted Lucian warmly. He acknowledged her with a brief nod before her attention shifted toward me.

​"And you must be Princess Annabel," she said with a wide smile.

​I returned the smile. "Yes. Hello."

​"You are just as beautiful as my younger brother described."

​My smile froze.

​"Your younger brother?"

​"Yes." She laughed softly, apparently unaware of the panic suddenly building inside me. "He attended the same university you did while completing your master’s degree in France. He spoke about you quite often. He told me that out of everyone at the university, he was the only person you ever revealed your real identity to."

​My stomach dropped.

​That didn’t sound good.

​Not good at all.

​My hands began to shake beneath the table as I forced myself to keep smiling.

​"Is your brother here?" I asked carefully, praying her answer would be no.

​"Oh, no," she replied.

​Relief rushed through me so quickly that I almost sank back into my chair.

​Thank the Moon Goddess.

​Then the woman glanced at the door.

​"Not yet. He’s running late, but he should be here soon."

​My relief disappeared instantly.

​Shit!