Chapter 302: It's time

The Imperial Crown Hotel – undoubtedly one of the most magnificent, glittering establishments in all of Raven City—was buzzing with life.

Outside, under the starry sky, a steady stream of sleek, high-end luxury vehicles and town cars lined up along the grand driveway, their headlights reflecting off the polished marble pillars. After all, tonight marked the official engagement of Xavier Velmore, the sole heir and top Gamma candidate of the prestigious Velmore family.

The spectacle was easily as grand as Eloise’s infamous birthday gala months ago. The pack society was entirely captivated; not only was the Gamma house uniting with an influential partner, but the bride-to-be was intimately tied to the ruling Ravencourt family itself.

High above the bustling main lobby, inside a plush private suite booked specifically for her preparations, Yuki sat quietly before a floor-to-ceiling vanity mirror. The transformation had taken far longer than she had originally anticipated, taking hours of meticulous styling, but as the final touch was placed, she couldn’t help but admire her reflection in quiet awe.

She was dressed in an exquisite lilac gown that cascaded around her like liquid silk, fitted smoothly at the bodice before spilling out into a heavy, graceful train. The outfit was complemented by an elaborate gold jewellery set, intricately embedded with rare, glowing purple imperial topaz stones that caught the warm chandelier light with every subtle breath she took.

This is really happening, Yuki thought to herself, her chest tightening as her fingers brushed the smooth silk over her knees.

The head stylist carefully pinned a final stray strand of blonde hair into place before stepping back with a satisfied smile. “You are all finished, Miss Ravencourt,” she announced softly.

Yuki gathered the heavy train of her gown in one hand, carefully pushing herself up from the plush chair to take a slow, light twirl in front of the mirror.

“Oh, my god!” a sharp, gasping voice echoed from the doorway..

Yuki turned toward the sound, her gown swishing softly against the carpet. Standing at the entrance was Mrs Enessa Velmore. Her hands pressed tightly over her mouth in sheer, unadulterated astonishment. Her eyes shone with genuine warmth as she drank in the sight of Yuki, stepping into the room with light, elegant strides.

“You are simply breathtaking, my dear!” Enessa praised, her rich voice brimming with emotion.

A soft blush bloomed across Yuki’s cheeks as Enessa reached out, taking both of her hands into a warm, gentle clasp. “You look absolutely perfect, Yuki,” she added softly.

“Thank you, Mrs Velmore,” Yuki replied, bowing her head slightly with a polite smile.

Enessa squeezed her hands softly, observing the slight tremor in her fingers. “Are you feeling nervous?” She asked.

Yuki hesitated for a fraction of a second, then gave a slow, honest nod.

Enessa let out a light, motherly chuckle, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “You don’t have to be, sweetheart. Remember, it is just an engagement ceremony tonight, not the actual wedding.” She paused, her eyes sweeping over Yuki’s attire once more before her expression shifted slightly. “Though… there is just one crucial thing missing.”

Yuki’s brows furrowed in mild confusion. “Missing?” She repeated.

Without a word, Enessa turned toward the door and gestured for a waiting attendant to step forward. The attendant presented a sleek, dark velvet box. Enessa unlatched the gold clasp with a soft click and opened the lid, revealing a thick, solid gold bangle heavily engraved with ancient, intricate ancestral patterns.

It looked immensely heavy and priceless

Enessa carefully lifted the piece from its velvet bed and reached for Yuki’s wrist. Seeing the sheer opulence of the piece, Yuki’s eyes went wide. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, her voice tinged with polite panic. “Mrs Velmore, wait… this looks far too valuable. I can’t possibly accept this—”

“You cannot refuse this, my dear,” Enessa interrupted gently but firmly, her grip anchoring Yuki’s wrist in place with maternal authority. “This is the Velmore family heirloom, passed down exclusively through generations of incoming daughters-in-law.”

Yuki swallowed hard, her mouth suddenly dry. “A family heirloom…?”

“Yes,” Enessa explained, her voice dropping into a serious, conspiratorial whisper. “This heirloom is required to solidify your official standing tonight. Without it resting on your wrist, the pack council elders won’t truly believe the legitimacy of the engagement. It proves our family’s total backing.”

Yuki pressed her lips into a tight, conflicted line. The heavy political weight of the gesture settled onto her chest, leaving her no room to decline without causing a severe insult. She stood still as Enessa smoothly slid the heavy golden band over her hand and onto her left wrist, where it rested with a cool, substantial weight against her skin.

Enessa beamed with absolute satisfaction, smoothing her hands over Yuki’s shoulders. “There. Now you are truly perfect.”

Before Yuki could respond, a firm knock rattled the suite door. An assistant poked his head inside, bowing politely. “Pardon the interruption, Mrs Velmore, Miss Yuki. It is time. Master Xavier is waiting at the lower staging entrance.”

Enessa’s eyes lit up with excitement. She turned to Yuki with a radiant grin. “Showtime, my dear.”

Yuki took a slow, deep breath to steady her hammering heart, nodding firmly. “Okay.”

They exited the private suite together, their heels clicking rhythmically along the quiet, carpeted corridor toward the private VIP elevator. The descent down to the main ballroom floor was wrapped in total silence. Yuki stared at her reflection in the polished brass doors, her palms growing noticeably clammy despite the cool air conditioning.

The elevator doors glided open with a quiet chime. The moment Yuki stepped out, her eyes immediately locked with a pair of astonished, honey-brown eyes standing just a few paces away.

Xavier stood near the staging area, dressed impeccably in a tailored dark suit with subtle lilac accents that mirrored her gown. The exact microsecond his eyes landed on her, time seemed to freeze entirely.

Xavier froze mid-step, his jaw literally slackening, his eyes wide as he drank in her appearance. He stood completely speechless, thoroughly mesmerised, his hand frozen mid-air where he had been adjusting his cuffs.

A sudden, melodious laugh from Enessa shattered the frozen moment. “Close your mouth, Xavier! You’re going to catch flies,” she teased lightly, shaking her head.

Xavier blinked rapidly, snapping out of his trance as his face instantly flushed a brilliant, burning crimson. He quickly averted his gaze for a second, clearing his throat awkwardly as he adjusted his lapels to hide his profound mortification.

Yuki couldn’t help the small, amused smile that tugged at her lips. Seeing the usually smooth, confident heartthrob looking so thoroughly flustered and disarmed was surprisingly adorable.

“I… I apologise,” Xavier stammered softly, stumbling over his words as he turned back to face her, his voice dropping into a tender, breathless murmur. “You… you are utterly breathtaking, Yuki.”

Yuki’s smile widened playfully, a mischievous glint touching her eyes. “Thank you. And I suppose you look almost handsome yourself.

“

Enessa shook her head in fond amusement, fanning herself lightly. “As much as I hate to burst your romantic little bubble, children, you have an entire audience of pack nobility eagerly waiting out there.”

A light burst of shared laughter broke the lingering tension among the three of them.

Xavier took a step closer, stepping onto the carpeted ramp leading toward the heavy velvet curtains that separated the private staging area from the grand ballroom. He extended his right arm toward her, his honey-brown eyes shining with soft affection. “May we?”

Yuki took a slow breath, resting her hand over his forearm, her fingers brushing against the fine fabric of his jacket. “We may.”

He led her smoothly up the short incline toward the rear entrance behind the main stage. Even through the thick, heavy velvet curtains, Yuki could hear the overwhelming, muffled roar of the packed ballroom beyond—hundreds of chattering voices, clinking champagne flutes, and classical string music echoing off the high ceilings.

Feeling the subtle tremor in her hand resting on his arm, Xavier gently reached over with his free hand and squeezed her fingers reassuringly, leaning in close. “I’m right here with you,” he whispered softly into her ear..

The heavy velvet curtains parted smoothly. The ambient house lights dropped, and a blinding, brilliant white spotlight swung across the stage, locking directly onto Yuki and Xavier.

Sorry if the story is dragging. I am trying cover everything as fast as I can