Chapter 156

Agnes

I woke to a gentle knock on my bedroom door. Blinking away sleep, I glanced at the clock. 7:30 in the morning. The gala wasn’t until later that evening, but my stomach fluttered with anticipation anyway. Today was the day I’d finally wear my creation, against all odds.

“Come in,” I called out, sitting up against the headboard.

To my surprise, it wasn’t Elijah or Thea who entered, but a woman I’d never seen before. She was tall and elegant, with dark hair pulled into a sleek bun and makeup that looked professionally done.

“Good morning, Luna Agnes,” she said with a bright smile. “I’m your stylist for today.”

I stared at her, momentarily speechless. “My… stylist?”

She nodded, placing a large case on my dresser. “Alpha Elijah hired me to help you and Thea get ready for tonight’s event. I understand you’ve made your own gowns?”

“Yes, but—” I shook my head, confused. Was I dreaming? “Elijah hired you?”

“He wanted today to be special,” the stylist said, opening her case to reveal an array of makeup and hair tools. “He said you deserved to be pampered.”

A warmth spread through my chest at the thought. It was such an unexpected but kind gesture—the kind that made all my doubts seem foolish yet again.

After a quick shower, I found myself seated at my vanity while the stylist worked her magic. She carefully curled my hair and pinned it into an elaborate updo with tendrils framing my face. Thea entered halfway through, and I found out that Elijah hadn’t just hired the stylist for me, but for both of us.

When the stylist was finished with me, she turned her attention to Thea, styling her hair into an intricate braided crown with tiny white flowers woven throughout. She dusted a small amount of shimmery pink eyeshadow onto Thea’s eyelids, too.

By early afternoon, our hair and makeup were complete. The stylist packed up her supplies and left, and now we just had to get dressed. But I had one thing left to do.

“The dress is hanging in your closet,” I told Thea. “Why don’t you go try it on, and I’ll be there to help you in a minute?”

Once she’d left, I pulled a large box from beneath my bed. Inside was Elijah’s suit—the one I’d designed and had been secretly working on whenever I could steal a moment away from the gowns. Despite everything that had happened, I’d finished it just yesterday, completing the final stitches while Elijah was at work.

I found him in his bedroom, adjusting his cufflinks in front of the mirror. He wore simple black pants and a white shirt, not yet dressed for the gala. He turned when I entered, his eyes softening at the sight of me.

“You look beautiful already,” he said. “And the event is still hours away.”

I felt myself blush, still not used to his compliments after all this time. “I have something for you,” I said, holding out the box.

His eyebrows rose in surprise. “What’s this?”

“Open it and see.”

He took the box, setting it on the bed and carefully lifting the lid. Inside, nestled in tissue paper, was the suit I’d designed for him—charcoal gray with subtle vine-patterned stitching along the lapels and small golden accents at the cuffs. It was elegant but masculine, designed to complement my gown without matching too obviously.

“Agnes…” Elijah’s fingers traced the stitching. “You still made it?”

I shrugged, suddenly shy. “I promised, didn’t I?”

“With everything that’s happened, I thought you might have decided not to.” He lifted the jacket, examining the detailed work.

“I would never do that,” I said softly.

He set the jacket down carefully and crossed to me in two quick strides. Before I could react, his hands were cradling my face, and he was kissing me—not the passionate, desperate kisses we sometimes shared during moments of weakness, but something tender and reverent that sparked something warm in my chest.

When he pulled back, his eyes were full of an emotion I couldn’t quite name. “Thank you,” he said. “It’s perfect.”

“You’re… welcome.” My voice came out more haltingly and meek than I intended, still affected by his unexpected kiss.

“I have something for you, too,” Elijah said, moving to his dresser. He pulled out a small velvet box, similar to the one from the jewelry store. “James picked this up this morning.”

I took the box, surprised. Inside was the locket I’d chosen, freshly polished and engraved with my initials on the back. Thea’s was nestled beside it, a smaller version of mine. The earrings we’d picked out were in a separate box, which Elijah also handed to me.

“Don’t open it yet,” Elijah said quickly as I moved to click the latch on the locket. “Not until tonight. Promise?”

I looked up at him, puzzled. “Why not?”

“It’s a surprise,” he said simply. “Trust me on this.”

As I turned the locket in my hand, I thought I heard something rattle inside. Curious, I shook it gently, and there it was again—a tiny clinking sound, like something hidden inside.

“What did you put in here?” I asked, intrigued now.

Elijah just smiled. “You’ll find out tonight. Promise me you won’t open it until I say?”

“I promise,” I said, mystified but willing to play along. Whatever he’d planned, his excitement was infectious.

“Let me help you put it on,” he offered.

I turned toward the full-length mirror, lifting my hair so he could fasten the chain around my neck. His fingers brushed my skin as he worked the clasp, sending pleasant shivers up my spine. The locket settled against my chest, cool and heavier than I expected.

What I didn’t expect was for Elijah to lean over my shoulder, his chest pressing against my back, and place a slow, deliberate kiss on the curve where my neck met my shoulder. My skin prickled with goosebumps, a rush of heat flooding through me. I blinked at our reflections, utterly enamored by the sudden gesture.

“Today is going to be the day of your dreams,” he murmured against my skin. “I promise.”

I swallowed hard. “It’s just a gala, Elijah.”

Before I could question him further, he stepped back. “I need to take care of a few things before tonight. James will drive you and Thea to the venue. I’ll be waiting for you there.”

“You’re not coming with us?”

“I’ll meet you there. I promise I’ll be waiting for you when you arrive.”

I felt a little disappointed, but it seemed his mind had been made. Whatever he had to do was probably important—likely more confidential pack business. “Alright,” I said. “I’ll see you there.”

Back in my room, I carefully removed my robe, mindful of my hair and makeup. The gown waited on its mannequin, a vision in champagne silk and crystal beading. As I slipped it on, the fabric settled against my skin, the bodice hugging my curves exactly as I’d designed it.

The small opening at the center of the bodice—my window to the heart—revealed just a sliver of skin, making the gown daring without being inappropriate. The locket Elijah had given me hung perfectly in that space, as if the dress had been designed specifically to showcase it. I hadn’t even done it on purpose, but it was a happy accident.

A knock at my door drew my attention. “Mommy? Can I come in?” Thea called out.

“Of course, sweetheart.”

She stepped into the room, already dressed in her matching gown. The champagne fabric of her dress caught the light, the same crystal beading I’d used on mine sparkling.

Hers was more childlike and innocent, with a puffy skirt that fell to her ankles and exposed her sparkly little shoes and no armor like mine, but the color and style felt similar enough to mine while still having her own personality shine through.

James was waiting for us downstairs, dressed in a formal suit himself. His eyes widened when he saw us. “Luna Agnes, you look stunning. And you too, Miss Thea.”

Thea giggled, doing a twirl. “I’m going to wear this dress forever and ever,” she said, and my heart swelled.

When we finally arrived, I was surprised to see the venue wasn’t a hotel ballroom as I’d expected, but a beautiful garden estate on the outskirts of a neighboring pack. Lanterns lined the winding path to the entrance, and a sea of people all dressed equally as elaborately was heading inside.

Thea and I walked hand-in-hand up the path, my heart pounding for reasons I couldn’t quite understand. I didn’t know who was holding this gala—the Luna and Alpha of this pack, I supposed, although I’d never met them personally except in brief passing. And I certainly didn’t know what the gala was specifically for.

But as we approached the grand entrance, and the doors swung open, revealing the breathtaking scene within, my mind went blank with wonder.

It was like a fairytale.

Candles flickered on every table. An entire orchestra played on a stage at the far end of the large ballroom. Vines and flowers wound around columns and archways, and the entire place smelled like champagne and lilies.

And there, standing at the center of it all, was Elijah in the suit I’d made him, looking more handsome than I’d ever imagined.

As Thea and I stepped through the doorway, a hush fell over the room. All eyes turned to us, and for a moment, I froze, wondering just what—or rather, who—this party was truly for.