Chapter 423

Nina

As Tyler and I sat in the kitchen indulging in some ice cream and swapping horrible ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend stories, I finally caught sight of my mother for the first time all day. Her hair was a bit frazzled as she carried a box in her arms, and I could tell just from looking at her that she had been bustling around all morning.

“Mom,” I said, shooting her a confused look, “what are you doing?”

She huffed as she set the box down. “You haven’t heard?” she asked. “The Moon Goddess Festival is kicking off with a party this weekend. I’m decorating.”

I swallowed my bite of ice cream and furrowed my brow. “Dad told me earlier,” I said. “But you know you don’t need to break your back over it, right? Does dad even know you’re rushing around on your own?”

My mother, exchanging glances with me and Tyler, shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t like sitting around and letting the servants do everything,” she said. “I tried it when we first came here, and it just doesn’t feel… right. So I’m helping.”

Tyler and I shot each other a glance, and then I nodded, clearing away our bowls of ice cream and setting them in the sink.

“We’ll help then,” I said.

But our mother shook her head. “Absolutely not,” she insisted. “Tyler is still sick, and you—”

“Mom,” Tyler said with a chuckle. “It’s fine. I think we can handle putting up streamers and running errands.”

Mom stared at us for a few moments, still not seeming to believe us, before she finally seemed to give in and nodded, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright,” she said. “Would you two mind taking the car and picking up the arrangements from the florist? I put it under your father’s name, Nina.”

I nodded, already reaching for the keys. “On it.”

Before I knew it, Taylor and I were on our way into town, singing along to the radio and pestering each other just like old times. We picked up the arrangements from the florist and carefully loaded them into the back of the car, then made our way back.

It was nice, honestly, spending time with him. It had felt like so long since my brother and I could just be alone together, and since he was in such good health lately, it made it even more fun. And besides, I knew that this was better than sitting around the mansion all day ruminating and moping.

I had a new determination in my heart thanks to Jessica’s recovery and the witch’s help, and I hadn’t seen a single glimpse of the shadow entity. I just hoped that Enzo was okay, but I knew that as long as we had each other, he could handle Mila.

And she would pay for what she had done—what she had, quite possibly, done to others as well.

When we arrived at home, however, Taylor got a call from Angie and left to take it. I carried the floral arrangements inside on my own. As I entered the main hall, I could see my mom directing the placement of centerpieces and draping colorful banners from the walls.

I approached her with a smile, ready to lend a hand. “Hey, mom, I’m back,” I said, setting the floral arrangements down on the floor, out of the way. “Anything else I can do?”

She turned to me, her eyes lighting up with appreciation as she saw the beautiful flowers waiting for her. “That was fast,” she said. “Actually, we could use a little extra help decorating the banquet hall. You sure you’re up for it?”

I nodded and followed her into the grand banquet hall, which was already taking shape as a stunning venue for the party.

Long tables were being adorned with silk tablecloths, and silver candleholders stood at attention, ready to hold tall, elegant candles.

The entire room looked beautiful, just as it always did when banquets were held here. The paintings depicting my family history looked as elegant as ever, the colors having been retouched recently.

As I started helping, my mother introduced me to some of the servants, who were diligently working to make everything perfect for the festival. One of them, in particular, caught my attention.

“Nina, this is Polly,” my mother said, gesturing to a young woman with a friendly smile. “She started working with us not long ago, so I don’t think you’ve met. And she’s your age!”

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at my mother essentially trying to set up a playdate for me, but I smiled nonetheless. “Hi, Polly.”

“Hi, Nina,” Polly said, extending her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

I shook her hand and returned her smile. “You too, Polly,” I said, then thought for a minute, seeing that my mother had already scurried away on some other task. “So, um, have you attended the Moon Goddess Festival before?”

Polly chuckled as she arranged some candles on a table. “All the time,” she said. “You?”

My cheeks flushed a slight shade of red and I shook my head, grabbing some decorations from a nearby box and getting to work. “No,” I admitted. “Actually, I’ve never heard of it before.”

“Really?” Polly shot me a quizzical look. “But you’re the Alpha King’s daughter.”

I shrugged, running a nervous hand through my hair. “It’s… a long story,” I said vaguely. “But I didn’t grow up in the werewolf realm, so I don’t know much about the traditions.”

Polly giggled in response. “Well, I’ll have to tell you all about it, then,” she began. And with that, before I knew it, Polly had delved into a monologue about not only the Moon Goddess Festival, but other traditions as well.

And as I listened to Polly’s stories, I felt a growing sense of belonging here.

It was easy to see that there was more to this realm than I had initially thought. Maybe, just maybe, I could find my place here, even if I hadn’t grown up here.

And then, at one point, I looked up to see my father passing through the room. He had a jovial look on his face, and was dressed in a suit—he had a meeting, I assumed.

But then I saw Enzo behind him, dressed neatly as well in a suit of his own. I couldn’t help but furrow my brow as I looked at him, taken aback by his appearance.

Seeing Enzo in a suit was a far cry from his usual flannel and jeans or hockey uniform, and it caused me to stop, nearly dropping the glass vase I had been holding. Time seemed to slow as he passed through the room, and our eyes caught each other across the distance.

At that moment, I saw a side of Enzo that I didn’t see often as he followed my father through the room. I saw the perfect picture of a young Alpha—not only the leader of a ragtag group of misfits back in Mountainview, but a true leader, a commander just like my father.

And in that moment, I felt my heart pound in my chest, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away until he had disappeared from the room.

I didn’t know where Enzo was going with my father or what he was doing, but whatever it was, I was intrigued.

And during those moments, I felt even more attracted to him than ever.

Polly’s voice asking for help pulled me back to the present, but as I continued to help her, it got me thinking. Here Enzo and I were, seemingly just coming for a visit…

But at the same time, I couldn’t deny the fact that it seemed as though there was more tying us to the werewolf realm than I previously thought.

Did we have a future here, away from our quiet town of Mountainview?