Chapter 11 Dress Torn, Scheme Unfolds

The festival was fast approaching, and the entire pack buzzed with anticipation. Maidens flocked to their favorite dress shops, selecting the finest fabrics and embroidery for the grand occasion. The town square was alive with excitement, the scent of fresh flowers and baked goods filling the air as preparations continued in full swing. In the heart of the bustling town, a group of women gathered inside an elegant dress shop, their fingers tracing the delicate fabrics as they whispered amongst themselves. "Whose dress will be the most stunning this year?" one of them mused aloud. "If Lady Ravena doesn't return home this year, then it's definitely Lady Scarlet," another replied confidently. A few nodded in agreement, their eyes sparkling with excitement. But their chatter quickly took a darker turn. "I heard Lydia Voss is returning to the territory for the first time in years," a young woman interjected. The mood shifted instantly. Faces hardened, and an air of resentment settled over the group. "That traitor," one of them spat. "She should come and take back that wretched daughter of hers. We want nothing to do with her." Another scoffed. "Does she actually think she can waltz in here after all these years? After what she did?" Elara, a seamstress known for her sharp tongue, folded her arms. "Do you think now that the Alpha has made her daughter our Luna, she’ll be able to leave?" A tense silence followed before someone muttered, "That’s a good point. Like it or not… we haven’t seen the last of her." A collective murmur of agreement spread through the group, a silent understanding settling among them. No matter how much they despised her, the Luna was here to stay—at least for now. Elara scoffed. "Well, at least this will finally put an end to Scarlet’s arrogance. After all her years of boasting, she’s still nothing more than the Alpha’s plaything." A wave of giggles rippled through the group. "Did you say something, Elara?" The laughter died instantly at the sharp, icy voice. Scarlet strode into the shop, her crimson dress flowing behind her like a trail of fire. Her maid scurried after her, barely keeping up. Elara lifted her chin, unfazed. She and Scarlet had never gotten along—nor had Scarlet with Ravena, Elara’s best friend before she left the pack. Their rivalry ran deep, tangled in years of unspoken grudges and outright hostility. Unlike the others, Elara did not cower. Her father, like Scarlet’s uncle, was a high-ranking lord of the packhouse. That alone made her untouchable—at least to some extent. Scarlet’s lips curled into a sneer. "How dare you?" she spat, her golden eyes blazing. Elara met Scarlet’s glare head-on, refusing to back down. “Did I stutter?” she taunted, crossing her arms. Scarlet’s nostrils flared. “You think you’re so bold because Ravena made you her little shadow,” she sneered. “But she’s gone now, isn’t she? And without her, you’re nothing.” Elara smirked. “And yet, here you are, furious over the truth. You’ll never be more than the Alpha’s leftover.” A deep growl rumbled from Scarlet’s throat, her fingers twitching as claws threatened to emerge. The energy in the room shifted, crackling with the raw power of two dominant wolves ready to snap. "You insolent—!" Scarlet lunged forward, her body trembling as the wolf inside her clawed for release. Elara wasn’t one to back down. Her own wolf surged to the surface, her eyes glowing amber as her fangs elongated. Gasps filled the shop as the other maidens scrambled out of the way, pressing themselves against the walls. The tension was suffocating, the threat of violence thick in the air. Just as they were about to shift, a powerful voice thundered through the room. "Enough!" The Beta, Cedric, stepped between them, his dominance washing over the space like a crashing wave. Both women stiffened, their wolves forced back under control by the sheer authority in his tone. “You know the Alpha’s decree,” he warned, his sharp gaze flicking between them. “No shifting, no fighting—especially not over petty arguments.” Scarlet huffed, chest rising and falling as she fought to compose herself. Elara rolled her shoulders, but the smirk never left her lips. “You’re lucky, Scarlet,” she said, her tone mockingly sweet. “It would’ve been such a shame to ruin that pretty dress before the festival.” Scarlet snarled but said nothing, knowing better than to defy the Beta’s command. Cedric exhaled sharply. “Both of you—out. Now.” Without another word, Scarlet turned on her heels, her maid trailing behind her. Elara smirked in victory before sauntering toward the door. The festival hadn’t even begun, and already, the claws were coming out. --- Scarlet stormed into her chambers, fury radiating off her in waves. With a snarl, she began hurling objects across the room—vases shattered against the walls, perfume bottles crashed onto the floor, and her silk pillows tore under her claws. Her maids rushed in, desperate to calm her, but one wasn’t quick enough. In a blur, Scarlet had her pinned against the wall, fingers tightening around the girl’s throat. Her golden eyes gleamed with unrestrained rage, her wolf barely restrained beneath her skin. The maid gasped but remained composed, knowing her mistress well enough to handle her temper. "I know you're angry, mistress," she rasped, her voice steady despite the lack of air. "But if you calm down, I have news you’ll want to hear.” Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "What?" she demanded, her grip tightening slightly. Had the maid been human, she would have been dead already. The girl struggled to breathe, her own wolf fighting to keep her conscious. "While you were here…" she coughed, forcing the words out, "I had Kara Voss’s dress… ripped apart. That foolish maid of hers won’t notice until it's too late—right before the ritual begins.” Scarlet froze, her grip loosening as the words sank in. "Imagine," the maid continued, panting, "the disgrace and disappointment… when she doesn't appear at the ritual. The Alpha will be furious.” A slow, wicked smile curled Scarlet’s lips. The thought of Kara Voss, humiliated before the entire pack, was enough to soothe her temper. “Kara Voss…” she murmured, savoring the name like venom on her tongue. “You’ll see. I promise you.” Then, she turned to her maid, her voice sharp. "What are you still doing here? Make sure the shop owner doesn’t hand out the dress before the ritual." The maid bowed deeply, suppressing her smirk. "Yes, mistress." With that, she slipped out of the room, leaving Scarlet to revel in the thought of Kara’s impending disgrace. *** None of the drama unfolding in the pack concerned Lena as she sat by her window, gazing out at the garden below. Her eyes narrowed when she spotted a figure walking through the forbidden grounds—a man with long hair cascading down to his waist. She frowned. Didn’t Milicent say no one was allowed there? Curiosity sparked in her chest. Without a second thought, she sprang to her feet and rushed out of the room, her steps carrying her swiftly toward the mysterious stranger in the garden.