Chapter 13 The Name She Stole

"I have your dress for the night, Luna," Milicent announced as she walked in, carefully wheeling in a wooden dress stand draped with a black cloth. Lena, lost in thoughts of Vargr, let out a quiet sigh. "What if I say I don't want to go?" Milicent gasped, immediately dropping to her knees. "The Alpha will have my head for not persuading you, Luna. Please rethink your decision." Lena blinked, startled by the dramatic display. Quickly, she rushed forward, grasping Milicent's arms and pulling her up. "Stop that. You know I can't stand seeing you beg like this," she scolded, though a small smile tugged at her lips. Milicent grinned, knowing her tactic had worked. "Even if that was a little much, the Alpha won't be pleased if you refuse to attend. And besides, are you not looking forward to seeing your mother? It's been a month since you last saw her." Lena’s smile disappeared instantly. That woman. The devil who had sold her here instead of her own daughter. The reminder left a bitter taste in her mouth. She turned away, pushing down the familiar wave of resentment. "Show me the dress," she said, her tone clipped. Milicent, sensing the shift in mood, nodded and reached for the black cloth. With a flourish, she pulled it away—only to gasp in horror. The deep red gown, once meant to drape elegantly, hung in tatters. Fabric torn, ribbons slashed, embroidery ruined beyond repair. Silence stretched between them as realization dawned. Someone had done this deliberately. Lena’s brows furrowed as she stared at the tattered gown, her mind racing. “Who would do this?” she murmured, disbelief lacing her voice. Milicent let out a bitter scoff. “Who else? It must be Lady Scarlet,” she spat. “She can’t stand that you’re the Luna. Her jealousy burns hotter than hellfire.” Lena slowly sat down, fingers brushing against the ruined fabric. “But why?” she questioned aloud, a deep frown settling on her face. “What have I done to her to deserve such hatred?” Milicent hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. “You don’t know?” she asked, voice tinged with disbelief. Lena lifted her gaze. “Know what?” Milicent sighed, lowering her voice as if the walls themselves had ears. “Lady Scarlet was the Alpha’s... bedmate.” Lena blinked. “She carried herself like she was going to be the Luna,” Milicent continued, her tone sharp. “She was so sure that she would stand beside him—until you arrived. That’s why she ruined your dress. She wants to humiliate you, to make you seem unworthy.” Lena exhaled deeply, shaking her head. “We can’t accuse her without proof,” she stated firmly. “Right now, we need to focus on finding another dress. There’s no time to dwell on this.” Milicent bit her lip but nodded. “I’ll see what I can do,” she said before hurrying out. *** Lost in thought, she wasn’t paying attention when she stumbled into someone—a solid chest stopping her in her tracks. She gasped and looked up, only to meet the sharp, assessing gaze of Beta Cedric. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone laced with authority. Milicent hesitated, but the urgency of the matter won out. “It’s the Luna’s dress,” she blurted. “Someone destroyed it, and we have nothing else prepared. We need to find her something to wear, or she’ll be humiliated at the ritual.” A heavy silence settled between them. Then, a deep voice cut through the air. “She has no dress?” Milicent stiffened, slowly turning to see Alpha Darius standing in the doorway. His gaze was unreadable, but there was something cold and calculating beneath the surface. “We’ve tried, Alpha,” she said cautiously. “But all the dress shops have sold out. There’s nothing left.” For a long moment, silence stretched. Then, Darius’s expression hardened with finality. “Go to the old manor,” he ordered, his voice low but commanding. “Bring back the best-fitting gown you can find for the Luna.” Milicent’s mouth fell open slightly, and Cedric visibly stiffened. The old manor. The place where the previous Luna’s belongings were kept, untouched. A place no one was allowed to enter—especially not to take something that had belonged to her. And now, Darius was offering one of his mother’s gowns... to the daughter of one of his greatest enemies. Cedric hesitated. “Alpha—are you certain?” Darius’s sharp gaze flickered to him. “What are you waiting for?” he snapped. “Go. We don’t have time.” Without another word, Cedric bowed his head and hurried off, while Milicent followed, her mind still reeling at what had just happened. --- Lydia Voss and her daughter sat inside the carriage, the rhythmic clatter of hooves filling the silence between them. “Mother, are you certain we’ll be safe here?” Kara asked, her voice tinged with unease. Lydia offered a reassuring smile, gently brushing a strand of hair from her daughter’s forehead. “Of course, Kara. As long as the pack lords are here, we have nothing to fear.” Kara exhaled softly, her gaze drifting to the carriage window. The town of the Shadow Fang Pack stretched before her, bathed in the silver glow of the moon. Torches lined the stone streets, illuminating grand structures that loomed against the darkened sky. She took in the towering spires, the guarded gates, and the banners bearing the Alpha’s crest—all of it spoke of power and dominance. “This is magnificent,” she murmured. “No wonder the Alpha is so arrogant. He has everything.” Lydia followed her gaze, her lips pressing into a thin line. “It has changed a great deal over the years,” she admitted, shaking her head slightly. Kara turned back to her mother with a knowing smirk. “You were once a pack member here, weren’t you?” A shadow passed over Lydia’s face before she let out a quiet chuckle. “Of course, I was,” she said. “I was once the Luna’s closest friend.” Kara listened intently as Lydia’s gaze grew distant, lost in the memories of a time when she had been nothing—a commoner, a woman of no significance—until she had seized her own fate and carved a path to where she stood today. Kara’s expression darkened, resentment flickering in her eyes. “I wonder what that monster looks like,” she muttered, her voice dripping with disdain. “And most especially…” Her fingers curled into fists. “That stupid slave who dared to take my name. Why, of all people, would you give my name to a worthless girl?” Lydia’s gaze snapped back to her daughter, her grip tightening around Kara’s hand. “If she hadn’t taken your name, darling, do you have any idea what Alpha Darius would have done to you?” Her voice was gentle, yet firm, pressing the reality upon her daughter. “Think of what she’s enduring—how they mistreat her, how they degrade her as nothing more than a slave. Do you want that for yourself?” Kara swallowed hard, shaking her head. Lydia leaned in, her voice a whisper now. “And to make sure they never suspect the truth… who are you supposed to be?” Kara lowered her eyes, the memory of wearing a ragged maid’s uniform, her tangled hair making her almost unrecognizable, flashing in her mind. Her voice came out small. “…Lena.”