Chapter 4: The Silvermoon gala

I stared at Lucien across my Father's coffin, the threat seemed to work and even though he sent scornful looks in my direction, he avoided me like a plague and kept his mouth shut,

Everyone looked distraught, my mother and Vespera were crying uncontrollably, if you were to compile a list of suspects, Vespera would never be on the list. No one could ever imagine her orchestrating her father's death and that would make it harder to prove without strong evidence.

But she couldn't have killed Alpha of the Ironfang pack all alone, she definitely has an accomplice and I need to find that person. Finding this enemy would lead to the evidence.

A sudden pull on my hand shifted my thoughts to the present. Nana clasped hand tightly.

"I can still remember him as a baby" Grandmother sniffed and tightened her hold on my hand, she insisted on attending her son's last rite and no one could stop the woman once she made her decision.

"I never imagined this day would come" she whispered weakly.

I rubbed her shoulder slightly, and watched as they prepared to close the coffin,

"Wait" I stared at the man's face for a long time, I would never see him again but I would bring his killer to justice.

"He is the last real alpha, I shiver thinking about the pack's fate now that he's gone" she said quietly and signaled for her son to be moved away, the last rite for the alpha is complete and we must go home.

"Lucien will never let anything happen to the pack Nana, I would never-"

She glanced at me and cut me off.

"Lucien is a child, he doesn't stop to think he just acts and you my dear just returned from prison but Damian, no matter what I think of him, is experienced and a better fit than your brother" She sighed. No! Never!

That would be like handling Vespera the key to unlock the family's destruction, the picture finally cleared and I could see why she wanted Damian, Taking out father was only the beginning, she knew grandmother would never pick Lucien at this time.

She was either very smart or her accomplice just knows every code.

"But-"

"You've handled so much in your little life, it would be unkind to burden you now and Lucien never spent enough time with his father to learn about leading the pack" She said as we walked to the car,

"Why don't we have a bet?"

"Tell me, this old woman loves a good gamble" A mischievous light appeared in her eyes and I smiled reassuringly.

"Six months. Let me handle the affairs of the pack for six months and help Lucien" And expose Vespera. I added in my thoughts.

"But you know nothing about the pack, though that's no fault of yours but still, the pack didn't get this big with weak leaders, what it needs now is a strong one" She said seriously, her lips pulled into a tight pout.

"I didn't make it alive without my family because I am weak, the blood of those strong ancestors runs in my veins too" I looked into her eyes with my heart beating erratically in my chest.

"I survived the isolation and starvation in the pack's strongest prison, I think that alone proves that I can handle the pack" She turned her face to the view outside the moving car, the landscape was beautiful and it made me shiver slightly.

What if I never had the dream? No one would know what Vespera was planning and stop her in time. Grandmother would have to yield and change her decision this time,

"Why do you want to help the family? We failed to recognize you in time and we abandoned you when you needed us the most" she turned her gaze on me, watching me, studying my face.

"I tried to run away and maybe I would have gotten away but fate had other plans" I shrugged slightly, there was no need to tell her my dream in the prison influenced my change of heart, she might have her reasons for not liking Vespera but she would never believe that she killed her son.

"Tell me the real reason" She squinted her big blue eyes at me, okay maybe I could tell her a little about the dream?

"I had a dream the night before Lucien came, I saw this woman, she was so beautiful, her eyes were white-"

"As the moon and hair as snow" She completed with raised brows.

"Yes" My breath caught in a hitch as I whispered a reply.

"You saw her. The moon goddess" she said as a matter of fact and I turned to look at her. WHAT?!

"If she came to you in a dream then she delivered a warning" she stated simply,

"Yes but, how do you know this?" I frowned.

"Well, some women in our family have the gift, the last woman to see her was my own grandmother"

"Wow" I whispered, a weird feeling settling over me, Why me?

"I'll give you a chance, since the moon goddess herself finds you worthy" She shrugged,

"Though I wonder what she told you" she titled her head to look at me, a strange look in her eyes.

I stared back at her with nothing to say, I couldn't possibly tell her the girl she called her granddaughter for many years betrayed the family and killed her son, even if she believes me, what if she does something that exposes my dream to Vespera?

I would lose the advantage I have if she reacts badly to the news and calls Vespera out on it.

"You don't have to tell me until you're ready" she smiled warmly, a kind aura radiating from her.

"Now back to our wager, I'll give you a chance. You'll attend a gala hosted by the Alpha of Silvermoon pack tonight" She opened her purse and produced a shiny black card from it.

"Partying is not my style" My eyes went round with anxiety, I didn't mean to say that out loud but she carried on smoothly,

"The invitation was sent weeks ago and I'm sure after what happened, they do not expect anyone from our family to attend but you will attend, win the Alpha's support and show the world that the heir of Ironfang is back." she handed me the card.

"For identification, no one will doubt or question your identity"

"Oh" I stared at the card in my hand, engraved in gold was my family's last name.

"We would not be heading back to the house, take us to my tailor" Nana said to the driver, her face etched in a smug smile.

"Why?" I inquired, I wanted to get back to the house before Vespera, keeping an eye on her was essential.

"You would need a dress, wouldn't you dear?"

.

Back at house, I went over the deal I would present to the Alpha of Silvermoon again and again and by the the time I walked down the stairs I felt dizzy with anxiety.

"Oh dear! You look absolutely stunning!" Grandmother exclaimed from the table, we spent the entire afternoon looking for the perfect gown and I finally settled for a dark blue floor length gown, it had a high neckline with a little cut in the chest area, showing a little cleavage, the back cut was low and the dress clung to my body, highlighting whatever curves there are.

"Are you going somewhere? We just sent Dad off, isn't it rude?" Vespera asked, she stood up from her position, her face turning bright red. She was alone with grandmother and was giving her a foot massage.

I could see the jealousy in her eyes as she stared at the dress.

"Isn't that too expensive for you to wear?" She eyed me wearily.

"Oh hush, what would you know about clothes?" Grandmother said and laughed, waiving her off.

"We must show off the family's stunning daughter at the Silvermoon gala!" She added, excitement written all over her face.

"What?! You'll really allow her to attend the Silvermoon gala?" Vespera's eyes went round with shock.

"Can you believe it?" I replied with a good dose of sarcasm in my voice.

I hugged and kissed my grandmother on her cheeks.

"Get the alpha on our side, will you?" She whispered in my ears.

"Wish me luck"

"You'll need every bit of it" I detected the challenge in her voice and a shiver went up my spine.

*

Just like my nana said, no one questioned my identity at the door after they saw the card, soon I had a glass of champagne in hand and was having conversations with Alphas and Lunas of different packs.

"You were locked in prison quite recently for stealing?" It was a rhetorical question from Kat, Luna of the whiteflame pack.

It was an attempt to embarrass me after I made a comment about her pack's slavery dynamics.

"Well my father was an honorable and fair leader, he could have sent me somewhere to hide but he didn't but I can't say the same of your alpha" I laughed lightly and signaled to someone with a tray, her rude questions were getting on my nerves and I needed a drink.

"I heard your younger brother killed his mate's father and stole some huge amount of money from the poor man's company but he's nowhere to be found? Well I can't relate, I only stole my sister's necklace after all" I smiled warmly.

"You bitch" She whispered under her breath, her face went dark.

I stepped aside just as she lunged at me, she collided with the waiter carrying a tray of drinks and they both went down.

"Excuse me ladies," I turned in the direction of the rest room but stopped suddenly,

My gaze went straight to the man sitting at the other end of the room,

I knew him, I saw him somewhere...

my body froze as we locked eyes.