LOGINVENUSAlex suddenly appears beside us. "Impressive." He glances toward Nana. "I think you finally have competition."Nana raises an eyebrow. "Competition? For what?""For delivering insults."Several people laugh. Nana immediately punches Alex in the stomach.Alex doubles over. "Ow!"The old woman looks completely unbothered. "And where were you all this while?""I was…working." Alex groans while clutching his stomach."You still have so much strength left in you, old woman. I’ll tell the King to assign you a position in the military."I smile on hearing their banter. The tension that had suffocated the ballroom earlier has completely disappeared.I glance across the room. Maya's smile looks strained. Beside her, Thane looks ready to strangle someone.Good.I reach for a glass of champagne from a passing tray. Then gently tap the side with a spoon.The ballroom slowly quiets and everyone turns toward me.I take a steady breath and smile. "My name is Venus Donovan. I come from the Iron
VENUSMy heart skips. One glance is all it takes for his eyes to widen slightly. His gaze finally lifts to mine. "I don’t have any words to describe what I see."My heart does an embarrassing little flip.Sid groans. "Get a room." The two women immediately walk ahead, leaving me with him. I look back at Rowan. “You were waiting for me?” He hums. “I wondered if you’re okay so I came to check.” "What if I wasn't fine and decided to not attend the party?" I ask quietly.He raises a brow and his answer comes without hesitation. "Then I'd stop the banquet." His hand finds mine. "I don't care about the banquet." His thumb brushes gently against my skin. "I care about you."Warmth spreads through my chest. The reason I had the courage to not give up is because of him. I know he won’t leave me alone in all of this and even if no one stands for me, he will. I squeeze his hand. “Let’s go.” We walk back toward the ballroom. The doors open and conversation in the hall dies instantly. A colle
VENUSI bite the inside of my cheek. Because technically...the dress isn't terrible. It's just nowhere near Maya's level.Alaric smiles. "If Lady Venus wishes to stand out more, perhaps additional makeup would help." His gaze drifts over my waist. "Or maybe a dark belt."The mockery is obvious and then he snaps his fingers. “Bring my drink.”At that, Clara rushes to him with a drink in his hand. He looks at the glass and scrunches his nose. “I want more ice on it. Go fetch more ice.” Saying that he walks away. Clara nods. When she notices me, her face brightens. "My Lady, you look beautiful."I raise a brow. “Are you sure? This dress doesn't look that flattering.” She purses her lips. “Well, I would have added more color to it–”“CLARA!” Alaric shouts, making all of us flinch. “Ice!” “Coming!” She yells and gives all of us a smile, she walks away. Nana sighs heavily. "We'll have to repair this damage later. But this is clearly odd. Alaric never disappointed us with his designs." S
VENUSThe massive hall glitters beneath crystal chandeliers. Alphas of different packs, businessmen, CEOs of famous companies, council members, military officers, and reporters fill the room. Music flows through the air, played by an orchestra group at the other end of the hall. Conversations pause as people stare at me curiously. I force myself to smile. Rowan's hand settles over mine reassuringly.For the next hour, everything goes smoothly. Rowan introduces me to some businessmen and industry owners. I speak with them politely, trying to make sure I don’t look nervous or overwhelmed, which I am from the inside. The herald announces two more names and I look past my shoulder. Thane enters with Maya holding his arm. A ripple moves through the room. Her emerald gown is stunning. The rich fabric hugs her figure perfectly while emerald gemstones glitter throughout the design like stars.The design and the way she has done her hair and makeup is impossible to ignore. People openly
VENUSI raise a brow. Interesting."Excuse me." Alaric walks away without another word.The moment he disappears around the corner, Clara rushes forward. "I'm so sorry!" Her face turns bright red. "My Lady, please don't be offended."Daisy stands immediately. "We should leave, my lady.""I agree," Sid says sharply. “I used to admire his work but I don’t anymore. He clearly lacks taste and basic manners.” Clara looks devastated. "I'm really sorry." She looks genuinely embarrassed by her boss's behavior.I glance in the direction Alaric went. Something about this entire situation bothers me. The call from Maya and his comment on me seems connected. He must be close to Maya. I wonder if she’s getting her dress designed from him as well and he favors her over me. That’s why this is an attempt to intimidate me. The dress isn’t the issue. I can get it from anyone but he has the confidence that no one will design a good dress like he does. Especially since the queens before wore his desig
VENUSAt night, I'm tangled in Rowan's sheets, warm and comfortable, when he informs me the same thing Daisy mentioned. "There's a banquet next week. The castle is holding it so that the entire pack can know you’re my Queen."I groan and bury my face deeper into the pillow. "Can we not postpone it?"He raises a brow. “Why?” I sigh. “I don’t know…I guess I just don’t like parties anymore.” He chuckles. “As the Queen you’d have to host them in the future.” I pout. His hand slides lazily down my arm, leaving behind a trail of tingles. I roll onto my side to look at him."If I'm going to spend every night here, what would even be the point of giving me my own room?"A smirk appears on his lips. "It's tradition.""Then why am I sleeping here?""Because I'm choosing not to follow that particular tradition."I laugh despite myself. This man is impossible.Rowan leans down and presses a kiss against my forehead. "For the banquet, I've already arranged a designer.""A designer?""One of
VENUSRowan doesn’t even look at him. His eyes stay on me, steady and unreadable. “Do you want to participate in the hunt, Venus?”My heart flips. What kind of question is that?“I… of course I would,” I say, blinking. “But I can’t. So why are you asking?”He asks again, voice calm. “Do you want to
VENUSShe jolts like I slapped her. Her eyes widen before she quickly blinks it away.“I’m fine,” she says quickly. She’s lying. I can feel it.But with the forest swallowing the light and the hunt already begun… I decide not to push.We move deeper into the forest, where the light barely reaches
ROWANI stare at Alex, stunned for a second. I had not expected that at all.Alex adds quickly, “She doesn’t know I’m taking her there.”I nod slowly as the realization clicks. So he has not asked her specifically about the festival. That means the actual date part is still vague in her mind.Venus
VENUSHer lips quiver before she nods, watery eyes cast downward.She leads us toward a dusty shelf at the far end of the library. I’ve never seen anyone use it. Carefully, she pulls out a faded book. It clicks like a lever, and suddenly the whole shelf lurches forward and slides sideways with a low







