Evelyn's POV
The whispers of the girls still buzzed in my ears.
"Oh, did you see him?" Clara sighed, her eyes shining like stars. "He looks like he was sculpted by the goddess herself."
"So tall, so huge," Lisa added breathlessly. "I swear, he could crush a man with one hand."
"And that hair," Rose almost sang, her voice laced with dreamy awe. "Long, black, like silk… I've never seen a man look so ethereal."
Their voices blurred together, weaving a net of adoration around the towering figure we had just witnessed. But me? I couldn't join them.
It wasn't just that he was tall or handsome or dangerous, it was something else entirely. My eyes had been fixed on him the moment he stepped out of that exquisite car, the moonlight glinting off his broad, bare chest beneath the flowing black coat. He didn't just walk, he prowled, like a predator who owned the very ground he stepped on.
And for some reason, I couldn't breathe. My chest ached, my heart thundered against my ribs, and my throat felt dry as though all the air had been stolen from me. I had never seen anything like him before. He wasn't just a man, he was something more. Something that made the world tilt and blur around me.
I didn't know if it was fascination… or something else entirely
"Evelyn, did you see...." Rose's voice broke off suddenly, cut short by the sharp crack of thunder, except it wasn't thunder.
It was a voice.
"What are you four doing out here?"
The words boomed like a whip snapping through the night. My entire body went rigid. Slowly, we turned, dread settling in our stomachs like stones.
And there she was.
Madam Nora.
Still wearing her flour dusted apron, her face flushed from the heat of the kitchen, her eyes blazing like hellfire. Her lips were pressed into a thin line, her jaw tight, and she looked as though she could burn holes through us with her fury.
"Oh no…" Lisa whispered, her face draining of color.
Clara clasped her hands together, trembling.
Rose, for once, had nothing to say.
And me? My knees went weak.
Madam Nora's voice cracked like a whip as she barked, "Follow me, now."
There was no room for argument. With our heads bowed, we trailed behind her like guilty children caught stealing bread, though what we had stolen was only a few moments of glimpsing at the legendary demon wolf.
My stomach twisted with unease as we entered the kitchen, the heat of the hearth blazing, the scent of roasted meat heavy in the air.
The door slammed shut behind us, and she whirled on us, eyes sharp and merciless.
"You four are nothing but pests," she spat, pointing a crooked finger at us. "Sneaking about as if you own this place. You do know what the punishment pole feels like right? When the chill cuts through your skin, and your stomach gnaws at itself? No, you don't. But you will. Three nights on the punishment pole. That's what your insolence has earned you."
Rose whimpered softly beside me, Clara clutched her apron tightly, Lisa paled, and I wondered, what exactly this punishment pole is... I guess I wouldn't have to wonder for much longer.
"But before that…" Madam Nora's lips curled in a cruel smirk. "I was just thinking of which pathetic scapegoats to send on an errand. And look, you've kindly offered yourselves."
My heart sank as she reached behind the counter and shoved something into my hands. It was a heavy tray, the scent of raw flesh strong and metallic. When I glanced down, the sight nearly made me gag. Blood oozed faintly from slabs of meat still pink and glistening.
"What you're holding," Madam Nora announced, her tone thick with mockery, "is the undercooked meat of a cheetah. Rumor has it, that's the demon wolf's favorite meal. The Alpha hunted it himself just for him."
She shoved another tray into Rose's hands, then Clara's, then Lisa's. "And as per the Luna's orders, we are supposed to present these to him during the feast and you four will be the ones to present it"
Lisa's voice trembled with fear as she whispered, "But if we're presenting this to him, that means we'll have to go near him. The demon wolf despises humans. He'll kill us before we even set the tray down."
Madam Nora smirked, a cruel glint flashing in her eyes. "Well, at least that means you won't have to endure three nights on the punishment pole, will you? Consider it a mercy."
The blood drained from my face. My hands shook as I clutched the tray tighter, as though it could shield me from her words.
"Since you were so desperate to sneak out for a glimpse of him," Madam Nora went on, her voice thick with sarcasm, "I am now giving you the rare honor of standing fully in his presence. You should be thankful."
Clara dared to open her mouth, "But...."
"Enough!" Madam Nora's snarl cut through the air like a blade. She stepped forward, her apron smeared with grease, her eyes burning with fury. "One more word from you imps and I'll kill you myself before the demon wolf gets the chance."
With a violent tug, she stripped off her apron, tossing it onto the counter. "Now follow me, you imbeciles," she hissed. Then she spun on her heel and marched toward the door.
We followed, trays trembling in our hands, each step feeling heavier than the last. It was like being herded to the slaughterhouse, helpless prey walking straight into the jaws of the beast.
The banquet hall was alive with noise, clinking goblets, hushed whispers, laughter that seemed too loud, too forced. We trailed after Madam Nora, our bare feet silent against the polished floor. The air was heavy with roasted meats, spiced wine, and the thrumming pulse of anticipation that seemed to ripple through the crowd. Everyone was waiting for him.
We stopped near the long feast table, positioned like offerings too close to the fire. My eyes, searching desperately for a safe corner, caught sight of the Alpha's son first. He was already there, tall and poised, his eyes like sharp blades as they swept the room. And then, they landed on me.
A jolt went through me. His gaze was intense, unyielding. Lisa's warning echoed in my mind, "Out of everyone you'll want noticing you in this pack, Evelyn, the Alpha's son is the very last." My breath caught and I quickly looked away, fixing my stare on the floor until my vision blurred.
Then the hall shifted, the atmosphere thickened, almost suffocating. Murmurs hushed. Feet shuffled back. They had arrived.
The Alpha and Luna walked with heads high, pride radiating off them. But it was the towering figure beside them, the demon wolf, that commanded every soul in that hall. His sheer presence was suffocating, dark, and magnetic all at once. He moved with a predator's ease, each step radiating silent power. His aura pressed down on us like chains, and no one dared look him directly in the eye. People followed behind him as though he were not just a guest, but a god descending among mortals.
He passed where we stood. My knees trembled, my breath stilled in my throat. But he didn't even glance at us. Relief washed over me like cool water. That was good, that was very good. If his eyes had so much as flicked in our direction, it could've meant instant death. He despised humans, everyone knew that. To him, we were beneath insects.
He sat at the head of the long table, shoulders broad, posture regal yet terrifying in its calm. The Alpha sat at the far end, leaving a chasm of space between them. The Luna settled gracefully by her husband's side, and the Alpha's son sat not far from her. The rest of the seats filled with elites wolves and elders, each one keen to be seen close to power.
The Alpha rose, goblet in hand, and his voice boomed, "Tonight, we host a legend. A warrior feared and revered across lands. It is an absolute honor to welcome the demon wolf into our pack."
The hall erupted in cheers, voices raised high in forced reverence.
Then the Alpha's son stood. A ssmirk tugged at his lips. "We've prepared this feast in celebration of your presence," he said boldly, his voice smooth, practiced. "But this feast is not the only thing we've prepared."
He clapped his hands, and the doors opened.
One by one, the girls walked in, nearly naked, still wearing nothing but thin bras and flimsy panties. They strutted like peacocks, smiles plastered to their faces like it was honor to be in their position.
The Alpha's son spread his arms wide. "We've taken the liberty to select our most beautiful and sumptuous female wolves for you to fuck till your satisfaction."
The hall roared with crude laughter and claps. My stomach twisted. The girls stood tall, their smiles unwavering.
Just what the hell is wrong with this people?
Then the Luna rose, elegant and glowing with satisfaction. "Apart from the varieties of food present on this table," she said sweetly, "we also have something else to present, your favorite meal. The undercooked meat of a cheetah, killed by none other than my husband himself… just for you."
Another round of applause shook the hall.
The Luna motioned toward Madam Nora. My heart stuttered as Madam Nora's lips curved into that cruel smile I've already come to hate. She shoved us forward. "Go ahead, girls," she said, her voice sharp with malice. "Present him his favorite delicacy."
Her shove nearly sent me stumbling, but somehow, I ended up at the front. The tray in my hands felt heavier than a mountain. My body went cold, my fingers trembling so badly I thought I'd drop the meat onto the floor before I even reached him.
Step by step, I approached. My heart pounded against my ribs, my ears ringing. He wasn't even looking at us. His gaze was fixed elsewhere, distant, as if this entire display bored him.
Good. Good, that was better. If I just set the tray down and backed away, I would live. Just drop it, Evelyn. That's all. It's not a big deal. He's not even paying you any attention.
I bent to place the tray on the table, my breath shallow.
And then....
His head turned.
And I froze.
His glowing silver eyes locked with mine, piercing straight through me like spears of light in the dark.
I recoiled instinctively, fear flooding me. The tray slipped, my balance tipped, and I was falling.
But before I could even gasp, he was no longer in his seat. In the blink of an eye, he was behind me.
Strong arms caught my waist, steady and unyielding, halting my fall as though it had never begun. The entire hall gasped in unison
His grip was firm but not crushing, his body heat searing through me. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think.
His silver eyes held mine. And for the first time that night, his features softened.
"Aurelia?" he breathed, voice low and rough.