Chapter 98
Maya’s POV-
The grand hall buzzed with a nervous energy that sent shivers down my spine. The gala was meant to be a neutral ground for my father and Alex to fina
The vast space had been meticulously arranged to accommodate the expected influx of wolves. Alex’s pack, several thousand strong by some estimates of unity that felt more hopeful than real.
In the center, a raised platform awaited the main players. Ivan, the architect of this fragile truce, had a plan. He intended to address the entire gathering,
Despite the festive decorations and the upbeat music playing in the background, a knot of apprehension tightened in my stomach. A primal instinct, a wo
Then, the entrance doors swung open, and a hush fell over the crowd. Alex entered the hall, flanked by two older men. Their confident strides, their pred battle of wills.
There was no remnant of warmth in his gaze, no flicker of recognition. It was as cold and hard as the day he’d rejected me, a stark contrast to the smug smile playing on Miranda’s lips as she walked beside him, their hands linked possessively
Ivan greeted them both with a courtesy that felt strained even from a distance. He ushered them towards Alex’s designated area, where the alpha took a
A moment later, the doors opened again, and my father entered, a grim expression etched on his face. Petrov shadowed him closely. The air crackled wi
Ivan, with a forced smile, approached my father, extending a greeting. But even from here, I could see the tension radiating off him. My father’s response
The interaction left me feeling strangely detached, pushed further into the background. I turned around to find Natalia and Sarah watching. me with conc minute shift she couldn’t get out of A part of me, a selfish part, couldn’t help but feel relieved. This wouldn’t be a safe environment for a human if things w
“Are you oka
“Are you okay?” Natalia asked, her voice laced with worry.
I blinked, pulled back from the scene unfolding in the hall. “Yeah, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Sarah snorted. “Because you’re practically glued to that curtain, and your body is as tense as a coiled spring. That’s why.”
“I’m good. I’m good,” I repeated, more for my own benefit than theirs. “I just… I just need this night to go well. I’m tired of the fighting, the senseless deat
Natalia reached out and squeezed my shoulder gently. “I know, Maya. We all are. But tonight will be okay. You’ll see.”
Sarah offered a reassuring smile. “Yeah, it will. Now, I have to go mingle with the pack. See you inside.” She leaned down and planted a quick kiss on m
Left alone with Natalia, a wave of doubt washed over me. “I don’t know why I was ever excited about this gala,” I confessed, “There’s just this
bad feeling in my gut, like something terrible is about to happen.”
She squeezed my hand again, her touch conveying a strength that calmed my racing heart. “It will be alright. Now, come on. Ivan needs yo by his side to
With a deep breath, I stepped out of the curtained alcove, the emerald green dress shimmering like a captured oasis under the bright lights. The murmu
I felt the weight of their stares, the intensity of Alex’s cold gaze boring into me from across the hall. My father’s glare was no less unsettling. but I refused
expectantly on the raised platform.
Natalia, her eyes filled with silent encouragement, gave me one last reassuring smile before slipping away to find a seat among the crowd. Ivan’s gaze met mine as I approached, and for a moment, the entire world seemed to fade away. Appreciation flickered i
Then, as if suddenly remembering the gravity of the situation, he turned back towards the assembled wolves and raised his voice to address them. “Tha to find a way to end the conflict that has ravaged our city for far too long.”
He scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering on my father and Alex for a beat longer than necessary. “The fighting, the deaths- they benefit no one. Our packs are dwindling, our strength is waning
A low murmur of agreement rippled through the hall. Even among the most hardened warriors, a flicker of doubt could be seen. Ivan’s words. resonated they couldn’t deny.
My father, however, remained unmoved. A scoff escaped his lips as Ivan finished his opening statement. “Why should we stop?” Interjected, his voice lac
he
I almost facepalmed myself at his question. Did he not see the devastation they were causing? Did he not care about the lives being lost?
Ivan locked eyes with my father, his expression hardening. “You just answered your own question, Daniel. We need to stop because it is leading to our d
My father scoffed again, this time louder. “Destruction? We are winning this war, Ivan. Alex started this, and he needs to apologize before any talks of pe
A tense silence descended upon the hall. All eyes turned towards Alex, who remained seated, his face a mask of indifference. He hadn’t spoken a word since entering, and his silence spoke volumes. Was it arrogance? Defiance?
The pressure in the room grew with each passing second, Ivan seemed to take a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure.
A low growl rumbled through Alex’s section of the hall. Some of his wolves shifted in their seats, their eyes flashing with anger. But Alex himself remained noise.
Ivan, his jaw clenched tight, watched my father with a mixture of anger and disappointment. “We are not here to rehash old grievances. We
713
10:32 Sat, 22 Jun G
are here to find a solution.”
60% Nôvel(D)rama.Org's content.
My father opened his mouth to retort, but before he could get a word out, a sudden movement from Alex’s section drew everyone’s attention. Alex, who had been the very picture of nonchalance moments ago, rose slowly to his feet.
A collective gasp rippled through the hall. The air crackled with anticipation and then a series of sharp cracks echoed through the hall, the unmistakable
In that instant, the fragile peace that had held for the past hour shattered completely. My heart pounded in my chest, a frantic drum against my ribs. My w
Then, with a voice that seemed to emanate from the very depths of his being, he spoke a single word. A word that hung heavy in the air, a death knell to any hope of d