Chapter 13 Esmeralda's Pov

• “I…I didn't do it! Tyla fell into the pool all by herself.” I had denied it tearfully, trying my best to get them to believe me to no avail. I had been pinned to the couch by the throat, my father's face scrunching up in disgust as he looked down at me.
• Who would believe the words of an adopted nobody? Tyla was their biological daughter, and I was nothing but an outsider.
• I had been grateful that I had been adopted by a nice stranger who had deemed it fit to pick me off of the streets where I hustled for food from the trash. He had brought me to his home and wife, smelling like literal trash.
• First impressions really do last longer because for as long as I lived with them, she only treated me like trash, and it had only worsened when she had a child of her own.
• The night I finally escaped was both the best and worst night of my life. I had felt free for the first time in eighteen years. It had been the best birthday gift I could have given myself.
• But it all turned sour when I was captured by slave traders. I had heard rumors about them since I lived on the streets, but I had never met any. I had never wished to. But that night, like a caged bird, I had gained my freedom only to be captured again and put into a fancier cage.
• My adoptive father and mother had made it clear to me that they would one day give me out to be married to a man or as a concubine to a rich warden or something along the lines of that.
• “Tch.” I snicker.
• If only they could see who I ended up with- The almighty terrorist Alpha. It was a cruel joke by the moon goddess. Granting me freedom only to take it back mercilessly.
• A sudden knock on the door pulls me from my reverie. I glance up to see Lucien, the Alpha’s right-hand man, standing in the doorway, holding a neatly wrapped package.
• “Esmeralda, the Alpha has a request,” he says, his tone firm yet not unkind. I had thought that things would be awkward between us since the last time. But even if he feels some way about how he had been threatened by Sheldon, he does not show it. “A dress has been prepared for you. There’s a party tonight, and you're going to attend as the Alpha’s breeder.”
• My heart skips a beat. Parties were rare in our pack; gatherings were usually solemn affairs. And even if there was one, I had never attended one. The idea of attending one makes me uneasy, but I mask my apprehension. “Thank you,” I manage, trying to keep my voice steady.
• He nods and leaves as quietly as he had arrived, leaving me alone with the package. I open it to reveal a stunning dress—deep midnight blue with intricate silver embroidery that shimmers under the soft light of my room. It is beautiful, but the thought of wearing it makes me feel exposed and vulnerable.
• It has a deep v cut across the cleavage and a corset that highlights the curve of the waist. I hold the fabric, memories of my adoptive mother’s disdain washing over me. “You think you deserve anything? You’re nothing but trash,” she had spat, her words echoing in my mind.
• Shaking off the memory, I force myself to focus on the present. This party could be an opportunity, a chance to prove myself, to find allies, maybe even friends. Maybe this is a step toward healing that I needed.
• I get dressed and feel a mixture of dread and determination as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. I almost look like an entirely different person with the makeup and hairdo. In one word, it is ‘exquisite.’ I had always considered myself a feast for the eyes, but I had never thought I could look this beautiful. I could almost pass for a mermaid.
• I make my way down the grand staircase, my footsteps echoing in the vast, silent hallway. The sound of music and laughter drifts from the ballroom, growing louder with each step I take. Just beyond the doors, I could hear people murmuring and glasses clinking.
• The moment I step through the doors, conversations dip, and pairs of curious eyes turn my way, some gazes lingering with barely concealed judgment on my exposed cleavage and hips, others with intrigue or lust. I fight the instinct to shrink under the scrutiny, recalling all too vividly the way I had once been looked at like an outsider, even as a child.
• This is your moment to stand tall, I tell myself, gripping my sweaty hands tightly at my sides.
• I catch sight of a few noblewomen in modest and colorful ball gowns whispering to each other, their glances sliding over me before they return to their conversations. Some of the pack members who did approach introduced themselves with brief, polite smiles, while others hardly gave me a second glance. I do my best to answer back, though my voice sounds thin, even to my own ears.
• This is my first real interaction with the pack outside the wheel of troubles I have been thrown into since I arrived here. I wonder how they perceive me. An adopted outsider with a troubled past.
• At one point, I think I catch a glimpse of Sheldon watching me with a thoughtful expression tinged with a kind of hunger. But before I can be sure, he returns to talking to the Luna by his side, who continuously throws eye daggers at me.
• It is impossible to miss the distaste in people's gazes or the way they shift subtly, as though I carried a disease they didn’t want to catch.
• Just as I think that I might finally blend into a quiet corner, a petite young woman with dark curls and an unmistakable air of arrogance strides up to me. She looks me up and down with a sneer, lips curling as if she’d tasted something bitter.
• "Oh, look," she says loudly, ensuring everyone nearby could hear. "The alpha’s slut decided to join us. How fitting.”
• Heat burns my cheeks, shame and anger warring within me. I want to speak, to deny her words, but my throat feels tight, and every gaze seems to weigh me down further.
• I manage a small step back, but the woman only laughs, crossing her arms. "Did you think you’d be welcomed with open arms, breeder? The pack has no place for someone like you. Someone willing to sell herself so easily.”
• Around us, a few others chuckle or murmur in agreement. Did they even see me as a person? It seems like it is only the title they’d branded onto my skin like a scar that I had as an identity.
• Not knowing what to do, I conclude that this party is not meant for me. I have been rejected by the pack; if only they knew I was their Alpha's mate. I was still going to carry the damn pack's heir. I look towards the throne where Alpha Sheldon and Luna Karel sat. Sheldon stands up, approaching me, his gaze flicking sharply to the woman before he looks at me. The weight of his presence tones down some of the laughter, but the damage has been done. His expression was unreadable as he extended a hand.
• “You’re here as my guest,” he states firmly, though he didn’t address the woman’s words.
• Reluctantly, I took his hand, aware of how everyone was still watching, waiting to see what would happen next. Yet, despite his presence beside me, I still feel utterly alone.
• Sheldon's grasp on my hand tightens, his eyes scanning the room. "Dance with me," he says, his voice low and commanding.
• I hesitate, feeling the weight of the pack's judgey stares. But Sheldon's gaze holds mine, and I sense a silent message.
• With a deep breath, I nod, accepting his outstretched hand. We glide onto the dance floor, the music swirling around us. Sheldon's hand on my bare waist sends shivers down my spine.
• As we dance, I notice the room's tension easing. Conversations resume, and laughter returns. Sheldon's presence shields me from the pack's judgment.
• But I catch Karel's glare from across the room. Her eyes burn with resentment, and I sense a storm brewing.
• "Karel?" I ask Sheldon, my voice barely above a whisper, as I worry that I would get punished once again.
• “My Luna?” he replies, his expression neutral. "We have... an arrangement."
• I raise an eyebrow, intrigued. "An arrangement?"
• Sheldon's gaze lingers on mine before he looks away. "It's complicated."
• Complicated. The word echoes in my mind as we continue dancing, my hands placed around his neck.
• As the night wears on, I find myself lost in Sheldon's eyes. For a moment, I forget the pack's rejection and Karel's hostility.
• But the music ends, and reality crashes back.
• "Thank you," I say, releasing Sheldon's hand, trying my best to ignore that it ran through my plan from just touching him.
• His eyes narrow. "You don't have to thank me, Esmeralda. You're mine."
• Mine. The word makes my heart beat faster.
• A young woman has been staring at me since I set foot into the party. At first I thought she was simply doing what others had done. But even after most of the people focus on other things, she keeps her focus on me and is now coming close to me in a dance. "Be careful around Sheldon. He's not what he seems."
• My instincts flared. "What do you mean?"
• She glances around, ensuring we weren't overheard. "Sheldon's past is... complicated. He's made deals and sacrifices. And his heart isn't his own."
• My mind reels. "What kind of deals?"
• Her gaze travels forward, and I follow her. "The Luna family has ties to the Shadow Clan. They have roots with Dark magic.”
• My skin crawls. "What does this mean for me?"
• The woman's expression turns grave. "You're nothing but a pawn in her game, Esmeralda. Your child, the heir to this pack... it's key to her plans."
• My heart sinks. I feel trapped, unsure who to trust.
• “What do you mean, my child?” I ask with a scowl. “I mean, I'm not even pregnant.”
• The lady stares at me knowingly, then spares a glance at my still flat belly and smiles mysteriously. “Congratulations, Luna.”
• Wait…what? Luna?
• Was this message actually meant for Luna, and she coincidentally gave it to me?
• ---
• Her eyes clouded, her voice laced with pain. "I was once like you, Esmeralda. Caught in a web. But I escaped, barely."
• My curiosity is piqued. "What happened?"
• The woman's gaze drifts, lost in memories. My heart aches as I watch her. "You were close to him?"
• Her nod was almost imperceptible. "I loved him, once. Thought I could change him. But the darkness consumed him. He used me, exploited my gifts for his own purposes."
• My anger flared. "Why didn't you leave?"
• The woman's grip on her arm tightens. "You're the one who can leave now.”
• Her smile is faint.
• "Redemption. I failed myself, but I won't fail you. You have a chance to break the cycle, Esmeralda. Don't let Sheldon own you."