Tabitha's POV
Seeing me, Rolf said to me all respectfully, "Luna Tabitha, Alpha Derek asked me to lead the way for you. We've laid on a huge spread for the party, and Alpha Derek even got a fireworks show planned."
I gave a wry smile upon hearing how he addressed me. I'd corrected him quite a few times, yet he still called me that way. "Derek and I have already rejected each other, so you don't have to call me Luna anymore. Just Tabitha is fine," I told him.
Rolf rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh. Then he gestured for me to follow him.
As we headed into the manor, he started hyping up how swanky it was. Guessed he was hoping I'd chill and have fun.
But he seemed to forget, everything here belonged to Derek and Daphne.
I felt sick just standing here, let alone enjoying it.
I made small talk with Rolf along the way. Soon, we arrived at the main building's entrance.
It was basically a castle, having a total of five floors.
The exterior walls were made of solid stone that had seen its share of weather, giving it a rugged, gray-brown vibe. Under the sun, they had a beautiful shine.
The spires towered up towards the sky, topped with fancy metal tips, adding to its mysterious and lofty aura.
When the night fell, they would probably shimmer in the moonlight, like stars falling down from the sky.
The main entrance was this grand arched iron gate flanked by stone pillars, all decked out in complex patterns.
'Derek's rich indeed,' I thought to myself.
Mustering up my courage, I picked up my dress and stepped through the gate into the castle's foyer.
A few guests turned their heads upon hearing my footsteps.
Werewolves who knew about my relationship with Derek were all slack-jawed. Guessed they didn't expect I would show up at the birthday party of the boy born to my ex-husband and his mistress.
Alvin, who spotted me, greeted me civilly, "First time seeing you in a dress like this. You look stunning."
I flashed him a polite smile.
Indeed, back when I was Derek's mate and Luna of the Black Thorn Pack, I hardly ever dressed up.
Early this morning, someone from a haute-couture boutique delivered a dress to me, saying it was from Derek.
It was a white gown made of top-quality silk satin, its texture smooth and sleek, looking elegant and classy.
It was kinda surprising that Derek saw me as a match for something so graceful. After all, he just claimed I was his slave a few weeks ago. I thought he would just send me a plain black dress.
Though I was the one asking him to get me the dress, I didn't wear it. Instead, I showed up in a deep blue gown today.
Under the lights, the fine fabric got a subtle shimmer, like waves in the deep sea, mysterious and profound.
The gown had an elegant V-neck that showed off my neck and flattered my ample bust, adding just the right touch of sexiness.
One of the highlights was the unique diamond hem. Each gem was carefully set, creating a dazzling belt that sparkled with every step I took.
It was like I had a mini version of the starry sky on my body. And everyone who caught sight of me gasped in amazement.
Suddenly, the unclear murmurs around me stopped.
As I looked up, I saw Derek and Daphne appear at the top of the stairs leading to the second-floor balcony.
Under the guests' gaze, they came down step by step, all smiles.
The moment Daphne met my gaze, her face turned stormy. I sneered, knowing exactly why she was livid—the dress she was wearing was exactly the same as mine.
Soon, the guests around me noticed it too and started to gossip.
Feeling a burning gaze, I turned my head, finding Daphne's bestie Lyrique shooting daggers at me.
She'd been finding fault with me more and more ever since Daphne and Derek went public, which was annoying as hell.
As our eyes met, she said in a voice loud enough for me to hear, "A guest wearing the same dress as the host? That's just rude!"
Obadiah chimed in, "Lyrique, don't be so mean. These things happen all the time. Besides, Tabitha's gorgeous and curvy. The dress fits her better, don't you think?"
"Say what?!" she exclaimed in disbelief.
"I'm just telling the truth. Ask around if you don't believe me," Obadiah replied with a shrug.
"Hmph! Tell you what? Derek had the dress custom-made for Daphne. No way Tabitha could ever afford it. I bet she got herself a sugar daddy," snapped Lyrique.
"Enough with your nonsense." Obadiah darted her a glare.
When I glanced his way, he gave me a smile. Guessed he must've got leads in what Orson had asked him to look into.
I nodded at him, showing that I got what he meant.
Lyrique, standing next to him, immediately complained, "Obadiah, why do you always take her side? You're planning to marry her or something?"
"What the heck are you talking about?" scolded Obadiah. Then he turned to me, suggesting, "Tabitha, It's too noisy here. You can go check out the wine section. They've got some top-notch reds today."
Not feeling like arguing with Lyrique, I nodded before walking away.
Just when I picked up a glass of red wine, a familiar female voice sounded behind me.