Louisa's POV
As I walked into the tent all by myself in that pair of very uncomfortable heels, people who were sitting in the tent stopped talking and turned their heads towards me.
I was petrified at the entrance of the tent because I had never been put under the spotlight before.
Alpha Lucas was sitting at the end of the long dining table.
He was surrounded by women. It seemed that he didn't even notice me.
I didn't know where to go, so I remained standing at the entrance, feeling completely hopeless.
At that time, a graceful man approached me and said, "Young Lady, are you looking for anyone?"
I looked up at him. He was in a grey silk suit and a gold cape. I recognized the rockrose emblem on his cape, which was the symbol of royalty. Like all the royalties from the South, he had fair skin and gold hair. His witty sapphire-colored eyes gleamed when he looked at me in a friendly way.
I didn't know how to answer him.
I didn't even know why I was there.
I turned back towards the entrance and was about to run away.
At that time, a tall and curvy woman walked into the tent. Her overbearing attitude reminded me of my stepmother, Rosalie.
"Lady Josephine is here!" The footman dressed up in livery announced.
She was the Josephine the maids were talking about just now.
Just like what they said, I could totally see why Lucas would like her more than he likes me.
She's taller, plumper, and much more beautiful than me. She had got waved black hair and a pale complexion. It wouldn't take a second glance to know that she was a walking statement of perfection and a femme fatale.
The most awkward thing was that she was wearing exactly the same design of the dress as I did.
Only her emerald-colored dress was filled with flesh and design. It looked tighter and more sexually appealing.
Compared to Josephine, I was like a small tiny clothes hanger that was made of a skeleton.
When that woman saw me, her beautiful dark eyes suddenly narrowed.
She walked right at me and bumped into me on purpose.
I knew she was about to knock me off her way, so I wanted to step aside and dodge her attack.
It would be so embarrassing if I blocked her way. But maybe I walked too fast to the side, I lost my balance. I waved my hands and struggled to get back to my feet, but the heels weren't helping.
So, I fell to the ground.
If I fell badly in front of everyone, I would definitely end up being their laughing stick for the whole dinner party.
Just when I was about to hit the floor, a pair of giant hands stopped me.
When I looked up, I saw that young man's concerned face. He had got piercing blue eyes and long wavy blonde hair. I could immediately tell that he was a Lycan.
When he pulled me up and held me against his arms, I felt that my whole body was burning like a torch.
"Sorry, I... I didn't mean to..." I said in a panic, trying to break away from the man's arms.
Josephine saw me getting help, so she grabbed the young man's arms and walked with him into the tent while smiling at him.
"Alpha Zackery! What a surprise! It has been a really long time since we last met!" She tapped her hand on her forehead and looked as if she was about to faint.
Alpha Zackery smiled politely and bowed, "It's always a great pleasure meeting you, Miss."
Josephine showed him a gummy smile and said, "I really miss the time we spent with each other at school. You were like a star at that time! After all these years, you haven't changed a bit! Everyone adores you whenever you go, even some low-level service maid can't help falling into your gravity."
I knew she was referring to me.
I lowered my head and stood there like a wooden stick.
Everyone was looking at me in the tent but no one even bothered to show me my seat.
Servants started to take trays into the dining hall in a row. I had to step aside to avoid getting in their way and stand with the maids.
I stood at the corner of the hall, looking at people chatting and enjoying their meals.
Josephine sat next to Alpha Lucas, feeding him grapes and pouring him glasses of champagne.
My feet were sore because of the heels, so I bent down and removed my feet from the heels.
Josephine glanced at me and gave me a black look. Then, he turned to Alpha Lucas and said, "Alpha, in the South, I saw people having shrimp cocktails. I love shrimps, but I just hate peeling their shells. They made my fingers so fishy. I heard that you've got a new breeder, who is good at cooking. Why don't you let her make some shrimp cocktails for us?"
Lucas laughed. I could tell that he was drunk.
He pushed all the girls away and let Josephine sit on his lap and said, "Whatever you want, my dear."
Josephine looked satisfied and waved at me.
"Mistress wants you to go there," A maid said to me.
I walked reluctantly towards her.
It seemed that Alpha Lucas didn't notice me. He kept talking to other people at the table.
Josephine pointed the shrimps on a plate and said to me in a cold voice, "Peel them for me, she-wolf."
Just when I was about to touch those shrimps, she slapped my hands away and gasped in surprise, "Ah, why aren't you wearing any shoes?"
All the people in the tent went silent.
I lowered my head and I didn't even dare to look at anyone.
I wish I could disappear in the thin air, just like those vampires did.
Josephine slapped me across my cheek and said, "I'm asking you a question, she-wolf. How dare you come to a formal event like this without following the dress code? Don't you know that you could get killed because of showing contempt to the ambassadors? And by the way, how dare you wear the same design of dress as mine? Are you trying to get Alpha's attention or are you trying to humiliate me?"
I covered my face and looked her in her eyes. I wanted to jump at her and bite her face, but I didn't.
I knew she wanted to provoke me and make me lose my cool.
Fortunately, I knew exactly how to deal with people who like her through years of experience with my stepmother Rosalie. I wouldn't let her have her way.
So, I said in a steady and calm voice, "I left my shoes over there because they were hurting my feet. This dress was brought to me by Beta Lucian, so I didn't choose this dress to humiliate you. I don't even know who you are, just as you don't know who I am. I'm not a servant and I came here this morning because I was invited by Alpha Lucas. You have no right to bully me and I need your apology."