Freya's POV
The halls of the Victorian palace glowed with twinkling lights and lilting music, as if the stars had descended to earth for a fleeting moment.
Suddenly, the doors opened, and I walked slowly into the ballroom, my arm linked with Kingsley's.
I was adorned in a vibrant pink dress with tassels, my long hair cascading over my shoulders like a waterfall, adorned with delicate crystal starbursts. In contrast, Kingsley wore a deep, dark blue suit paired with a silver bow tie. A sunny smile graced his face as his eyes met mine.
A blush colored my cheeks as we entered the hall, with curious glances from other guests directed our way. The lively sounds of the party—strings and laughter—intermingled, creating a melodic and captivating symphony.
"Freya! You're finally here!" Novia approached me with enthusiasm, accompanied by Mark at her side.
I gave Mark a teasing look before turning to Novia, saying, "Looks like you two…"
Novia's face reddened as Mark placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. I chuckled and addressed Mark, "Make sure you treat my best friend right. If you ever break Novia's heart, I'll rip your throat out!"
Mark, unfazed by my threat, turned his head to Novia, replying, "That's a must! Novia is the only love and mate I have in this life. I will love her as if my life depends on it!"
"Me too! I'll love you forever! Freya!" Kingsley interjected, rushing to express his loyalty and love for me, as if fearing comparison to his best friend Mark.
"What a childish man!" I glanced at Kingsley, wondering.
"Kingsley!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice cut through the air.
Kingsley and I turned simultaneously in the direction of the voice, only to see Grace pulling a long face as she walked toward us.
I curled my lips and greeted Grace, "Long time no see."
Grace's eyes darkened, a polite smile still gracing her face. "Freya, what brings you here?"
I replied casually, "Aren't you the organizer of this banquet? How is it that you don't even know who's on the invitation list?"
Grace pressed her lips and said, "Of course, I know. It's just that I thought, since you had already decided to sever bond with Kingsley before, you wouldn't be interested in attending."
I glanced at her. "I wasn't interested, but Kingsley called me every day and annoyed me so much that I finally decided to come with him."
Grace looked at Kingsley with a sullen face. He had no retort, seemingly confirming what I had said.
Grace suppressed her anger and said to Kingsley, "Kingsley, the Lycan King wants to see you."
Kingsley looked at me, asking, "Let's go to see the Lycan King together."
I softly responded, "No, the Lycan King might have something to discuss with you. You go ahead first."
Kingsley frowned.
I understood he wasn't comfortable leaving me here, considering Grace's underhandedness exceeded his imagination.
I softened my voice to reassure him, "Don't worry, go ahead. I'll wait for you."
Kingsley pursed his lips and handed me his jacket, his eyes revealing a hint of possessiveness.
The corner of my eye twitched before I remembered that the gown I was wearing today was backless.
Impatiently, I took the jacket and draped it over my shoulders, asking, "Okay?"
Satisfied, Kingsley said, "I'll be right there," and left, not forgetting to give Grace a warning look.
As soon as Kingsley left, Grace's eyes turned cold, and she glanced at me. "I underestimated your ability to fool Kingsley."
I curved my lips, "Thank you for the compliment."
Grace lowered her face, hushed her voice, and moved closer to me, stating, "You won't be able to stay complacent for long; you definitely won't become the Luna of the pack."
My heart sank, but I didn't let it show on my face. I gazed at Grace indifferently, "Is that so? Whether or not I can become the Luna of the pack doesn't matter to me. However, I derive the most satisfaction from seeing others disappointed. Since you claim that, we'll see. After all, only by becoming the Luna of the pack can I rightfully expel you and make you pay for what you once did."
Grace sneered, "Are you threatening me now?"
I lifted my eyes and said coldly, "Not a threat, a warning."
I gave a cold glance to the blushing Grace.
Grace was relying solely on the fact that she was Alpha Kingsley's stepmother.
Grace's malicious eyes, like those of a viper, stared at me. Suddenly, she smiled wryly, "You're right. Let's wait and see."
After saying that, she turned around and left.
I stared at Grace's back, frowning. Why was she so confident? Could there be something else backing her?
Realizing Kingsley would likely take a while to return, I headed for the lounge area in the corner.
Seated there, I gestured for a waiter, indicating that I wanted a glass of champagne. The waiter promptly approached with a tray.
As the waiter bent down to place the champagne on the table, a familiar odor reached me. However, it was soon overpowered by the strong scent of the waiter's perfume.
I furrowed my brows, trying to identify the familiar smell. But the perfume became increasingly overpowering, giving me a headache.
I waved my hand, asking the waiter to leave. After he departed, I took a breath of fresh air before picking up the champagne and taking a sip.
Not long after, I spotted Kingsley coming over from the opposite side of the hall.
"Freya."
I stood up and attempted to approach him to offer a greeting when a sudden wave of dizziness hit me.
"Freya!"
Just before losing consciousness, I caught a glimpse of Kingsley's anxious face.
I couldn't determine how much time had passed before I gradually regained consciousness.
Upon opening my eyes, I surveyed my surroundings. As I listened to the party noise emanating from downstairs, I realized I was currently in my room upstairs.
"She's resting now, but she's fine..."
Novia's voice drew my attention to the half-closed door.
"I'm so sorry! I shouldn't have left her alone," Jeremy whispered.
Kingsley's angry voice retorted, "I told you to stay with her and ensure nothing happened to her."
"I'm awake," I called out.
Within seconds, the door opened, revealing the faces of Novia, Mark, and Kingsley.
Kingsley regarded me with concerned eyes. "Are you okay, Freya?"
I nodded and sat up. Novia and Mark stood behind Kingsley, equally concerned.
"Look, Kingsley, I..."
I began to speak, intending to tell Kingsley something about the waiter, but suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Mark approached, opened the door, and a clean-cut man with gold-rimmed glasses walked in.