The Alpha King's Forbidden Luna

Chapter 3

Elara

"Father, this ball has to be perfect," Valentina said, looking stressed.

"No, that's too much. Take it off right now," she ordered the servants who were putting down the tablecloths.

She had very particular taste. The cloth they chose had too many patterns and colours she didn't like.

I was in the ballroom with the other servants, cleaning and decorating. White roses were everywhere, just like always. They were the symbol of the Bloodmoon Pack.

"Be careful with that vase, girl. It's worth more than you'll ever own," Valentina snapped at a servant who was holding a golden vase with shaky hands.

"Don't worry, my dear. I'll make sure everything is perfect," Alpha Magnus told her in a calm voice.

I glanced at my parents standing near him. Dad gave me a small smile. Mom looked at me with soft, loving eyes.

"You stupid girl!" Valentina's sudden shout made me jump.

"If I see even one speck of dirt on this floor, I'll wipe it with your face. Understand?" she threatened.

I nodded quickly, fear clear on my face.

"Don't be so hard on the poor girl, Valentina," the Alpha said right away.

"Are you taking her side, Father?" she asked, sounding offended.

"No. I'm just saying you don't need to get so worked up. I promise everything will be flawless," he said, then kissed her forehead gently.

"The Crimsonfang Pack will be here," he continued, changing the subject. "Their Alpha is around your age. It would be good if the two of you got along."

"The Crimsonfang Pack? The Reds?" Valentina asked, looking more interested now.

"Yes. Adrian will be coming. People call him the King in the North. He's one of the most powerful and dangerous men alive," Alpha Magnus said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"It would help us a lot if you could win his favour. I've heard he's looking for his mate," he added with a small smile.

"Are you trying to marry me off to some stranger?" Valentina asked, half shocked and half panicked.

"Trust me, my love. The Crimsonfang Alpha is perfect for you," he insisted, smiling wider.

"We'll see at the ball," she answered, still sounding unsure.

When the Alpha left, my parents followed him out. Valentina stayed a bit longer, scolding anyone who got in the way of the work. Then she finally left to go to the spa and get ready for the ball.

The Crimsonfang Pack was famous across the land. They were known as the strongest warriors in the North. I didn't know much about their leaders, only that the Reds ruled them.

"Hey," Selena whispered next to me, pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Let's switch," she said, handing me a vase and some flowers. I gave her the brush I was using and started arranging the flowers carefully.

"Did you hear what the Alpha said? Adrian is coming!" one of the servants whispered excitedly.

"I heard he's ruthless and really handsome," another one added. They both giggled.

"Girls," Madam Elise, the head servant, scolded them sharply.

They tried to hide their excitement, but I could still hear them whispering about Adrian from across the room.

Adrian. How good-looking did a man have to be to make girls act like that?

I had never had a crush on anyone. Not even the handsome models in magazines or the actors on TV. They looked nice, sure, but how could you fall for someone you didn't even know?

Maybe it was because I had spent my whole life inside this manor. I barely ever met new people, especially men.

While the rest of us worked hard to make everything perfect, Valentina kept coming in to check on things. Mostly she just cared about what she liked.

"Moon Ball, my ass," Selena muttered while we sat under the big apple tree behind the manor during a short break.

"All those stuck-up lords and ladies will just pour in here showing off their money," she said, taking a big bite of her apple.

I lightly slapped her shoulder. "Selena."

"What? It's true. They drink, they dance, and they parade their servants around like trophies. A bunch of self-important fools," she said with clear disgust.

"I've never seen a real ball before, so I don't know what it's actually like," I admitted.

"It's nothing like the books. All they talk about is money, power, and being cruel. And sex," she said, rolling her eyes.

"Still, I'm excited. The dresses and the music will be beautiful," I said, trying to stay positive.

"It's mostly a chance for terrible women to wear pretty dresses and try to impress arrogant Alphas," she replied, looking unimpressed.

"Not everyone is that bad," I said.

"Not everyone. Just most of them," she laughed bitterly.

I couldn't really blame her. She had grown up somewhere much worse than this-full of violence and hardship. That kind of life changes how you see people.

Even with everything I went through, I still tried to stay hopeful. My mother always taught me to look for the light, even in dark times, and to believe that even hard hearts could change.

I was lucky in one big way. No matter how hard the day was, I always had my parents at the end of it. They worked just as hard as I did, but they never stopped showing me love.

As the week went on, the whole manor started to look perfect. The mix of green and red everywhere made everything feel rich and elegant.

Even in my plain work clothes with a mop in my hand, I felt a little like a princess walking through those shining halls.

I smiled as I looked up at the sparkling chandeliers. This was the first real ball I had ever seen being prepared.

When I walked into the ballroom later, all the servants were gathered around Valentina, listening carefully. I quietly stood next to Selena.

"This ball must be perfect," Valentina said. "If any of you make even one mistake, you won't live to regret it. Do you understand?"

Her eyes moved over the group and then stopped on me. She walked straight toward me. Everyone stepped aside.

My heart was pounding. She gave me a cold little smile.

"Also," she said, stopping right in front of me and lightly pushing my shoulder, "I want all of you to wear masks. I don't want our important guests to lose their appetite looking at your ugly faces."

Then she walked away.

"Tell me you're insecure without telling me you're insecure," Selena whispered next to me, half amused and half sorry for me.