Chapter 28: Chapter 28: The Confrontation
Estelle’s POV
“There’s no na here,” I said as I placed my na card down at the unassigned seat. “I don’t see a reason why I should be seated so far away from my Beta when this seat hasn’t been assigned to anyone else.”
Caleb looked at
with a mixture of admiration and concern. “Are you sure about this?”
I smoothed down my dress and sat down decisively. “Absolutely.”
The seat was perfectly positioned—right between Zayne’s chair and Caleb’s. If soone had deliberately moved my original placent, then I had every right to correct their mistake.
“Besides,” I added, my voice calm but firm, “pack mbers should sit together. It’s traditional.”
Caleb nodded and took his assigned seat. The dining room gradually filled with more guests, their conversations creating a gentle hum of background noise. I recognized a few faces from the various packs, but most were strangers.
A server approached our section, pouring wine into crystal glasses. The rich red liquid caught the light from the chandeliers above.
“Thank you,” I said politely as she filled my glass.
“You’re very welco, Miss,” the server replied with a warm smile before moving on.
I was starting to relax when I heard the sharp click of heels approaching our section. The sound was aggressive, purposeful. I glanced up to see a woman striding toward us with obvious determination.
She had strawberry blonde hair perfectly styled in an elegant updo. Her blue eyes were blazing with indignation. Her dress was clearly expensive—silk and adorned with what looked like real diamonds along the neckline.
“Excuse ,” she said, her voice dripping with barely contained fury. “You’re in my seat.”
I looked up at her calmly, taking a sip of my wine before responding. “I’m sorry, but there wasn’t a na card here when I arrived.”
“Well, there should have been.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “That’s my assigned seat.”
I gestured toward the space in front of my place setting. “And as I said, the seat was unassigned, so I took it.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Do you have any idea who I am?”
“No,” I replied honestly, my tone remaining perfectly level. “Should I?”
The woman’s face flushed red with anger. Several other guests had started to notice our exchange, turning in their seats to watch the drama unfold.
“I am Rosalind Vurbont,” she announced, her voice rising. “I am the Lycan King’s fiancée.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Caleb leaned closer to , his voice barely a whisper. “The lycan councils apparently favor her. From what I’ve heard from my father, they wanted Zayne to pick her as his bride, but he refused.”
I kept my expression neutral while processing this information. So that explained her arrogance.
It seed like it wasn’t an accident that my na card was misplaced after all. It wouldn’t be too far of a stretch for soone to have purposely shifted
to the end of the table once they realized that I was originally intended to sit next to Zayne, all to make way for Rosalind.
I sneered. This whole event was a re show. It was just a way to make it appear fair and democratic, while the real decision had already been made behind closed doors.
Only, they didn’t realize that Zayne had his own arrangents, sothing I assud he had yet to inform his council about. Albeit, I was starting to see the reason why.
“How fascinating,” I said, my voice cool. “Congratulations on your... potential engagent.”
Rosalind’s eyes flashed. “It’s not potential. It’s practically guaranteed. I am the most suitable candidate to marry the Lycan King, not you disgusting, lower-class animals.”
Several werewolves at nearby tables had overheard her comnt. I could see their faces darkening with offense.
“Is that so?” I asked, taking another sip of wine. “How thoughtful of the lycan leadership to invite us lower-class animals. I didn’t realize this was an engagent party.”
“Don’t mock ,” Rosalind snapped. “You clearly don’t understand the situation you’ve put yourself in.”
I stood up slowly, eting her gaze directly. Even in heels, she was slightly shorter than . “Please, enlighten .”
“You’re nobody,” she said, her voice growing louder. “A random werewolf whore from so insignificant pack who thinks she can waltz in here and steal the future Lycan Queen’s rightful place.”
The dining room had grown noticeably quieter. More guests were turning to watch our confrontation.
Caleb jerked to his feet, ready to attack for that slight, but I raised a hand to stop him.
“Steal?” I raised an eyebrow. “I simply took an available seat next to my Beta. That’s hardly theft.”
“That seat was ant for ,” Rosalind insisted. “Everyone knows I sit beside the King during formal dinners.”
Caleb cleared his throat, his hands trembling with anger. “With all due respect, Miss Vurbont, as my Luna said, there wasn’t a na card when we arrived.”
Rosalind whirled on him. “And who are you to speak? Just another werewolf Beta who should know his place.”
The insult hung in the air like a slap. I felt my temper flare, but I kept my voice steady.
“That’s my Beta you’re insulting,” I said quietly. “I’d appreciate it if you showed him the respect he deserves.”
“Respect?” Rosalind laughed bitterly. “You werewolves are all the sa. So low class. So unaware of proper hierarchy.”
A murmur of discontent rippled through the room. Nearly every guest present was a werewolf, and Rosalind had just insulted them all.
“Low class,” I repeated thoughtfully. “You seem to like throwing that term around. Interesting perspective.”
“It’s not perspective, it’s fact,” Rosalind continued, seemingly oblivious to the growing hostility around her. “Lycans are superior to werewolves in every way. Stronger, more intelligent, and,” her eyes scanned
up and down with distaste, “evidently better breeding.”
An Alpha from one of the nearby tables stood up. “Now wait just a minute—”
“Sit down,” Rosalind commanded without even looking at him. “Adults are speaking.”
The Alpha’s face turned purple with rage, but he remained standing.
I could feel the tension in the room escalating rapidly. Rosalind was making enemies of everyone present except for the few other lycans scattered throughout the dining room.
“You seem very confident in your position,” I observed.
“I have every reason to be,” Rosalind replied. “When King Zayne arrives and sees that so random nobody has stolen his future queen’s seat, you’ll learn exactly what happens to werewolves who overstep their bounds.”
“Oh, this should be interesting,” soone muttered from across the room.
“She’s going to be in so much trouble,” another voice whispered.
I heard fragnts of conversation starting up around us.
“—doesn’t know what she’s gotten herself into—”
“The Lycan King won’t tolerate disrespect to his bride—”
“—probably get banished from the palace—”
The whispers were growing louder, more animated. Everyone seed to believe that I was about to face severe consequences for my defiance.
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