**(Third Person)**
The convoy pulled into the sprawling parking lot of the mall, the tires crunching softly over the tiled pavent.
redith stepped out first, the wind tugging lightly at her veil. Her gaze lifted to the massive glass structure rising before them—its sleek lines and towering height glead under the sun. It was beautiful in a way that felt distant, foreign.
"It’s... magnificent," redith whispered, eyes wide with wonder.
Even Azul, Arya, and Cora—who prided themselves on composed expressions—struggled to hide their own astonishnt.
Deidra stepped beside redith with a smile, "What do you think, my lady?"
"I haven’t seen anything like this. It’s iconic," redith replied, her voice tinged with honest delight. "I can’t wait to see what’s inside."
Before anyone could respond, Wanda’s crisp voice sliced through the mont. "Everyone, have your ID cards ready. We will be going through a security check before entering the mall."
"Oh..." she mouthed, her eyes subconsciously searching around.
Azul leaned in. "My lady, I have your card," she whispered reassuringly, slipping the ID into her hand.
A small exhale of relief left redith’s lips. She had forgotten it was with Azul.
As they approached the entrance, a group of uniford security personnel stood waiting behind tal scanners. Their eyes imdiately locked onto redith’s group, and a silence stretched uncomfortably in the air.
"No weapons allowed inside," one of them barked flatly.
Six of Draven’s warriors behind redith stepped forward, their tone clipped but respectful. "We are unard."
Still, the security n proceeded to scan them with baton-like devices, pressing them close to the body with no hint of subtlety.
redith watched it all with an unreadable expression, calm on the outside. But inside, sothing unsettled coiled tighter.
Do they check their own people like this? she wondered.
Then ca the ID check. Each companion presented their cards in turn. When redith stepped forward, the guard squinted at her veil, then gestured brusquely.
"Take off your veil."
Azul tensed instantly, her hand twitching at her side.
redith hesitated, hand moving slowly to the edge of her hat’s veil. Then her eyes flicked to the side, catching the slight, triumphant curve of Wanda’s lips.
redith lowered her hand, realizing the humiliation in the guard’s request which Wanda’s smirk exposed. And she refused to give Wanda that satisfaction.
"For what reason?" she asked the guards calmly. Her tone remained unwavering.
"Security protocol," the guard replied, tone firm.
Before redith could respond, another voice cut through with sharp authority.
"She’s not removing anything."
Heads turned behind almost imdiately.
Dennis stepped forward, flashing his ID as he moved between redith and the guard. The unexpected sight of him jolted everyone—especially Wanda, whose mouth parted slightly in shock.
"She is the Luna of one of our royal packs," Dennis said, voice asured but cold. "Wife of Alpha Draven, Stormveil’s Diplomat."
The guard looked rattled, but Dennis didn’t wait.
"Asking the Luna to take off her veil is deaning. Can you not see her face clearly? What exactly are you looking for?"
"I—apologies, sir," the guard stamred, suddenly backing off.
Dennis gave him a curt nod before stepping aside. redith looked at him then, her gaze brief, but filled with sothing unreadable—surprise, gratitude... and curiosity.
"Thank you," she said softly.
He simply nodded.
As they walked through the now-open gate, Dennis veered toward Wanda, motioning her to follow. She hesitated, clearly unsettled, but eventually obeyed.
redith lingered just long enough to catch Dennis’s voice.
"How could you stand there and watch the Alpha’s wife be humiliated?" His voice was low, seething. "Have you forgotten your role?"
Wanda’s mouth opened in weak defense. "I was just letting the security do their job. I didn’t want to cause a ruckus."
"You? Letting soone else do their job? That’s not the Wanda I know," Dennis cut in sharply. "I hope my brother knows what he’s doing, keeping an unqualified person by his side."
He left her standing there, stunned and wordless with regret over her actions, and entered the mall.
Monts later, Wanda returned to the group. "Let’s head to the won’s clothing section first," she announced coolly, regaining her composure.
They took the lift. Once it opened on the right floor, Wanda led them into a boutique. The warriors posted themselves outside, spreading out in pairs, keeping eyes on every corridor and corner.
Dennis followed behind redith’s group but kept a respectful distance.
Wanda held Xamira’s small hand, guiding her to a shelf of embroidered handbags.
Kira leaned closer to redith. "My lady, would you like to browse the dress aisle?"
redith nodded and moved to the racks. She skimd through the clothes, but nothing caught her interest. Kira noticed her disinterest.
"We can check another store... but we would need to inform Miss Fellowes."
Before they could make a move, Dennis stepped forward.
"You can go ahead. Check any store you want—I will co with you."
Relieved, redith gave a small nod and stepped out with Kira, Deidra, and the others.
They stepped out together just as Wanda turned. Her gaze followed them, lingering for a beat—but she said nothing, focusing instead on a clutch bag.
Dennis’s phone rang. "Go ahead," he told redith. "I will catch up."
Even as he took the call, his eyes followed her movent across the mall.
redith wandered deeper into the hallway with Azul, Arya, Deidra, and Cora. The spacious corridor echoed with distant laughter and footsteps.
Suddenly, a small boy—no older than four, collided into her legs.
"Oh," redith said, smiling behind her veil. She crouched, offering her hand.
The child took it, then stared up at her in innocent awe.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"You are one curious little one, huh?" she chuckled softly.
Cora and Arya giggled nearby. Deidra tilted her head. "He’s adorable."
"Joshua!" a panicked voice called out.
The boy’s head turned. A woman hurried toward them, her eyes wide and fearful.
"Mummy," the boy said, running to her.
The mother scooped him up swiftly, her eyes never leaving redith and her companions.
redith watched her go. The woman’s movents were brisk, her arms tight around her son. She didn’t say thank you. She didn’t smile.
Only fear remained in her eyes.
redith’s smile faded. "Was that woman... afraid of us?" she asked, her voice quieter now as Azul helped her stand.
Deidra didn’t hesitate. "Unfortunately, my lady."
Kira sighed, brushing her fingers over a nearby shelf. "No matter what we do, so of them will never accept us."
redith remained quiet as they turned toward the next store, her thoughts drifting to the mother and son.
The mall was beautiful, grand in design and filled with bright lights and colour.
But all redith could feel now... were eyes. Watching. Judging.
And in that mont of discomfort, she concluded—
The Truce failed.
Reviews
All reviews (0)