Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 551

Chapter 51: Belle of the Ball

*Lena*®

Mom spread the amber-colored gown over my bed, taking a step back to look at it fully. Her palebrown eyes moved over the glistening silk fabric, but her black brows knitted in frustration.

“No, not this one," she murmured as she turned back to the wardrobe and began to flip through theassortment of dresses she'd packed for me before arriving in Avondale.

I was sitting at the vanity while a maid curled and braided my hair for the ball, the first event leadingup to the wedding. My lowlights had all but vanished now, leaving nothing but a sheet of silver-white cascading down my back. I dusted my cheeks with blush while I watched my mom throughthe mirror. Her fingers settled on an ice-blue gown, embroidered with silver crescent moons. It hadlong organza sleeves, with a low back and a high neckline. It was one of my favorites, and mostimportantly, it would hide the half-moon scar Xander had left above my breast.

“Your dad wants you in the amber gown, but it just doesn't work with your eyes," she said in a lowvoice, almost to herself.

I smiled at her through the mirror as she pulled the blue dress from its hanger and laid it over thebed. “I like the blue one better. It's a better fit. I can still wear my tiara and sash with it. Everyoneknows I'm part of Drogomor, anyway," I said playfully.

Mom gave me a sideways smile as she stepped away from the dress and made her way to thevanity, smiling gracefully at the maid.

“You can wear the moonstone and opal tiara your grandmother gave me." She twirled one of mycurls around her finger before pinning it in place.

My mother's name was Hanna, and she was the daughter of Eugene, the Alpha King of Findali. Butshe hadn't always held her titles. There'd been a time, twenty years ago now, when she was atroubled girl from Red Lakes, whisked away to Winter Forest when Dad was meant to marry my auntKacidra, instead of her.

But my parents had been mates, and the first year of their relationship had been marred by troublesI couldn't fathom. Born during the war of my grandparents’ time, they'd be raised in peace, butwhen they were my age...

The maid took her leave. Mom started to rummage through the jewelry box on the vanity, pullingout a few dainty bracelets. I turned to look at her, admiring her long, ink-black hair that was braidedand twisted into an updo. She rarely wore makeup. She'd never needed it; her face was alwaysbeautifully pink around her cheeks and her dark lashes brought out the color of her eyes.

Growing up, I'd longed for even an ounce of her beauty. Compared to my mom, and my aunts, I feltrather plain.

“Are you ready to get dressed?” she asked, and I nodded, but then went rigid beneath her touch.

“I can do it, Mom. You still need to get dressed too."

I didn't want her to see the mark. I hadn't told anyone yet, even when Oliver prodded me for detailsand made fun of me for wearing a shirt over my bathing suit when we went to the beach last nightto catch the sunset.

I was planning on introducing him to Abigail tonight. I'd secured her an invitation to the ball, and Iknew for a fact she'd spent the majority of the day shopping for a dress.

“Well, we have about thirty minutes until we need to be downstairs to greet the guests,” shereminded me, then kissed me on the cheek.

I closed my eyes against her touch, smiling to myself as she pulled away and left the room. I glancedat my reflection once more, then padded across the carpet, lifting the blue gown into the air.

The ballroom was glimmering in the light of three crystal chandeliers. The whole place was drippingin gold as I walked around the room gripping a flute of pink champagne. It was too sweet for mytaste, but so was everything else in the room. The cake table was stacked full, nearly toppling overwith sweets.

I smirked as I saw the top of Hollis's blonde head in the crowd, her mouth twisted in a beamingsmile as the Alphas and Lunas from across the pack lands greeted her and bestowed theircongratulations. Will was nowhere to be found, at least so far. I'd seen Charlie though, the mostamiable of my cousins, and was pleased to indulge in some quiet conversation with him before theguests began to fill the ballroom.

This party, this ball, it was meant to be a celebration of the upcoming nuptials. It was one of threeroyal events that would take place before the wedding ceremony this weekend. It felt like overkill, inmy opinion, but knowing Hollis and Will, I wouldn't have expected anything less.

Through the crowd, I spotted the back of Eliza's head, her black hair long and loose over her daintyshoulder. George's sister turned to me as she approached, her green eyes widening as she took inmy gown.

“I've been looking for you all night,” she beamed, taking my hand and squeezing it. “I thought youwere supposed to be wearing the colors of Drogomor.”

“It's not like I blend in," I laughed, bringing the sickenly sweet champagne to my lips. Isla, thethirteen-year-old daughter of Beta Keaton, and his mate Myla, watched me with curiosity as Iscanned the crowd.

“Who are you looking for?" Isla said with a tilt of her head. She had Keaton's golden hair, but it wascurly, and she favored her mother's deep skin tone and dark eyes. Isla was going to be an absolutestunner in a few years. She was wearing an age-appropriate dress with turquoise ruffles, her hairwoven through a tiara littered with sea glass.

"Oliver," I replied, glancing between Eliza and Isla. “Have you seen him, Lizzie? I've been walkingaround the ballroom for the better part of an hour with no luck.”

“I haven't, but I'm not surprised. This has to be exceedingly painful for him. I heard Hollis hasn'teven looked in his direction in the past several weeks, and Oliver has been having to run all kinds oferrands with Will in preparation for the wedding.”

I grimaced, shaking my head. Poor Oliver-the love of his life was marrying his brother, and yet he'dstill been happy and playful like usual. This entire situation made my problems seem small.

“Maeve said you're sad over a boy. Is that true?" Isla asked innocently, fluttering her eyelashes. Whatwas up with this younger generation? Luke had said something similar, but he wasn't nearly asgracious about it.

"What makes you think I'm sad?" I asked, wiggling my brows at her.

She giggled, but then snapped her head toward the end of the ballroom where her parents werecurrently making their way through the crowd.

“They're here to send me to bed," she said under her breath. “I'm gonna go hide"

“I'm supposed to be keeping an eye on you!" Lizzie cried, turning to chase after Isla.

I had been the babysitter of my younger cousins not too long ago, but that privilege had beenpassed on to the now eighteen year old Lizzie. I sighed, feeling a bit sorry for her before downingthe rest of my champagne as I started to turn about the ballroom once more.

No one other than my family members talked to me as I made my way through the party. Peopleglanced in my direction, of course, their curious gazes taking in my white hair.

They didn't look at me the same way they gazed upon my grandmother Rosalie. They looked at mewith skepticism, obvious curiosity, and fear.

If Dad had ever been approached by another Alpha to ask about the possibility for my hand inmarriage, he'd never said so. I found it unlikely anyone had, despite my incredible rank. As I turnedthe corner in the ballroom, walking past the sweet table once more, an Alpha actually moved hishandsome adult son away from me, whispering frantically into his ear as they watched me walk past.I ignored the stares, but that didn't mean they didn't hurt. I'd grown so used to blending in and justbeing normal, being me. Not Princess Selene.

“Lena!”

I turned my head to replace Abigail standing toward the center of the ballroom, her face flushed fromdancing. She waltzed over to me, doing a little spin in the emerald green gown she was wearingthat hugged every curve of her body like a glove. The tops of her breasts were on full display, and Ismirked as the group of young men she'd been talking to watched her walk away, their eyes wideand full of longing.

"Having a good time?" I grinned as she hugged me.

She was panting slightly, but her mouth twisted into a huge smile, nodding her head. “This is thebest night of my life. I still can't believe it. I honestly don't know how you were able to keep this asecret for so long. Why? Are you not, like, proud of all of this?"

“Look around," I said into her ear, “Do you see how everyone is looking at me? It's like you think itis."

Abigail saw the odd looks as people turned their heads in our direction, always looking away beforeI could catch their gaze.

“They're intimidated by you-"

“They're scared of me. There's a difference. I'm supposed to be the White Queen one day, and noone looks to me as a leader. I'm a freak—"

“You are not a freak," she said in a low, serious voice. “Goddess, Lena. Cut yourself some slack.You're the most striking woman in this room. That Hollis chick has been glaring at you all night, trustme. You're upstaging her."

Good, I thought, but then felt a little mean. I didn't dislike Hollis before, but I just couldn't helpmyself now.

“Look, what if I stayed with you tonight, stayed by your side? I'll fight anyone who even flashes anarrowed eye in your direction. What do you say?"

“I'm so happy you're here,” I breathed, leaning into her for a moment. “But look, all of those guysare waiting for you to come back—"

She threw her head back and laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, them? Nothing but sons of Betas andwarriors."

“That matters?"

"Of course it matters!" she laughed, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “I'm surrounded by royalty,Lena. The least I could do is aim high. This might be my only shot.”

I knew she was joking, of course, doing her absolute best to get a rise out of me and make mesmile.

“I met your cousin Charlie. Well, I saw him. That counts, in my opinion. He's just as handsome as Iknew he would be."

"He's not your type," I said as a waiter passed with a tray of champagne. We each took a glass,turning back to look over the crowd. “I love him dearly, but he's... too nice. He'd never challengeyou, and you need that.”

"Hmm.... You're not wrong. I do like a bit of turmoil from time to time.”

But she suddenly went rigid, her fingers grasping the champagne flute so tightly her knucklesturned white. I looked around, then relaxed my shoulders, giving Oliver a wry smile.

“Oliver, have you met my friend Abigail?"