Chapter 138
138
~Elara’s POV
The next gowns continued. More bids. More applause. More congratulations whispered across the table like blessings.
At some point, a server passed by offering wine. I declined. I needed my head clear. Darlon accepted his but barely touched it, like he didn’t want to be distracted.
The last auction piece rolled in. Not a gown. A suit.
A black suit with gold threading and embroidered constellations. I had made it at the beginning, before I knew anything would change. Before I knew I would ever be standing here, seen.
The host placed her hand on it gently.
“This is the final item tonight. A limited custom piece. A masterpiece, if I may say so p>
A few people laughed softly, but not mockingly.
“Starting bid: one hundred thousand p>
It rose quickly.
One twenty.
One fifty.
One seventy.
Two hundred.
Two twenty.
And then silence. Not empty silence. Heavy silence. The kind of people make when they are thinking too much.
Until a voice spoke from the far right.
“Three hundred p>
I looked toward the sound.
It was Alpha Vale. A respected figure in the fashion industry’s higher circles. Not a designer, but a sponsor. A name that opened gates that stayed shut for most people.
No one else challenged the bid.
The host lifted her gavel.
“Sold. To Alpha Vale p>
The applause this time felt different. Like a standing ovation without anyone standing. Respect rather than excitement. Recognition rather than noise.
I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
Darlon leaned closer.
“You did it p>
I swallowed. “We did it p>
“You led it,” he corrected softly.
The auction ended. Staff began clearing the stage. The energy in the hall softened, like a storm turning into rain.
People started approaching, Alphas, Lunas, designers, sponsors. Shaking hands. Complimenting the work. Congratulating my team.
We stood for photos. Flash after flash. Cameras like stars exploding around us.
The cameras eventually stopped flashing. The applause faded into background noise. One by one, people drifted toward the banquet hall for the real after-party. Music. Drinks. Laughter.
I stayed back with my team a little longer. They looked exhausted and excited at the same time. Like children who had discovered magic and didn’t know what to do with it.
I reached into my purse, pulled out my card, and pressed it into Rina’s hands.
“Go,” I told them. “Eat. Celebrate. Order what you want. You earned it p>
Their eyes widened as if I’d just given them the moon.
“But Luna,” one of them whispered, “you’re coming with us, right p>
I smiled. It was tired, but real.
“I wish I could. I really do. But I need to rest. My mind feels like it has been running since dawn p>
They tried to hide their disappointment. It showed anyway. Like rain that wants to fall but holds back.
“We understand,” Rina said softly. “Thank you… for trusting us. For leading us p>
They bowed. All of them. In the middle of that grand hall with its marble floors and chandeliers, and the ghosts of every doubt I’d ever had.
For a second, I thought I would cry.
But I only nodded, turned, and walked away with Darlon, Janae, and David at my sides. Like a small army. Outside, the night air was cold enough to wake every nerve in my body. David opened the car door, and we all got in. He drove like he always did, steady, safe, like he understood that the world could break easily and didn’t want to be the one responsible for it.
No one spoke for a while.
The city lights slipped by like memories. Finally, Janae said, “I’m proud of you. You know that, right p>
I stared out the window.
“I think I’m starting to believe it,” I answered.
When we reached the house, David parked, and we all went inside. The door shut behind us, locking the rest of the world out. Silence filled the living room for a moment, then Janae clapped her hands suddenly.
“Okay,” she said. “We are having our own after party. Right here. Right now p>
Darlon raised a brow. “We just got home p>
“And?” Janae shot back. “The night is not done p>
David laughed quietly. “She has a point, Alpha p>
“Bring in the wine and glasses. And snacks, too. All of it p>
The maids, who had been standing nearby, immediately obeyed. They carried trays, bottles, and glasses, setting everything down exactly where he indicated.
“There’s something I need to say first p>
They looked at me, waiting. The weight of their attention made my hands shake a little.
I turned to Darlon.
“Thank you, Sweetheart” I said. “For standing by me. For believing in me even on days I don’t believe in myself p>
He stepped closer, voice low.
“I will always stand by you p>
I nodded once, then looked at Janae.
“And you… thank you for being a good friend. For staying when others left. For pushing me to breathe when I forgot how p>
She blinked fast. “Don’t make me cry, Elara. I just fixed my makeup p>
I laughed, breath catching a little, then turned to David.
“And you. Thank you for helping p>
He bowed slightly.
“It’s an honor, Luna p>
I stepped forward and kissed Darlon lightly. Just a soft moment, but it felt like the world paused. Like we were the only two people breathing.
Janae groaned dramatically.
“Ugh, can you not? Some of us are single p>
David rolled his eyes. “Some of us are not trying to be p>
Janae glared at him. “What is that supposed to mean p>
David hesitated. Then he set his glass down, straightened, and bowed. Not like a servant. Like a man preparing to change his life.
“Alpha. Luna. I have something to say,” he announced.
We all turned to him.
“Go ahead,” Darlon said.
David inhaled. Slow and deep. Like the air itself might run away if he didn’t catch it.
Then he looked at Janae.
“Janae… I have loved you for a long time. Longer than I should have. Longer than I admitted. I didn’t say anything because I thought you deserved someone better. But tonight… watching Luna Elara fight for her dreams… I realized that silence is also a kind of failure p>
Janae froze. Completely.
David stepped closer.
“So. I’m asking. Not as a Beta, but as a man p>
He knelt.
Janae gasped. My heart dropped and flew at the same time.
“Janae,” he said, voice rough with emotion, “will you marry me p>
The world held its breath.
Janae covered her mouth with both hands. Tears gathered. She laughed. She cried. She nodded so hard her hair moved like she was in the wind.
“Yes,” she whispered. “Yes. Yes, David. Oh my goddess, yes p>
He stood. She threw her arms around him. They kissed. It was messy and emotional and a little awkward and perfect.
I clapped my hands together.
“We have a wedding to plan,” I said, grinning.
Darlon shook his head with a soft smile.
“I’m proud of you, David. You did well p>
David looked at him. Then at me.
“Thank you, Alpha. And thank you, Luna p>
“One more thing, ever since Alpha Darlon married you, he has changed. Dramatically. He became someone who smiles more. Someone who listens more p>
He paused, voice honest and steady.
“Whatever you brought into his life… I’m grateful for it p>
I didn’t know what to say. My throat felt tight, but in a warm way. Like the kind of emotion that doesn’t hurt, but heals.
We lifted our glasses.
“To new beginnings,” I said.
“To love,” Janae added.