Chapter 189
Chapter 189
Obediently, I drifted through the piles of riotous colors of satin and chiffon and damask. My fingers tentatively brushed against velvets and suedes and the brushed silk of the fine lapels of a men’s tuxedo that draped sharply over a blank–faced mannequin in one section of the floor dedicated to menswear.
“Luna Avery Nightwolf,” a man’s voice cut through my textile perusal and I whirled to see a tall man weaving through the display stands towards me. He had bright red hair, and bright eyes the color of sea glass, and the width of his shoulders and muscled frame screamed ‘Alpha‘ to someone like me, who had grown up her whole life among wolves.
I gaped in recognition as I placed a name with the face looking at me with interest.
“Alpha Reynaud,” I nodded, my mind racing even as I went through the movements of courtesy. I hadn’t seen this wolf since our dangerous encounters at the Alpha Ball months ago.
“What…what are you doing here?” I stammered.
“Same as you, I assume,” he bowed courteously in return, “picking up some last–minute supplies for my trip p>
“To the Council?” I asked, and he nodded gracefully. He was a beautiful man. Much more fine–boned than Gideon, who was all raw muscle and strength. There was something more poised and practiced in the way Reynaud moved, as though every gesture was pre–meditated for grace and efficiency.
“Indeed. I am glad I ran into you like this,” His eyes gleamed in a way that made me wonder if this accidental meeting was truly as happenstance as it appeared, “I have a matter I wish to discuss with you
Just then I heard Camila’s voice calling for me from the other side of some shelves. Reynaud raised his
head and retreated back into the fabric maze that surrounded us.
“I can see that you are preoccupied,” he flashed a smile, “I will find you shortly, when you have finished your errands p>
And then he was gone. I shook my head, not knowing what to make of the encounter. Camila rounded a corner and rushed over to pull at my arm.
“There you are, have you picked anything out?” Her lips pursed as she looked at the small pile of swatches I clutched in my hands, “Okay, good. The consultant has pulled a few sample dresses for you in the fitting rooms p>
She dragged me along behind her as I was whisked towards a row of curtained alcoves that were, presumably, the dressing rooms. I was shoved into one with the instructions, “Work your way through those and pick a few you like. I’ll take her your samples and see what she can do,” Camila frowned at me, then whirled away and left, the curtain swishing and swaying in the wake of her passage.
I was glad she wasn’t going to stay with me while I changed. It was like being in a room with an angry cat, and never being sure when they were going to try to claw your eyes out.
1/2
Chapter 189
+25 Bonus
I pulled my shirt over my head and shimmied out of my leggings, piling the mundane clothes on a shelf before reaching for one of the frothy, creamy confections that comprised the sample dresses.
The first one I grabbed was a strapless gown with a tight corseted bodice that snatched at the waist and then ballooned outwards in a great ball of tulle–draped silk. I didn’t have anyone to help with the corseting so I pulled it over my head and then held the bodice tight over my breasts while I turned to look at my reflection in the full–length mirror on the wall.
The long hours in the sun and fields had left their marks on my body. Angry red, healing scars from the rogue attack stood out on my bare arms and shoulders, while the skin around them was tanned and dark. I had multiple bruises from where I had been too clumsy with moving stones for field walls.
No one looking at me at the ball would see anything elegant, I thought. This was the body of a drudge.
I looked at myself with dissatisfaction, then raised my gaze and gasped as my eyes met a seafoam pair that was staring at me in the mirror.
I whirled as Reynaud stepped into my changing room with a shameless smile.
“What are you doing?” I gasped as he moved towards me.
“What I said I would do,” his gaze roamed freely over my half–clad body freely, “I have something to discuss. ” (1
Editorial Board
Editorial Board Our editorial team works behind the scenes to refine each chapter, maintain consistency, and deliver the best reading experience.