Chapter 26 Sage Everything hurts . I discover muscles I didn't know existed as I drag myself out of bed the morning after training . But the physical aches are nothing compared to the panic that sets in when Iris bursts into my room like a whirlwind . " Emergency ! " She's already throwing open the massive wardrobe that intimidates me daily . " The Northern Pack delegation is arriving tonight for a formal gathering . We have exactly eight hours to make you presentable . " My stomach drops . " I can just ... not go ? " Iris spins to face me , hands on hips . " You're living in the Lycan King's packhouse . Attendance isn't optional . " " But I'm just- " " If you say ' just an omega ' I will throw something at you . " She rifles through dresses I've been too scared to touch . " You calmed a feral wolf yesterday . Pretty sure that earns you a seat at the table . " Right . The incident that everyone's probably still talking about . I bite my lip , remembering the way Alaric looked at me afterward - like I was a puzzle he couldn't solve . But I didn't do anything special . When you're used to being a target , finding ways to soothe a savage beast becomes second nature . The next few hours are a blur of fabric and frustration . A seamstress clucks over my small frame while taking measurements , speaking rapid - fire to Iris about necessary alterations . I stand still and try to disappear , a skill I perfected at Blackthorn . " Shoulders back , " Iris instructs for the hundredth time . " You're not in Blackthorn anymore . You don't need to make yourself smaller . " Easy for her to say . She was born into this world of protocol and power . I catch snippets of servant gossip as they pass in the halls : " Can't believe he's letting a wolfless omega attend ... ... probably another of his charity cases ... " " hear what happened at Blackthorn ? They say she and Cassius ... " did you My chest tightens , Memories surface - Cassius's cruel smile as he rejected me in front of his entire pack , the jeers , the pain . " Ignore them . " Iris's voice cuts through the panic . " Half of them are just jealous because my brother watches you like you hung the moon . " " He doesn't " I start , but she's already dragging me to my next torture session , etiquette lessons . " Okay , so when greeting an Alpha , you bow like this . " She demonstrates . " But for their Luna , it's more of a curtsy . Unless they're from the Southern territories , then My head spins . There are apparently seventeen different ways to show respect depending on rank , territory , and moon phase . I'm going to mess this up . I'm going to embarrass Alaric in front of important allies . " Breathe , " Iris instructs . " It's not as complicated as it = " The air shifts , filling with the scent of pine and winter wind . Alaric appears in the doorway , and my heart stops . He fills the space in a way that makes me intensely aware of every inch between us . " How are the preparations ... " he trails off as his eyes find me . I'm suddenly very conscious that I'm still in the Chapter 26 196 +25 BONUS half - pinned formal dress , my hair a mess from trying different styles . Something flashes in his steel - gray eyes before he masks it . " Carry on , " he says gruffly , but pauses on his way out . " Blue suits you , sweetling . " The heat in my cheeks lasts until he's long gone . Evening arrives too quickly . I stare at my reflection , barely recognizing myself . The dress is midnight blue , making my violet eyes seem brighter . Iris worked magic with my hair , weaving silver threads through the braided crown . " Stop fidgeting , " she scolds , adjusting the delicate crescent moon pendant - the only piece of jewelry I own . " You look perfect . " But nothing feels perfect when I enter the great hall . Whispers follow me like shadows . I try to remember all the protocols , but there are so many people , so many ranks to remember . I manage basic greetings until I reach a distinguished - looking wolf with silver at his temples . Panic sets in as I realize I can't remember if Northern Pack Alphas prefer formal titles or- " Harrison , " I squeak , forgetting any title at all . The room goes silent . I've definitely messed up . But before anyone can react , Alaric materializes at my side . " Harrison prefers a less formal approach , don't you , old friend ? " The older wolf laughs . " Indeed . These young ones with their stuffy protocols . In my day ... " I breathe again , but the relief is short - lived . At dinner , I reach for the wrong fork , and Eris pounces . " Oh dear , " her voice carries perfectly . " I suppose they don't teach proper etiquette to omegas in ... where did say you were from ? Oh right , you don't know . " Ou The words knock the air from my lungs . I'm on my feet before I realize I'm moving , fleeing to the garden where I can breathe . The moon is rising , and I touch my pendant , fighting tears . A shadow falls across the path . " The moon sees true nobility , " Ms. Winters's voice makes me jump . " And it has nothing to do with knowing which fork to use . " She disappears as silently as she arrived , leaving me to puzzle over her words . Moments later , another set of footsteps approaches - these ones familiar enough to make my heart race . " I hate these things too . " Alaric's voice is soft as he joins me on the garden bench . " All the pretense , the perfect manners . " I look up at him in surprise . " But you're so good at it . " " I've had years of practice . " His scar catches the moonlight as he smiles slightly . " Doesn't mean I enjoy it . " " I'm sorry if I embarrassed you , " I whisper . " I'm not , I'm not cut out for this world . " He turns to face me , and the intensity in his eyes steals my breath . " You belong exactly where you are , sweetling . " For a moment , I almost believe him . Almost let myself lean into the warmth radiating from his large frame . Almost trust the safety he offers . A howl splits the night another border warning . Alaric tenses , duty calling him away . But he hesitates , his hand brushing mine so fightly I might have imagined it . Chapter 26 +25 BONUS " For what it's worth , " he says quietly , " you outshine everyone in that room . Even with the wrong fork . " He disappears into the darkness , leaving me with a racing heart and more questions than answers . Above me , the moon seems to glow brighter , like it's trying to tell me something I'm not ready to hear . I touch my pendant again , remembering Ms. Winters's words about true nobility . Maybe she's right . Or maybe I'm just fooling myself thinking I could ever belong in this world of power and protocol . But when the wind carries Alaric's scent back to me , pine and winter , crisp and cool in a way that calls to parts of me I thought were broken ... for just a moment , I let myself hope .