Chapter 353: A package.
Anabel.
Anger had become the only constant emotion I could recognize with each passing day. It simmered beneath my skin like a living thing, growing heavier, darker, waiting—patiently waiting—for the exact moment I would lay my eyes on Vanessa so it could finally be unleashed without restraint.
That backstabbing bitch.
Even the thought of her name made my jaw tighten. I had heard whispers that she had run off with a rogue. Some said she escaped with him like a coward in the night. Others suggested something worse... that he might not even be a stranger to her. A lover, perhaps. But honestly, I didn’t care enough to confirm any of it.
It wasn’t my concern anymore.
What mattered—what truly consumed my thoughts—was Noah.
I found myself wondering about him far too often, more than I wanted to admit even to myself. Did he miss me? Did he ever pause in the silence of his days and think about me the way I thought about him? Or had Maria completely taken over his world, filling every space I once occupied until there was nothing left of me in his heart or mind?
The thought alone was enough to make my chest tighten in a way I refused to name.
I sat in the throne room, still and unmoving, my gaze fixed on the empty chairs that surrounded me. They mocked me with their silence, stretching endlessly under the dim light, as though reminding me of everything that was missing... everything that felt wrong.
Time passed slowly there, heavy and suffocating.
And then...the door creaked open.
I lifted my head just in time to see Beta Torin step inside.
"Ms. Anabel, there is a package for you!" he announced, bowing respectfully as he approached.
For a moment, I didn’t react. The words hung in the air, and then something in me snapped upright. I pushed myself to my feet almost immediately and walked toward him, my steps quickening with a sudden, unexplainable urgency.
A package?
I reached out and took it from him carefully, my fingers curling around it as though it might disappear if I wasn’t gentle enough. My mind raced instantly. I wasn’t expecting anything. No deliveries. No messages. Nothing.
So who could it be from?
And then the thought struck me so clearly it almost stole my breath.
Noah?
Could it be Noah?
A faint spark lit inside me before I could stop it. My heart betrayed me, beating faster, louder, as hope—dangerous, unwanted hope—crept into my chest. My grip tightened slightly around the package.
He definitely misses me.
He had to.
Why else would something arrive for me now, out of all times? Why else would there be anything addressed to me at all?
Beta Torin bowed once more, his posture stiff, almost rushed, as if something else was calling him away. Without another word, he turned and left the throne room in a hurry. It wasn’t normal. It felt like there was something urgent pulling him elsewhere, something more important than standing there.
But I barely noticed.
I didn’t call him back. I didn’t ask questions. I didn’t even care to.
My entire attention had already been stolen completely by what I held in my hands.
The package.
I stared at it for a long moment, my fingers slowly tightening again as anticipation built inside me. My mind refused to think of anything else now. Every question, every fear, every thought—everything narrowed down to one single possibility.
Noah had sent this to me.
And I needed to know what was inside.
I carefully tore open the package, my fingers moving slower than usual as anticipation tightened in my chest. Whatever it was, I expected something—anything—that would explain why it had been sent to me. But the moment my eyes landed on the contents, that rising excitement inside me began to collapse almost instantly.
It faded.
Just like that.
Inside was an invitation letter, neatly folded and carefully wrapped with a golden ribbon that glimmered even under the dim light of the throne room. For a few seconds, I only stared at it, as though my mind refused to accept what I was seeing. Then, slowly, almost reluctantly, I reached for the ribbon and loosened it.
And that was when I froze completely.
It was a wedding invitation.
My breath caught in my throat.
Not just any wedding invitation... but one bearing the seal of the Lycan prince himself. The insignia stood boldly against the parchment, commanding attention, authority, and something far more intimidating than mere formality.
My fingers stiffened around the paper as I tried to make sense of it.
The Lycan prince.
Why would he personally send something like this to me?
I wasn’t an Alpha. I wasn’t even close to his rank or standing. We didn’t have any connection—no alliance, no communication, no shared history that I could recall. So why would someone of his stature go out of his way to invite me personally?
It made no sense.
None at all.
My brows furrowed slightly as confusion settled deeper in my chest. There was something unsettling about it, something that didn’t sit right. I had heard stories about him—stories that painted him as ruthless, cold, and unyielding. A ruler who did not hesitate, who did not bend, and who always took what he desired without question or compromise.
So why me?
My gaze dropped back to the invitation again, as if staring harder might reveal an answer hidden between the lines.
And then I noticed something else inside the package.
A golden hairpin.
I reached for it slowly, lifting it with cautious fingers. It was exquisitely crafted, its surface polished to perfection, with the unmistakable Lycan symbol engraved into it. The moment I turned it slightly, it caught the light in a way that made it almost appear alive—powerful, intentional, marked with authority.
I had heard of such items before.
Wearing a hairpin like this wasn’t just decoration. It was a declaration. A symbol that could command respect under Lycan authority, a sign that the bearer was not to be treated lightly. It carried influence—recognition—status.
It meant I was being acknowledged... almost as royalty.
My heart skipped unexpectedly.
For a brief moment, I didn’t know whether to feel honored or alarmed.
The Lycan prince was not someone who did things without reason. Everything about him was deliberate. Strategic. Dangerous in its precision. He was not known for sentiment, nor for unnecessary gestures.
He was known for desire—and pursuit.
A sudden thought crossed my mind before I could stop it.
Could the Lycan prince be in love with me?
A cold shiver slid down my spine almost immediately.
No.
That was absolutely impossible.
And yet...there it was. A wedding invitation. My fingers tightened slightly around the parchment again as I forced the thought away, shaking my head subtly as if that alone could dismiss it.
I exhaled slowly, taking a deep breath in an attempt to steady myself, forcing relief into my lungs.
It was just an invitation.
Nothing more.
Still...even as I tried to convince myself, the unease did not leave me. It lingered stubbornly at the back of my mind, twisting quietly, refusing to settle.
I remained restless.
But regardless of how I felt, one thing became clear as I lowered the invitation slightly in my hand.
I knew better than to attend.
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