Chapter 160
When Gavriel left her to attend to an important matter, Althea thought she wouldn’t be able to attend the banquet after everything that had happened. The Queen Mother had made sure of that. She even forbade Lady Beatrice from helping her and even ordered the maids to remove every gown from her wardrobe that she could possibly wear.
Melva had called the Queen Mother “petty,” and honestly, Althea agreed. But she didn’t really mind. Missing the banquet or any event, for that matter, didn’t bother her anymore. Just knowing what Gavriel truly felt for her was enough. She could live quietly in the shadows, even as a mistress without a title, as long as she could stay by his side and support him.
Melva had urged her to tell the Alpha King what had happened, but Althea refused. She even forbade Melva from reporting it herself. There was no need. Althea knew Gavriel well enough by now. He surely had eyes everywhere, watching over her even from the shadows. Sooner or later, the news would reach him without her saying a single word.
True enough, Gavriel found out what happened. So he gave clear orders to Uriel to open a portal and have Melva and Simon retrieve a wardrobe sent to him long ago from the Sanguira Continent. Inside it were gowns crafted for his future Luna.
One of them, Uriel said, was made with enchantments that allowed it to adjust to its wearer perfectly.
When Althea put it on, she could hardly believe her reflection. The gown shimmered faintly under the light, the fabric hugging her figure as though it had been designed for her alone.
“My Lady!” Melva gasped, hands flying to her mouth. “You look stunning! I swear, every single person at that banquet is going to drop their jaw when they see you p>
She hurried to fix Althea’s hair, arranging it into a soft updo with loose curls framing her heart-shaped face. The off-shoulder gown revealed just enough of her collarbone and curves to make her beauty impossible to ignore. The deep gold and black fabric accentuated her skin, catching every gleam of light.
When they stepped out, the three warrior guards waiting by the door froze. Dressed formally themselves, they could only stare—mouths slightly open, eyes wide.
Althea’s cheeks flushed, and she looked away quickly, trying to hide her embarrassment.
“Let’s go,” she said softly, steadying her breath. “We shouldn’t make the Alpha King wait p>
“R-right, this way, My Lady!” Rudy said quickly, recovering from his shock and gesturing ahead to guide her.
As they began their walk toward the banquet hall, the air around her shimmered with faint magic from the dress, flowing with her every movement. It made her feel like someone meant to stand beside a king.
When they reached the grand doors of the banquet hall, Althea felt her heart pounding in her chest. The sound was loud, echoing in her ears like a drum.
She had long grown used to ridicule and whispered insults… she’d heard them all her life, sometimes even before people spoke them aloud. Her gift of reading and hearing thoughts made sure of that. But tonight felt different.
Tonight, she didn’t care about what they might say about her. What mattered was that none of it would fall back on Gavriel. She didn’t want anyone mocking their Alpha King because of the woman standing beside him. She wanted, just this once, to make him proud.
Her hands trembled slightly, and she took a quiet breath.
[Relax. I won’t leave your side p>
Gavriel’s deep voice flowed through the bond between them, calm and steady like a warm current.
Althea’s lips curved into a soft smile. It still amazed her, this connection they shared. Not just the bond that tied their souls as mates, but the quiet understanding that had grown between them. She could feel his presence even without seeing him, his strength, his steadiness, his silent promise that she wasn’t alone.
Melva gave her a reassuring nod and whispered, “You’re ready, my Lady p>
Althea lifted her chin and exhaled slowly. “Let’s go p>
The guards opened the doors. Light and music from the hall spilled out, along with the hum of conversation and the scent of wine and roses.
And as she stepped forward, she could feel dozens of eyes turning toward her.
Every noble, warrior, and attendant turned their gaze toward the entrance. The soft light from the chandeliers reflected off Althea’s gown, the gold and black fabric glowing faintly like liquid starlight. Each step she took seemed to draw the air from the room. Fınd the newest release on.net
Whispers began to rise. Some voices were in awe, others in disbelief. Ava, who had been smiling sweetly, felt her smile falter as she followed the direction of everyone’s gaze.
And there she was—Althea, radiant and graceful, walking into the hall with quiet confidence.
Gavriel’s eyes immediately found her. His expression softened for a fleeting moment before the usual stoic look returned. Without hesitation, he excused himself from the noble’s side and strode toward her, the crowd parting instinctively to give way.
The sight made the nobles murmur even louder. Ava’s hand tightened around her goblet, her knuckles pale.
Gavriel reached Althea and stopped in front of her. The tension in the room thickened. Then, before anyone could react, he reached for her hand and held it gently but with unmistakable affection. His thumb brushed over her skin as if to reassure her, though his eyes remained fixed on hers.
Something in Gavriel’s expression shifted, pride flickering in his eyes. He turned, still holding her hand, and led her through the hall as whispers rippled through the guests. The nobles’ gazes followed every movement, curiosity and confusion mixing with admiration.
When they reached the seat reserved for him, the Alpha King turned to everyone in the grand hall. He inclined his head slightly, commanding silence. Then, with calm authority, his voice carried across the hall.
“Allow me to introduce my mate,” he said, his gaze settling on Althea. “Lady Althea… the future Luna Queen of our kingdom p>