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The training grounds for the troops were crowded with males that surrounded the entire ring.

Elise could not help but feel intrigued as she walked closer, finding a part to squeeze through as she noticed who stood on the ring.

Kaide and Taz were both shirtless; T**’s muscles were hard and thick; his left arm was covered with a black band; and he had two striped tattoos.

Elise had noticed that it was on all the males’ left arm; one band meant you were delta, two bands were beta, and three bands were alpha, like the one she saw on Rygan’s body.

She hated that even at this moment she thought of Rygan’s beautiful sculpted body right now, shaking her head to get rid of the thoughts. “Don’t think about it,” she scolded herself as her hand tightened on the railing around the ring to focus on them. Kaide’s body was more lean-muscled, but his body was not lacking in any way, just less jacked than Ta**s. A blush crept on Elise’s face when she looked up to see Kaide staring at her.

He saw that she was checking out his body. Oh god.

The whistle blew, and Kaide faced his opponent, Taz, who let out a smirk. “It seems you’re not tired of getting your face beat, K..you surely are a dark one, ain’t you? It seems like you got a kink for this,” Taz teased.

Taz looked back to where Kaide’s gaze was preoccupied initially, sighting the redhead with her signature white, silver-streaked hair. “Are you sure you want to go down that road, buddy?” Taz warned, and Kaide’s face turned cold.

“I have no idea what you’re f**g talking about, and you’re going to get pummeled for that!” He snarled as he attacked first.

Taz blocked his attack with case, but it was more of a false attack from Kaide as he punched Taz squarely in the jaw, and the crowd cheered for their commanders.

“You’ll pay for that, you d**k,” Taz said with his lips stretching. In a dark smirk, cleaning his bl***dy lip. As he surged forward, the fight got intense, with both males handing off skillful punches and defense lines, but Taz had gotten the upper hand had he taken Kaide’s hands, pulling him into a headlock.

Elise watched in awe of their brute roughness and magnificent strength and asked, “What are you going to do? You’re going to lose in front of her?” He mocked her with a

D

chuckle.

Kaide had elbowed Ta***’s ribs, getting out of his grip, but Taz had his hand trapped. He pulled Kaide until they both bit the floor, and he bent Maid’s arms so that most of the crowd and Elise hissed from how painful it looked.

Kaide then tapped out as the bell rang. The crowd cheered for Taz, and Kaide made it down the ring and to where Elise stood.

“It seems like you enjoyed that,” he teased.

“Watching you both beat each other to a pulp? I enjoyed that,” she joked, earning a smile from Kaide. “But it seemed those females had enjoyed it more,” she said as her gaze darted to three females who stood admining both commanders.

Taz had given a slight bow to Elise, gaining the three females’ attention as they turned to Elise.

But their gaze turned intrigued as they stared at Elise and wondered who she was. “Don’t worry about them, you’re going to be introduced to the pack from the banquet this evening anyway, they are just intrigued.”

“A banquet Elise asked with a raised brow

“A celebration for the return of Alpha Rygan, The explained. “So you can go rest now, send someone with a few things to get you when it’s time; it’s a more formal dining that we are used to because of the uptight elders that will be in attendance, so you might have to be on guard,” he says to Elise.

She returned to her rouet, she made sure to have eaten earlier in the day to avoid Rygan, but now, because of the banquet, there was no way to ignore her, and it would look bad to disobey the invitation of the packs alpha king

Moments later, she heard a knock as a young Delta female entered inside. She carried a basket and her hands full of clothes that Kaide mentioned. Hana was her name-a young, pretty brunette who was surprisingly Elise’s age

She picked out the sky blue dress from the different options that Hana brought. Hana then helped her with her hair and styled her dress.

Elise admired herself in the mirror. Compared to her old pack, which was more dressed conservatively, the black moon pack prided itself on their more elusive and elegant clothing

The silk gown had a high neck with sleek sleeves, and the back was fully opened,

90%

showing the expanse of her spine to her lower back. Her hair was curled as sparkling blue eye shadow was added, and her icy blue eyes were more pronounced.

The slit on her left thigh was seductive and alacious, and it was unlike anything Elise had ever put on. She looks in the mirror, encouraging herself, so for the party, if she’s going to meet Rygan, she has to be unbothered.

“Don’t be nervous; you’ve got this,” she assures herself one last time as she stares at her reflection. Assuring herself that Nothing was going to break her.

The party was in full swing, as the large banquet hall connected to the moon house wast filled with merry laughter and the dance of different wolves who were clated about the alpha’s return.

Rygan sat strong on his throne, his aura unlike anything they’d ever seen. He was still pi*d at** how he ended the night with Elise the night before, and now, as he stared at the empty chair left for her, his irritation grew. His pheromones were starting to affect the people at the table around him.

“Not to alarm you or anything, brother, but you are about to scare the elders away, and one looked like he’s about to pee himself,” Kaide says as Taz snorted out from his wine cup. While Alvira hit Ta**s arms to stop him from laughing.

The whole hall had then suddenly become quiet as they turned to the door. Elise strode in, her head held high and an elegant and aloof expression that her mother had taught her.

She was taught to never look scared or threatened by the enemy, especially the black moon elders, who were already judging her.

The whole pack had gotten the gist of the king’s guest; they made up a story that she helped him escape the Darknight pack and that she was to be seen. As a hero and their Alpha’s savior.

Rygan could not take his eye off her; her beauty shone more than the stars that had him. awestruck-and his brothers too.

Alvira noticed the awed expression on Rygan’s face as cold jealousy overtook her as she entwined her and Rygan’s hands to get her to remind Elise of her place and who she was to Rygan.

Elise stopped before the high table, giving a bow to the alpha and elders. “Alpha Rygan, thank you for the invite to this beautiful banquet, and you’re home.”

“So it’s you who helped our alpha when he was in captivity, an older male called as he

scrutinized Elise from head to toe. Rygan felt his wolf close to growling at the elder, who felt a scalding presence and a carnal message from Rygan telepathy, who gave him. a very crossed threat, which made the elder bow.

That was what they needed to know for now; hey might not be ready to find out whose. daughter she was.

“Come, have a seat next to me, Red,” Thz said as Elise took a seat, with Taz directly opposite her, Kaide to her side, and Alvira, who sat on Taz, left a chair closer to Rygan, who sat on his high chair in the middle for formalities.

They dined and conversed before the elders took their leave, and what was left was a group of young wolves who were conversing but far away from the high table. While others continued with dancing and drinking.

There were a few looks from males who admired Elise; their eyes were filled with intrigue as they watched her occasionally, but Rygan’s warning stare had them turning

away.

“I have to say, Red, you clean up well, and you look exquisite,” Taz said as Kaide raised his brows.

“That might be the first time this b**d compliments a female, unlike an obtuse brute,” Kaide says, and Elise laughs. Immediately feeling better, she knew a certain alpha’s gaze was on her, but she didn’t once turn to him and didn’t want to give him the satisfaction that she was watching.

“Well, you weren’t saying that when I won our sparring today, were you?” Taz called with a smirk.

“Don’t tell me you both were foolishly at it again. What would the troops think if the two commanders, who like to play and bl**dy each other up for fun?” Alvira scolded.

“Well, Elise found it exciting.” Taz says. The table fell silent.

“What?” Rygan snarled.

“She came and watched our sparring; she liked being interested and sure our bodies. were a sight for sore eyes; wasn’t it red?”

“It was,” Elise claimed, inciting a brow raise from Rygan, who couldn’t believe her admitting she liked their bodies, even though Kaide tried hard not to stare at her. “I mean, who wouldn’t like to have a nice view? But all the more, I appreciated your sparring skills; I never learned that, and I want to be able to protect myself,” Elise says.

Sat, Aug

“Then, of course, we’ll teach you.” Kaide replied

“A perfect idea; you guys can rough her up a bit and show a princess who has pampered. her whole, like what a real fight looks like,” Alvira says.

And Elise tried hard not to eye roll at Alvira, who was purposely being rude to her to rile her up.

“Pay no mind to her, Red; you need the training, and we will do that. I can’t wait till you’re in the ring to wrestle.”

“Could you handle me then?” Elise bites back on his flirting, and Ta**s eyes turn dark with a stretching smile. “I can wrestle anywhere you want, if it’s on the ring or in the sheets.”

Elise did not break his stare as she smiled back. “I’ll be holding your promise to one of those,” she called, and Rygan looked frozen on the spot.

Not only was Elise outwardly flirting, but he hated how beautiful and ethereal she looked doing it, and worst of all, she had not given him an inkling of her gaze all evening. It unnerved the alpha king as his palms grazed the table and balled into fists. She was right about needing to practice how to fight.

But he still didn’t like it one bit; he didn’t like that another male would do it instead.

And worst of all, the night was still young. And this was just the beginning of his torture.all because of Elise Alderman.