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Chapter 1 I'm Back

Kayla's POV
"Hey, look! Isn't that Kayla sitting next to Kelowna? She's actually back?"
"Kayla? Which Kayla?"
"Kayla Reeves! The alpha's daughter from The Obsidian Pack. We went to the same high school with her, remember?"
After hearing her friend's words, Vivian, dressed in a deep red strapless dress, displayed a knowing expression, but quickly shifted to a disdainful look.
"That pretentious Kayla, huh! I've never understood why she could go to the same school as us. After all, The Obsidian Pack is just a small pack, they've fallen even further now. The nobles and big names have almost forgotten about their pack. She doesn't deserve any of our attention!"
"You should be careful of women like her from small packs who act all innocent! Guess why she's here? Look at her dress! Tsk tsk, I'd say even the hookers on 92nd Street would blush at it."
Betty, dressed in a blue gown, sneered and glanced at Vivian beside her. "I have to say, your couture dress is being overshadowed by hers, Vivian."
"Hmph, why would I compare myself to her?! Our Silver Moon Pack isn't as low as the Obsidian Pack. We are noble aristocrats, while they are just poor people selling their daughters. Look, Kayla's father sent her daughter to this party as a commodity for people to choose from. How ridiculous! Besides, only a fallen pack like hers would try to please merchants like Kelowna!"
Vivian Leech fixated her gaze on a specific point, her teeth clenched as she tugged at the slightly snug bodice of her dress. Yet, her thoughts were consumed by the determination to continue her diet next week and shed an additional four pounds.
"Yeah, the Kelowna family is just a bunch of merchant folks. They're just new money and your dad looks down on them. But if the person who showed up today was Harrison, then things might be different..."
"What are you talking about?!"
Confronted with Vivian's fiercely hostile stare, Betty instantly snapped out of her reverie. Even though she couldn't stand Vivian's affectation, it was through being Vivian's sidekick that she gained access to the upper echelons.
Betty said with caution, "Um, what I meant is, Harrison became the alpha of The Dark Night Pack, the most powerful pack, at such a young age. He's handsome, loaded, and he's still single! All the big shots in Gorden City are scrambling to connect with him! If you could snag him as your mate and become Luna of The Dark Night Pack, that'd be a total win!"
Betty's honeyed words indeed succeeded in softening Vivian's demeanor. A hint of girlish blush even tinged her cheeks.
"It's just too bad Harrison barely turns up at these shindigs. He's super private on normal days and it's rare to get a bead on his whereabouts..."
"'Rare to get a bead' is an understatement. If you get enough strings to pull, nothing's impossible. If you hustle, you'll always find an opening."
Vivian lowered her head, deep in thought. "I just got some connections. Tonight, Harrison's gonna rendezvous with a buddy at the private villa tucked away in the deepest corner of Covert Garden."
"So, doesn't that mean we might bump into Harrison? We're in Covert Garden now."
The news that Harrison was on the premises made Betty so giddy she forgot to suck up to Vivian.
Betty cried. "I get it now. So, that is why you are coming for tonight's gala, right? Not to hobnob with that annoying merchant, Kelowna, but for..."
"Shh!"
Vivian clapped her hand over Betty's mouth, her gaze sharp as she swept the surroundings. Once she was convinced that nobody had eavesdropped on them, she shot Betty a dark look.
"Lower your voice! Do you want everyone to hear you? And what's gotten you so excited? With your background, do you dare to even fantasize about Harrison? Come on! Let me warn you! You better not embarrass me and tarnish the image I have in Harrison's eyes!"
"..."
"Are you mute or deaf? Didn't you hear me talking?!"
"I understand, Vivian."
Betty begrudgingly bit her lip, falling silent.
……
In the meantime, positioned at the heart of the banquet, I could no longer make out what they were saying behind me, as my attention had been captured entirely by that name. Harrison.
He did it. He became the alpha of the most powerful pack, a living legend in everyone's eyes. And me... I looked down at the alluring dress I was wearing, shaking my head with a tinge of sorrow. It's been six years, and my father hasn't changed. Even after six years of absence, upon my return, my father still sees me as a commodity or bait to lure in more men for his money. I once thought he had some love left for me. I believed this was merely a business party, but little did I know it was a "select a woman" soirée set up for that old man, Kelowna, and I was the "gift" my parents presented.
I should understand one thing. I've had no family since my mother's passing six years ago. I shouldn't have any expectations left for my father. Anxiously, I gripped the bodice of my dress. It's too tight, making it nearly impossible to breathe. The scent of the hall's perfume was making me uneasy. I figured I should leave soon. I lowered my head to glance at the text message my daughter had sent me.
"Mommy, when are you coming back?"
"Mommy's coming back soon." I replied to her message immediately, attaching a cute emoji.
Yes, I have a daughter. She was my solace during those six dark years, the best gift the moon goddess ever granted me. Nobody in this country knows about this. I'm glad I haven't informed my father yet.
I clutched my handbag, ready to leave.
"Hi, Kayla. I heard you just returned to the country. This must be your first time at Covert Garden, the most luxurious estate, right?"
The old businessman Kelowna suddenly approached me, and I could practically smell his repugnant breath.
"Please call me Miss Reeves, Mr. Kelowna. This is our first meeting, and I believe we're not that familiar yet." I turned my head slightly, responding with stiffness.
"Relax, Kayla. Your father's brought you to this event, and you're wearing a dress like that. Isn't it all to help us get acquainted quickly? Isn't that right, darling?"
Kelowna lightly draped his arm over my shoulder, pulling me into an embrace with half my body nestled against his.
And his palm conveniently hung over my chest. If I hadn't been using my arms to shield myself against his hand, Kelowna's hand would've nearly covered my entire breast.
"You've got it all wrong. I didn't choose this dress! I didn't even want to attend this event! There's been a misunderstanding, and I'm leaving."
My father just asked me to attend a business party for him, and I was forced into this dress by the makeup artist he arranged before the party.
I struggled, attempting to break free from Kelowna's embrace.
"You don't want to attend?"
Kelowna's demeanor instantly turned menacing, his grip on my arm tightening. The bulging muscles in his strong arm clamped down like a pair of iron pincers.
"Do you know? Covert Garden symbolizes money and power in this city. It's always been open only to the wealthiest and most prestigious guests! And here I am, as the heir of my family, hosting an event here today. It demonstrates the high society's recognition of me. Moreover, alphas from small packs like your father are practically offering up their daughters to me, begging for a chance to collaborate. Now I'm willing to give you a chance to please me, and you dare refuse me?"
"Let me go!"
Kelowna's threat escalated my struggle. This man was not to be trifled with. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.
The mix of sweat and perfume began to thicken the air around me.
Kelowna's eyes started turning red, emitting an unpleasant scent from his body.
I instantly realized he must've ingested some sort of aphrodisiac-laced drink.
I have to get out of here, right now!
*Rip*