The SilverLight Masquerade

Lydia

Few hours ago~~

The moment I stepped through the grand archway of the ballroom, the world seemed to shift.

Everything about the event screamed grandeur. 

The ballroom itself was an architectural masterpiece, carved into the side of the mountain, its walls made of polished obsidian that shimmered under the cascading glow of enchanted chandeliers. Hundreds of masked wolves filled the space, their clothes ranging from elegant to scandalous, their conversations laced with flirtation and tension. Soft orchestral music wove through the air, but beneath the melody lurked something primal—the hum of suppressed howls, the crackling energy of instincts held barely at bay.

After all, this was no ordinary ball.

The SilverLight Masquerade was more than just a ball. It was tradition, a sacred celebration. Every year, a different pack hosts the event, ensuring that new faces mingled, that wolves had the best chance of finding their mate. 

This year, our pack, the Nightshade Pack, was hosting.

Only unmated wolves could attend, all of them hoping to find the one the Moon Goddess had destined for them. It was a night of fate, a chance for wolves to meet their destined mates under the veil of mystery. The masks allowed wolves to interact beyond statuses, beyond ranks. For one night, nothing mattered except the pull of the bond.

As I descended the staircase, I felt the weight of countless eyes settling on me. The dress I wore was… daring. Too daring. 

Ignoring those predatory eyes, I walked down with confidence and tried to find Scarlet among the crowd. Since she was the Beta's daughter of our pack, it's her responsibility to help in hosting the event, so she must have arrived already.

Before I could reach her, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

"Lydia."

I turned just as Theo stepped towards me, his eyes darkening as they raked over me, his mask barely concealing the sharp intensity of his gaze.

He was handsome—too handsome for his own good. His black suit fit perfectly with silver accents, he looked effortlessly regal—his usual unruly dark hair smoothed back for the occasion. A silver mask covered his face, but I could still see the way his lips parted slightly, the way his throat moved as he swallowed.

His eyes trailed over my gown—a deep, midnight blue that shimmered like liquid starlight. It was designed to catch the light, to make me stand out no matter where I moved. A deliberate choice, though not mine. Scarlet had insisted.

My gown flowed around me, the first half sculpted to my form, clinging like a second skin, while the rest billowed in soft waves of sheer midnight blue fabric. Silver chains draped across my back, catching the light with every movement. The deep neckline exposed just enough to tease—but not enough to reveal. A delicate silver mask covered the upper half of my face, intricate swirls carved into the metal, accentuating my sharp eyes. My hair was loosely curled, strands pinned back to reveal my slender neck, the spot where a Theo's mark would one day rest. 

Speaking of Theo, he didn't say anything at first, just exhaled sharply.

I raised a brow. "You look like you've seen a ghost." 

His jaw tightened. "I wasn't expecting…" He gestured vaguely toward me, as if at a loss for words. "That." 

A slow smile tugged at my lips. "You don't like it?" 

"I didn't say that." His voice was gruff, but the way his fingers twitched at his sides gave him away, as if resisting the urge to touch me.

He took a step closer, his voice dropping. "That's not a dress. That's—" He gestured vaguely at the shimmering fabric. "That's a beacon. And Everyone is staring at you." His voice trailed low as if he doesn't want to sound petty.

There was no anger in his tone, just… something deeper. 

Possessiveness. 

I tilted my head, forcing a smirk. "Do I not look good?" 

"You look…" He exhaled again, shaking his head. "Forget it. Don't you dare leave my sight, okay?" 

I glanced around, noting the way some wolves—mostly Alphas and high-ranked warriors—were eyeing me like a prize to be claimed. 

"Don't let it get to you," I teased. "It's just a dress." 

Theo didn't respond. He just looked at me for a long moment before running a hand through his hair and muttering something under his breath.

Before I could say more, another voice interrupted.

"Would you honor me with a dance?"

A tall, golden-haired man stood before me, his deep blue mask barely concealing the sharp features beneath. He was charming in a polished, almost aristocratic way.

I barely had time to react before Theo stepped forward, his hand gripping my waist as he pulled me closer to him. His voice smooth, but firm. 

"She's off-limits." 

The man arched a brow, clearly amused. "And why is that?" 

"Because she is mine," Theo said simply, his hold on me tightening just enough to make his point. 

A silence stretched between them, tense and charged. I could feel the energy shifting, the slight flare of dominance in the air. The man smirked, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"My mistake." He inclined his head toward me. "A shame, really. Enjoy your evening, miss."

I watched him disappear into the crowd before turning back to Theo, arching a brow. "Possessive much?"

He crossed his arms. "I just don't like the way they're looking at you."

I smirked. "The way they're looking at me, or the way your body is reacting?"

Theo exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Both."

I wanted to tease him more, but Scarlet's voice pulled me back. 

I turned towards her voice, her mask doing little to hide the carefully crafted concern on her face. 

Her gown was entirely different from what we had planned—a deep red instead of the matching blue we had agreed upon. It was elegant, but modest, with long sleeves and a high neckline. A stark contrast to mine.

Before I could ask her anything, she started apologizing to me.

"Lydia, I'm so sorry about the dress. I know it wasn't what we originally planned, but my gown got ruined at the last minute—my maid spilled wine on it. There wasn't enough time to clean it up, so I had to find something else," she said, her tone laced with guilt.

I forced a small smile. A part of me was disappointed—she could've at least given me a heads-up. I would've changed into something else. But it was just a dress, right? No point in ruining the mood over something so petty.

"It's fine, Scarlet," I said lightly, even though the words felt a little forced. "Accidents happen."

She exhaled, relieved. "You're the best, you know that?" Then, looping her arm through mine, she pulled me closer. "I swear, I'll make it up to you. Let's just enjoy the night, okay?"

Before I could answer, she reached for a goblet behind her—a deep crimson liquid swirling inside. She lifted it toward me with a sly smile. "Here, consider this a peace offering."

I hesitated for only a second before taking it, which immediately got grabbed from my hands by Theo.

"You're giving her wine?" he asked, his tone full of surprise.

Scarlet rolled her eyes. "Relax, Theo. It's one drink, it won't kill her. "

"She might as well, with how bad her tolerance is," Theo shot back."And you? You're not drinking?"

Scarlet waved him off. "Me? Please. I'm keeping it classy tonight. Can't have my mate catching me slurring my words on our first meeting, now can I?"

Theo crossed his arms. And turned to me. "And you believe this?"

Scarlet has always been a party animal leaving no chance to drink up, so this change is new.

I took a sip taking the glass from him. "She might be saying the truth, we all know since how long she is anticipating tonight."

She pointed at me. "Thank you!" Then she nudged Theo. "See? At least someone here believes in me."

Theo scoffed. "Believing in you is how people get into trouble."

Scarlet gasped. "Lydia, did you hear that? He just called me trouble."

I nodded. "Took him long enough."

" Huh.....you both are unbelievable, " Scarlet scoffed, swirling the drink in her hand but never taking a sip while smoothly changing the focus from her, "Theo, you're hovering again."

Theo shot her a flat look. "And?"

I shook my head, exasperated. "He thinks if he looks intimidating enough, no one will dare ask me to dance."

Theo smirked. "It's working."

Scarlet sighed, shaking her head with mock disappointment. "You know, Theo, you're supposed to be mingling, not standing guard like some overprotective father. And we girls are supposed to know new faces. "

Theo scoffed, crossing his arms. "Oh, excuse me for not wanting to hand my Lydia over to the pack of wolves drooling over her."

I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of my drink. "You're being dramatic."

Scarlet grinned. "He's not wrong, though. You walked in looking like some celestial goddess, and now every unmated male here is probably wondering if they have a shot."

Theo shot her an unimpressed look. "And that's exactly the problem."

I huffed. "Oh, come on, you act like I showed up naked."

He narrowed his eyes. "Might as well have."

Scarlet snorted, bumping her shoulder against mine. "Ignore him. He's just mad you're stealing the attention he usually gets."

Theo let out an exaggerated gasp. "Betrayal. From my own best friend."

I smirked. "You'll live."

Scarlet linked her arm through mine, grinning. "We were supposed to match, remember? Can you imagine how much more dazzling we'd be together?"

I eyed her dress, raising a brow. "And yet, you bailed on me."

She pouted. "Not by choice! My dress got ruined, and this was all I had left. I was devastated, truly."

Theo snorted. "Yeah, you look heartbroken."

Scarlet ignored him, waving a hand. "Anyway, enough about me. Theo, shouldn't you be checking in on the dance arrangements? You know, the thing your father asked you to do?"

Theo groaned. "Ugh. Don't remind me."

Scarlet patted his arm with a knowing smile. "I'll come with you. You know, so you don't die of boredom."

Theo frowned, glancing back at me. "You're sure you'll be fine?"

Scarlet nudged him. "She's in her home Theo, who could bully her? Besides, we won't be gone long."

Theo turned to me. "You'll be okay?"

I sighed. "I'm not a child, Theo."

"That's the problem, if only you were a miniature , I would be carrying you always in my pocket, never letting you leave my side, " he says pouting and not wanting to leave my side, clinging onto me.

Scarlet rolled her eyes at him, shaking her head, her expression screaming unbelievable at his actions, "Theo, seriously? The Alpha trusted you with this. What if something goes wrong?" Saying that, she has no option but to pull him away and drag him, as he shot one last lingering look at me before disappearing into the crowd.

Scarlet turned back briefly, raising her glass. "Drink up, Lyds. Let's make the most of this night."

I chuckled and lifted my goblet to my lips, the rich liquid coating my tongue as I swallowed another sip.

A strange shiver ran down my spine. Faint. Fleeting.

Probably just the cold… or maybe something more.

I shook off the feeling, oblivious to the fact that, in mere moments, everything I knew—everything I believed—would shatter beyond repair.