Chapter 166: Red dress
*~Hazel’s POV~*
"Perhaps when your precious Natasha returns from her little trip with her family, she’ll bless you with twins. Then you can name them Jordan and Kaylee," I said with a smirk, my voice dipped in just the right amount of venom.
Their faces shifted instantly. Cayden’s smug expression vanished. Caspian’s jaw tensed.
I turned slowly, eyeing them both. "What?" I asked, feigning innocence. "Is she not on a trip?"
The room grew silent for a second too long.
"Who told you that?" Caspian asked carefully.
"Aurora," I replied without hesitation, watching their reactions.
"Ah... yeah," Cayden muttered, scratching his head. "They’re on a trip."
His voice sounded unsure, and I noticed Caspian didn’t say a word to confirm or deny it. Their eyes weren’t meeting mine.
I nodded slowly, the smile slipping from my face. Liars.
Why are they lying again?. What has happened to my family?.. Ariel
My stomach knotted.
More reason I need to see Jonathan.
"I’m ready," I said, straightening the hem of my dress.
"Shall we?" Caspian offered his arm with a gentle smile.
I took it. Cayden lifted the twins into his arms. He adjusted his robe with one arm and cradled them like they were glass with the other. We made our way downstairs.
As soon as we stepped into the hall, every head turned.
A hush fell across the room.
I gripped Caspian’s arm tighter, feeling the weight of their stares on my skin.
The blue gown shimmered under the chandelier lights, hugging my frame perfectly. Caspian beside me in his noble silver and black attire. Cayden, in his full alpha regalia, diamonds catching the light, with our twins nestled against his chest
The pack held their breath as we descended like royals... well, we are.
Whispers rippled across the room like wind in a wheat field.
"She’s beautiful..."
"That is our Luna."
"Those are the twins..."
Cayden kept his eyes ahead, expression unreadable. Caspian was calm, warm. My own heart? Racing. But through all that, my eyes scanned the room like a hawk.
Where are you, Jonathan? You promised me you’d come.
We approached the hall’s center, where Elder Anna and Elder Klaus, my mother and father-in-law, stood in regal posture.
Caspian guided me forward while Cayden carefully stepped up and presented our twins to the gathered pack.
The moment he lifted the ceremonial veil from their tiny faces, the pack erupted into a loud, unified howl of celebration.
The sound echoed through the hall, a deep, proud roar that filled the walls and instantly startled the babies.
Both twins wailed, and I winced, my hands flying to my ears. "Oh God..."
Cayden tried to hush them, looking like he wanted to kill every wolf in the room.
Caspian sighed. "I told you they’d overdo it."
I scooped Heather into my arms and kissed her tiny forehead, while Cayden rocked Christian. "There, there. Your kingdom is loud, I know."
In the middle of it all, I couldn’t shake one thought:
Jonathan, where the hell are you?
Klaus and Elder Anna stepped forward, their robes trailing behind them like shadows of legacy. The room grew silent again, tension thick in the air.
"Hazel," Klaus spoke gently, "it is time."
My heart thudded against my ribs.
Anna offered a soft smile, her eyes warm. "The names, dear. Whisper them to me."
I leaned in, cradling Heather close, and whispered the names that had echoed in my soul. "Heather and Christian."
Anna’s expression stilled momentarily, as if the names struck something deep within her. She nodded once, then turned to the pack.
Klaus raised his hand high, his voice booming across the hall with pride and finality.
"Today, under the sacred light of the Blue Moon, we name the heirs of the Crescent legacy—children of Alpha Cayden and Luna Hazel..."
A breathless pause.
"...Heather and Christian!"
The pack erupted again, howling, stomping, cheering. The walls shook with the force of their pride and joy.
But this time, Cayden didn’t smile.
His jaw clenched, eyes flashing. "ALRIGHT—" he barked, the Alpha in him roaring to the surface. "THEY’RE JUST BABIES, DAMN IT! DO YOU WANT TO BURST THEIR EARDRUMS?"
The room fell dead silent.
Cayden huffed and adjusted Christian against his chest, whispering, "There. Much better."
A few chuckles rippled through the crowd as the tension eased. Heather blinked up at me, calm again, and Christian let out a sleepy sigh against Cayden’s robe.
Cayden and Caspian were still rigid, with postures like statues and tight jaws. That was when Aurora appeared beside us, and my eyes instantly widened. A folded handkerchief was pressed against her neck, but I caught it—a faint purplish bloom just under her jaw.
A hickey.
A damn hickey.
She blushed hard, trying to angle her body like she was hiding it, but I was already stalking toward her with a devilish smirk on my face.
"Someone’s having a perfect time," I said sweetly.
She stammered, "How’s the naming ceremony going?"
"Oh, fine. Beautiful. Magical, even. ... wait a second—" I yanked the handkerchief from her neck and gave her a mock gasp. "Seriously? A hickey? Of all days, you chose my babies’ naming ceremony as the day you get naughty with your secret lover?"
Her eyes went wide. "What are you talking about?"
"Oh, please," I deadpanned. "You’re the only friend I have here. Of course, I know about you and Leon. Don’t even try to lie. You think I’d care? I’m literally a Crescent...half-witch, half-wolf. If anyone’s going to cheer on a forbidden love between a werewolf and a witch, it’s me."
I bumped my shoulder into hers. She tried to smile, but her gaze flicked—past me, toward Caspian and Cayden. The three of them locked eyes, sending alarms ringing in my chest.
What are they planning?
My brow furrowed. I turned back to her, fake-casual. "Come on. Let’s grab a drink. I need one."
She hesitated. "No, you can’t. You’re the mother of the twins. You should be with them."
I arched a brow. "They’re with their father. Let them bond. I’m the one who pushed them out into this world. I deserve a damn juice box."
Still, she didn’t budge. In fact, she looked like she wanted to bolt. They’re trying to get her away from me. From the scene. From whatever plan they’re cooking up.
And I couldn’t let that happen. Not until I saw Jonathan. Not until I got the truth from him did they do something to him.
Just as I was about to press her harder, Caspian walked up to us like he was summoned by fate.
"May I have this dance?" he asked, voice low and velvet.
I blinked.
Then he smiled—that deep, disarming, killer smile—complete with dimples that should be illegal. My heart flipped. And then the bastard did it—he dropped to one knee like he was about to propose in the middle of the damn ball.
"Oh no," I whispered.
People turned. Eyes sparkled. Whispers fluttered through the air.
Aurora winked at me. "Your turn to get naughty," she whispered, then slipped away—exactly what they wanted.
Damn it. Well played.
I placed my hand in his, and the music swelled. He pulled me into the center of the floor as the melody picked up.
"Do you know how to dance?" he whispered, his breath brushing my ear.
"No," I said honestly. "Never been to a ball."
"Well," he murmured, "you’re doing this so well."
That’s when it hit me—I was doing this well. The way my body moved and I swayed in rhythm, as though I’d done this a hundred times before.
But in my memory? I hadn’t danced with anyone. Ever... is this part of the memory they took from me?
The dance ended far too soon, and to my own surprise, I hadn’t tripped once. Not even a stumble.
Caspian twirled me with a final flourish, then softly kissed my cheek.
"That was beautiful, my love," he murmured, voice warm against my skin. "Impressive for a first time. I must say... I’m impressed."
The pack erupted in cheers. I caught a few female wolves swooning, their eyes sparkling at the chemistry we just radiated across the floor. I tried to smile through my shock. Had I really just done that? So gracefully?
Caspian suddenly pulled out a handkerchief.
"I’m sorry, my love," he whispered.
Before I could ask what for, he dabbed my nose. My body stiffened. And then, everything went black.
—
My eyes fluttered open.....Pain shot through my skull. I groaned, clutching the side of my head, fighting back the thick fog of unconsciousness. Where... am I?
The room was silent, and the bright light hit my eyes.
My body felt heavier.
I stumbled toward the nearest reflection, heart pounding, and gasped when I turned to the mirror.
"No way... no freaking way."
What am I doing in the red dress? Is this Aurora doing... nothing, saying it looks bad on me, and Aurora was right. It really does bring out my eyes and hair, but still, what’s happening?