Sold As The Alpha King’s Breeder Chapter 551
Chapter 51 : Belle of the Ball
*Lena*
Mom spread the amber-colored gown over my bed, taking a step back to look at it fully. Her pale brown
eyes moved over the glistening silk fabric, but her ck brows knitted in frustration.
“No, not this one,” she murmured as she turned back to the wardrobe and began to flip through the
assortment of dresses she’d packed for me before arriving in Avondale.
I was sitting at the vanity while a maid curled and braided my hair for the ball, the first event leading up
to the wedding. My lowlights had all but vanished now, leaving nothing but a sheet of silver-white
cascading down my back. I dusted my cheeks with blush while I watched my mom through the mirror.
Her fingers settled on an ice-blue gown, embroidered with silver crescent moons. It had long organza
sleeves, with a low back and a high neckline. It was one of my favorites, and most importantly, it would
hide the half-moon scar Xander had left above my breast.
“Your dad wants you in the amber gown, but it just doesn’t work with your eyes,” she said in a low
voice, almost to herself.
I smiled at her through the mirror as she pulled the blue dress from its hanger andid it over the bed.
“I like the blue one better. It’s a better fit. I can still wear my tiara and sash with it. Everyone knows I’m
part of Drogomor, anyway,” I said yfully.
Mom gave me a sideways smile as she stepped away from the dress and made her way to the vanity,
smiling gracefully at the maid.
“You can wear the moonstone and opal tiara your grandmother gave me.” She twirled one of my curls
around her finger before pinning it in ce.
My mother’s name was Hanna, and she was the daughter of Eugene, the Alpha King of Findali. But
she hadn’t always held her titles. There’d been a time, twenty years ago now, when she was a troubled
girl from Red Lakes, whisked away to Winter Forest when Dad was meant to marry my aunt Kacidra,
instead of her.
But my parents had been mates, and the first year of their rtionship had been marred by troubles I
couldn’t fathom. Born during the war of my grandparents’ time, they’d be raised in peace, but when
they were my age….
The maid took her leave. Mom started to rummage through the jewelry box on the vanity, pulling out a
few dainty bracelets. I turned to look at her, admiring her long, ink-ck hair that was braided and
twisted into an updo. She rarely wore makeup. She’d never needed it; her face was always beautifully
pink around her cheeks and her darkshes brought out the color of her eyes.
Growing up, I’d longed for even an ounce of her beauty. Compared to my mom, and my aunts, I felt
rather in.
“Are you ready to get dressed?” she asked, and I nodded, but then went rigid beneath her touch.
“I can do it, Mom. You still need to get dressed too.”
I didn’t want her to see the mark. I hadn’t told anyone yet, even when Oliver prodded me for details and
made fun of me for wearing a shirt over my bathing suit when we went to the beachst night to catch
the sunset.
I was nning on introducing him to Abigail tonight. I’d secured her an invitation to the ball, and I knew
for a fact she’d spent the majority of the day shopping for a dress.
“Well, we have about thirty minutes until we need to be downstairs to greet the guests,” she reminded
me, then kissed me on the cheek.
I closed my eyes against her touch, smiling to myself as she pulled away and left the room. I nced at
my reflection once more, then padded across the carpet, lifting the blue gown into the air.
***
The ballroom was glimmering in the light of three crystal chandeliers. The whole ce was dripping in
gold as I walked around the room gripping a flute of pink champagne. It was too sweet for my taste, but
so was everything else in the room. The cake table was stacked full, nearly toppling over with sweets.
I smirked as I saw the top of Hollis’s blonde head in the crowd, her mouth twisted in a beaming smile
as the Alphas and Lunas from across the packnds greeted her and bestowed their congrattions.
Will was nowhere to be found, at least so far. I’d seen Charlie though, the most amiable of my cousins,
and was pleased to indulge in some quiet conversation with him before the guests began to fill the
ballroom.
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This party, this ball, it was meant to be a celebration of the uing nuptials. It was one of three royal
events that would take ce before the wedding ceremony this weekend. It felt like overkill, in my
opinion, but knowing Hollis and Will, I wouldn’t have expected anything less.
Through the crowd, I spotted the back of Eliza’s head, her ck hair long and loose over her dainty
shoulder. George’s sister turned to me as she approached, her green eyes widening as she took in my
gown.
“I’ve been looking for you all night,” she beamed, taking my hand and squeezing it. “I thought you were
supposed to be wearing the colors of Drogomor.”
“It’s not like I blend in,” Iughed, bringing the sickenly sweet champagne to my lips. I, the thirteen-
year-old daughter of Beta Keaton, and his mate M, watched me with curiosity as I scanned the
crowd.
“Who are you looking for?” I said with a tilt of her head. She had Keaton’s golden hair, but it was
curly, and she favored her mother’s deep skin tone and dark eyes. I was going to be an absolute
stunner in a few years. She was wearing an age-appropriate dress with turquoise ruffles, her hair
woven through a tiara littered with sea ss.
“Oliver,” I replied, ncing between Eliza and I. “Have you seen him, Lizzie? I’ve been walking
around the ballroom for the better part of an hour with no luck.”
“I haven’t, but I’m not surprised. This has to be exceedingly painful for him. I heard Hollis hasn’t even
looked in his direction in the past several weeks, and Oliver has been having to run all kinds of errands
with Will in preparation for the wedding.”
I grimaced, shaking my head. Poor Oliver–the love of his life was marrying his brother, and yet he’d still
been happy and yful like usual. This entire situation made my problems seem small.
“Maeve said you’re sad over a boy. Is that true?” I asked innocently, fluttering her eyshes. What
was up with this younger generation? Luke had said something simr, but he wasn’t nearly as
gracious about it.
“What makes you think I’m sad?” I asked, wiggling my brows at her.
She giggled, but then snapped her head toward the end of the ballroom where her parents were
currently making their way through the crowd.
“They’re here to send me to bed,” she said under her breath. “I’m gonna go hide–”
“I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on you!” Lizzie cried, turning to chase after I.
I had been the babysitter of my younger cousins not too long ago, but that privilege had been passed
on to the now eighteen year old Lizzie. I sighed, feeling a bit sorry for her before downing the rest of my
champagne as I started to turn about the ballroom once more.
No one other than my family members talked to me as I made my way through the party. People
nced in my direction, of course, their curious gazes taking in my white hair.
They didn’t look at me the same way they gazed upon my grandmother Rosalie. They looked at me
with skepticism, obvious curiosity, and fear.
If Dad had ever been approached by another Alpha to ask about the possibility for my hand in
marriage, he’d never said so. I found it unlikely anyone had, despite my incredible rank. As I turned the
corner in the ballroom, walking past the sweet table once more, an Alpha actually moved his handsome
adult son away from me, whispering frantically into his ear as they watched me walk past.
I ignored the stares, but that didn’t mean they didn’t hurt. I’d grown so used to blending in and just
being normal, being me. Not Princess Selene.
“Lena!”
I turned my head to find Abigail standing toward the center of the ballroom, her face flushed from
dancing. She waltzed over to me, doing a little spin in the emerald green gown she was wearing that
hugged every curve of her body like a glove. The tops of her breasts were on full disy, and I smirked
as the group of young men she’d been talking to watched her walk away, their eyes wide and full of
longing.
“Having a good time?” I grinned as she hugged me.
She was panting slightly, but her mouth twisted into a huge smile, nodding her head. “This is the best
night of my life. I still can’t believe it. I honestly don’t know how you were able to keep this a secret for
so long. Why? Are you not, like, proud of all of this?”
“Look around,” I said into her ear, “Do you see how everyone is looking at me? It’s like you think it is.”
Abigail saw the odd looks as people turned their heads in our direction, always looking away before I
could catch their gaze.
“They’re intimidated by you–”
“They’re scared of me. There’s a difference. I’m supposed to be the White Queen one day, and no one
looks to me as a leader. I’m a freak–”
“You are not a freak,” she said in a low, serious voice. “Goddess, Lena. Cut yourself some ck. You’re
the most striking woman in this room. That Hollis chick has been ring at you all night, trust me.
You’re upstaging her.”
Good, I thought, but then felt a little mean. I didn’t dislike Hollis before, but I just couldn’t help myself
now.
“Look, what if I stayed with you tonight, stayed by your side? I’ll fight anyone who even shes a
narrowed eye in your direction. What do you say?”
“I’m so happy you’re here,” I breathed, leaning into her for a moment. “But look, all of those guys are
waiting for you toe back–”
She threw her head back andughed, shaking her head. “Oh, them? Nothing but sons of Betas and
warriors.”
“That matters?”
“Of course it matters!” sheughed, a glimmer of mischief in her eyes. “I’m surrounded by royalty, Lena.
The least I could do is aim high. This might be my only shot.”
I knew she was joking, of course, doing her absolute best to get a rise out of me and make me smile.
“I met your cousin Charlie. Well, I saw him. That counts, in my opinion. He’s just as handsome as I
knew he would be.”
“He’s not your type,” I said as a waiter passed with a tray of champagne. We each took a ss, turning
back to look over the crowd. “I love him dearly, but he’s… too nice. He’d never challenge you, and you
need that.”
“Hmm…. You’re not wrong. I do like a bit of turmoil from time to time.”
But she suddenly went rigid, her fingers grasping the champagne flute so tightly her knuckles turned
white. I looked around, then rxed my shoulders, giving Oliver a wry smile.
“Oliver, have you met my friend Abigail?”