Chapter 188: The Mark of Royalty
Vivian’s POV
The next day came in a total whirlwind.
The moment I opened my eyes, chaos practically greeted me with a kiss on the forehead. Zaliver and I parted ways not long after sunrise he had his heavy Alpha duties and final arrangements to double-check before the main event. I, on the other hand, was left to prepare for the night... which ended up taking the entire day.
I decided to indulge myself a little. A full spa day sounded like the absolute least I deserved with everything going on. First on the long list: my legs. Normally, I would have just shaved, but no apparently my body decided to go through some kind of rebellious growth spurt overnight. So, waxing it was. Painful? Yes. Worth it? Also yes.
After that, I got a light trim to clean up my split ends, then had both my nails and toes painted a sleek shade that made me feel oddly powerful. I spent nearly an hour steaming in a private room hot enough to melt my thoughts, just to get my skin glowing. Then came a cold rinse that left me shivering but completely refreshed.
Zaliver checked in on me through the mate bond a few times. His constant presence in my head felt warm, steady, and intensely curious. I could tell he was deeply looking forward to seeing the finished result.
After the spa, I came back to our penthouse suite and stepped into the grand bathroom, grabbing my favorite lotion and slathering it all over. The scent was soft and familiar the exact kind that made him bury his nose in my neck whenever he thought I wasn’t paying attention. I waited for the lotion to settle while I laid out the dress, the high heels, and the masks on the vast bed.
Next came my hair. I blow-dried it carefully, then ran the flat iron through every single strand until it gleamed beneath the light. No flyaways, no frizz just sleek, straight lines.
Finally, the moment I’d been anticipating all day: the dress.
Sliding into it sent a wild thrill right down my spine. It clung in all the right places, hugging my curves like it had been custom-sewn onto my skin, leaving just enough to the imagination. The high heels were equally jaw-dropping tall, strappy, and sharp enough to be used as lethal weapons if the night went completely sideways.
I stood before the large mirror and focused on my makeup. A bold cat-eye liner, enough mascara to fan out my dark lashes, and finally, the lipstick. A deep, intense shade that practically glowed against my skin. I loved the stark contrast. Loved how fierce I looked.
Hairbrush in hand, I pulled everything into a low, taut ponytail. A quick spritz of hairspray kept the baby hairs in check, and then I started digging through my bag.
"Where are you... come on, where aha." I grinned bright as I pulled out what I’d been searching for. Reading the instructions carefully, I took my time. It needed to be absolutely perfect.
Fifteen minutes later, I was completely ready.
The mirror reflected a woman I barely recognized not because she looked completely different, but because for once... I had no complaints. Not one single flaw to nitpick. I looked strong. Beautiful. Dangerous.
And very much like someone’s true Luna.
Excitement buzzed through my veins. A little anxiety too. But over all of it, there was this grounding, undeniable joy. Tonight was important for us, for the pack, and for everything that came next.
And I was completely ready.
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting the sleeves of the deep red lace dress that clung to me like a second skin. From my chest straight down to my waist, it hugged every single curve before flaring out beneath the silver ribbon that cinched my midsection tightly. The lace pattern on the sleeves bloomed in delicate red petals, but what I truly adored wasn’t just the dress or even the sleek black stilettos that added a few extra inches to my height. It was the intricate temporary mask drawn onto my bare skin, wrapping around my eyes like a secret whispered in dark ink.
The deep black swirls and intricate patterns framed my face with total elegance, enhancing the warm brown of my eyes and making my lashes look impossibly long. Once I put on the actual physical mask later, the tattoo beneath would stay hidden until I removed it and I absolutely loved the idea of that hidden detail. Like secret armor. Like magic.
I kept my accessories simple: pearl earrings, three rings that shimmered when the light hit them just right, and a long gladiator-style cuff that laced up my forearm. A hollow, flower-patterned black choker circled my neck, just loose enough to be comfortable, but tight enough to remind me who I was becoming. My nails, painted the same icy silver as the ribbon around my waist, glinted every time I moved my fingers.
Instead of going with basic red lips like I knew most others would, I chose black. Bold, unusual, and completely unapologetic. And somehow, the black lipstick worked in total harmony with the mask tattoo. It didn’t make me look strange at all. It made me look fierce.
Looking at myself, I didn’t just see a woman in a beautiful dress.
I saw a Luna.
A badass Luna.
With steady steps, I crossed the room to the bed and picked up the two physical masks waiting there one for me, one for him just as the door opened softly behind me.
And there he was.
Zaliver walked in like he owned the entire world hell, maybe he actually did. That raw power, that heavy weight he carried with every single step, filled the space before he even said a word. His dark black hair had been freshly trimmed, slicked back nicely on the sides but left just tousled enough at the top. His deep blue eyes locked onto me and immediately darkened, like a sudden storm gathering at sea.
He looked like pure sin wrapped in custom Armani.
The suit was perfectly tailored to his broad shoulders and lean frame. The black shirt beneath was buttoned all the way up to his throat, which for some reason drove me completely crazy. I found myself wishing two, maybe three of those buttons were undone so I could see just a hint of his sculpted chest. His pocket square was the exact same crimson shade as my dress a subtle but unmistakable claim: He’s mine.
Even his pants deviated from the usual boring style, tapering tightly at his ankles in a way only he could pull off. The polished black dress shoes grounded the whole look, completing the ultimate image of lethal grace.
If I looked fierce, he looked like a dark god ready to go to war and win.
He paused the second he saw me, his eyes raking slowly down my entire body like he needed to memorize every detail. Then, in a fast rush of movement, he was standing right in front of me. His mouth parted, and his tongue swept slowly over his bottom lip in a move that sent immediate heat flaring through my core. My heartbeat skipped, then picked up pace, knowing full well he hadn’t even seen what I was hiding underneath the dress yet.
His voice dropped low, almost a dark growl.
"Can I take the dress off now?"
His gaze fixated heavily on my chest, his eyes dark with raw hunger.
I let out a breathless laugh, shaking my head softly. "Nope. I just put it on. You’ll have to wait," I added with a teasing smile.
His eyes glazed over for a second before trailing down to my lips this time. He reached up, gently tracing my bottom lip with his index finger, his touch featherlight. He swallowed hard.
"Yes. Later," he said, his voice hoarse with promise.
Something coiled tight and low in my belly, heat spiraling straight through me. Saints, I wanted the night to end already if it meant being completely alone with him.
But another thought pushed through, tugging softly at the edge of my confidence.
"I’m a little nervous about meeting all the other alphas and lunas," I admitted quietly.
He didn’t lose the fire in his gaze, but his brows did crease slightly in concern.
"Why?"
I looked away from him, unsure. "Besides you and Albericus, I’ve never really interacted with other alphas. Not in my old pack either. I was raised being told to keep my head down, to avoid eye contact with dominant wolves, especially males. I never had the chance to defy that. You were different because you’re... you’re mine. But them..."