Defy The Alpha(s)

Chapter 353: Arrival Of A Queen

The parent Irene had been talking to noticed the tension between them and swiftly took her leave. With the woman gone, Irene faced Elsie with her hands clasped in front of her and asked politely, "How may I help you, Elsie Lancaster?"

Elsie did not know Irene much, but when someone called her by her full name like that, it couldn’t be anything good.

"I—I... T-the thing is..." Elsie found herself stammering at Irene’s intimidating stare. Unlike her, Zara was so easy to win over. The woman practically worshipped her. But not Irene. So far, sweet-talking was not Irene’s style.

So she took the alternative her mother had offered and said at once, "Your dress is stunning, Irene. I love it. And it’s so nice that we are both in red. The media might even think we are mother and daughter." She flattered her.

"Thank the gods we are not mother and daughter. Even my younger daughters know not to be as foolish as you," Irene callously said.

Elsie’s face heated with shame, and her ego couldn’t take such hit. But then, she needed Irene and so she swallowed her pride and apologized. "I’m so sorry, Irene. I honestly don’t know what came over me these past few days. It must be the stress or something that made me lose my mind."

But Irene said to her with faux sweetness, "Still not taking consequences for your actions, aren’t you such a delight, Elsie?"

Then she stepped closer, and Elsie instinctively took a step back, the woman towering over her.

like you. You think me stupid not to see

"No, that’s

She continued this time, her voice slower and intentional, "The only reason I have tolerated

mean by that? It especially unsettled her seeing the cruel, satisfied smile on Irene’s face as if she knew something that she didn’t. Something that would not work in

Elsie could question what she meant by that, the light in the room suddenly dimmed. Everyone’s attention was drawn

made her

Impossible.

walked in like a goddess, her purple gown nearly luminous in the low light while the amethyst heels clicked on the floor with authority. It didn’t help that the hall had gone silent, such that every step was

the lights came back on just as her three roommates joined

in disbelief was when the long-awaited cardinal alphas followed

heard whispers

their drink, and Elsie could understand their reaction considering she was close to suffering from an

broad build, with a sharp velvet lapel. He accented his

tie. Just like Griffin, he accented his outfit with a single amethyst pin shaped like a crescent moon on his lapel, and a tiny sprig of dark plum