"If you say so." She sips her drink delicately. "Tell me, how do you keep yourself busy? The Luna must have many talents."


    "I''m an artist,” I reply, surprised that she apparently doesn''t know since everyone else seems to know every detail about me


    already.


    Her lips press together, as if she thinks art is a folly and not a real career. "I see. You know, Lady Selina has quite the green thumb. Her rare moon flower collection was the envy of Ordan." She pauses, watching me closely. "Do you garden, Iris?"


    “I


    "Not really," I admit. "My apartment doesn''t have much space for nts." I decide


    not to mention that I''ve killed every


    housent I''ve ever owned.


    "Sorry, did you say apartment?"


    I take another swig of champagne. "Yes. Is there a problem with that?"


    Her eyes widen. "You mean to tell me that Alpha Arthur hasn''t provided you with a mansion yet?"


    "I don''t want one. Never asked for one." I shrug, "Besides, I recently got into a residency at Abbott Gallery, and-"


    "My dear,” she cuts me off, "if he hasn''t purchased a home for you yet, then.....” She gives me a pitying look, as if she sees me as a


    cheap whore whose mate can''t even be bothered to take care of me.


    I''m about to respond when a waiter approaches with another tray of champagne. Grateful for the interruption, I reach for a fresh ss, but my hand knocks against the tray, sending several sses toppling. Champagne sshes across the marble floor and, horrifyingly, onto the hem of her red dress.


    "I''m so sorry," I gasp, reaching for a napkin.


    she his


    She steps back, looking at me with pure disgust. "This dress is couture," she hisses. "Handcrafted by the finest werewolf artisans


    in Ordan."


    People around us have stopped talking, turning to stare at themotion. I feel their eyes on me, judging, assessing. The waiter


    scrambles to clean up the mess, waving me off when I try to help.


    "I''ll pay for the cleaning," I offer, my face burning with embarrassment.


    The woman lets out a musicalugh. "Oh, you poor thing. This isn''t about money."


    She leans in close, her smile still in ce but her eyes cold. "No amount of money can buy ss, darling. Or belonging."


    With that, she turns and glides away, leaving me standing there with a growing audience. I hear the whispers, see the sidelong


    nces. My heart pounds in my chest. I need to get away.


    "Excuse me," I mutter to no one in particr, setting down my half-empty ss


    and making a beeline for the nearest exit.


    I find myself in a hallway, following signs for the restroom. The women''s bathroom is mercifully empty when I push through the


    +20 Bonus


    door. I lean against the marble counter, staring at my reflection in the mirror.


    My makeup is still perfect, but my cheeks are flushed, and my eyes are a little watery. I look exactly like what I am: a human out


    of her depth.


    I ssh cold water on my wrists, trying to calm down. I need to pull myself together before going back out there.


    The bathroom door swings open, and three elegant werewolf women enter. I recognize one of them as having been part of the group standing near the Countess earlier. They stop when they see me, exchanging nces.


    "Well, well," the tallest one says, her lips curving into a predatory smile. "If it isn''t the human who thinks she can be Luna."


    My spine straightens. "Excuse me. I was just leaving."


    "Oh, I don''t think so," another says, moving to block the door. With a flick of her wrist, I hear the lock click into ce. "We want to have a little chat first." My heart rate picks up. "About what?"


    "About your... ce," the third woman says, her eyes shing. "Or rather, yourck of one."


    They begin to circle me, like wolves stalking prey. Which, I suppose, is exactly what they are.


    "That dress is wasted on you," the tall one says, reaching out to finger the silk of my sleeve. Her nail catches on the fabric, and with a quick motion, she tears a small hole. "Oops."


    "Stop that," I say, pulling away, but the second woman is behind me now, her hands gripping my shoulders.


    "Do you have any idea the damage you''re doing?" she hisses in my ear. "A human Luna would destroy centuries of tradition. The Alpha bloodline would be tainted."


    "Our blood is supposed to be pure for a reason," the third adds, grabbing another fistful of my dress. "Mongrels and half-breeds have no ce in our society."


    I struggle against their hold, but they''re much stronger than me. The tall one grabs the neckline of my dress, her ws extending just enough to slice through the delicate silk.


    "You don''t belong here, human," she snarls before giving a hard yank and tearing arge hole in my dress.