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All eyes were on them.

Not on Irene who led the way—okay, maybe they’d stared at the woman at first—but now, their gazes were fixed on them. The little rogue pack escorting the famed Alpha of the East.

Lila had done justice with their outfits. Not flashy enough to be over the top, but just enough to draw attention. And most importantly, no shimmers or glimmers. At a glance, anyone would think it was crafted by skilled human hands, not with the dramatic flair of Fae magic.

Violet was the perfect rebel, stepping out in a hot pink blazer with silver spiking (thank you, Elsie, for the inspiration), layered over a white lace top.

Her short skirt flared with pleated details and decorative buttons.

While on her feet, she wore platform pink heels.

Her signature purple hair was pulled into a slick, high ponytail that demanded attention.

Ivy wore a shiny, metallic pink mini dress paired with a white faux fur jacket and matching trapper hat. Chunky white platform boots wrapped in cozy faux fur completed the look, and her soft blonde waves peeked out beneath her hat.

Daisy opted for a bold, fitted pink pantsuit. Elbow-length white gloves with the fingers cut out hugged her hands, and her vicious boots clacked against the floor with every step. The tiny glasses perched on her nose were purely fashion, not prescription.

And finally, Lila herself looked sweet and poised in a light pink and white checkered blouse tucked neatly into a voluminous, layered tulle skirt in a deeper shade of pink.

She wore powder-white heels and a delicate pink beret, with her short, wavy blonde hair pulled into a soft bun.

A few loose strands framed her face like a masterpiece.

Individually, they may not have outshone Elsie. But together? They were quite a sight causing heads to turn, with whispers following them. Who were they? What were they doing with Alpha Irene?

The girls heard the murmurs, but they kept walking with their heads held high and backs straight. They were a rogue pack that looked anything but rogue.

It was not hard to spot Elsie. Not when they were heading toward her. Well, them. Elsie’s mother was here too. It was not hard to identify Caroline. Not when both mother and daughter stood side by side, with Elsie being a spitting image of the woman.

Violet had expected Irene to stop when they approached. Elsie had even stepped out with a sweet smile to welcome her, but the woman walked on ahead without even glancing at them. It happened so quickly that Elsie froze on the spot, her welcome smile still plastered on her face.

The look on Elsie’s face was so comical that it took Violet the grace of God to maintain a blank expression, because internally, she was dying with laughter. That move by Irene was a complete slap in the face. She had not acknowledged Elsie or her mother, treating both like mere air.

Violet had to admit she was impressed by Irene’s audacity. But then, of course, she was an Alpha female. Elsie and her mother were supposed to grovel at her feet, not the other way around.

They continued on with Irene, who headed to one of the ordinary tables, purposely ignoring the high table that had her name tag on it, and sat down.

Violet and her girls were already planning to leave. Irene had already helped them make the dramatic entrance they wanted, so there was probably nothing else between them. They had no reason to be together again.

But Irene suddenly asked her, "What are you doing?"

"Huh?" Violet was confused, looking around to check if she had been talking to someone else. But her gaze was trained on her.

"We have to go and—"

"Leave me alone and go where?" Irene questioned.

Violet was suddenly speechless. She managed to ask, "Don’t you want us to leave?" She was suddenly not understanding how things worked around here.

Irene continued, "Didn’t you say you’re my escort? So where are you going then? I didn’t permit you to leave."

"Oh," Violet said. "So you want us to keep you company for the rest of the day?"

But Irene did not reply, her impassive look giving nothing away. Violet decided to risk it, signaling the others to take position behind the woman. They would guard her mother-in-law—fuck, Griffin’s mother. It was too early to start thinking nonsense.

But no sooner had they stood behind her, Irene sighed, causing the girls’ brows to furrow with confusion. Were they not doing it right?

"Are you guys planning to crowd around me and keep the fresh air away?" Irene asked.

"Oh," Violet said, feeling sheepish all of a sudden. She was suddenly not the brightest when it came to this woman. "I don’t understand." She scratched the back of her head.

"Take a seat, Violet. You and your friends." Irene gestured to her table.

Her table?!

"No," Violet shook her head, "You’re the esteemed Alpha of the East."

"It is a good thing to be humble, but you’re the Rogue Queen. You should have your pride as well, and right now, I insist. Sit." Irene looked around at her girls. "You and your friends. I want no one else at this table but the Rogue pack."

Violet and the girls looked shocked. They had not expected this kind of response from the woman. At the mention of the title "rogue", everyone else wrote them off. But not this woman.

Ivy looked so impressed she was on the verge of tears. "You’re so impressive, Alpha Irene. You’re my role model."

Although Irene waved the girls off, a small smirk crossed her lips. She just hid it quite well.

The table was arranged in a circular layout with only six seats, so the girls quickly filled them without fuss.

But something cleverly subtle happened. Lila, Daisy and Ivy deliberately ensured that Violet sat directly beside Irene, while the rest of them took the seats following after her, leaving the other seat beside Irene intentionally vacant.

Irene noticed the maneuver, of course. But she said nothing. It seems the girls were smart, after all. Out of all five of them, her interest was clearly centered on Violet considering the fact that she was dating her son. She intended to know more about the girl.

However, not everyone was thrilled with the current arrangement, precisely the host herself. Elsie Lancaster.

Though she wore a polite smile, masking her features with the grace of a perfect hostess, inwardly Elsie was seething.

A quiet rage brewed beneath her composure.

Irene’s little stunt had rattled her, even if she refused to show it.

She should have known better than to give those rogues any leeway.

Now, with Caroline breathing down her neck, she needed to reclaim control of her Luncheon, before it unraveled completely.

"It’s an honor having you back here for another Luncheon like every other year, Alpha Irene," she said so sweetly, her voice coated in just enough charm to make sugar jealous.

But Irene barely blinked. "Go straight to the point, Elsie," she cut in flatly. "Enough with the pleasantries. I’ve had enough of them over the years, my ears are beginning to ring."

Elsie blanched.

She hadn’t expected that. Sure, she and Irene had never been close, but the woman had always been civil. Polite, at the very least. Not this cold, dismissive attitude. She could barely believe it.

Her eyes flicked, almost unconsciously, toward Violet.

Of course. Of course it was her. Violet Purple. That little menace must have gotten to Irene first, turning and poisoning her mind against her.

Elsie cursed herself inwardly. She should have listened to her mother and sunk her claws into Irene first. She should have built the connection and secured her loyalty before Violet had the chance to weasel her way in.

Swallowing the heat rising in her throat, Elsie gathered her composure, forcing her voice to remain level.

"Irene, I’m afraid you are a special guest and the table doesn’t fit your status. Moreover, you don’t have the best of company at your table. These are—"

"Rogues. So I heard." Irene finished for her, tone dry.

Fuck.

Elsie’s head snapped toward Violet again, stunned. She told her already? And Irene let her be? No rebuke? No switch? No disdain? How was that even possible? It just couldn’t be!

Elsie’s chest burned as her eyes narrowed. What kind of charm had that girl used on the Alpha?

As if that wasn’t enough, Irene didn’t stop there. She said, "I did not have the grace to see the four corners of a highschool. But if we go according to wolf customs, branding humans as rogues does seem over the top, don’t you think?"

Just like that, Elsie was speechless and Violet didn’t even have to lift a finger. Her future mother-in-law fought her battles for her.

Yep. For real. She was definitely marrying Griffin.