Chapter 4 A Reunion of Misunderstandings

The lead officer turned to me. "Some of us will escort you home, miss, so you can gather your personal belongings."

I stood frozen, still processing what was happening. "How long will I be staying?" I finally managed to ask.

The officer gave me a puzzled look. "Everything should have been explained in your application."

Not wanting to draw unwanted attention, I nodded. "Of course."

They them drove me home and one officer stationed himself outside my door, explaining he was "here to help with luggage."

When I stepped inside, Amber rushed to greet me, practically bouncing with excitement. Elva remained on the couch playing with her dolls, looking up only briefly.

"Hi, Mommy," she called out.

"Hi, sweetheart," I responded before turning to Amber and pulling her aside. I kept my voice low, aware of the officer outside. "I was selected, but I never submitted an application."

Amber's gaze immediately dropped to the floor.

"So I might have sent in an application on your behalf..." she admitted.

"Amber!" I whisper-shouted.

"How much longer were you planning to endure that creep of a boss, Elena?" Amber countered.

I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. "What am I supposed to do now? If I go there, I'll be humiliated. I don't fit their criteria, Amber. I'm a single mother."

Amber shrugged. "What's the harm in trying? If you go and they disqualify you, you come back here and nothing changes. But if they accept you..."

"That will never happen."

Amber sighed dramatically before kneeling down to Elva's level. "Wouldn't you like to see Silver Moon Estate, Elva? Where the Luna lives?"

Elva's eyes widened. "The Luna has pretty dresses."

"She has lots of pretty dresses," Amber continued, "and so do many of the other girls there."

Elva turned to me, her eyes pleading. "Can I see the pretty dresses, Mommy? Please?"

I looked at my daughter's hopeful expression and felt my resistance crumble. "Okay, we can go see the pretty dresses."

This has to be some kind of mistake. I'll take Elva to see the manor, then politely withdraw.

We arrived at Silver Moon Estate at dawn, pulling into a long circular driveway. The massive stone structure loomed against the fading night sky, ancient and imposing. I carried Elva as we followed the security team into the east wing, where candidates were housed.

"Good luck, Miss Williams," one of the guards said softly as we reached our assigned room.

Twenty minutes later, I had changed and helped Elva into the nicest outfits we'd brought – simple matching sundresses. I brushed her hair into curly pigtails while leaving my own hair down, something I rarely did anymore.

Regina Morrison, the manor's head housekeeper, led us to the Moon Shadow Hall with barely concealed disdain. The ballroom was already filled with beautiful women in elaborate gowns that probably cost more than my monthly rent.

Elva's eyes grew wide as saucers. "Mommy, look!" she whispered, pointing at the sparkling dresses.

I guided her to a refreshment table in the corner, handing her a parfait and a spoon. "Be careful not to spill, sweetie."

I could feel the stares and hear the whispers. Without my inner wolf, I was even more sensitive to the hostility directed at me. One woman in a dazzling pink gown – Vanessa Montgomery, I recognized from television interviews – looked at my simple dress with such disgust that I lowered my gaze in embarrassment.

When I looked up again, Elva was no longer beside me.

Oh no.

I spotted my daughter reaching toward Vanessa's sparkly pink dress, parfait cup precariously tilted in her other hand.

"Elva!" I called, rushing forward.

Too late. A dollop of yogurt and berries slid over the edge of the cup and onto the expensive fabric.

I quickly pulled Elva back. "I'm so sorry," I apologized to Vanessa.

Her eyes blazed with fury. "Get that brat away from me!"

"It was just an accident," I repeated as Elva whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Children shouldn't even be here," Vanessa hissed. "What are you, a nanny? Who do you think you are to attempt mingling with potential Lunas?"

Elva's shoulders began to tremble as tears welled in her eyes.

I felt a surge of protective anger. "Now, hold on—"

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Vanessa snarled. "Get out!" She shoved me hard.

I fell backward, releasing Elva to prevent dragging her down too.

Vanessa then turned her aggression toward Elva, roughly pushing my child toward the exit.

Elva began crying in earnest, her parfait cup falling completely to the floor.

"What's going on here?"

The commanding voice silenced the room. Elva, as if sensing safety, ran directly toward the man who had spoken. He knelt to catch her.

My heart leaped into my throat as I recognized the voice.

Kane.

He lifted Elva into his arms with surprising gentleness. My daughter immediately buried her face against his shoulder.

Kane patted her back soothingly and murmured. "You're safe now."

"Oh my God," one candidate whispered loudly, fanning herself. "He's so good with children."

Kane's expression hardened as he looked around the room. "Whose child is this? Why is she here?"

I started forward, but Vanessa spoke first. "An outsider sneaked in. She's probably a maid."

Several women snickered.

"She can't possibly be a candidate," Sophia Maxwell stage-whispered. "I thought we had to meet traditional standards, and she has a child."

Humiliation washed over me. My dress wasn't as elegant as theirs, and my figure had changed since Blue Stone Academy. Years of skipping meals had left me thinner than I used to be.

For Elva's sake, I forced myself to approach Kane. When our eyes met, I was struck again by how beautiful his golden-green eyes were – the hallmark of the Sterling bloodline.

But now, his face showed no recognition – just a cold, emotionless mask. He looked at me like I was a complete stranger.

Does he truly not recognize me? Have I changed that much? Or is he pretending because he's ashamed of our past?

"This is the outsider," Vanessa said, pointing at me.

"I'll look into this," Kane stated flatly, then turned away, still holding Elva.

I followed them as Kane walked to an adjoining room. Ryan Thompson hurried toward him, looking concerned. "You shouldn't be alone with contestants yet."

Kane stopped and fixed Ryan with a stern look that made the other man step back. "This is an exception."

"Yes, sir." Ryan bowed as he retreated.

A servant closed the door behind us, leaving me alone with Kane and Elva in a small sitting room decorated with green crystals. Elva had apparently cried herself to sleep, her breathing now deep and even against Kane's chest.

My stomach churned with anxiety. I'd never imagined seeing Kane again, especially not like this – as a candidate in the Luna Selection, with my daughter in his arms.

I took a tentative step forward, but his brow furrowed.

Though his hands remained gentle around Elva, his arm tightened protectively around her.

"How dare you hide my child from me?" he demanded.