Ellie's POV
The ball was exactly what I thought it would be. Big, shiny, and too much. Chandeliers hung above us, glowing so bright that the marble floors almost sparkled. People were everywhere—alphas, betas, guests from other packs. Their laughter bounced off the walls while servants kept walking around with trays of wine and food. The smell of perfume mixed with roasted meat made the whole place heavy.
I stayed close to Ethan, but my eyes never stopped moving. I found Fiona right away. Of course I did. She was dressed in a black silk gown that clung to her like it had been made only for her. She was smiling, whispering to a visiting alpha, acting like she owned the hall. Her laugh carried through the noise, sweet on the outside but so fake I wanted to gag.
And then I saw John.
He d
