Chapter 182: Declan Silverthorne
"I’m Declan," he said, extending his hand towards her. "Your date for tonight."
Yuki froze for a moment. Declan. The match Aevia had praised had become a real person standing directly in front of her, and for a few seconds, Yuki completely forgot how she was supposed to respond. He certainly didn’t look thirty.
If Aevia hadn’t told her his age beforehand, Yuki would have guessed he was somewhere in his mid-twenties at most.
His blond hair was neatly styled, the strawberry-blond strands catching the moonlight filtering through the glass dome, while his silver eyes stood out against his youthful features. They were calm and observant, the kind of eyes that seemed to notice everything without revealing what was going through his mind.
His features were refined, his jaw defined without appearing harsh, and the faint smile on his lips gave him an approachable quality that contrasted strangely with the quiet power surrounding him.
Declan Silverthorne. The Alpha of Silverthorne. Even Yuki, who had little interest in politics, knew the name. Silverthorne might not have possessed territory as vast as Ravencourt, but it was one of the wealthiest territories in werewolf society, ranking slightly behind Ravencourt.
Their enormous mines produced precious ores and gemstones that were exported across the territories, giving them considerable economic influence. And the man standing before her was the one who ruled it.
He was handsome. Unquestionably so. His appearance had the sort of polished elegance that naturally drew attention, though Yuki couldn’t help comparing him to the strange white-haired man she had encountered in that mysterious realm.
Declan was attractive, but that man had possessed a beauty that felt almost unreal. Still, Declan had more than enough charm to turn heads. There was only one thing his pleasant smile couldn’t conceal. Power. Yuki could feel the restrained weight of his Alpha presence beneath his calm exterior.
He was keeping it carefully contained, but she could still sense it. It lingered around him like an invisible pressure, controlled but unmistakable.
She realised she had been staring. Heat crept up her neck as she blinked and quickly looked away.
"I’m sorry," she said awkwardly, rubbing her fingers against the fabric of her dress. "I wasn’t expecting you to appear so suddenly."
Declan chuckled softly. "Then I suppose appearing out of nowhere wasn’t the best first impression."
Yuki managed a small smile, but before she could respond, another scent reached her. Burnt amber, black pepper and, beneath it, the faint, expensive scent of cigarette smoke. Her body stiffened. Kaden. She hadn’t even heard him approach.
He stopped directly behind her, close enough that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. Yuki’s fingers tightened around her dress as his scent settled around her senses.
The cigarette smoke should have been unpleasant. Normally, she disliked the smell, but mixed with Kaden’s natural scent, it carried a strangely intoxicating quality that made her thoughts scatter. She hated that. Her nails dug into her palms as she forced herself to focus.
"Guests aren’t supposed to enter yet, Declan." Kaden’s voice came from behind her, calm and almost indifferent.
There wasn’t a trace of anger in it, but the quiet authority behind his words sent an unexpected shiver down Yuki’s spine. He was close enough that she felt the faint warmth of his breath brush against the shell of her ear when he continued.
"If my memory serves me correctly, the invited Alphas are still being privately hosted," Kaden added.
Declan’s silver eyes shifted towards him. For a fraction of a second, they flashed red. His wolf. The glow disappeared almost immediately, but Yuki caught it. Most werewolves possessed red eyes when their instincts surfaced, but the Ravencourts were different. Their noble Lycan bloodline gave their wolves golden eyes, a trait that made their ancestry unmistakable.
Declan tilted his head. "Declan?" he repeated, amusement touching his voice. "I was under the impression Alpha Alexander taught his heirs proper manners. Especially when addressing Alpha leaders older than themselves."
Kaden clicked his tongue quietly. "I address Alexander by his first name," he replied, his tone completely unbothered. "That doesn’t make you special." His sapphire eyes settled on Declan. "That aside, you haven’t answered my question."
Declan’s smile remained, but the amusement in his eyes faded slightly. The atmosphere changed. His Alpha aura slipped free before he could completely restrain it. The invisible pressure spread through the dome, causing several nearby servants to slow.
A few exchanged nervous glances before quickly returning to their work. Yuki’s breathing tightened. Kaden didn’t react. He didn’t release his own aura. He simply stood there, watching Declan with an unreadable expression.
That seemed to irritate Declan more than an open challenge would have. His attempt at dominance had received no response. Kaden hadn’t even considered it necessary.
Yuki instinctively shifted her weight, wanting to put some distance between herself and the tension surrounding the two Alphas. Instead, she became more aware of Kaden standing directly behind her. Declan eventually allowed his aura to recede. A short laugh escaped him.
"Fine," he said smoothly. "Your territory, your rules." His gaze drifted around the magnificent glass dome. "I heard the wedding venue was beautiful, so I wanted to see it for myself." His attention returned to Yuki. "But I have to admit, the decorations don’t hold a candle to Lady Miyuki."
Kaden’s expression changed. Only slightly. A brief tightening around his eyes. Then it was gone. Declan extended his hand towards Yuki.
"I was hoping we could speak before the ceremony," he said, his voice becoming warmer. "Lady Miyuki."
Yuki swallowed. The tension between the two Alphas had left her more uncomfortable than Declan’s compliment. Before Kaden could say anything else, she stepped forward and slipped her hand through Declan’s arm.
"You don’t have to explore by yourself, Declan," she said, deliberately using his first name. Her voice sounded softer than usual, almost familiar. "If you’re not supposed to be here yet, then we can talk somewhere else," she suggested.
Declan’s eyebrows lifted slightly before his smile returned. "I’d like that," he replied.
Yuki gently pulled him towards the exit. Her legs were trembling beneath her dress, but she refused to let it show. She didn’t look back at Kaden as she walked away, concentrating instead on keeping her breathing steady. Behind them, the servants continued arranging the final decorations.
Crystal chimed softly against crystal, while the fragrance of moon lilies drifted through the cool night air.
Kaden remained where he was. He watched Yuki disappear through the doorway before slowly turning his attention back to the empty space where Declan had been standing. His jaw tightened. He had bitten the inside of his cheek hard enough to draw blood.
The metallic taste lingered on his tongue. Kaden ran his tongue over the small wound, grimacing faintly. Declan’s wolf hadn’t been weak. That much was obvious. He was a crowned Alpha, after all. One who ruled an influential territory and controlled enough wealth to make other Alphas pay attention.
Kaden hadn’t wanted to release his own aura because there was no reason to create unnecessary tension at Alexander’s wedding. That was all. He wasn’t interested in proving himself to Declan. Nor did he appreciate foreign Alphas throwing their weight around inside Ravencourt territory.