Chapter 205: It wasn’t a mistake

Yuki glanced towards the dance floor before looking back at him. The invitation pleasantly surprised her. "All right," she chimed.

Declan stood and extended his hand. Yuki placed her hand in his. He lifted it and pressed a soft kiss against the back of her hand before leading her away from the table. The gesture sent a faint warmth through her cheeks.

When they reached the dance floor, Yuki gave him a small curtsy before stepping closer. She placed one hand on his shoulder while his other hand settled around her waist. The weight of his hand there made her suddenly more aware of how close they were.

Yuki swallowed quietly and looked up. Declan’s silver eyes caught the chandelier light, the cool silver taking on a faint golden glow beneath the warm illumination. The music carried them into a slow rhythm. For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Declan’s lips curved into an amused smile.

"You are handling yourself quite well," he remarked.

Yuki arched a brow. "What do you mean?" she asked, sounding confused.

He leaned closer, his voice dropping beside her ear. "Sitting at the same table as your exes all night."

Yuki scoffed. "You practically treated them like air."

"That’s what they are," she replied with a shrug. "I barely know them. If not for the bond, we would have nothing to do with each other."

Declan’s eyebrows lifted slightly. "Is that so?"

"Yes," she replied without missing a beat.

"So you’re telling me you truly have no feelings for them despite the bond?" he asked, studying her expression carefully.

Yuki snorted softly. "We were mated for barely a month before it was broken. The only thing there was attraction because of the bond. There wasn’t enough time for genuine feelings to bloom."

Declan watched her quietly. He knew there was more to the story. He could see it in the slight tension around her eyes and the way her fingers had tightened against his shoulder. But he wasn’t going to call her out on it.

"Fair enough," he murmured.

They continued moving across the floor until Yuki’s brows suddenly furrowed. "Wait," she called out.

Declan looked down at her.

"How did you know about the bond?" she asked suspiciously. "Alexander hid it quite well. Aside from those close to the Alpha King, barely anyone knows I was mated to them. Yet you, a foreign Alpha, somehow know."

A faint smile touched Declan’s lips. "I have my ways," he replied casually.

Yuki’s eyes narrowed. That answer only made her more suspicious.

Yuki stared at him, unconvinced, but before she could press further, the music changed. Declan smoothly twirled her beneath his arm. Her dress swept around her legs as she spun, and when she turned back towards him, her gaze instinctively drifted towards their table.

For a fleeting moment, her eyes met Kaden’s. He was already watching her. Their gazes locked. Then Kaden abruptly broke eye contact. Yuki barely had time to wonder why before Declan pulled her gently closer. She stepped forward and accidentally landed on his foot.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, immediately pulling back. "I’m sorry."

Declan chuckled. "It’s fine," he brushed off.

"I stepped on you."

"I’ve survived worse," he assured her lightly.

Yuki laughed under her breath. "That isn’t very reassuring," she said with a smile.

"It wasn’t meant to be."

She shook her head, smiling despite herself, and they continued dancing. They looked remarkably good together. Their movements matched naturally, and their easy conversation occasionally drew amused glances from nearby guests. The same lady who had been sitting near the triplets and Xavier watched them closely, then leaned towards the women beside her.

"They look good together," she whispered.

One of the women nodded. "They even have similar features."

"The blonde hair," another added. "And there’s a legend that couples who look alike are more likely to stay together."

The first lady’s eyes drifted towards Alexander and Aevia. "So the Alpha King really plans on arranging a marriage between Yuki and the Alpha of Silverthorne?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise. "That’s unexpected."

At the nearby table, Xavier’s expression tightened. He had spent most of the night watching Yuki from across the room, despite repeatedly telling himself there was no reason to. Every time she laughed with Declan, irritation twisted deeper inside him. His father, seated beside him, noticed where his gaze had settled and sighed.

"Declan has a higher chance of being chosen," he said quietly. "We cannot really compete with him."

Xavier turned towards him. "What do you mean?"

"Silverthorne has considerable influence," his father explained evenly. "Declan is more powerful than most of the nobles here, and his position makes him a formidable choice."

Xavier’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the thought. Not at all. Because if Yuki married Declan, she might leave Ravencourt soon. And for some reason, that possibility bothered him far more than it should.

On the dance floor, the music eventually came to a halt. Declan and Yuki slowed to a stop before offering each other a polite bow.

"Thank you for the dance," Declan said warmly.

Yuki smiled. "You’re welcome."

Declan extended his hand. "Shall I lead you back to the table?"

Yuki hesitated before shaking her head. "I need to use the ladies’ room."

He nodded without complaint. "All right. I’ll wait for you."

Yuki gave him a small smile before turning away. Declan watched her until she disappeared into the crowd. But Yuki never made it to the ladies’ room. While dancing, she had noticed Aevia leaving the dome, and now curiosity pulled her towards the exit. She wanted to ask her sister about the strange expression she’d noticed earlier and the mysterious man who had appeared during the reception.

The moment Yuki stepped outside, the cold night air welcomed her, brushing against her flushed cheeks and cooling the warmth left by the wine. The sounds of the reception became muffled behind the enormous doors, replaced by the rustling of leaves and the distant trickle of a fountain.

Moonlight spilled over the palace gardens, painting the stone pathways silver. Yuki looked around. A moment later, she spotted a figure moving deeper into the garden. Aevia. Yuki followed discreetly, keeping her distance as she moved between the hedges. She was careful with every step, making sure the gravel beneath her shoes didn’t betray her presence. Then she heard a voice. Aevia’s voice.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she demanded, her words cutting sharply through the quiet night.

Yuki froze. She slowly moved behind a plant wall and peeked through the leaves. Her eyes widened. Aevia wasn’t alone. The silver-haired man stood opposite her. The same man Yuki had seen inside the reception. His waist-length silver hair shimmered beneath the moonlight, almost white against the darkness of the garden. His delicate features looked eerily familiar, and his silver eyes were fixed on Aevia with an unsettling calm. Then his lips curved into a smug smile.

"It’s your wedding," he replied casually, his voice carrying the same smooth tone Yuki remembered from the Great In Between. "It is only natural that I attend." He tilted his head, amusement glimmering in his eyes. "Despite the fact that I didn’t get an invitation."

Yuki’s heart began pounding. Aevia’s hands curled into fists at her sides.