The chaos of the evening slowly settled—laughter fading, magic dust still floating in the corners—when Uncle Sam cleared his throat.
"The cars are out front," he announced. "We leave for the party in five."
Just like that, the spell of the makeover ended, and reality came rushing in. We gathered our things, fixed our dresses, and headed out of the mansion toward the sleek black cars waiting in the driveway.
The moment we settled into the seats, Mia pulled out her phone to check her notifications. She had around twenty messages—most of them from friends freaking out at her new profile picture.
But one…One looked wrong.
The text was written in strange symbols—curved strokes, sharp angles, and a script that didn't belong to any language I knew.
Except…I could read it.
The pack meets tonight.The Alpha calls.
My eyes widened.My breath caught.It made no sense—yet the words sounded perfectly normal in my head, as if I'd spoken that language all my life.
Before I could ask Mia what it meant, I saw her typing back casually:
"I know. I'll be there."
There?Where?Pack? Alpha?
My heart began to pound.
When she hit send, I leaned closer, pretending to adjust my dress, but really trying to see the sender's name.
At the top of the chat…Just one letter glowed.
J.
My mind froze.
J.
The same letter is engraved on ancient Valkan heirlooms.The same symbol I'd seen carved in the old mansion library.The same letter that followed Jeremy like a shadow…
I swallowed hard.
Whatever this message was…whoever "the Alpha" was…
It wasn't random.
And Mia wasn't just going to a party.
She was answering a call from something older.Stranger.Dangerous.
And the worst part?
I could read it.
Like I'd always belonged to it.
But curiosity is a stubborn thing.Especially mine.
The message kept replaying in my head, each symbol burning brighter than the last. I tried to focus on the road, on the music, on anything that wasn't this… feeling. But it clung to me.
Finally, unable to stop myself, I turned to Mia.
"Mia… who exactly sent that message?" I asked, keeping my voice as casual as possible.
She didn't tense.Didn't flinch.Didn't even look surprised.
Instead, she sighed softly and leaned her head back against the seat.
"It's nothing dramatic," she said after a moment. "Just a… family thing."
Family.
The word hit harder than I expected.
Her tone wasn't defensive or secretive—just tired. Like she'd been asked this question a hundred times before and didn't know how to answer without sounding ridiculous.
"A family thing?" I repeated, searching her face.
She nodded, eyes drifting to the window."Yeah. You know how some relatives are… traditional? Rituals. Gatherings. All that ancient Balkan superstition stuff. It's one of those."
A part of me wanted to push.To say, Family things don't usually involve secret codes or Why could I read it then?
But Mia looked calm.Honest, even.
And deep inside, something whispered:
Let it go.Not now.
So I forced myself to relax into the seat."Okay," I said quietly. "If it's a family thing… I get it."
She gave me a relieved smile, the tension leaving her shoulders.
But as the car sped toward the glowing city, I knew one thing for sure:
I didn't believe her.Not really.
I only pretended to.
Because if I admitted how strange everything felt—the symbols, the message, the way my blood hummed when I read it—then I'd have to admit something far worse:
The thing that made my skin crawl was the fact that I could comprehend that strange code-like language.
We pulled up to the Grand Lumina, the sprawling hotel glittering under the city lights like a beacon calling out to the elite and the restless alike.
No sooner had the car doors opened than a storm of reporters descended on us like a tidal wave.
"Are you alone? " one shouted.
"Where are your parents? "
"Are you wearing Valenti tonight? "
"Are the Valkans working with the Jeralds? "
Their voices overlapped, rapid-fire questions raining down as they surged forward.
I stumbled backward, trying to keep my footing, heart pounding as the crowd pressed in tight—so close I expected to hit the cold, hard pavement.
But instead of crashing down, firm, rock-like arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me back upright with ease.
"Move," a deep voice growled, eyes flashing dangerously at the reporters. "Or I will sue every single one of you."
I looked up to see Jeremy, jaw clenched, standing like a guardian wall between me and the storm.
Before anyone could react, one of the reporters lunged forward—ready to push or shove—but Jeremy reacted faster, a solid kick catching the would-be aggressor just enough to halt him.
At the same time, Mia appeared at my side, her hands pushing against the press, shoving them back with fierce determination.
"Give her space! " she hissed.
Together, they helped me to my feet, forming an unbreakable barrier as the press reluctantly gave way, murmuring and clicking cameras from a safer distance.
I blinked, heart still racing—not just from the chaos, but from the fierce protection wrapped around me like armor.
Jeremy's voice was low but clear. "You okay? "
I nodded, swallowing the sudden lump in my throat.
Mia shot a sharp glance at the crowd. "Next time, don't let them get this close."
Jeremy smirked. "Trust me, I'm not planning to."
Then we proceed to the ballroom
As we walked toward the entrance, the flashing lights and shouted questions faded behind us, replaced by the electric hum of the party awaiting inside—and whatever shadows it would bring.
As soon as I stepped inside, my eyes were immediately drawn upward. A stunning chandelier hung from the ceiling, sparkling like fireworks frozen in mid-explosion—each crystal catching the light and scattering it across the grand ballroom like scattered stars.
Jeremy, ever the dutiful escort, strode ahead with purpose. He pulled out his phone and made a quick call to my parents.
True to form, they were already there, somewhere in the crowd, proudly flaunting my baby pictures as if I were some priceless diamond on display.
I spotted them instantly—Mom waving enthusiastically, clutching a photo album, while Dad was mid-story, animatedly pointing at a particularly embarrassing snapshot of me in my first tutu.
I rolled my eyes but couldn't help the small smile that tugged at my lips. Some things never changed.
Jeremy hung up and glanced back at us with a smirk. "They're ready to show you off."
Mia groaned. "Great. The 'adorable embarrassment' segment is about to begin."
I braced myself for the inevitable flood of attention, knowing this night was only just beginning
My mom noticed my presence as soon as we entered and came running in our direction.
I didn't even hesitate—I pulled my mom into a tight hug the moment she reached me.
"ViVi! I missed you so much!" she exclaimed, her voice bright and full of that familiar, overwhelming love.
"I called you like a million times! Is your phone dead or something? Like your Uncle Jesse's always is?" she teased, shaking her head with a fond smile.
I laughed, feeling the warmth of home in the middle of all this chaos. "Sorry, Mom. You know how it gets."
She ruffled my hair playfully. "Well, don't disappear on me again. You're not allowed."
Her words wrapped around me like a safety net, reminding me that no matter how tangled things got, I had this—family, love, and a place to belong.
As I stood there, still wrapped in my mom's hug, I caught sight of my dad approaching. His face was a mix of half-smiling and half-trying-to-hold-back-tears—like the weight of missing me was finally catching up with him.
He pulled me into a tight hug. "I missed your presence around the house," he murmured, voice thick with emotion. "The Jeralds haven't been the same since you left and Jonathan's babies and the twins arrived. It's pure chaos."
I smiled softly, understanding all too well. The house was probably overflowing with noise, laughter, and the kind of beautiful disorder only a growing family could create.
"I missed you too, Dad," I whispered back.
For a moment, in the middle of the grandeur and the flashing cameras, all I felt was home.
Jonathan was married to Maxie, Mia's cousin—the love of his life. Mia and I had been childhood buddies, but Jeremy and Jonathan had been friends long before I was even born. And with them came Maxie, who always seemed to light up every room she entered.
Their story was legendary at North Side High. Maxie and Jonathan had been together since middle school, crowned prom king and queen, and their relationship was so famous that guys from other schools would come just to see them.
Now they were married, with two-year-old twin boys and a newborn baby girl completing their little family.
Jonathan approached us with a calm confidence, Maxie cradling their four-month-old baby gently in her arms. Harry and Jerome were darting around Jonathan's legs like little firecrackers—full of energy and mischief, those two were the cutest little whirlwinds.
Seeing the family together like that—the loving parents, the giggling kids—brought a rare warmth to the bustling party around us. It felt like a small, perfect world amid the chaos.
Following closely behind Jonathan and Maxie were Daniel and Valeri, with little Rosa in tow. They gently handed Rosa off to Harry and Jerome, who immediately lit up with excitement at having their tiny cousin to play with. The three of them made their way to the table where their grandparents were seated—my mom proudly snapped pictures of all three, then helped settle them into their chairs.
Then Mom took her seat beside Dad, who was sitting right next to the Valkans. They were having a conversation on the cutie pie in their hand, who was giggling and laughing.
Mia, the gang, and I vanished to the balcony as fast as we could—because, honestly, this party was shaping up to be hella boring. This was the only free time us adults had to actually catch a breath and talk without all the noise.
eremy, Jonathan, and Daniel sprinted ahead, hitting the balcony first—no heels weighing them down like us poor ladies. Valeri and I were practically huffing and puffing, clutching our aching feet as we trudged up the stairs.
Mia and Maxie weren't far behind, throwing some serious shade at the guys.
"Ugh, typical. Why do they always get there first?" Mia groaned, rolling her eyes like it was the biggest injustice in the world."Seriously, show-offs," Maxie chimed in, flicking her hair with a smirk.
We all laughed, already craving the peace and quiet the balcony promised.
When we finally reached the balcony, the view was... Jeremy, Jonathan, and Daniel sprawled on the chairs, puffing away like a bunch of idiots.
Maxie climbed the last step and shouted, "If you take a puff, Jhon , you're sleeping outside tonight!"
Jeremy and Daniel burst out laughing, totally unfazed.
Then Valeri appeared, eyes blazing. "Dan, stop smoking or I will beat you up until you see stars arond your head circling."
Jeremy was the only one still laughing. to which Mia stormed over, snatched the cigarette from Jeremy hand, and stomped it into the ground telling "Muscle brain smoking is injurious to health. Do you wanna lose your last brain cell that is functioning on its own?
The guys just shook their heads while we girls exchanged victorious smirks. This was our gang — a chaotic, loud, stubborn bunch who somehow fit together perfectly.
My brother and Jeremy exchanged a quick glance before Jonathan smirked and said, "Hey, look — we've got a newbie with us," nodding toward Mia, who was dressed like a proper woman now, all sleek and dazzling.
Mia rolled her eyes but gave a small smile. "Don't make me regret agreeing to this makeover," she muttered, clearly half-amused, half-annoyed.
Jeremy laughed. "Relax, Mia. You're officially part of the crew now — whether you like it or not."
Valeri nudged me gently. "You're next on the transformation list, ViVi," she teased with a wink.
I rolled my eyes, but deep down I knew I was in for it. Mia might have been the 'newbie,' but soon enough, I'd be right there with her, navigating this strange, glittering world.
Jonathan took a sip from his drink and glanced around the balcony. "So, what's the plan for tonight? Besides surviving the endless small talk, of course."
Mia smirked. "Maybe we cause a little chaos. You know, shake things up a bit."
Jeremy raised an eyebrow, amused. "Now that sounds like the Mia I know."
I laughed, feeling a rush of excitement. No matter what this night held, I was ready to face it — with these people, this gang.
Jeremy then looked at me with a mischievous grin and said,"Hey, Catwoman, you tell us what we're doing today."
I raised an eyebrow, playing along with the nickname."Alright," I said, smirking. "First, we survive this party without embarrassing ourselves. Then maybe we actually have some fun."
Mia laughed, "Look who's getting bossy already!"
Jonathan shook his head, smiling. "I'm down for whatever, as long as it doesn't involve more heels."
Valeri groaned, "Preach, Jonathan. I'm already regretting these shoes."
The night was just getting started, and somehow, with this gang, I knew it was going to be anything but boring.
Maxie, nestled comfortably in Jonathan's lap, planted a soft kiss on his cheek, her smile warm and effortless. Nearby, Valeri settled onto Dan's lap with a playful grin, leaving only two seats left.
Jeremy and Mia quickly claimed them, leaving me standing, a mischievous grin spreading across my face. I looked at Mia, who gave a heavy sigh—a mix of dread and resigned sadness.
"Alright, here's what we're doing," I announced, trying to keep my tone light but teasing. "Truth or dare."
The words hung in the air, and I could see Mia's hesitation clearly, but there was no backing out now. The game was on.
Maxie grinned mischievously, nudging Jonathan. "Let's make it fun. Mia, I dare you to sneak back inside and grab a silly hat from the party—something outrageous—and wear it for the next hour."
Valeri laughed, adding, "And take a selfie with at least three people while wearing it!"
Mia rolled her eyes but nodded, accepting the challenge. "Fine, fine. I'll do it, but don't expect me to smile for those pictures."
Jeremy smirked and glanced at me. "Looks like the game's off to a good start, Viv. Your turn next after Mia."
"Hey, in order!" I announce, wagging my finger dramatically like some judge on a reality show. Mia rolls her eyes but gets up anyway and walks toward the party hall in search of a hat.
Not even a full minute passes before we hear footsteps — slow, heavy, overly dramatic footsteps — approaching from the balcony door.
A shadow stretches across the floor.
And then Mia appears.
A massive, oversized hat sits crooked on her head — the kind you'd see on a minister, a circus ringmaster, or a cartoon mayor. It wobbles with every step. In her hand she carries a random wooden stick, like she's about to deliver a sermon or start a magic show.
She steps onto the balcony with the most serious expression she can manage and declares in a deep voice:
"My children. Behave."
We absolutely LOSE it. Maxie's laughing so hard she falls sideways into Jhon's chest, Jeremy slaps his knee, Dan wheezes, and Valeri covers her mouth to hide the loudest snort.
And Mia… stands there, trying to stay dignified with her eyes twiching and a embarrassed smile starts designing on her face … but the hat keeps slipping down over her eyes, which made it seem even more funny.
It's perfect chaos.
Then, just as we were catching our breath, every phone around us buzzed — except mine. A message popped up on my screen. Everyone's laughter died instantly as they exchanged quick, worried glances.
"We have to go. Now. It's urgent," Jeremy and Mia say in unison, voice tense.
I thought it was a prank at first, but before I could protest, Jeremy scooped me up by my legs like I weighed nothing. Without another word, we dashed toward the emergency exit stairs, hearts pounding, adrenaline rushing.
No one said a thing as we fled — but I knew whatever was waiting for us out there was serious.