The Luna Queen's Rebirth (Ellie and Dominic) novel Chapter 25

Chapter 25 
Ellie’s POV 
Vivian emerged from her own fitting room just as Dominic’s face fell. When she saw him, she immediately rushed to his side, linking their arms together in an obvious display of possession. 
“Dominic!” she exclaimed breathlessly. “What do you think of my dress? Don’t I look beautiful?” 
But Dominic’s gaze stayed locked on me, even as Vivian pressed herself against his arm and tried desperately to recapture his focus. 
I ignored them both and turned to the sales clerk. “Could you bring me another gown, please? This time in red.” 
“Of course, miss,” the clerk said, clearly sensing the tension in the air. 
While we waited, Vivian continued her performance, adjusting her white dress and posing to catch the light. Her friends clustered around her, offering increasingly forced compliments about how angelic she looked. 
The clerk returned with a stunning red gown that made my breath catch. The color was bold and dramatic, a deep crimson that seemed to glow with its own inner fire. It was the complete opposite of anything I’d ever worn before – daring where I’d once been safe, bold where I’d once been careful. 
When I emerged from the fitting room in the red dress, the entire boutique fell silent. The gown hugged my curves perfectly and made my skin glow. Even Vivian’s friends stopped their chattering to stare. 
“Oh my god, Ellie,” Sarah breathed. “You look incredible.” 
The red dress transformed me into someone entirely different – someone confident and untouchable. For the first time in weeks, I felt like myself again. The person I was meant to be, not the shadow I’d become while chasing after Dominic’s approval. 
Vivian’s face went through several emotions – surprise, envy, then carefully constructed sisterly pride. But I could see frustration building as Dominic continued staring at me instead of paying attention to her. Her white dress, which had looked so perfect moments ago, now seemed pale and forgettable next to the vibrant red. 
“Dominic,” she said, her voice taking on a whining quality as she tugged at his arm. “You haven’t said anything about my dress. Don’t you think I look pretty?” 
She started acting increasingly coy and clingy, practically hanging off his arm as she begged for compliments. 
“Tell me I’m beautiful,” she pleaded, batting her eyelashes. “Tell me you’re proud to have me as your partner.” 
Sarah couldn’t stand the false sweetness anymore. Her face twisted with disgust as she spoke loud enough for 
everyone to hear. 
“Doesn’t matter how nice the dress is,” she said with cutting precision. “Some people just can’t wear confidence.” 
The comment hit its mark perfectly. Vivian’s face flushed red, her carefully constructed mask slipping to reveal the insecurity underneath. 
The tension reached a breaking point as voices began to rise and other customers started to stare. 
Dominic looked around at all of us with obvious irritation, his jaw clenched with frustration. 
“Enough,” he said sharply, his Alpha authority cutting through the chaos. “All of you – shut up.” 
The command in his voice was unmistakable, and everyone fell silent immediately. 
That’s when Lucas appeared. 
He made quite an entrance, walking into the boutique like he owned the place. When he saw me in the red dress, he stopped dead in his tracks. 
“Wow,” he said, his voice carrying genuine surprise before he slipped back into theatrical mode. He placed his hand over his heart dramatically. “I think I’m the luckiest guy at the ceremony.” 
Lucas moved toward me with confident strides, making a point of ignoring everyone else. He took my hand‍and spun me around slowly. 
“Absolutely stunning,” he declared, making sure his voice carried to every corner of the room. “Every other guy there is going to be jealous that you’re with me.” 
He made a point of being extra affectionate, emphasizing that I was his partner and making sure everyone in the boutique could hear. The message was clear – I was off limits, no longer available for Dominic’s manipulations. 
Dominic’s expression turned thunderous as he watched Lucas’s display. His hands clenched into fists at his sides. 
Without a word, he turned and left the boutique, his shoulders rigid with anger. 
Vivian quickly followed after him, shooting me a venomous look over her shoulder. “Wait for me!” she called after him. 
Once they were gone, the atmosphere immediately lightened. 
Lucas turned back to me, and his expression shifted to something more genuine. 
“I meant what I said,” he told me quietly. “You look incredible.” 
For the first time since this mess started, he seemed sincere rather than playful. There was something in his eyes that suggested there might be more to Lucas than his reputation indicated. 
“You’re going to be absolutely stunning at the ceremony,” he continued, and something in his tone made me think he actually meant it. 
My emotions grew complicated as I looked at him. Maybe Lucas wasn’t quite as shallow as I’d thought. 
“I’m genuinely looking forward to dancing with you,” he said, and his smile was different than his usual smirk 
– warmer, more genuine. 
On the night of the mating ceremony, I entered the ballroom on Lucas’s arm, wearing the red dress that made me feel like someone entirely new. 
The venue was magnificent, decorated with thousands of white roses and golden lights that created an atmosphere of romance and magic. Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, casting prismatic rainbows across the polished marble floor. Everyone looked beautiful in their formal wear, and the excitement in the room was almost tangible. You could feel the anticipation radiating from every young wolf present – tonight would change everything for many of them. 
Vivian had finally gotten her wish – she was Dominic’s official dance partner, wearing a white dress that made her look like an angel. She clung to his arm possessively, her smile bright and triumphant. 
The four of us crossed paths right at the entrance, and I felt the weight of every eye in the room turning to stare at us. 
People began talking immediately, their voices creating a buzz of speculation. 
“Is Ellie dancing with Lucas just to get back at Dominic?” 
“Do you think she’s really over him?” 
“What if these turn out to be their fated mates? The sisters would be enemies forever.” 
The thought made me sick to my stomach. 
As the night progressed, I tried my best to enjoy myself. Lucas was an excellent dancer and surprisingly good company when he wasn’t putting on an act. 
We laughed and talked, and for brief moments I almost forgot about the drama surrounding us. He told me stories about his travels, his plans for the future, and I found myself genuinely interested in what he had to say. 
But as midnight approached, something unexpected happened. 
My wolf, who had been dormant and quiet since our first conversation after I woke up in this time, suddenly stirred in my mind. Her presence was stronger than it had ever been before, and when she spoke, her voice was clear and urgent. 
“Ellie,” she said, “the real purpose of the mating ceremony isn’t about who you dance with. It’s about the timing. At midnight, under the full moon, the Moon Goddess will reveal your true mate regardless of who’s standing next to you.” 
My heart skipped a beat, then began racing with sudden panic. 
Oh god. I’d been so focused on avoiding Dominic as a dance partner that I’d completely forgotten about the actual mate revelation. All my careful planning, all my strategic maneuvering – none of it mattered if the Moon Goddess had already decided our fate. 
Could it be that after everything I’d done to change my destiny, I was still bound to repeat the same tragic story?