Among Lions

POV: Selena

The invitation had arrived in a sleek black envelope sealed with gold foil—a symbol of old money and tighter secrets.

Selena hadn’t wanted to go. Not because of the people, but because of the silence in Leonard’s voice when he handed it to her.

“It’s not optional,” he’d said simply.

Now, stepping through the grand doors of the Velmont Prestige Society, she understood why.

The room exuded the kind of quiet wealth that didn’t need to shout. Polished mahogany, champagne towers, hushed laughter echoing beneath crystal chandeliers. Every guest here carried a last name that meant something. Generations of power stitched into tailored suits and couture gowns.

Selena adjusted the slit of her dress and followed Leonard inside. He wore a three-piece charcoal suit that looked custom-made to his frame—and probably was. His expression was unreadable, but his body was taut. Guarded.

He didn’t like this place.

That alone made Selena wary.

“Smile,” he said quietly, offering his arm.

She took it, heart skipping at the warm strength under her fingertips. “I didn’t know you had a social life.”

“I don’t,” he replied. “This is business dressed as tradition.”

They walked together through the murmurs and side glances, a thousand unspoken questions trailing behind them. Leonard Knight. Married. With someone like her.

At the far end of the room, an older couple greeted them—sharp eyes, polite smiles. Selena recognized them from a magazine spread about Velmont’s most influential families.

“Leonard,” the woman cooed. “You’ve been a ghost. And this must be your lovely wife.”

Selena smiled with trained ease. “Selena Carter. It’s a pleasure.”

The man studied her like she were a stock option. “Carter, hmm? Fashion?”

“My family’s company, yes.”

“Of course,” the woman said, lips curving. “You must be thrilled to have married into tech. Diversifying the portfolio, so to speak.”

Selena smiled tighter. “Love always makes the best investment.”

Leonard didn’t flinch, but she felt his grip on her waist tighten just a little.

As they drifted further into the party, Selena leaned in. “Tell me again why we’re here?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

Then, quietly: “Because these are the people who decide who stays in power—and who gets quietly erased.”

Selena blinked. “That dramatic?”

He met her eyes. “Worse.”

They passed a group of men in deep conversation. One of them—tall, silver-haired, with a commanding voice—looked up and stopped mid-sentence when he saw Leonard.

“Leonard Knight,” he said, stepping forward with the air of someone used to being bowed to. “Your father said you wouldn’t come.”

Selena froze, but Leonard stepped forward calmly, his expression icy.

“My father doesn’t speak for me.”

The man chuckled. “Still carrying that pride, I see. And this must be the wife we’ve heard so much about.”

Leonard’s jaw ticked, but he said nothing.

Selena extended her hand with grace. “Selena Carter.”

“Ah. The heiress. Quite the pairing.”

Leonard’s voice cut in, low and even. “We don’t owe you an explanation.”

The man smirked. “No, but you’ll owe someone eventually. Everyone does.”

With that, he walked off.

Selena turned to Leonard. “Was that…?”

“My uncle,” Leonard said flatly. “He runs the family trust.”

“You have a family trust?”

Leonard glanced away. “It’s complicated.”

She studied him for a moment. His posture was straighter here, more armored. She wondered how many nights like this he’d survived on sheer calculation.

She touched his hand, just for a second. Not for the cameras. Just to say I see you.

He looked at her, startled—but didn’t pull away.

Then his voice dropped, quieter. “You handled that well.”

“I wasn’t pretending,” she said, eyes steady. “I might not like your world, but I’ll stand with you in it.”

Leonard didn’t say anything, but something shifted behind his eyes.

Not gratitude. Not yet.

But awareness.

Respect.

Selena felt it in her bones.

And for the first time that evening, she didn’t feel like she was playing a role.

She felt like she belonged.

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