Rue
I lean in close, lowering my voice into a deadly venomous tone that I use when confronting my opponent in the ring: “Believe me, if I say one word, I will become the future Luna of your pack.”
Jessica steps back and scoffs, “What nonsense are you spewing now?”
I exaggerate a shoulder shrug, “You remember how my mother died?”
Jessica nods slowly, giving me a skeptical side-eye. I let a smirk ride onto my face: “Well, Alpha Heir Travis is actually the young boy my real mother saved all those years ago. Our fathers made a contract offer to make me Luna of his pack in return for the loss of my mother’s life. When I first arrived, we met, and he told me he would honor the
agreement.”
“You’re lying!” Jessica seethed, “Travis is mine, and there is nothing you can do about it. Your jealousy is annoying.”
“Jealous? You can ask him yourself if you think I’m lying.” I ball my hands into a fist, trying to keep the anger off my face, “In the meantime, just know that all it would take is
one word from me, and I’ll become Travis’s Luna.”
We stand staring at one another, tension thickening the room to the point that my ears plugged. I didn’t move or change my expression as she searched for answers. Jessica
sees the truth in my words because fear takes over her features. She takes a step back, “Wait a second, please. Listen, I didn’t want to do that thing years ago, but I’ve finally found happiness with Travis. I was just afraid that you would try to take revenge against me. I told Cassie so many times that I didn’t want to do that to you, but she threatened
and blackmailed me into doing it.”
“of course, it was all Cassies’ fault. So you’ll tell me how you knew which room to send me
to?” I ask again.
“I honestly don’t know. That was all Cassie.” I still couldn’t tell if she was lying.
I scoffed, knowing this change of tune was to save her sorry ass, not make amends. I glared at her, “If you are actually sorry, beg for forgiveness.”
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“I’m so sorry, Rue. Please, forgive me,” Jessica says in her sweetest and most sincere voice. I know it’s completely fake, but a small feeling of satisfaction spreads throughout my chest. I glance at her, “Not forgiven.”
I strolled out the bathroom door and headed back toward James’s VIP section. Triumphant in my tiny, secret revenge against Jessica, there is almost a skip in my step. I look around, seeing blushing faces and weird looks. I wondered if there was toilet paper stuck to my shoe or something.
I sensed more than saw Jessica exit the bathroom after me, and when I sat down at my seat, I noticed Jessica smiling at Travis as she took her seat next to him. They were in a VIP section four tables away, not close enough for me to hear anything but still within line of sight. That secret revenge såtisfaction quickly morphed into disgust as I know she is only with him to take advantage of him. No matter how she tries to spin it, she isn’t happy with Travis as a person. Jessica is happy with his money and status. I shouldn’t care, they are both adults and can make their own choices. Travis said they weren’t together, but watching how Jessica touched and fussed over him showed otherwise.
I signal a waiter to bring over a drink. The wine earlier had worn off, and I needed something to take the edge off before I marched over to their table and chewed Jessica out again. It wasn’t my place to warn Travis. Suddenly, a well-dressed man with salt and pepper stylish hair walked over with my drink. I’d watched him take it smoothly from the blushing waiter a second ago, not realizing he would bring it to me.
“An elegant drink for an incredibly beautiful woman.” The man says in a voice that oozes arrogance. His words sound slimy instead of charming, leaving me feeling gross for even listening to them. “I’m Alpha John.”
I gave him a polite smile, “Nice to meet you, Alpha.”
The man sits down on the couch right next to me and puts his hand on my leg. “You, my dear, are so beautiful that I’ve heard about no one else in tonight’s gossip.”
His grip tightened, desire dripping off him, and I could feel the icky heat through my dress’s fabric. I quickly removed his hand from my leg and scooted over on the seat, leaving plenty of room between us, “That’s very kind of everyone, but I’m not interested in whatever you are offering.”
His creepy smile doesn’t falter, “All I’m offering, beautiful, is a companion for the night and a great night.”
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I stared at him as he pushed the drink toward me. I shook my head, pretending to fan my face, “If you’ll excuse me, I need some air.”
I purposely scoot around the table to avoid any contact with Alpha John, giving him a slight head shake when he attempts to stand to follow me. I stride toward the balcony doors, walking past the multiple open options that already have people milling about in the romantic setting. I glanced behind me to ensure Alpha John didn’t follow me. When I spot him on the dance floor with another woman, I blow relieved air through the sides of my mouth. I stepped out into the cool night air when I found an empty balcony. I grip the railing and lean into the darkness, admiring the vast twinkling lights of far away stars and the double moons, one smaller than the other shining brightly. The garden below was filled with various flower beds surrounding a well-lit fountain. In the distance, I could hear crickets and the croaking of frogs. The breathtaking scene calms my raging emotions, and I can finally run through everything. The roller coaster this night has been almost funny.
“Rue?” a voice calls out from the dark corner of the balcony. I glance that way when Alpha Heir Travis emerges from the darkness like a ghost, making me jump with a tiny yip.
“Oh, hello. I’m sorry, I thought the balcony was empty.” I say quickly, trying to still my racing heart.
“Its okay. There is plenty of room for both of us.” He mutters, and sips on the drink in his hand. Travis’s eyes roam over my face before turning toward the night sky. In the dim light of the balcony, his eyes no longer look pale blue but a deep black like I had first thought, and I wondered if I made a mistake. Numerous East Coast men held similar features to Reece, so it was just a coincidence they looked similar. Even in the semi- darkness, Travis’s got this whole insanely hot balance of growly dominance and unwavering support going on. I’ve never encountered anything more seductive than this impressive man. Suddenly, Travis takes three long strides until he is next to me, crowding my space, “Can I ask you a question?”
I gave a nervous chuckle, avoiding direct eye contact and secretly enjoying his sudden closeness, “Technically, you just did.”
Travis grins, shifting so the light spilling out onto the balcony sparkles against the pale blue coloring. I hadn’t made a mistake; his eyes are the same color as Reece’s. I inhale his mesmerizing scent and start to lean in. The air between us grows so thin that the only
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thing I am breathing is him. Travis purses his lips in thought, then sets his glass on the railing, “You are sitting in James Knight’s VIP section.”
I searched his expressionless face to see where this was going. When he is silent, staring at me expectantly, I tease him, “That was a statement.”
His thick eyebrows meet, making me want to poke the ruffled skin, “What is your relationship with him?”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, “why does it matter?”
“I guess it doesn’t, but I misunderstood your situation. Is James the boy’s father?” Travis asked with a hint of judgment laced in his voice. That judgment felt like a slap across the face after my conversation with Jessica. My body instantly iced over.
I grind my back teeth so hard I swear I hear them crack, “My affairs are none of your concern. I don’t need to tell you anything about my personal life.”
Travis opened his mouth to say something, but I held up my hand to stop him before storming back into the banquet hall. This whole night has been a bust. At this point, I should just go home.
Chapter Comments
Mark Sabrina Tyler
Dumb Alpha. You shouldn’t have taken that spank with you.
