Chapter 2
1165 Words
Eden's pov:
"Refreshments?"
I shook my head as I was presented with juice for the 3rd time that evening. I couldn't help but shoot the waiter a look, as if to silently tell him to let me be.
I was in quite the sulking mood after all.
Truth be told, as a penniless orphan, I all but envied the waiters who got to attend to the pack members. I knew from experience that working at these events paid generously.
If only I had known sooner... I mentally sighed, as I tried and failed to get Clarissa off my back.
She was chatting me up about school, the upcoming dance, and the exams right after it, as if everything was normal... As if I hadn't seen her seduce Sebastian, the very guy she knew me to be in love with.
But then again, they had been too wrapped up in one another to notice little boring me.
I was the typical nerd. I had glasses framing my big blue eyes, because — don't come at me — I once thought glasses looked cute, and they just grew on me since. I had freckles across my cheeks, fiery red hair which I had dyed blonde to please the one who must not be named, and I barely even reached 5ft 5in in heels... that was how small my frame was.
If anyone were to ask me, aside from my bright eyes, which were hidden behind my glasses, there was nothing remotely attractive about me.
Really, I could understand how Sebastian must have felt, being hit on by the hottest girl in school. Clarrissa was everything I was not — bold, fierce, and beautiful.
Chances were they had already been intimate. And the mere thought drove an invisibile dagger right through my battered heart.
It wasn't too long before Alpha Black went on stage.
The man, a little over 40 years old, had yet to step down, no doubt because Hunter hadn't been around... It could also be because Hunter had yet to find his mate too. And according to our pack traditions, an Alpha was rarely deemed fit to rule if he didn't have a mate by his side.
Hunter looked like a younger replica of his father — short black hair, penetrating hazel eyes, bulging muscles and all.
But there was something about him, as he went on stage, that commanded respect as much as his father. The way his gaze swept over the crowd, and settled on me for a total of 3 seconds, almost made me worry I had done him wrong.
It couldn't be, could it?
The most recent memory I had of him had to be at least 2 years old, and I had accidentally stepped on his shoes in a pack event... Surely, he wasn't one to hold grudges over small things, was he?
"Evening," his father began, a small smile adorning his face, as opposed to his son, who only knew how to scowl from the looks of it. "We're gathered here today to welcome Hunter back home, where he belongs."
Everyone cheered and clapped. I knew what most of the she-wolves were excited about — new meat in town — and I found myself frowning ever so slightly... I didn't even know why.
Heavens, I couldn't be jealous! I mentally shrieked at myself.
I had no reason to be jealous after all. What was wrong with me?
"Thank you for the welcome," came the deep rumble that almost had me jump out of my skin, and drop to my knees at the same time.
Oh no! OMG! I began to panic, my eyes widening ever so slightly... Then, before I could start hyperventilating or anything, I made the situation lighter in my head with sarcasm.
Perfect... Just perfect, I growled mentally. Again, just my kind of luck. Looks like this day isn't mine to claim.
I tried to make sense of what had happened, of what this meant for me... but it was such an issue, it almost felt impossible.
I kept telling myself that I had the voice wrong, that I was imagining things... because there was no way in hell — it was just unbelievable — that my future alpha had seen me cry, as if my very existence was threatened a few hours ago.
Wishing the earth would open up and swallow me whole, his gaze found mine again in the crowd. His hazel eyes were mesmerizing and downright compelling as he spoke.
"I have been away for years, training, learning new things everyday, all in the hopes to better serve the Crimson Pack."
There was no mistake about his voice, and I had trouble breathing for a moment there.
More cheers erupted, but I found myself unable to join in. I prayed I could disappear somehow, somewhat, into the background... but despite the crowd and my small stature, I felt almost too seen. And even though his eyes were devoid of emotions, I could basically feel the burn of the embarrassment.
He might have talked some more, but all I could hear were his earlier encouraging words: "Wipe off those tears, little wolf. And then, the world's yours to take."
I felt like I could die of shame. Our future Alpha had seen me at my worst, and there was no way this would be forgotten.
I knew that my earlier ugly crying would be hard to forget... I just hoped there would never come a day where I would be ridiculed because of it.
"Do enjoy the evening," the Alpha then declared, before he and Hunter left the stage to a DJ.
How could I ever? I asked inwardly, on the verge of tears.
When was this day going to end?
"Are you even listening to me?" Clarissa's voice reached me, obnoxiously loud and annoying.
"What's up?" I asked on a sigh, which I didn't bother hiding.
"As I was saying," she began agian. "How about you and I take turns dancing with Sebastian?"
I had to hold back a snort.
"You know I am not intersted in anyone, and I would be quite bothered otherwise..."
This girl was full of tricks, but I was thankfully able to see right through her this time around.
"You usually love the attention," I raised an eyebrow at her.
"Not today," she shook her head negatively. "I would rather stick to the safe options..."
She trailed off, and I was left trying to figure out how to break it down easily to her.
I was done with them both. And while I was curious to know how far the deceit would go, I didn't think I had that much patience in me.
"I'm going back to my room," I declared at once. "Whether you dance with Sebastian or someone else is none of my business."
And with that, I walked away from her.
That being said, I didn't make it to my room before someone stopped me.
- Writer
