Chapter 239

“You look lovely, Miss Gray,” Jennifer said as she fastened a jeweled ornament in Amy’s blonde hair.

“Thanks,” Amy said. “But I’m getting crazy nervous. Everybody is going to be watching the birthday girl.”

“Relax, sweetie,” I said and pulled her in front of the mirror. “Let them stare. You look beautiful!”

Amy’s hair was arranged in an updo with loose pieces framing her pretty face. And Jennifer had accentuated Amy’s delicate beauty perfectly with makeup in an ivory, pink, and gold color palette.

She was wearing a ball gown that was one of Gisele’s latest designs. Made of delicate pink silk, it had spaghetti straps and a full princess skirt. The edges of the bodice and the hem were trimmed with gold thread and pearls.

“Yeah, I look okay,” Amy sighed. “But I know I’m going to forget the dance steps and make a fool of myself. Justin’s family will love having another reason to criticize me.”

“Stop worrying. Victor gave you a refresher course,” I reminded her. “You know all the dances. You just need to relax and enjoy yourself.”

“Were you this nervous before your birthday ball?” she asked.

“Yes, I was,” I replied. “But everything turned out fine, remember? You’re going to do great, too. Enjoy the ball, and then at midnight, you’ll experience your first shift and discover more about your heritage.”

“I am dying to know if I’m pure Alpha or a hybrid,” Amy admitted. “I don’t think that stuff matters, but I’ve been wondering about my biological family ever since I learned I was adopted.”

I smoothed a wrinkle on Amy’s skirt. “Do you want to meet them?”

I didn’t tell Amy that they had been invited to the ball. However, the Archers didn’t know Amy was the baby abandoned at their door.

“Yeah, it would be nice to talk to them,” she said. “And I’d like to know why my parents gave me up. I could never leave my baby on someone’s doorstep.”

Hmm. Maybe I should arrange for them to talk sometime. First, I wanted to check out the Archers to see if any of them are good people. Lana didn’t have anything good to say about Martha Archer, the matriarch.

“It’s time to go downstairs, ladies,” Jennifer said.

I checked my image in the mirror before leading Amy downstairs.

The gown I chose was a warm shade of café au lait with an off-the-shoulder neckline and an A-line skirt. It looked great with my tanned skin.

Jennifer had arranged my hair swept to one side, and I wore more dramatic makeup than Amy. It suited my coloring better than the light pinks and mauves I used to wear.

After assuring myself I looked okay, I took Amy’s hand, and we went downstairs. Alex, Mr. Gray, and Victor were dressed in white tie and waiting for us in the foyer.

The proud expression on Mr. Gray’s face when he saw Amy brought tears to my eyes.

“You look amazing, honey,” he told her. “I wish your mom could see you now.”

He tucked her hand in his arm, and Alex led them up the long hallway to the ballroom.

Victor moved to my side and reached for my hand. “You look exquisite, my love.”

“So do you,” I said, and we followed the others.

Alex entered the packed room and walked to the center of the dance floor. When he held up his arm, the crowd went silent and waited for his announcement.

“May I present the guest of honor on her eighteenth birthday, Miss Amy Deanna Gray, and her father, Chef Elliot Gray.”

Amy and Mr. Gray joined Alex in the center of the dance floor, and Alex signaled for the music to begin.

With every eye glued to them, Mr. Gray led Amy in a slow, graceful waltz. They danced beautifully together.

The expressions on the faces of the crowd varied and told me a lot about each of them. Some were smiling, some were curious, and a few looked at the Grays with disdain.

I made a mental note of the last group. Unfortunately, Justin’s parents, Tom and Karen Brown, and an older man and woman, who Victor said were Pat and Aaron Archer, Andrew’s parents, were in the last group.

“Is Andrew here?” I asked.

“I don’t see him,” Victor replied. “But that doesn’t surprise me. Andrew doesn’t go to many social events and is rarely seen with his family. He tends to keep to himself. The poor guy is treated like crap by his family.”

“There’s a nice crowd here tonight,” I said. “It looks like everyone who we invited came.”

The song ended, and Justin claimed Amy from her father. Her face glowed with happiness when he took her into his arms to dance.

“Shall we dance, sweetheart?” Victor asked.

I nodded, and we made our way onto the dance floor. Other couples followed our lead, and soon, the floor was packed with couples doing the Foxtrot.

I let myself enjoy the moment, dancing in my lover’s arms. But Justin’s parents walked onto the dance floor next to us.

“Have you seen how Justin’s parents look at Amy?” I whispered into Victor’s ear. “And they haven’t bothered to speak to her at all. Why did they bother to come to her ball?”

“I have noticed,” Victor replied. “And I think they are here to get on Alex’s and your good side. It is all about having connections for them.”

“After the song is over, I’m going over there to talk to them,” I growled.

“Be careful not to make a scene at Amy’s party, my love.”

“You’re right.” I buried my face in his chest for a moment and inhaled his scent. “I won’t say anything as long as they don’t hurt her feelings.”

After our dance, Victor had to speak to a client, so I went in search of Alex for a dance. As I passed Tom and Karen Brown, they tried to get my attention. I ignored them and kept walking.

Alex was busy talking business, too, so I asked Mr. Gray to dance. He accepted, and we danced the two-step until a handsome Beta woman asked to cut in.

I smiled and relinquished Mr. Gray to her before going to the bar for a cold glass of juice. Glancing to my right, I saw a man in a blue suit ordering a glass of beer.

“Hi,” I said and flashed him a smile.

He hesitated as if he wanted to run away. Then he gave me the kind of weak smile that made me think he had forgotten how. Maybe he didn’t have anything to smile about in his life. His demeanor was that of a lonely and broken man.

But then he spoke. “You’re Daisy, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” I replied. “I’m Alex Wilson’s daughter.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” the man said. “I’m Andy.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Andy,” I said. “Thank you for coming to the ball.”

“I’m glad to be here,” he said. “I heard you’re the birthday girl’s best friend.”

I nodded. “We’ve been friends since we were little.”

“You were raised by Betas, right?” I had the feeling the question wasn’t really about me.

“That’s right,” I replied. “I was lost to my father until he found me again last year.”

“What was it like, being raised by Betas?”

“My adoptive family weren’t nice to me after they had their own child,” I replied honestly and realized the memory no longer hurt. “I was happy to return to my real father.”

“I’m sorry, “ he said. “That must have been lonely.”

“I had my friend Amy and her father, Mr. Gray,” I told him. “He is a wonderful man.”

Andy looked relieved. “I’ve heard good things about him, and I eat at his restaurant often.”

“Daisy,” Alex said as he walked up to us. “I heard you wanted to dance.” He nodded politely at Andy. “I hope you don’t mind if I steal my daughter from you.”

“Not at all, Mr. Wilson,” Andy said. “I completely understand.”

I danced with Alex, Harry, and Victor again before it was time for Amy to get ready for her ceremony.

I found her talking with Justin and one of his friends. “It’s time,” I told her. “Let’s go upstairs and get you ready for your first shift.”

She fanned her face with her hands. “I’m so scared, yet so excited.”

“You’re going to love shifting,” I told her. “We’ll go for a run together afterward. It’s fantastic. And you’re going to find out what you are.”

She fanned herself again. “Okay, let’s do this. Meet me outside,” she told Justin. “I can’t get through it without you.”

Amy kissed Justin one last time, and she followed me from the room. It was time to find out if she was an Alpha or a hybrid.