Chapter 29

The bartender shoved a glass of wine towards me. I took it tentatively and looked back across the floor. People had stopped whispering and were outright staring at me. Some had horrified looks twisted across their faces. Others looked disgusted.

I guess my altercation with Kairos outed my identity.

I took a huge swig of my wine. It was slightly acidic as it trickled down my throat. I was never much of a drinker when I was in the human world. It never appealed to me to lose myself like that. But now, as I was glared at despite looking the best I’d ever looked, I wanted to be lost.

I took another swig. Everyone’s eyes had slowly moved away from me, leaving me to look at them. I noticed several people chatting in the far right corner of the room. A particular gold and white dress caught my attention. I followed it up to the person and immediately spotted Loren.

She was talking to a much taller woman with the same pale skin as her. But this woman had swooping, long dark brown hair. It was curled and perfected into beautiful Hollywood waves. Her dress was a deep dark blue that accented her gold eyes. Her features were almost identical to Loren’s.

Her sister, I thought to myself.

Better go introduce yourself, my inner voice said. It wouldn’t hurt to have a few additional allies.

For once, I agreed with my inner voice. I slunk around the outside of the room, avoiding any additional altercations. I walked up behind Loren and gently placed my hand on her shoulder. Loren whipped around. Her surprise turned into a genuine smile and she wrapped me in a hug.

“Zora!” she said. “You’re here. Oh Gods, you look amazing!”

I laughed lightly, feeling the heart creep up my cheeks. “Thanks. They really did me well,”

Loren smiled brightly. She grabbed the woman standing next to her and brought her forward. “This is my sissy, Alessia,” she said. “She’s the next High Alpha of Moonbeam.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said, sticking out my hand. “I’m Zora Smith.”

Alessia hummed and gently shook my hand. “So, you’re the infamous Zora?” she raised an eyebrow. “Kairos really has it out for you.”

“Unfortunately,” I rubbed my arm.

Alessia hummed again. She sipped the champagne in her hand. “So, are you hoping to find a mate tonight?”

I was grateful for the change in topic. I sighed and fiddled with my own wine glass. “Maybe,” I said. “I’m pretty new to this whole thing so I’m just trying to go with my instincts.”

“That’s the best way to do it!” Loren piped up.

“Agreed,” Alessia said. “That’s how I found my mate. Here he is now.”

I looked over my shoulder and my heart sunk to my toes. Petyr sauntered over from the bar. He had a smug smirk on his face until he saw me. Then his face fell. He wrapped his arm around Alessia’s waist and pressed a kiss to the side of her face. His lips were still set in a neutral line. His jaw ticked as he took in me and Loren.

“Mini Moonbeam,” he drawled looking at Loren. He turned towards me and nodded once. “Wolfless.”

“Petyr, be nice,” Alessia said with no threat in her tone. I felt my lips curl in disgust. I nodded back at him. Loren’s hand grabbed at my elbow.

“Did anyone walk you through the steps of the Mateball?” she said gently. I shook my head. Alessia took another sip of her champagne then addressed me.

“It’s simple really,” she said. She gestured to the ceiling above the dance floor.

A giant window was radiating the night sky down onto the dance floor. People danced joyously under the moon as it edged closer and closer to being directly above the dance floor.

“At midnight, the lights will go dark as the full of the moonlight sets upon the dance floor,” Alessia continued. “The moonlight and your inner wolf will lead you to the one who is determined to be your fated mate. If you have one in the room, you’ll feel a tug in your chest towards them. If you have one in the world, you’ll feel a dull thrum in your body. Then, your heartbeats will set in time together and it’ll sound like there’s two drums in your head.”

I frowned. I felt like I’d had that sensation before. Loren squeezed my elbow, sensing how uncomfortable I was.

“It’ll be okay,” she said softly. “Apparently, your body will know what to do.”

“It’s true,” Petyr chimed in. I snapped my head towards him. It was the first time he’d addressed me in a way that wasn’t malicious. He tugged Alessia closer to him and looked deep in her eyes.

“I saw her across the dance floor,” he continued. “And I thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world, lit up by the moonlight in that silver dress.”

Petyr nuzzled his face into the space between Alessia’s chin and chest. She laughed lightly and rested her head on top of his. She planted a light kiss to his cheek bone then drew back. She noticed I was looking at them and smiled lightly at me.

“Even if your mate isn’t in the room, don’t lose hope,” she said. “My first year, Peytr wasn’t at school yet. I felt the dull thrum and I knew I had time to wait.”

I turned towards Loren. “Did you feel the thrum?” She smiled sadly at me and I felt her own sadness work it’s way through my bones. “I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

“It’s okay!” she said, perky as ever. “I can still choose a mate. But that’s a whole different type of Mateball.”

I nodded. “What happens then?”

Petyr gestured towards the dancefloor with a smug smirk. “If you look there, you’ll see how the Chosen mates court one another,” he said.

I looked over my shoulder and the first person I saw was Bella. Her long black signature ponytail was down that night. Her hair was woven into a loose braid on the bottom that fanned into curls around her face. She was twirling across the dance floor like a snowflake falling in winter: all graceful and elegant. At the end of her spin, she extended her arm. A masculine hand darted out from the crowd and accepted hers. She pulled the man attached to it out to the floor. His hand immediately went to her waist, lingering above her ass. When I saw the man, I gasped.

It was Valentin.

My hand went to my mouth as I watched his other hand slide into hers. They spun around the dancefloor like a work of art. I couldn’t help the deep pang of jealousy that spurred in my chest. For all the touches that Valentin avoided, or the fiery connection the two of us felt, I never thought he’d go so far as to pick a chosen mate over me.

Don’t show how upset you are, my inner voice said. Don’t let them win.

I chomped on my lower lip, inevitably messing up the red lip that Maja had put on me earlier in the day. I continued to watch Valentin and Bella twirl across the floor with a plethora of other couples. The others looked like they we’re in love, eyes locked and lips curled in smiles. Valentin looked neutral as ever. So much so, it was sending Bella into a scowl.

“Excuse me,” a voice ripped me out of my staring. “May I cut in?”

I turned towards the voice but I already knew who it was. Maximus stood behind me. He was wearing a dark blue suit that made his eyes pop against his skin. His hair was shirred short to his skull yet was darker than his suit. Petyr, Loren and Alessia had all turned towards him.

“May I?” Maximus said. I glanced down and noticed his hand was extended.

“What?” I said softly.

“May I have this dance?” Maximus repeated.