Tiana's POV
Alpha's Hated Mate
Tiana's POV
Everything worked out fine, the one thing we were missing was the birthday girl. Many were shocked to know she really was turning eighteen, to them she seems more mature and I couldn't agree more.
Queen Sheryl had called earlier, easing my anxiety when she said she was on her way with Camilla. Hades showed up a few minutes ago, with his girlfriend on his arm, playing the happy couple they are. Why didn't she get pregnant instead of me? I find that unfair but not as much as the fact that she was his plus one to this thing.
I stare at him from the corner, a drink in one hand and the other loosely draped around Ashlyn.
“Oh my, I think they're pulling up now.” Emily, Camilla's assistant, runs in, hastily gesturing behind her.
“Okay, let's get out of hiding.” Tamina claps, grabbing everyone's attention, I sigh, flashing a smile as I walk to the corner of a wall.
I lean against the wall, raising my water glass to Arielle who shakes her head. Kingston takes out his phone, pressing on it to turn off all inside lights. Everything in this house is new technology, Camilla clearly spent her savings wisely. When the lights finally go off, I'm grateful for the chance not to see Hades and Ashlyn.
The door opens, a little bright light exhibited shortly before it closes.
“Seriously?” Camilla groans, “Did I forget to pay the electric bill for this house?” she asks, a subtle tiredness in her tone.
“I highly doubt that,” Kendall tells her.
The lights come back on, with everyone yelling "surprise" to Camilla, she looks stunning, barely any makeup on her face and a beautiful floral print flared dress on her, clear strapped heels on her feet. The dress looks beautiful on her, she truly looks eighteen. In response, she staggers backwards nearly losing her balance but thankfully she slams into the Queen, that steadies her.
“What the-” she gasps, clutching her chest, laughter erupts around us, most of us finding her shock entertaining. I could smell her for a second when she was startled, but she easily depleted her scent.
“I told you this was a bad idea, you nearly killed my best friend.” I frown at Vanessa, who rolls her eyes. My feet set forward, hastily reaching Camilla.
“Tee?”
“Happy birthday Bear,” I tell her, pulling her in for a hug. I like this, it feels–safe.
Only after I've wished her does everyone else express their wishes. Camilla seems to be in shock when I reluctantly pull away from our hug. I love her hugs, but this isn't the time to get too clingy on her, perhaps later when everyone has had a chance to interact with her.
Camilla scowls, “Umm, it's not my birthday today, my birthday is on the first of next month.”
“It is the first Alpha Camilla,” Kingston notifies her, instantly grabbing her attention but not willing to hold his gaze, Camilla looks away, her gaze finding Ryan, right next to King with his son in his arms.
“Happy birthday princess,” he tells her, stretching out his one free arm.
Camilla launches for him, all that Alpha image tossed in the trash as she hugs her brother, shortly pulling away to take her nephew from him. “And you brought Liam,” she pouts, bouncing him on her hip, her inner babysitter coming out to play.
“Happy birthday Mommy!” Karla screams, running into the room from lord knows where the kid was, I haven't seen her since I put her down for a nap this afternoon.
Camilla turns around, peering down at Karla with a smile. “Thank you, sweetheart. You look very pretty my love,” she tells her, tapping her nose with her finger.
Karla giggles, “I got you a present.” she tells her, using her finger to motion her closer. Camilla crotches down to meet her size, Liam safely placed in her arms when Karla kisses her check, earning heartfelt reactions from everyone.
It's so sweet, I could cry, but I don't. I don't ever cry, especially not in front of people.“You want to know a secret?” Camilla giggles, “You're the best gift I've ever gotten.” she tells her, placing a kiss on her cheek before rising to her feet.
The night commences simple, with Camilla greeting her guests, lightly socialising with her nephew on her hip. While I sit silently in the company of Mirabelle, Clarissa, and Ashanti, at the round table of her overly large living room. The place has over three sets of sofas in it but tonight it's been cleared for her celebration.
“So, Tiana, do you feel differently?” someone with a thick accent asks, making me roll my eyes.
I might have pretended she doesn't exist for the most of the night but she's here now, asking me questions about the baby, questions I don't have answers to just yet. It's not that Ashlyn isn't nice, she's just not my type of crowd, her and her princess friends.
“My sunshine,” Camilla mouths, her arms wrapping around me from behind, smothering me with kisses before taking the empty seat next to me that was occupied by Karla, who now rests in Ryan's arms across the room.
“Happy birthday once again,” Ashlyn says softly, offering Camilla a smile.
“Thank you.” eye retorts blankly, shifting her attention to Belle. “I nearly walked in here with jeans and some string top.”
“Thank God for Sheryl huh?” Ashanti snorts.
“Mom Sheryl has amazing style.” Ashlyn comments, her voice starting to piss me off for some reason.
“I'll toast to that,” Camilla giggles, nudging my arm lightly as she reaches for a cocktail on the table.
“Milla, this place is nice, you're actually doing a great job. How do you get them to listen to you? I wouldn't.” Ashanti teases.
“I don't know, they just do as I ask.” Camilla shrugs, offering me her glass but she quickly takes it away. “Sorry.”
Mirabelle laughs, “They are terrified of what she's capable of doing, half of them watched her murder Alpha Hayden and luna Charity.”
“Speaking of that,” Vanessa begins. “How did you feel after that? I remember shaking for hours after my first kill”
“You killed a chicken nessa.” Arielle frowns, causing me to snort.
Camilla turns to me with a smile, I shrug, we both remember each other's first kill, Alpha Hayden wasn't her first kill, her first kill was for me. She did it for me, and mine well mine was a temperament distortion.
“Well, I don't remember anything, I just remember seeing blood all over my body.” Camilla replies simply, going for the easy answer unlike me, I would have gone with the hard answer.
“Like an episode?” Tamina asks, her hands resting on the table, analysing both Camilla and I. She knows that wasn't her first kill, all three of us know.
“Yea,” she snorts, making me nudge her under the table. “Exactly like an episode, blood always made me a little.... you know what I'm getting at, you're my therapist.” Camilla winks.
This is almost comical for me, I swing my head back, turning to my left, where Ryan stands, Karla in his arms as he chats up a storm with Hendrix, Camilla and Hades' cousin.
“Camilla's daughter is stealing your man Ari,” I say.
“Look at her smiling at me, making sure I can see him with him. Camilla, your daughter is stealing my man.”
“Safe to say she is his substitute Luna.” Belle smiles, blowing a kiss towards her Karla.
“Luna?” Camilla frowns, “No, she's going to be Alpha of Silverline one day, she doesn't want to be luna.”
“Oh please, she'd have an added advantage as luna.” Mirabelle tells her, to which we all murmur in acknowledgement. There's just something about being related by someone everyone fears, and that's a luna to their Alpha.
“Excuse me,” Camilla says, her gaze settling on Kingston. There's more than just a bathroom fuck between these two and it's evident for everyone.
Camilla finds Kingston sitting next to Hades, only now do I notice Ashlyn is no longer at this table, she's cuddled up next to Hades, holding his arm around her with her arms, I almost gag at the desperation. Hades says something to Camilla which makes her grin genuinely, mouthing something to him that drains all colour from his face, Kingston chuckling at the sight.
Camilla takes his glass from him, downing it before leaning down to place a kiss on his lips.
“Personally, I prefer the psychotic Alpha for her, he made her so happy. Just saying,” Ashanti let out.
Camilla leads Kingston away with her, Hades shooting King a warning glare, already the overprotective brother. I on the other hand have been avoiding my brother all night, he's here and I only said hi to him, not wanting him to ask me more than he should or tell him more than he should. I know Hades and Camilla simply just met but in my opinion, they already have a special bond formed, it just needs a little fire, a little spark, to ignite it.
I follow Camilla and Kingston, they walk past Ryan, Camilla taking a sleeping Karla and handing her to Kendall before proceeding to the chocolate fountain with Kingston. Camilla uses the empty scotch glass she took off King's hand earlier and fills it with chocolate, drinking the warm liquid chocolate as they chat, Camilla clearly teasing him.
“Are you okay Tee?”
“Hmm?” I ask, my gaze flickering around the table. I got a little lost, I don't know who it is that spoke to me, I was too in over my head just now, over analysing everyone and everything.
Arielle snaps her finger, diverting my attention to her. I nod, flashing her a smile. “Perfect, just thinking.” I tell her, snorting the silence my words have provoked I sigh, “ I promise no intrusive thoughts,” I add, my words aimed at Tamina.
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