Chapter 8

Lola's POV

"Jealous much?" I smirked watching him playfully narrow his eyes.
"I have the most beautiful girl in my arms and most of the men are looking at her. How can I not be jealous?" I hid my face as the redness returned to my cheeks. His words made me feel special, like he cared for no girl but me. His hand gripped my chin and raised my head making me stare into his glowing eyes.
"Don't hide yourself Lola, I love it when you blush. It makes you look so innocent." He murmured, voice so soft.
We continued dancing, our steps matching the beat of the music, the smile never leaving our faces. Jake will be the death of me, I just know it. The way I react to his touch, to his words, made me feel like he's the one destined for me.
All too soon, the music subsided indicating the end of the dance. Jake raised my hand and kissed the top of it.
"It was a pleasure dancing with you." He said straightening himself up. Taking my hand in his, we retreated from the dance floor, returning to where Mia and markt sat. Jake excused himself, saying that he had to make a quick phone call in which I doubted. His eyes were a luminous green, and I come to notice them change color when his wolf starts surfacing.
Watching him leave through the double doors, I sensed someone's presence right behind me.
"Princess, would you give me the honor of dancing with me?" A husky voice enquired.
I stared at the tall man in front of me, lost in whether or not I should accept his proposal. With shoulder length black hair and sun kissed skin tone, it was nearly impossible for any girl to resist his charm. His eyes were so cold yet so vivid, an ice blue containing splashes of fire red. Something about his aura screamed danger, but not being able to turn him down, I simply nodded.
"Of course." Putting my hand in his extended one, I gracefully stood up. He lead us to the dance floor, positioning his arms the same way Jake had done. But his touch was nothing like Jake. Even though his hand was warm and quite welcoming, but the warmness of Jake's touch was incomparable.
"You truly are as beautiful as rumors say. The most beautiful I had set my eyes on." He remarked. I smiled meekly at his approach, not wanting to appear rude. His complimenting words meant nothing. Any other girl my place would have blushed, but as my heart belonged to one specific person, his words had no effect on me.
"I apologize for my ill manners. My name is Luke Bryan, a noble from the north." Removing my gaze off the couples dancing around us, I stared into his penetrating icy eyes. They were digging deep into my soul.
"Pleasure to meet you Sir Luke." I murmured. He smiled a dazzling smile and continued swaying us to the beat. I hoped the music would end soon because something about this man didn't seem right.
"I heard that the werewolf prince was staying in the castle." Now that got my attention. He clearly noticed that by the way his eyes lit in satisfaction.
"Yes that's true. May I ask for the cause of this question?" I asked. He shrugged his shoulders, his lips twitching upwards.
"Nothing in specific." I raised my eyebrows at that because it was plain clear that there was a motive behind his question. Letting the matter drop, I continued dancing with him counting the minutes until the music finishes.
The entire dance, I didn't look at him. Instead, I promptly stared at the scar on the right side of his neck hidden by the dark locks of his hair.
"How did you get the scar on your neck?" I blurted out. I nearly smacked myself at my bluntness. His face held shock but in less than a second, he quickly masked it with a smile. And it wasn't a convivial one.
"I'm quite impressed your highness. No one usually notices the scar. And to answer your question, training can get a little too – rough." He said, finding the right words. For some reason, I couldn't believe him. His eyes held a lot of secrets and by their glow, my intuition knew they were dark ones.
"Oh," I said, though I wanted to ask many more questions concerning this training.
The music's sound faded into silence. Luke stepped closer, surprising me by taking my hand in his. He raised it until his lips placed a soft kiss on the top of it. His hair hung down, covering any expression prevailing on his face.
I wanted to snatch my hand away from his grasp, to make him go away. But I knew I couldn't do so. Stepping backwards, Luke bowed and I curtsied in return.
"It was a pleasure, your highness."
"Thank you, Sir Luke." I plastered the most convincing smile I could muster.
"Oh please, call me Luke." My brows furrowed in confusion at his statement. Taking note of my irritated expression, he chuckled making my frown deepen even more. I found no humor in his words.
"This probably won't be the last time we meet your grace, until then." I wanted to slap the hell out of him. Who does he think he is? I badly wanted to flip him off feeling the anger inside of me rise. Taking a deep breath, I sucked in my irritation and nodded.
Turning around, I uncomfortably headed towards Mark, feeling Luke's stare on my back. I hated to admit, but my mind told me that this won't be the last time I see Luke.
"Had fun?" Mark put a hand under his chin, staring at me with narrowed eyes. I huffed sitting down next to Mia. She was looking at me quizzically making me lower my gaze onto my lap.
"Don't look at me like that. He asked and it wouldn't be proper if I declined. Besides, Luke looked like a decent man." I almost snorted at my own words. Decent, he practically devoured me with his eyes.
"Luke?" Mark eyes sparked in amusement.
"Yeah, his name is Luke. Stop staring at me like that Mark it wasn't like I asked for his name." I snapped, glaring at him. He raised his arms up in surrender.
"I didn't mean anything Lola. But there's something about him that's alarming. I'm just warning you." So I wasn't the only one who felt that.
"To be honest, I found him a gentleman, nothing of what you two are talking about." Mia gestured with her hands. Mark and I rolled our eyes, knowing that Mia was too dumb thrown with Luke's looks.
"Don't you roll your eyes at me." She exclaimed shooting us an accusing glare. Just then, a brunette approached Mark putting a hand on his shoulder. She smiled seductively, fluttering her eyelashes as she leaned closer to him.
"Care to dance, handsome." I nearly covered my ears at her high pitched voice.
Mia was fuming, staring at the girl in bewilderment. But what provoked her the most was when Mark stood up, accepting her 'invitation'.
"Of course." He sent her a wink making her obnoxiously giggle. Glancing at Mia, she was holding the table's edges with both hands so she wouldn't kill the girl right at the spot. And if looks could kill, that girl would be buried ten feet underground.
When they left, I tried calming Mia down.
"Mia, don't give him the satisfaction of seeing you jealous. He's only doing so because he saw you getting all dreamy over Luke." I reasoned, but the scowl didn't leave her face as she grumbled incoherent words under her breath. Most likely vowing to get back at him.
I looked around the room and scrunched my eyebrows. Jake wasn't here. I returned my gaze to Mia, who was busy shooting daggers at Mark and the brunette. I actually found the situation entertaining, but knew better not to voice my thoughts. Mia would skin me alive along with Mark.
"Where's Jake?" I asked.
"He came for a minute when you were dancing with sexy hunk and stormed out. I think he's at the terrace." She mumbles referring to Luke. My mouth dropped in shock and I stared at her with unbelievable.
"And you tell me this now!" I narrowed my eyes at her. So Jake saw me dancing with Luke, maybe even saw him when he kissed my hand. This cannot be happening. Before she could say another world, I dashed towards the terrace hoping to find Jake there.
The cold night air hit me like a slap. Out here was peaceful, nothing like the loud cluster of noise inside. The moon showed its full face, brightly glowing in the middle of the sky. And the trees a few feet away rustled as a gust of wind blew by. But the sound of a giggle startled me. I took a couple of steps forward but froze in place.
I couldn't see Jake's face since he was giving me his back, but I could see the face of the girl that had both of her hands clasped on his arms. I knew Ava a was moving gold digger, but I never expected her to go for a royal, nevertheless a prince. That's just low.
But what irritated me the most was the fact that Jake did nothing. He didn't even attempt to take her hands off. Maybe he was enjoying it, I thought. She traced her hand upward until it rested close to his neck. I clenched my fists seeing her lips come closer to his ear. She whispered something to him and as she drawled away, bit her lip seductively.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest. I was torn between leaving and walking straight right up to them to tear her filthy claws away from him. I was tough, I knew I was. Running up to my room and crying all night would just be weak. Answers was want I needed, and answers is what I will get.
"Is everything alright?" I gathered all the strength in me, taking a few steps forward. The shocked expression on Ava's face made me want to smirk, but I remain serious. Jake turned around, taken by surprise.
"Oh not at all your highness. The prince and I were having a little – talk." Talk my ass. You were luring him into your bed, I wanted to scream. I glanced at Jake seeing him put his hands in his pockets. Guilt flashed through his eyes and raged flashed through mine. This was the second time I catch him with Ava alone.
"Didn't look like it." Anger dripped from every word I spoke. Jake's eyebrows shot up, apprehending the situation.
"Ava, leave us. I want to talk with Lola, alone." He stressed, not sparring her a second chance. Ava narrowed her eyes at me accusingly. I smiled sweetly at her wanting to get on her nerves, and it worked. She clenched her fists and walked past us storming inside the ballroom.
"You looked like you enjoyed your little talk." I crossed my hands over my chest.
"Lola, don't make it seem like it was anything when it was nothing. I was already here when she came." He stated, his tone low and challenging. Oh he dare use that tone with me!
"Well it did seem like something to me. You didn't even try to get her hands off you." I snapped. His words may be correct but I couldn't control my jealousy. He stayed silent but infuriation radiated off of him. After what seemed like forever, he sighed running a hand through his hair. That made me tick. He gave me no answer.
"You know what, forget about it. I don't give a damn." I turned my heel wanting to get as far as I could away from him but his firm grip on my arm held me in place.
"Let me go." I demanded trying to pull away but he was stronger.
"Listen to me." He growled stepping closer to me until his face was inches above mine.
"Tomorrow we will talk about everything. Now isn't the right time." His statement was final, not needing an answer from me.
Until tomorrow.
Walking away, I let out a frustrated breath. He wants to talk, we'll talk.
I solemnly nodded and his grip on my arm instantly loosened.