Chapter 24
Alpha Jake caught my gaze across the room, and I quickly looked away, but I could still feel his piercing stare. Why should I even care if he’s with that blonde anyway? I tried convincing myself that it didn’t matter—that it was just my wolf, messing with my head again. *Yeah, that’s it. It’s just the wolf.* I took a deep breath, trying to settle the storm of emotions that kept bubbling inside me, but I wasn’t fooling myself. Seeing Jake with Rebecca, his hand a little too comfortably placed on her waist, gnawed at me in ways I didn’t want to admit.
“Hello... Earth to Prisca!” Cathy’s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. She waved her hand in front of my face, her expression somewhere between amused and annoyed.
I glared at her, but she just scoffed. “It’s okay to be jealous, you know. I won’t judge. If my man were holding another chick’s waist like that, I’d snap her head off so fast no one would have time to even scream the Lord’s name.”
“I’m not jealous,” I said, scrunching my eyebrows in denial. “I couldn’t care less about that bully. Let Rebecca have him for all I care.” But my voice lacked conviction, and Cathy, always perceptive, didn’t miss it.
She gave me a knowing smirk. “Sure, sure. You keep telling yourself that.” Then, with a shrug, she added, “You know, I don’t even believe in all that Moon Goddess stuff. I was raised by humans, Catholics actually. Never switched over, so I’ve got a weird mix of beliefs floating around in my head.”
I blinked at her, a little confused by the sudden change of subject. “Wait, really? But—aren’t most Lycans raised with the Moon Goddess faith?”
“Well, yeah,” she said, taking a large gulp of her wine, “but like I said, humans raised me. It’s a long story, one I’ll tell you about another time.” She was clearly eager to avoid the topic, so I didn’t push it. Instead, I just nodded and let it slide.
Before I could respond, Cathy shifted the conversation once more. “Okay, but seriously, don’t you think every guy in this room is ridiculously hot? Like, come on—*damn.*”
I couldn’t help but follow her gaze to a group of royal Lycans standing by the bar. She had a point; the room was full of men who looked like they’d just stepped off the cover of a fitness magazine. I was about to agree when a voice interrupted us.
“I really hope you’re talking about me, *chaton aux yeux verts*.” The voice was deep, husky, and dangerously seductive. Cathy and I both screamed, startled, and Cathy’s wine glass slipped from her hand, crashing to the floor and drawing everyone’s attention.
We turned to face the man who had snuck up on us, and I was instantly struck speechless. He was, without a doubt, the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life. His presence was commanding, and his aura radiated raw power. His physique was perfection—muscles straining against the fabric of his finely tailored black suit, looking like they were ready to burst free. But it was his eyes that truly captivated me. They were the brightest shade of violet, streaked with silver, glowing faintly even under the dim lights of the hall. His face was flawlessly sculpted, with a sharp jawline, straight nose, and jet-black hair that looked like he had casually run his hands through it, but still somehow managed to look perfect.
I was so mesmerized that I forgot to breathe. The sheer intensity of his gaze made my heart race, and for a moment, Jake’s presence faded completely from my mind. *Why the hell was I wasting my thoughts on Jake when this Greek god was standing right in front of me?*
Beside me, Cathy muttered under her breath, “This is so not happening.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, but I heard it loud and clear. I snapped out of my trance and glanced at her, confused. What did she mean? Why was she acting so strangely?
The man—this godlike stranger—was still staring at Cathy with an intensity that made me feel like I was intruding on something private. Then it clicked. The mate bond. Of course. I’d read enough about werewolf history to know that the mate bond was a powerful force, and the attraction between mates was undeniable. *Damn. She’s one lucky girl.*
I stole a glance at Cathy. She didn’t look nearly as thrilled as I thought she’d be. In fact, she was actively avoiding the man’s gaze, and her expression was anything but happy. What was going on?
Before I could ask her, another voice joined the conversation. “I see you’ve met my mate, Priscilla, and her friend Catherine.” Alpha Jake’s voice came from behind me, and I jumped, letting out a small, embarrassing squeal. Seriously, why did people keep sneaking up on me tonight?
The stranger smirked, turning to face Jake. “Yes, I have indeed met them. I must say, you’re a lucky man, cousin. She’s quite the beauty. As is my *chaton aux yeux verts*,” he added, his gaze settling back on Cathy, who was now blushing furiously despite her frown.
Jake looked momentarily surprised, but then his face broke into a wide grin. “Congratulations, my king. Finally, you’ve found your queen.”
I blinked in shock. *Wait...* “*What?!*” I blurted out. *Of course.* It all made sense now. His aura, his power—it was undeniable. This man, this *god*, was the Alpha King. And Cathy... Cathy was his mate. Which meant she was now the Queen. Holy hell.
Cathy looked just as shocked as I felt. “What? No! There has to be some kind of mistake!” she shouted, standing up suddenly. The room went dead silent, and the King growled—loudly. The sound was enough to make my blood run cold.
Before anyone could react, the King grabbed Cathy’s elbow, his grip firm but not harsh, and dragged her out of the hall. I stared after them, my eyes wide in disbelief. Cathy had just been dragged off by the *Alpha King*, and I had no idea what to think.
In a daze, I reached for the nearest bottle of red wine. After all this drama, I figured I deserved the whole damn thing. But before I could take a drink, Jake snatched it from my hand.
“I don’t think so,” he said sternly, grabbing my arm and pulling me up from my seat. He was leading me toward the VIP section, and I groaned internally. Of course, he had to ruin what little peace I had left tonight.
“Why won’t you just leave me alone?” I whined as we walked, dragging my feet slightly in protest. His grip on my arm tightened, and I growled softly. “You’re hurting me, Alpha,” I snapped, trying to wrench my arm free.
Jake released me once we reached our seats, but his expression was cold, dangerous even. “Behave,” he warned, his voice low and threatening. “Or else me hurting you will be the least of your problems.” He grabbed my face, pulling me so close I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin.
I glared back at him, tempted to argue, but the simmering rage in his eyes stopped me. I looked around and, thankfully, no one seemed to be paying us any attention. Even Rebecca was too busy chatting with her circle of admirers to notice. Reluctantly, I nodded, biting back the insults that threatened to spill out.
As soon as a waiter passed by with a tray of white wine, I grabbed a glass, ignoring Jake’s glare. I took a large gulp, silently daring him to try and stop me this time.
This party was turning into an absolute disaster, and I was barely holding it together.
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