*FREYA*
I changed into another purple dress still feeling all flustered from the quick sex in the shower with Jet, I was so bent on wearing a purple dress today that I wasn’t going to settle for anything else. With a lot of help from Hazel who didn’t bother asking questions on why I was wearing another dress, she helped me style my hair and taking my mask along, I left the room to join the party happening downstairs.
I stood at the stairs balcony looking down below, I glance around nervously having no idea that a lot of people would be present, I had originally planned a small party in mind even though I had no idea how to go about it and when Claire had mentioned inviting a few nobles, I didn’t know few meant this many. I was still gawking at the crowd when I felt a presence beside me, I saw Kale from the corner of my eye.
“Where is your escort?” He asked, putting on his own mask.
“Escort?” I echoed with a puzzled look on my face.
“I believe the modern term for that is a date” He answered uncertainly. “So where is your date, Freya? Do not tell me Jet forgot to ask you” He chuckled. “And I thought I was bad with the ladies” He smirked at the understanding look at finally crossed my face, I reached out and smack him by the arm.
“Where is your own date?” I pretend to look around for a while. “I don’t see any” I added earning a playful glare from him.
He reached out and entwined our arms together. “Since we are both without escorts, we might as well be each other’s date. Put on your mask milady” Was all he said before he started to pull me down the stairs along with him. After series of struggling attempts, I was able to put on my mask with my other free hand, I scan the crowd for any sign of Jet and Claire, I sighted Claire by the entrance greeting some of the guests.
“What do people do at a party like this aside from dressing up of course” I whispered close to his ear so he could hear me above the slow instrumental music playing in the background and people’s chattering. As we stepped further into the room, I felt someone step on my dress, I immediately stopped walking and turn around to see who it was.
Imagine the kind of anger that flare up inside me as the person turned out to be Camille, she smile innocently at me but my attention was on Morgana, after flashing her angry wolf eyes at me, she pulled her niece with her and they both disappeared into the crowd like nothing happened. I veered around to make sure my dress hadn’t torn or anything and to my relief, it wasn’t ripped anywhere.
“Wow, that was some tension, I heard she attacked you when she found out Jet claimed you instead of her” He glance briefly towards my neck. “Becareful around her” He warned as he pulled me towards the dance floor, I opened my mouth to warn him I suck at dancing but Jet pulled him away from me and took his place instead.
Kale let out a growl. “Seriously?” He grumbled under his breath before strolling away, I couldn’t help but giggle at his reaction.
“I can’t believe you chase away my date” I stated as he twirled me around just like the others were doing, with Jet I didn’t have to worry about being a terrible dancer, he carried most of my weight and seems to know what he is doing. Although I have stepped on him a few times he didn’t flinch or comment on it, as the song became slower, he pressed me against his chest and we just sway to the tune.
A few minutes later the song ended and Jet was immediately whisked away by some of the noblemen who wanted to speak with him, I gathered my large dress around me as I left the dance floor. I signal to one of the servants to bring me a glass of champagne.
“What do you think?” Claire inquired as she joined me where I stood observing the crowd, thanks to the mask pretty much everyone appear to be mysterious.
“I think you did a great job!” I gushed. “But what I wasn’t expecting is the number of guests, are you sure every guests here are nobles?” As if realizing what I was saying is true, she looked around more thoughtfully.
“The Shifters are also present, it has been a long time since we hosted a party and we might not get the chance to host another until years later, so I wanted to make this a talk of town. Lady Caroline usually throws the best party, I want to change that” She paused. “I heard Jet scolding Camille earlier, I’m sorry you do not only have to put up with Morgana but Camille as well”
I smiled weakly at that. “I’m trying not to let them get to me….” I trailed off as someone approached us, Claire muttered some excuse under her breath before walking away. It was then I notice another set of dances had started and people were pilling on the dance floor.
“May I please have this dance Milady?” I frown slightly at his voice because he seems familiar, he smiled and briefly moves his mask to one side so I can see his face. A surprised smile spread across my face as I immediately recognized him.
“Jared!” I squealed. “It’s so good to see you, I must warn you, I’m terrible at dancing” He shook his head and I let him lead me back to the dance floor, in case you are just like me and you forgot who Jared is, he’s one of the Shifters I met before Jet left on his mission to rescue Camille. “Did you finally get the information you wanted from the Mafia” I inquired curiously in an attempt to find out some of the things that happened in the lab, since Jet doesn’t plan on telling me, I might as well find out on my own.
“It is a happy occasion, are you sure you want to dwell on such sad news? Besides I was not aware of half of the things that happened at the lab, a lot of us got separated after we walk right into their trap” He answered, I could hear the edge in his voice.
I winced when I stepped on him. “I apologize for that. It’s good to see most of you came back unharmed” My heart goes out to the people who couldn’t make it out of there alive.
“The plan was not to kill us” My step flattened when he admitted that and I ended up bumping into the next couple, before I could apologize I was pushed so hard I would have fallen on my face if Jared hadn’t caught me on that.
“Do not tell me you have gone suddenly blind” Morgana hissed at me, everyone had stopped what they were doing to pay attention to us.
“Geez Morgana, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you” I apologized not wanting to give her the attention she badly wanted from me.
“You can bloody shove your apology somewhere because I certainly do not need to hear your fake apology after you stole everything away from me” She snapped back.
I could hear people murmuring in the background, even the music had stopped. I felt so embarrassed as I felt several eyes digging holes all over my body, I made the decision to quietly leave but then stopped just as Claire arrived at the scene. “If you don’t want my apology then I take it back” I replied in a dull tone.
“Please, let us not create a scene here. This is a party and we have guests” Claire pleaded looking from me to Morgana.
“Look at someone who claimed to be my best friend always taking the human side, ever since she arrived things have been worse for us all” She turned to the crowd. “Do you know why we were again attacked by the councils? It is because of her! Do you know who brought back the trafficking of humans who turn into shape shifters? Her father! Dane Grayson is the head of the Mafia organization and he has been working with the councils to end us all. Most of you here today lost your soul mate, your child, your brother, or your sister because of this human right here!” This time a loud gasp filled the air as people started to distance themselves away from me.
“Morgana!” Claire growled at her.
“You of all people know I’m being honest” She reported looking at the crowd once more. “Your Alpha has decided to claim the human responsible for hundreds of death as his mate, do you all have any idea what our fate would be? How are we not sure that her father sent her to make us let down our guard? We might have accepted the Shifters but betrayals from the humans? Are we going to accept that when our lives are at risk with every second the human stays here!” She growled.
“We want the human gone!” Someone yelled from the back and soon everyone pretty much started to yell the same thing.
“Morgana, what the hell has gotten into you?” Kale demanded glaring at her. “Are you trying to turn the whole pack against Jet, because I will end you right now” He growled, flashing a set of fangs at Morgana.
“Come at me then Gamma” Morgana challenged. “You think you are strong enough to fight me?”
Tears rolled down my face and I angrily blinked them back. “No” I held Kale back. All eyes turned towards Jet and Hunter a second later as they emerged from the meeting room with the noblemen, the confusion was clear on their faces, and Jet’s eyes darkened as he saw the tears on my face.
“This is a party not a funeral, why the fuck is everywhere so quiet?” Jet demanded breaking the silence.
“We want the human gone!” The chant begin again, when I turned to look at Morgana, she was staring at me with so much hatred.
“Jet might have claimed you but his people would never accept you as their Luna not now that they know the real truth about you” She declared.
.
.
.
TBC