Chapter 30
SHANE
My phone buzzes, announcing a message. I grab it and read the WhatsApp.
[Lobita, I’ve sent food. Hope you enjoy it.]
I smile.
[You didn’t have to. Thanks ] I send a kissing emoji at the end of the text.
After a while, the doorbell rings again. I realize it’s probably the food. With a quick glance at my stylists, Leo, one of the guys in the group, offers to open the door.
“Let me see who it is!” he says, getting up.
I sit on one of the chairs while the group continues working on me. Instantly, the sound of conversation blends with the laughter filling the air. Leo returns soon after, but this time he isn’t alone. He’s bringing Marc, who looks excited and surprised by the commotion.
“Surprise!” Leo announces as Marc enters the apartment, also prepared for a makeover for the party. “Gigit gave us orders to get him ready too.”
Marc smiles, getting the joke.
“Looks like we’ll all be looking good tonight,” he says, raising his eyebrows.
“Exactly!” one of the stylists responds as she approaches him. “Now take off that coat and let’s get to work.”
We all gather around the table, enjoying a delicious and light meal they brought. It’s a cozy moment where laughter and stories from work experiences flow with the food. This feels like a mini-celebration.
After eating, we return to the main task: getting Marc and me ready. The group moves like a well-oiled machine; each one knows what they need to do. They start with my hair: treating it carefully, using products promising volume and shine. Then, they move to my eyebrows and makeup, choosing tones that highlight my features. Meanwhile, Marc lets himself be carried away, laughing and enjoying his own transformation.
For the dress, one of the stylists, a guy named Alex, pulls out several options from his suitcase. As he carefully places them on the sofa, he says to me:
“I want you to wear one that truly highlights your figure. We’re going to find something that accentuates your curves and makes you feel amazing.”
Finally, we find a perfect dress: a fitted ruby-colored design that accentuates my hips, with a neckline that highlights my bust, and a skirt that flows in a light fabric, perfect for showcasing my legs. The sleeves are lace, giving it an elegant yet contemporary touch. Looking at myself in the mirror after putting on the dress, I can’t help but smile. I feel beautiful, more beautiful than ever before.
The stylists finish with the finishing touches: a bit of perfume, some accessories. As they finish with Marc, he looks incredible too, ready to shine.
Once we’re completely ready, I look at the clock and notice it’s exactly 6:30 PM.
“Liam and Gigit won’t be long,” I comment, feeling a whirlwind of nervousness and excitement.
“They’re going to be wowed,” one of the stylists assures me, giving me a knowing smile. Marc accompanies them all to the door as they leave.
The mirror reflects a version of me that seems more confident, beautiful, and ready for tonight. I’m ready to face whatever comes, and although uncertainty still lingers, in this moment, I feel everything is alright.
[Lobita, we’re downstairs now. Come down.] My heart races reading the message.
“They’re here,” Marc and I say in unison.
We laugh.
One last look in the mirror and I feel ready. With a pounding heart, I grab my small handbag and head for the door, excited about what the night holds for us.
Opening the front door of the building, a shiver of excitement runs through my body. I’ve never felt anticipation mixed with nerves in such a way. Instantly, my eyes fall on Liam, standing there, looking spectacular in his black tuxedo. His elegant posture makes him the center of attention, and for a moment, I feel a little overwhelmed by the beauty of the scene.
The way the jacket accentuates his shoulders and the perfectly knotted tie gives him an air of ceremony. It draws an involuntary smile to my lips, a reflection of surprise and admiration. But there’s also something more: a spark of desire entangled with excitement. What a way to arrive!
I hear Marc sigh next to me, and when I turn to look at him, I see that his gaze is fixed on Gigit, who is standing on the other side of the car, where the driver’s door is. There’s a sparkle in his eyes, the kind you only see when he’s genuinely interested in someone. The situation makes me laugh again, because Marc, always so impromptu, seems to have completely forgotten the formality of the night.
“Come on, don’t stand there,” Marc encourages me, noticing how my breathing becomes a little heavier. “It’s time to shine!”
As I approach Liam, he opens the back door of the car to help me get in. His hand meets mine in a gesture that seems so simple yet so meaningful to me. A pleasant shiver runs down my arm at the feeling of his touch. The way he looks at me while helping me up is also different, as if he sees something in me that I don’t even know myself.
“Wow, you look amazing,” he says, his voice full of sincerity, as he finishes arranging my dress before closing the door.
I feel alive, and at the same time, a little vulnerable. Just then I see Gigit and Marc settling into the front seat, and I can’t help but hear the jokes and laughter they exchange as Gigit takes control of the steering wheel.
The engine starts and I turn towards Liam. The city lights begin to pass, illuminating our faces with glimpses. As we talk, the tension I felt slowly dissipates.
“You’re truly fascinating, lobita.”
“Thanks.” I can’t help but blush.
“My wolf wants to devour you.”
“Just him?” I ask him playfully, raising an eyebrow. Liam’s eyes darken as he leans towards me and buries his face in my neck, biting. I shiver, my eyes close, and I have to bite my lip to prevent a moan from escaping. When he pulls back, he whispers over my mouth.
“He’s not the only one, lobita. I can devour you right here.”
“No!” I shriek.
Liam laughs, settling back in his seat.
As we approach the venue for this year’s annual gathering of these wolves, a new level of emotion takes hold of me.
What if the pack doesn’t like that Alpha has a human as a mate?
What if their King asks him to leave me because I’m human? My stomach tightens with new questions.