"I don't understand this," I say, my eyes following Lia as she circles me twice, her lips pursed and her eyes focused on the hem of my dress.
"Don't understand what?" She asks, running her hand along the sparkly fabric that makes up the gown that I'm wearing.
"Why I have to dress up," I explain. "I'm the Beta, Lia. What if something happens out there tonight?"
"What's the worst that can happen, Adhi?" Lia shoots back at me. "A rogue attack?"
"Precisely," I say. "Or something happens to Liam or Casey. Then what? I can't fight in a dress."
"Actually, you can," Lia smirks. "A lot of Disney princesses do. Would you like me to name them?"
"No, thanks," I deadpan with a roll of my eyes. "I'm fine."
"Suit yourself," Lia shrugs. "But if you are interested -!"
I interrupt her. "Really, I'm not -!"
"Mulan fights in a dress," Lia continues on speaking, ignoring me. "Er, so does Cinderella, at least, in the third movie."
"She fights in a ripped gown," I point out, gesturing to the clothes that Lia took forever to fit me into. "This isn't a ripped gown."
"Would you like it to be?" Lia snaps, planting her hands on her hips in what I think is annoyance. "Because if you do, I can go complete stepsister on you right now and rip it up."
"You aren't even my stepsister," I chuckle. "But no, thanks. This already cost a fortune. I don't want you to be wasting any of it."
"See?" Lia's lips break out into a smile. "You're learning!"
I blink. "Learning what?"
"Not to mess with me." She flexes her arms. "I can be pretty intimidating when I want to be, don't you think so?"
"Hardly," I scoff under my breath. "But that's alright. I'll give you baby bonus points if it helps."
"Golly, what a nice sister," Lia sneers, but she's smiling still. She helps me down from the stool I had been standing on for what felt like hours and makes me sit on my desk chair. Whirling the chair around so that I'm facing her, she pulls out my makeup box from one of my vanity drawers, rummaging through the endless amounts of makeup I have in there.
"What are you doing?" I ask, squirming nervously in my seat.
"Looking for some makeup for you," Lia replies.
"Why?"
"Why not," she says, popping the cap of a lipstick tube. "Today's mating day. You have a chance of finding your mate tonight, Adhi."
"Yeah, right," I snort, rolling my eyes. "The day that happens, Lia, werewolves will be accepted among humans."
Lia scowls at me. "They're working on peace treaties as we speak," she says in a clipped tone, glaring softly at me from under her thick eyelashes. "So, technically, that day is today, whether you like it or not."
I sigh. "It's not the fact of if I want to have a mate or not - hell, Lia, I'm twenty-five! I'm more than ready to meet my mate!"
"So? What's stopping you?" Lia asks.
I bite my lip, pulling some of the dry skin off with my teeth. "Every year on mating day, I never find them. I told you earlier today," I say. "I'm just about ready to give up, honestly."
"You just have to keep looking, Adhi," Lia says. "Waiting around for some man or woman isn't going to help. Your life will just be moving along. Time doesn't wait for anybody."
"I know it doesn't," I snap, then immediately bite my tongue. "Sorry."
"No, it's alright," Lia smiles lopsidedly. "I would say I understand how you're feeling, but since I don't, I'll just stay quiet." She pretends to zip her lips, and I smile.
"Thanks," I laugh. I let her help me to my feet and into the flats, she had picked out for me earlier that day since both of us knew that I would only become a fish out of water if I wore high heels. "I'll take your advice, though."
"What advice?"
"To keep looking," I reply. "I want my mate, Lia. I know that. You're right. I can't just sit around and wait for him or her to come to find me. I have to find them."
"Hell yeah, you do," Lia exclaims, clapping my shoulder roughly. I jolt, taking a step forward to balance myself, but I'm grinning like an idiot and I know it. It's as if suddenly, my heart is soaring. I'm excited now, bouncing on my toes. And even if I don't find my mate today, I'm going to make sure to have a blast at the party Liam and I took so much time out of our day to make happen.
"What's with the giddy smile?" Mabel's voice asks from the hallway. She's grinning at me, her eyes darting from my frame to Lia's. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lia smile, drifting over to her mate and placing a chaste kiss on her lips.
"You look gorgeous," I hear her murmur.
Mabel puts her finger on my sister's lips, pushing her away gently. "So do you," she whispers. "But let's save this for later, okay?"
"Oh, please do," I say, smirking. "As much as I love both of you, I'd really like to not see your public display of affection, especially in front of me."
"Jealous much, Adhi?" Mabel teases.
"Only a little," I tease back, pinching two of my fingers close together. Mabel shrugs.
"Well, tonight's the night," she says, jumping in one spot like a child who's being given candy. "Who knows what'll happen?"
"That's what I was just telling her, babe," Lia says, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. "My sis here's gotta be confident in herself. She'll find the right guy or gal, we just gotta be patient."
"That's true," Mabel nods. She runs her gaze up and down my frame, smiling. "Did you look at yourself in the mirror yet, Adhira?"
"No..." I frown. "Why? Does this not look good?"
"Maybe you should see that for yourself," Lia says, gesturing with her hand to the long mirror standing right beside my vanity.
With my lips pressed together, I make my way to the mirror, a gasp leaving my lips once I'm able to catch a glimpse of myself. The long, silky white dress and silver embroidery make it look like I'm getting married, which only serves to make my eyes tear up. My hair is pinned back in a braided bun with sparkling jewels embedded into the braid. The sleeves of my gown stop midway down my arm and make frills around my elbow. My shoes even tap every time I take a step closer to the mirror.
"Wow..." I press my hand daintily to my lips so that I don't ruin the lipstick there. "I look...like a princess..."
"I think the word you should be saying is beautiful," Mabel chuckles. She nudges Lia's arm. "Or rather, what Liam will be saying."
I roll my eyes. "Oh, not this again, you guys."
"What?" Lia sound appalled, if not, a bit offended. She presses her hand to her chest. "We're only saying the truth! Is it wrong to be honest these days?"
"No," I say. "But Liam's married, you guys. We won't even be dancing with one another."
"That's what you think," Mabel says with a wiggle of her eyebrows. "But I'm sure Liam has other plans."
I cross my arms over my chest as heat blooms in my heart, like a fire igniting. "Let's just get this over with," I snap, tugging at my sleeves.
Lia and Mabel exchange smirks with one another. "Yes, let's," they say.
~***~
"This is nice, isn't it?" Mabel murmurs, sipping some of her Sprite. We're both standing at the back of the party, close to the refreshments table. Lia is busy talking to Yvan, Mabel's brother, so Mabel and I find food to be our main entertainment until she returns.
"It is," I agree, taking a bite out of the tiny party snack I had snatched from one of the waiters, although I was unsure as to what exactly I was eating. It looked like a mini sandwich, but it tasted sweet, if not, slightly sour as well.
"Don't you want to go dance, Adhira?" Lia asks, joining back into our conversation.
I regard Liam and Yvan as they chat with one another at the far end of the dance floor. They laugh and clap each other's shoulders, and just as Yvan is leaving, Liam turns, catching me staring at him. I squeak, feeling heat rise to my cheeks in embarrassment, but Liam only waves, winking at me.
"Maybe soon," I mumble, looking down at my shoes, trying to shove my embarrassment down and out of my body as quickly as possible. I'm not sure why I'm so embarrassed, to be honest. After all, I was just looking at him. Everyone looks at Liam - why should my gaze be any different?
"Yeah, considering the fact that Liam is walking straight towards us," Lia states dryly.
"What?" My head shoots up comically, like in an animated movie. I whirl around on my heel again, and true enough, Liam is pushing his way through the crowd and towards the tiny group we've made. He has a frown on his lips, though, so I can only guess that it's to get away from Casey, who's probably not too far behind him.
"Yep," Mabel grins wickedly. "And now, if you don't mind, dear Beta, but Lia and I will be going to dance," she says just as the music turns soft and sultry. Lia shrugs apologetically at me, but I know she doesn't mean it as she willingly lets Mabel drag her towards the dance floor.
And Lia hates dancing!
"Adhira," Liam's cool, deep voice vibrates in my ear and sends a flurry of shivers down my spine.
"Liam," I reply after taking a deep breath, composing myself as I meet his eyes. Coils of heat burn around my chest and bones, igniting a fierce fire inside of me, something like I've never felt before.
Liam's stare follows me, his pupils dilated in the darkness. They're dark and alert, like a predator waiting to pounce on his next meal. Then again, Liam's eyes are always like that. He has to be - he's an Alpha, after all.
"I see Mabel and Lia left you on your own," he says, smirking.
"Yeah, they did," I shrug. "But it's alright. I'll just..." I glance at the food beside me. "Eat, I guess."
Liam's lip quirks. "Eat? That sounds like quite a boring activity to do during a party," he says. His eyes trail down from my face and I hear his breath hitch as his gaze drowns deeper and deeper down with my gown.
"What is it?" I ask, raising my eyebrow.
"Nothing." He shakes his head. "Er, well, actually..."
I glance at the dancing behind us, then back at him. "Actually...?" I prodded.
Liam fingers his suit collar. "Would you like to dance?" He asks.
I blink. "You dance?" I ask.
He blushes, bending his head bashfully. "Yes," he admits quietly. "I don't do it often, which is probably why I'm guessing that you're asking?"
"Well, yes, actually," I say, appalled. I'm still staring with my eyes widened. "I just...Alphas don't usually dance, so..."
"Who told you that?" Liam frowns.
I shrug. "My dad was an Alpha. He told me," I explain.
Liam nods. "Ah, right. Yeah..." he scratches the back of his head. "Most Alpha's really don't dance, especially your dad, Alpha Gavin. He never was a dancer."
I laugh. "Tell me about it," I chuckle.
Liam grins, offering me his hand. "So...about that dance?"
"You still want me to dance with you?" I ask, cocking my hip to the side and crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm warning you - I may stomp over your feet."
"That's a risk I'm willing to take," Liam says, still smiling.
For some reason, I feel my heart beating much faster than it usually is. My knees are firm, but my breathing staggers, just from the way that he's looking at me. He's never looked at me so calmly before - his eyes filled with an emotion I can't completely comprehend.
I take his hand, beaming. "I would love to dance with you," I say, sparks dancing along my skin as our touch deepens.
Liam's eyes soften and he intertwines our fingers, pulling me onto the dancefloor. Wolves make a circle around us, allowing Liam to lead me to the center of the dancefloor as he spins me around, making my dress twirl around me.
"Did I tell you how beautiful you look in your dress?" He asks, winking again at me.
I scoff. "Not yet. I was actually waiting for you to say that," I shoot back, grinning.
He laughs, twirling me again. "You always have an answer for me, don't you, Adhi?"
"Always," I agree, placing my palms hesitantly on his chest, unsure at first where I should put them until Liam guides them to the lapels of his suit.
"Are you afraid to touch me, Adhi?" He asks suddenly, just as the music lowers.
"What?" I tilt my head. "No, why?"
Liam shrugs. "You seem kind of...hesitant to touch me now," he says, hunching a little. "Are you embarrassed?"
"A...little," I admit, biting my lip. I take a step back, and he takes a step forward, guiding me in the waltz we're dancing to. "I mean, you are married, after all..."
"Just because I'm married doesn't mean that you can't touch me," Liam says. "Besides, it's not inappropriate, is it? We're just two friends dancing." He snorts. "And where else would you put your hands? On my shoulders?"
"Uh...isn't that where they're supposed to go?" I ask, chuckling softly at the pink hue that rises to Liam's cheeks. I tug at his lapels, teasing him. "But alright. I'm sorry."
"You don't have to be sorry, Adhi," Liam quietly says. "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable...I...remember when we were kids, dancing at your dad's parties?"
"Yes?"
"Well...I kind of wanted to recreate that dance...that freedom of just being us, Liam and Adhira, the unstoppable duo," he murmurs.
"We were kids, Liam," I point out. "We didn't know the difference between right and wrong back then." I see him tense, and just to placate him, I tighten my grip on his suit, and immediately, his jaw slackens.
"I know," he whispers, so softly I'm unsure at first if he spoke or not. "We were so naive back then."
I scoff. "Very," I say, chuckling. "But it was fun."
He nods. "It was. To this day, just remembering everything we did is fun."
"It is..." I trail off, catching Casey scowling at me out of the corner of my eye. She glares daggers at me when our gazes meet, and quickly, I look away. I don't know if she stays standing there or goes off, but before I can figure out what she's going to do, a bloody, beaten wolf staggers over to Liam, shoving through the crowd to get to the Alpha King. Gasps flood the couples dancing and I feel my shoulders tighten.
"Craig!" Liam exclaims. He grips the boy's shoulders while I help Craig to the ground, laying him down gently. "What happened?"
"Rogue..." Craig manages to wretch. "There's a rogue at the border!"282Please respect copyright.PENANA2sx3IL0TZW