283 The Party

    283 The Party

    His tone was serious, protective, and it made my chest tighten a little.

    “Just… if you feel anything strange,” he said, stepping closer, “anything off at all–I want

    you to call me immediately.”

    I snorted. “Barely.”

    “I’m sorry.”

    “Let’s just try to enjoy this evening

    Tense. Quiet.

    I studied him

    r a moment before asking, “Aren’t youing?”

    My expression softened, and I nodded slowly.

    Heads turned.

    They both bowed slightly and slipped out of the room without another word.

    Sofia and I exchanged a look.

    Sofia and I walked arm in arm through the grand doors of Lord Frederick’s estate.

    I forced a small, polite smile, nodding slightly to the guests who greeted me with too much curiosity. I hated this kind of attention. It wasn’t admiration–it was fascination, like I was some kind of rare painting they weren’t allowed to touch.

    “As I’ll ever be,” she whispered. Then she leaned in. “Let’s go see what’s happening.”

    I huffed softly but nodded. “I hate being stared at.

    Alphas don’t just ept food or drinks from anyone–not unless it’s someone they trustpletely. Especially not someone they just met the day before.

    I stepped out of the car and immediately spotted Sofia waiting near the entrance.

    “Well,” she whispered with a smirk, “he’s definitely watching you.”

    Lolita nodded. “Yeah. From the kitchen downstairs.”

    203 The Party

    Silence settled between us.

    “Why would he send Nora? He has personal servants for that.”

    The guestsughed gently and lifted their sses.

    It wasn’t just polite interest or admiration. It was… awe.

    “The special one.”

    Music picked back up softly in the background, and people began to mingle and toast, and drift into small groups. But Frederick’s eyes lingered on me just a heartbeat longer before he turned away, speaking to an elder vampire near the bar.

    “I’m here. Youing?”

    “Excuse us,” he said, directing his words toward Nora and Lolita.

    “This is my three hundredth birthday.”

    “Oh,” Lolita said, moving to help adjust my ne. “Alpha Calvin asked her to bring him a ss of juice.”

    “Thanks.”

    Until finally, he spoke.

    My brows pulled tighter. That didn’t sound right.

    He looked as elegant as ever in a dark velvet jacket, a silver brooch gleaming at his cor. His pale skin glowed faintly under the chandelier light, and his piercing eyes swept across the room until theynded briefly–firmly–on me.

    “And hey…” he added with a faint smile. “I love you. Don’t you forget that.”

    The door creaked open, and Calvin stepped inside. I didn’t turn to look at him. Not right away. Not after what happened this morning. After everything we’d said… or yelled.

    “I thought the same thing,”

    She admitted.

    “You done swooning?” she teased.

    Then he smiled.

    283 The Party

    “And,” he added, “since I have chosen to begin aging forward like the rest of you- starting now–I figured it was only right to acknowledge it.”

    He shook his head. “No. I’ve got a few things to handle–pack matters and some loose

    ends to tie up.

    Eyes widened.

    “To life,” he said, raising his own ss of thick red wine–though I wasn’t entirely sure

    it was wine.

    “I promise.”

    Alphas are usually busy.

    “Okay,” I whispered.

    She looked stunning in a deep burgundy dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her long ck hair was curled and pinned to one side, and she smiled the moment she saw ollimeb. /b/li/ol

    “Trust me, all eyes will be on you,” Lolita teased with a wink, fluffing my hair as I checked myself in the mirror. I rolled my eyes and looked away, forcing a small smile. The truth was, I didn’t care about all eyes. I only cared about theirs–Lennox, Louis, and Levi. And they weren’t going to be there. So no, I wasn’t exactly excited.

    He reached the final step and paused.

    I ignored her and reached for a flute of whatever pink drink a passing waiter offered ollimeb. /b/li/ol

    “I love you. Don’t you forget that.”

    A soft chuckle swept the crowd.

    “I know,” I murmured.

    Her tone was light, but I could sense the nervous energy behind it.

    How could I? obviously he does.

    I frowned. “Juice?”

    “There you are,” she said, walking up to me and linking her arm with mine. “bYou /blook

    283 The Party

    gorgeous.”

    “Promise me, Liv

    Frederick descended the stairs slowly as he continued, “Thest time I celebrated bmy /bbirthday… was over a hundred years ago. I gave up the habit, thought it unnecessary- pointless, even. But tonight marks a new chapter”

    The moment we stepped in, the room seemed to pause.

    I raised a brow, “You want me to call you from a party?”

    “She’s even more beautiful than they said…”

    I couldn’t help but smile.

    Calvin’s driver was already waiting at the front, and within minutes, I was in the sleek ck car, my fingers tapping nervously on myp as the trees blurred past outside the

    window.

    He nodded once, like that was all he needed, and turned to leave. But just before he reached the door, he nced back.

    Sofia, sensing my difort, leaned close and whispered, “Breathe. They’re just stunned because you’re… well, you.”

    “You look beautiful, by the way.”

    Then I nced over her shoulder. “Where’s Nora?”

    “For… reacting the way I did earlier,” he said, his voice softer than I’d expected. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just- He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m angry. Not at you. Just… at what you went through. I can’t stop picturing it. I hate that I wasn’t thereb. /bto stop it.”

    “My honored guests,” he began, his voice smooth andmanding, though not loud. “I thank you all foring tonight. This celebration… is something I’ve put off for a very, very long time.”

    Whispers broke out like ripples across a stillke.

    “Cheers,” the crowd echoed.

    A murmur of surprise ran through the room.

    283 The Party.

    Olivia’s POV

    “That’s her…

    “Have fun tonight. You deserve that much”

    Before I could dwell on it too long, a voice echoed in my mind.

    Before I could respond, a soft chime ring out–like a crystal bell–and the soft hum of conversation faded as Lord Frederick appeared at the top of the grand staircase.

    “No,” he said firmly. “I want you to teleport straight to me. No hesitation. No second–guessing. Just get out ande to me, okay?”

    The car finally pulled up in front of Lord Frederick’s estate–a tall, elegant home. It looked more like a royal hall than a house. Music drifted faintly from inside, and the scent of wine, candles, and expensive perfume filled the air.

    She grinned. “Better get used to it.”

    “The girl from the prophecy?”

    “You too,” I said with a smirk. “You ready?”

    “For what?” I asked quietly.

    The door creaked open, and Lolita stepped back in, a mischievous grin tugging at her lips.

    Before I could sink too deep into that thought, a knocknded gently on the door. I paused–and even without opening it/I knew exactly who it was. His scent gave him

    away.

    I turned back toward the mirror, a suspicious feeling creeping up my spine.

    Crystal clinked, and the room came alive again with conversation and movement.

    Something about that… didn’t sit well with me.

    Sofia.

    As the door clicked shut behind Calvin, I stood there for a moment, reflection. My heart was still a little tangled in hisst words.

    “Yeah,” I mind–linked back. “I’m leaving now.”

    uring at my

    283 The Party

    “Come in,” I called, adjusting the strap of my dress.

    I gave him a small, surprised smile.

    Of course.

    I turned slightly, eyes meeting his in the mirror.

    He took a breath and looked me over, his eyes lingering on my dress.

    And all of them–every pairnded on me.