I won’t wake up from this dream

JULIETTE

The function went on for a while, a boring show of the rich flaunting their wealth.

I comfortably sat apart from Darius, but not far enough that he couldn't hold the leash.

The party had gone back to its usual chattering, soft music, and clinking of wine glasses, and in all of this glittery haze, Darius was included.

Cole, his Beta, had brought with him a man dressed in foreign attire, claiming he had something spectacular he wanted to introduce to the pack.

The meeting was the reason Darius had me sitting a few metres from him, because according to his Beta, they needed some privacy.

I could still very much hear their conversations, but it wasn't a bother to me.

My throat was dry, and each gulp I took left a burning sensation in its wake. I needed a drink, or even a meal, anything to keep my mouth busy.

However, I had not moved from my seat, because I did not know how to ask for a break. Darius seemed to be into his conversation, and I didn't want to interrupt and portray myself as rude, stubborn, or disobedient, and the last thing I wanted was to be punished.

I sighed, adjusting my butt on the chair, and reaching for the collar on my neck to tap and clear my throat.

“Could you be any quieter?” I heard Cole groan, and I snapped my head towards them.

“Excuse me?” I raised a brow.

Darius and the foreigner glanced at me, and Cole muttered, “Did you hear that?” while still trying to maintain his composure.

“Get something to eat from the buffet, then head directly to your room,” Darius whispered as if he read my mind.

I let out a louder sigh just to spite Cole, “Thank you.”

I was truly grateful, finally I could leave this hellhole filled with the devil's advocates.

I rose from my chair and headed straight for the corner of the hall where the buffet was organized. Some servants and nobles actively glared at me, and I did what I knew best. I ignored them.

I picked out a plate, and scanned the meals I would love to have on my plate. There were still appetizers, main courses, and desserts.

“Chicken masala it is,” I whispered to myself, grabbing a spoon, ready to fill my plate.

“Look at her,” a voice sneered behind me,” The slave who grew wings. She's superior now.” A ripple of snickers followed the commentary.

I clenched the spoon in my hand, and dipped it into the serving dish, scooping out a reasonable portion on my plate.

“Halric, do not speak of the Alpha's dog in such a manner, else you will face his wrath.” Another voice said, sheer mockery in their tone.

I slowly turned with the plate still in my hands, and my gaze caught the cowards who seemed to have developed the loudest voice in the absence of Darius.

The loudest of them was a swollen man draped in a coat that couldn’t hide the rolls of fat flesh beneath. He had a plump face with small, mean eyes, like that of a rat. Even in his ugly frame, he carried himself with some puffed-up importance of a family name that still mattered.

His eyes met mine, and a smirk graced his hideous face. “Wrath?” He spat, gaze still locked with mine, “What exactly is the king's wrath, giving the little pet the audacity to walk amongst us?”

This time, I gripped the plate harder. This bastard had gone from insulting me to plainly dragging Darius into it, and for some weird reason, it burned my heart.

They had no right to speak ill of him, no right!

Gesturing with his wine cup, he brought the others' attention to me, and they didn't fail to glare.

“I see the dog came for some fine dining. Nothing she has seen in her miserable life as a poor Omega.” Halric remarked, and a ripple of amusement spread through the cluster of nobles at his side.

My pulse thrummed in my ear, the heat of rage spreading through my body, I heaved, reminding myself that it wasn't worth it. This wasn't the first time, and it obviously wasn't going to be the last. If I defended myself, I would only bring myself more trouble.

So I turned in the direction of the exit, and began walking…

“See, she gets away with everything. I am convinced the leash has been switched, our dear Alpha has become the dog following the orders of his supposed slave.”

I halted, scoffed, and slowly turned. My eyes locked on Halric, and the smirk on his face was now more taunting and ugly.

I moved towards him at a not-so-threatening pace, stopping before him. I smiled, and before his ugly set of eyes could catch it, I tossed the plate of chicken masala in his face, and it splashed on his minions as well.

Loud gasps flared like waves through the hall, the chatterings and music stopped, all eyes turning to us. Once again, I became the centre of attraction.

“You bitch!” Halric yelled, eyes flashing, as he wiped the sauce off his face.

I smirked, enjoying the view, before letting out a fake gasp, “Oops, it slipped. I am so sorry.”

“Liar!” The woman beside the fat fool screamed at me.

And I continued to play dumb, “Liar? No, I don't lie, I swear.” I said in the softest voice I could muster.

“You little…” Halric lunged at me, his fat fingers raising to hit me, as his eyes blared with rage.

But he didn't succeed.

In the blink of an eye, Darius appeared in front of me, catching Halric’s hand mid-air.

Effortlessly, he swatted Halric's hand, the man staggered backwards as if he had received a massive blow.

But Darius didn't stop, he reached for Halric’s thick throat, lifting him off the ground as though he were nothing more than a sack of flour.

The man's legs kicked wildly, his shoes dangling helplessly in the air. The wine cup in his hand clattered and fell to the ground, wine spilling on the marble floor.

“How dare you?!” Darius barked, his voice thundering across the room. Some nobles scurried away from the commotion, scared of the uncertainty unavailing before us.

But I stood firmly, gawking as Halric tried to form words, but they were incoherent.

With a flick of his wrist, Darius hurled Halric across the room, and the nobleman crashed into a table that had already been dispersed before his landing. His groans filled the room and then his body went limp.

Multiple faces twisted in horror as they glanced from Darius to Halric.

“I have said this once, and this will be the last warning to all of you,” Darius said, his words strong in the hall. “If any of you dare to hurt even a strand of hair against Juliette, I will rip their heads off.”

Another collective gasp, and I almost smiled, seeing fear all around me and not being a partaker of it.

Darius turned to me and asked, “Are you okay?”

My heart swelled, and a smile tugged at my lips, as I slowly nodded.

I felt tingles, so many tingles. Darius didn't just defend me in the midst of these people, he openly showed his concern. It felt like a dream, one I didn't want to wake up from.

“Come on.” He whispered, intertwining our fingers and leading me out of the hall.