Chapter 4: Ashamed

“Drive!” I yelled at the top of my voice. Alpha Lucien’s obsessive fans have surrounded the car from all sides. “They’re eager for you,” I hissed.

His laugh was dark and hearty. Lucien tossed me a look and the ember at the bottom of my heart flared into a flame.

I looked away.

“You really want to go with me now?” Alpha Lucien asked, amusement ringing his voice.

I bared my fangs at my ex-boyfriend, my wolf snarling. “It’s just a ride. Don’t be so hopeful.”

True, I won’t let my guard down knowing that Lucien very well knew that I am easy to please. He’s just pulling the strings and I won’t let myself be some puppet with her threads left bare for anyone to pull.

We managed to get out of that ridiculously chaotic crowd and Lucien sped away. But that sharp and thick scent of vanilla and lavender keeps clawing its way into my mind.

Of course, Charm was here. Why wouldn’t she?

And this scent...it wasn’t just an ordinary scent.

Something happened between them for this scent to be so strong and lingering. I doubt it’s just a hug or a kiss on the cheek.

And somehow, I have a feeling that Lucien knew that—as if letting me know who always comes first even in his car.

I didn’t hide my scowl as I looked to the window and willingly let that bright flame in my heart turn into a flickering ember.

***

The briny scent of the beach and the cool air made my encounter with Alpha Lucien less tense.

The dinner was already being served but my eyes lingered at the coloring lights that hung between trees. The sound of the crashing waves and the feeling of the sandy beach beneath my feet.

“Ah, there you are. The Alpha’s girlfriend,” Beta Thomas greeted behind me, “Or was it ex-girlfriend already?”

I compelled my face and scent to reveal nothing. I shrugged, “I’m here for the Feast of the Rose Moon, Beta Thomas, not for someone.”

“Oh?”

I narrowed my eyes on him. “I didn’t know Betas can question Omegas about how they feel about their Alpha, or was it part of your responsibility now too?”

Thomas blinked. He thought he could still belittle me like some Omega five years ago.

“It’s nice to see you’ve grown some claws, Vesta Blake.”

I tilted my head, “It’s also good to see that your tongue becomes sharper, Beta Thomas.”

I moved towards the table before he could comment further. I don’t care if I was viewed as rude or heartless. I’m tired of telling people that I’m not some fairytale villain to Alpha Lucien and Charmaine and Beta Thomas’ story.

A heavy silence settled over the table as I sat between Lucien and Thomas.

Minutes later, the table was filled with various dishes and conversation started to flow between the three. I just casually nodded and threw quick responses of “yes” and “no”. I remained silent, content to sip my drink and savor the food and enjoy the festivity.

The Rose Moon above was bright. The music is lively too.

Scanning my eyes at the table, I realized there was a huge plate of prawns a few breaths away from me. I hate prawns. I never really liked them.

But I glanced at Alpha Lucien, who was peeling prawns with a smile on his face, placing them on a plate beside Charmaine. I couldn’t help but chuckle softly. Back when we had our dates, he always voiced out that he despised prawns. “Peeling them was too much of a hassle,” he once said.

Yet here he was, serving them to Charmaine without complaining. He was always caring when it came to her, whereas to me...

I shook my head and dropped my frown.

But I wasn’t the only one who noticed Lucien’s loving gesture.

Beta Thomas suddenly shot a swift sidelong glance at me before elbowing his bestfriend.

“Look at you, Alpha! Don’t just pile all the prawns on Charm’s plate. Can’t you see that this plate over here needs some prawns too?” He gestured with his thumb toward the empty plate beside mine, his grin widening.

Lucien blinked and froze for a heartbeat as if he just realized that I was right beside him. That I was present, that I was on their table.

“Do you want some prawns, Vesta?” His voice fell flat.

Saving him the effort of making him look like a gentleman, I shook my head. “I don’t like prawns. Anyone who eats them seems to be a monster themselves,” I jokingly said as I helped myself to the plate of raw oysters.

The two men blinked but Charm was the only one who laughed, even if that statement was directly referring to her.

***

I silently ate even with the smell of prawns.

“Are you okay, Vesta? You seem rather pale.” Charm extended a slender hand to me and it brushed the tip of my fingers.

I jerked my hand away. I don’t need her fake concern.

“I’m fine,” was all I whispered. I cleared my throat and repeated, “I’m fine.”

No, I’m not.

I’m very out of place here, and they knew that. It seemed that Lucien invited me to their table to smack me in the face that I’m an outsider to their little circle, a stray thorn in their garden of blooming roses.

I took one last sip of the sparkling wine and muttered an excuse. I tried to hold back my tears when the fireworks started but I realized that no one would hear me nor see me when I cried.

Reaching my room, I opened my social media and the first post I saw belonged to none other than the princess of the night.

It was a picture of Charm, Thomas, and Lucien on that table. A fourth plate can still be seen so they probably took that when I was still there.  Lucien was on his plate cutting a steak while Thomas and Charm were leaning onto each of his shoulders with a wide smile.

The caption says: “Thank you my Alpha Prince for always making me your number one!”

At the very bottom of the post section was the time the post was uploaded: five minutes ago and the note “close friends only”.

I choked on a laugh when my eyes caught that tiny bit of detail. So, she finally confessed her intention now? 

Fine, go ahead and take Lucien. I don’t want to eat someone else’s leftovers anyway.

I let out a laugh that sounded like a perfect blend of happy and angry.

“Good for you. Congratulations on always being the number one!”

I didn’t let my thumb tremble as I hit send and then blocked Charmaine.