An Unfair Universe

BLOOM

"Look at him in this picture!" Daria hurried over to my bed, sat by my side and dropped a photo on my lap.

It was a group picture. Young me, Hunter, Daria and of course Dante. My gaze first landed on Hunter, standing calmly with a gentle smile on his face.

A little smile appeared on my face but that smile vanished the instant Daria pointed at Dante and I in the picture.

He was pulling my hairband off my hair and I had a frown on my face in response. Dante had had a habit of taking my hairbands away every single time I had my hair packed.

I dropped the picture back on Daria's laps. "I don't want to hear anything about him. Ugh. The entire Pack is already talking about him enough" I grumbled.

"Bloom," Daria called, her voice sounding a little bit more serious. "You really didn't miss him at all? When you saw him, you didn't want to talk to him or... You didn't feel anything?" Daria asked and I pressed my lips into a thin line with a tired look.

"If I felt anything, then it was hatred. He is back and everyone is acting like he is some hero or god who came back from the dead. And the Bleeds lost the match too, I hate him and do not care about him" I rolled my eyes.

"Well, you are definitely coming to his welcome party though, aren't you?"

"And why in the world would I come to his welcome back party? Why? I would rather sleep my hours away"

"You rarely attend any parties. Just attend this one, come with me, hm?" Daria held me by my arm, pouting and trying to convince me with her eyes to attend.

"I have no interest in parties. I am bothered by something else" I replied and rested my back against my bed's headboard.

"What is it? You are bothered by how hot Dante has turned out to be?"

"Stop thinking and speaking about him!" I threw her a pillow and she laughed. "I am bothered by Hunter. He was very exhausted yesterday and while treating him, I found other injuries. I think he has been going through a lot of stress recently, working for the Alpha. I don't know what he is going through" I said worriedly and Daria sighed.

"How do you think things will work between them? They were best friends and now, things are just... Hunter wants to become the Alpha, you know and now Dante is back."

"Hunter deserves that position and we all know that is a fact"

"Well, I am not concerned by the politics. I am only interested in this party tonight and you are coming with me!" Daria smiled brightly.

"I am not going to any party" I insisted.

"Is it because you are still scared of him teasing you?"

"Scared? I am no longer a child, Daria. I do not care about him."

"If you truly don't care, then just show up and party and show me and even Dante that you truly do not care. As a plus, Hunter will be there too"

"I am still not going" I insisted.

"Then you are scared and just want to run away and hide from Dante Romano"

"I am not scared!"

"Then follow me to the party!"

"Ugh! Fine, I will!"

*

I alighted from the car and looked up at the mansion in front of us. Many other cars were parked around and people were around.

Daria walked over to my side excitedly and wrapped her arm around my waist.

"I am so excited" She squealed and I rolled my eyes.

"Let's just go in"

We both walked towards the wide open doors and the music got louder. "This place is gorgeous. I wonder how much Dante spent on this place" Daria mused as we walked into the large living room.

The place was dimly lit with loud music playing and people were already chatting and dancing, having fun.

My eyes wandered the place and it landed on Hunter and Dante standing at the other side. Immediately Daria realised who I was staring at, she grabbed my arm and hurried us towards them.

I could feel something shifting inside of me as we got closer to them. I was suddenly more aware of what I was wearing, if I looked good enough.

I didn't want to care about that but I couldn't shake off the need to appear perfect, not just before Hunter if I was being honest but also before Dante. I didn't want him to see me lacking, I didn't want to give him a chance to poke fun at me.

Before we even got to them, Dante's eyes had found me and he was staring at me until we stopped in front of them.

"Hunter" I made sure my attention was fully on Hunter, even as I felt Dante watching me.

"Look who came to a party, you look so beautiful" Hunter said, leaning down slightly to my height. I smiled and gently tucked my hair behind my ears.

"Dumbie," The voice made me lose my smile immediately even though I couldn't help but notice just how much deeper his voice had gotten. It still felt almost the same. Teasing. But that voice has completely changed into a deep, low baritone that surprised me.

I don't know what the hell I was thinking but I guess I hadn't been expecting his voice to have changed this way.

I finally looked at Dante with a stern look on my face but that look almost faded away the moment I saw his face.

Okay, I know I had seen him yesterday but he had been far away, on the rink. I hadn't seen him this close in six years and yes, it had been obvious that Dante Romano would turn out handsome but I wasn't expecting this.

Every feature of the face in front of me was perfectly sculpted. His brown eyes seemed to have gotten more enchanting, like a brown that pulled one into memories of beautiful evenings. His nose was still sculpted perfectly and his jaws had become sharper with perfectly shaped lips. How could Dante Romano look this good?

My eyes subconsciously fell lower, to his neck, accessorized with a silver necklace and then even lower. Dante was no longer the boy that I recalled in my memories. He was a man, fully so, towering effortlessly over me and looking down at me.

No, I wasn't admiring Dante Romano. I would never do that. But yet again, how could the universe be so unfair?