Chapter three

Annie’s POV

“It’s just a dream, Annie,” Lena said as she pulled at the cords of my corset, cinching my waist. I stared at my reflection. Pale skin, green eyes, silky brown hair. Maybe Daemon was right. There was nothing different about my appearance this morning.

I still looked like a child. 

“I know,” I sighed, sucking in my already flat stomach as she reached the last loop. “It just felt…it felt too real, Lena. Like the pack house was actually on fire.”

"But nothing has happened today," she continued, moving from the corset to my hair. "Your run went fine, breakfast was great, and you even had a nap. The pack house is still fine. Maybe it was just my insisting that you put out the candles."

“Yeah,” I sighed. Lena was right. It was just some stupid dream brought about by the candles and Serena’s presence. That had to be it. “But can I tell Dad that I have no interest in attending the birthday dinner? I really just want to stay in here.”

Lena stared at the mirror, with most of my hair in one hand, above my nape. She angled her head and narrowed her eyes. “I think putting the curls up will do great for your nape.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I doubt I am going to find my mate on that dinner table, so you can style it in whatever way you want.”

Lena laughed, shaking her head. "It's not about your mate, silly. It's about looking great on your sixteenth birthday. And no. You cannot tell Alpha Ralph that you don't want to be there. He is going to practically pull you away from this room."

She kept quiet for a few seconds before adding. “And who knows if he has a surprise for you.”

I turned around a fraction to look at her. “What is it, Lena?”

Another laugh. “Nice try, Annie. But I can’t tell you.”

“Come on!” I was facing the mirror again, watching as she styled the curls delicately on top of my head, a few tendrils framing my face. “You know it doesn’t matter. I’ll act surprised, I promise.”

“Annie…”

“Please?” I angled my head, jutting out my bottom lip in a pout. “I am your friend first before your Alpha’s daughter.”

“It’s called a surprise, Annie,” she chuckled. “And besides, Alpha Ralph won’t want me spoiling it.”

She finished with my hair, moving to the jewellery box on the vanity. Silver stones glinted as she pulled them out, fastening the neck piece on. 

“I want to know,” I grumbled. “It’s my birthday.”

"Okay," Lena murmured. "I don't know a lot, but from what I heard, there is going to be a guest arriving during the dinner. He should have gotten here already, but there seems to have been a delay on the way."

“And you don’t know who it is?”

Lena shook her head. “But I’m certain you’ll be pleased. Whoever it is.”

She steps away from me, smiling at my reflection. “You look stunning, Annie.”

I was in a flowing black dress that clung to me like a second skin, then pooled to the ground like a stream. It had a low back, even though there was a slight chill in the air. But I loved it. 

"Thank you, Lena," I replied, getting out of the seat. We walked out of the room with Lena behind me, my hands smoothing over the dress as soon as I reached the doors. I was nervous, but not for the reason I thought I would be. 

Daemon would be there. I chose this dress because I wanted him to see me in it, but after last night…

The doors pushed open suddenly, intruding into my thoughts and ushering us into the long dinner table. Everyone I knew was seated around it, and that meant it wasn’t a large birthday dinner. Thankfully. 

They all got up as I walked in small paces into the room. My father had the largest smile on his face, from where he sat at the edge of the table. He met me halfway across the room, pulling me into his warm arms.

His familiar scent teased my nostrils, and I held on to him. No matter what happened, I knew I could always count on him. He'd never failed me before. I was his baby girl, and I didn't mind it. 

“Happy birthday, beautiful,” he whispered when he pulled away. “Oh my! You look breath-taking. Maybe I should keep you by my side a little longer.”

“Dad,” I whined, jabbing at him softly.

“Or maybe I should hope you don’t find your mate. At least, not yet.”

The door opened behind us just as Lena disappeared from the room. I knew it was Daemon even without turning around. And I also knew that he wasn’t alone. 

"Alpha Ralph," Daemon nodded when he got closer, but he didn't even look at me. I felt invincible in that moment, and it hurt. 

“Daemon,” my father beamed. “How was the search last night?”

“I’m sure we can talk about that after dinner, Alpha Ralph,” Daemon said with a sly grin on his lips. “I’m certain Annie wants to spend the night without hearing all about the pack’s business.”

He didn’t introduce Serena to my father. He never introduced any of the women he brought around. Because he knew they were fleeting. They never came in here twice. 

“You look dashing, Annie,” Serena whispered as we joined the table. 

I sat next to my brother, Aemon, who nudged me playfully. He poked at one of the curls and narrowed his eyes. 

“Hmmm.”

“Is that your happy birthday, beautiful sister?”

He shrugged. “The curls are pretty.”

“Why do you sound surprised?”

He pushed the plate towards himself. “I am?”

“Or you didn’t think your mate, Lena, could achieve something this gorgeous, right?”

"She isn't my mate." There was a rigidity to his voice. It might scare everyone else, but it never had an effect on me. "I rejected her already. I am going to be Alpha…"

“Save me the speech.” I rolled my eyes as one of the servants walked over to me, ready to serve the first course. 

“I will,” Aemon said in an unnecessarily high voice. He turned to Daemon, angling his head, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Daemon is a more interesting subject. I mean, this has to be the twentieth girl I have seen with him this week.”

And then he turned to Serena. “No offense meant.”

My pulse started racing suddenly, and I tried to hide the flush on my face. It wasn't from want. It was from anger. But Daemon didn't say anything, picking up his glass of wine. 

“Aemon…”

"You've got to tell me your secret, cousin," my brother pushed. "How do you manage to get all of them to play according to your desires? I mean, they know that you shove your tongue down other women's throats, right?"

The hush in the room disappeared when the legs of my chair scraped the ground noisily as I got up. "Aemon, what the hell is wrong with you?"

He narrowed his eyes, that grin still on his face. “I… I don’t think I follow.”

“Thank you for dinner, everyone,” I muttered. “Aemon has made me lose my appetite.”

But as I made to storm out of the room, the door opened for the third tim

e that night, and my father's surprise strolled in.