CHAPTER 10: "LEAVE ME ALONE, PLEASE!"

Amber

Most of the powerful packs in the realm would host events for the public once every two months. 

But every year, the Blood Moon Pack would host only two major events: the birth of the heir, and the birth of the Alpha. 

And the invitations would go out to only the cream of the realm. 

As such, these parties are a big deal to both the pack and the society. 

If you’re invited to the Blood Moon Celebration Party, then you’re either important or famous. 

“I hate these parties.” I frowned at my reflection in the mirror. “And I look like icing on a wedding cake.”

The tea-length dress is cute: it snuggles nicely to my curves from waist up and flares sweetly waist down. 

But the thick fabric makes the whole dress stiff and heavy, it's hard to breathe in it. 

The skirt is long enough to cover most of my thighs while the square neckline is modest enough to cover most of my breasts, showing only a bit of my cleavage.

If it wasn't sleeveless, I would discard it before my father could force me into it. 

“Don’t give me that. You look like the goddess of sweet innocence,” Eva mumbled on the screen while chewing on her celery, “And yes, you prefer those closed-door birthday celebrations your father arranges for every member of the clan.” 

“Yes! Isn’t that more meaningful than this?” I lifted the huge bow perched at the left side of my waist. “No ruffles, no sparkles. Just a simple gathering to show appreciation for that one person born on that particular day.” 

“Regardless, you still need to lift those cheekbones. Gotta give your best smile for your father’s guests.” Eva swallowed, her gaze suddenly solemn. “And if Hunter asked you to dance?” 

I straightened like a soldier in salute. “I’ll politely decline and walk away.” 

“Good girl.” The chewing resumed. “Nothing to worry about then. I’m so proud of you.” 

I turned from the mirror to the laptop screen. “Are you sure?” 

Eva was checking her phone when she looked at me, her face deadpan. 

“How long has it been since Hunter was beaten in your room?” 

My chest tightened. “Two weeks.” 

“And how many times have you spoken to him since then?” 

“Zero.” 

Eva repeated the routined question. “Even when you were alone with him in the car?”  

“We didn’t talk.” I admitted truthfully. 

Because Hunter did most of the talking. 

I just sat in silence, occasionally nodding to a yes or no question. 

Soon, he stopped talking entirely. 

“So what are you afraid of?” Eva’s voice snapped me back to my bedroom. “And are you sure you aren’t going to braid your hair? Not that I’m complaining—you look like a frickin sex goddess with those thick, luscious curls—.” 

“And I for one love your raven black bob.” 

“That’s why I love you,” she crunched her nose like I was her puppy. 

And I couldn’t help but chuckle along. 

“I wish you were here with me.” 

“Aw…,” she clutched her chest and faked a boyfriend tone, “me too, baby. But the girl’s got a date she can’t miss.” 

“With your boyfriend’s grandmother. I hope she likes the gift you picked for her eightieth birthday.”

“And I hope you’ll be Hunter-free for the rest of the night.”

“No doubt about that. He’d be surrounded by a year long supply of fucked ladies the second he shows up in the ballroom.” 

And Eva flashed a disgusted look on my behalf. “Yeah, I can totally picture that.” 

We blew kisses and disconnected the video call. 

I did one final check on my make-up and then my dress, grabbed my purse and headed for the door. 

*****

Dad likes to host the events on familiar grounds for safety purposes. 

So every party was held in the Blood Moon estate. And every three years, he’d revamp the ballroom to keep things fresh. 

This time, the ballroom was an enormous crystal ball resting in the middle of the Blood Moon’s estate, with a square perimeter of pine trees for privacy. 

To get to the ballroom from the mansion—our quarters—we had to move past a maze, which was designed to keep any wandering outsider at bay and suck any intruders in for capture—and death. 

I emerged from the maze and Albert was already waiting for me. 

After listening to hushed complaints about some unruly and inconsiderate guests, I arrived at the entrance of the ballroom, and my escort left me to usher the other guests. 

The tall, oaken doors opened, and cool air and warm lights poured out, sucking me in.

I drew in a deep breath and stepped in. 

Hushed sounds of gossip and evening chatter filled my ears then the soft playing of classical music—my father’s favourite—mixed in. 

The entire ballroom was brightly lit in warm hues and strewn with Alphas and Betas, and their plus-one Omegas, all expensively garbed for the event.  

Despite all that, the first person I laid my eyes on was that one person I most wanted to avoid.  

Hunter Black was in a circle of nymphs of various ages, bustling about for his attention. 

Just as I had predicted. 

I SWEAR: the second I saw him, I wanted to turn and leave.  

But something about him kept me rooted, unable to move. 

That night black tux—he’s never worn anything this posh and elegant. It made his hair stand out like a crown of white gold. 

Wait, his hair. He did something different with it too. 

Gel. He’s gelled it up for tonight, swept everything back, revealing the full force of his forehead, accentuating the masculinity of his perfectly sculptured face. 

No wonder the ladies are exceptionally hyped tonight: the god of devilish charm is also oozing rich virility. 

“I always say that he carries the air of an Alpha,” remarked a voice. 

I turned, and my father’s personal assistant was beside me, his gaze on Hunter. 

“You put him up to this?” I asked, and a tiny corner of my mouth curled up.  

The man of our small talk was tugging at his collar in sheer discomfort. 

Vale shook his head, sipping his champagne. 

“It’s all him.” 

I raised my brow at my father’s best friend. 

“But he hates ties! Much less a bow-tie.” 

And Vale nudged his chin in Hunter’s direction. 

“Ask him. He’s coming over.” 

Shit, he really is. And he's moving very dashingly too. 

The mere sight of him is riffling up the butterflies in my stomach—the very ones that I had bottled up.  

I need to leave. 

NOW. 

I snatched a glass off a passing tray and clinked Vale’s, feigning surprise.

“Oh my, there’s Madame Florence! I better go say ‘hello’. Catch you later, Vale.” 

And before he could respond, I hurried off. 

Not looking back. 

*****

For the whole evening, everywhere I turned, Hunter would be there, right where I could see him. 

I can't tell if it was on purpose. If it is, then he’s taking this personal bodyguard thing a little too serious. And it's making things worse for me. 

I blinked at the Alpha in front of me. 

He's been talking to me but I can't seem to focus. 

“I'm sorry, Mr. Walters, you were saying?” I smiled apologetically. 

And his smile grew tender. “Please,” his hand resting assuredly on my shoulder, his thumb stroking my skin there, “call me ‘Charlie’.”

The air suddenly felt weird. 

Maybe he had a little too much to drink. 

“Charlie,” I remained smiling, subtly moving out of his hand’s way, “you were saying?”

“Eighteen’s the perfect age for marriage, don't you think?” He removed my empty glass to take my hand into his, then he whispered, “Do you have anyone in mind?”

A chill pricked my back. 

I wanted to take my hand back and run. 

But he's one of dad's prospective business partners. I can't risk offending him. 

So, still smiling, I scanned around for an exit.

And to my poor heart, Hunter was charging over like a fighter bull. He was mad at something I could tell, but I wasn’t sure what—or who. 

But I’m pretty sure that a meteorite would crash if he came any closer.  

So I snatched my hand back and apologised, “I see my father's asking for me. Let's continue this chat later, shall we?”

“Sure,” Charlie's smile went from friendly to creepy. “We'll talk later. Shall we meet at…?”

I didn't hear the rest because Hunter was in the danger zone: close enough to hear and be heard. 

So I scampered off. 

An  hour into the party, fatigue caught up. All the smiling and dodging sexy Hunter and creepy Charlie was eroding me from inside. 

I took a plate of sandwiches and retired to an inconspicuous corner. I was quietly chewing, observing the energetic, alcohol-driven were-folk, when a familiar scent swarmed in. 

“Busy night?” 

I could feel his angry glare burning a hole through the back of my head. 

And I choked. 

“Christ, here!” He swung me a glass of water. 

His hand was patting my back, the way he always does when a gummy gets caught in my throat. 

And my frustration soared through the roof. 

I pushed him and the glass of water away. “I'm fine.”

But I was still coughing. 

“What's wrong with you?” He asked. “You've been avoiding me all night. You've gotta be extra careful in that dress—I told Andy it's too short, and I was right—.”

I slammed the plate of half-eaten sandwiches on an empty table and snapped, “Just leave me alone, Hunter! Please!” 

He fell silent. 

And I started to worry.  

What face is he giving me? Anger? Disappointment? 

I was dying to know but I can't look him in the eye. Because I might just throw myself at him and kiss him then and there. 

“Am,” he began. 

And before he could utter the next word, I dived back into the crowd. 

I could feel him waddling through the maze of were-folk to get to me, but I kept on swimming forward, increasing the distance between us until he was completely out of sight.

More Alphas came up to me, offering drinks and dances, but I sweetly and innocently rejected all. And the more people I met, the more I think of Hunter.  

I couldn't stop thinking about him. 

If I had stayed, would he ask me to dance? Or maybe we'd talk like the old times, critiquing everyone in sight, laughing at the most extravagant of behaviour and fashion. 

And the more I recalled the times we've shared, the heavier the sinking feeling in my chest. 

Until it was hard to breathe. 

And I dashed out of the ballroom entirely. 

I followed the moonlight and found myself in front of the maze. 

If I take another step forward, I’d be disappointing my father again. If I go back, I’d feel my heart cracking over and over—. 

“This will do.” A voice crept up from behind me. 

I turned around and Charlie was grinning satisfyingly. 

“No one will interrupt us this time, Amber.”