Chapter 5

Unknown

She was happy.

That was the first thing I noticed.

Arielle was always beautiful, but there was something different about her when she was with Joss.

She smiled more.

Laughed more.

She looked at him as though he were the centre of her entire world.

I guess being her fated mate, he was.

I hated it.

Arielle

The day of the party had finally arrived.

I stood in the centre of the enormous ballroom, slowly turning in a circle as I took in everything around me.

For a moment, I couldn’t believe this was the same room we’d started decorating only hours ago.

It was breathtaking.

Everywhere I looked, there was something designed to make the evening feel extraordinary.

Tall crystal candelabras stood along the walls, their hundreds of tiny flames reflecting against the polished surfaces and making the entire room shimmer. Soft golden lights had been draped from the ceiling, creating the illusion of thousands of tiny stars above us.

Long tables covered in deep ivory linen stretched across the room.

Each place setting had been carefully arranged with crystal glasses, polished silverware and delicate gold-trimmed plates. In the centre of every table sat enormous floral arrangements filled with white roses, pale pink lilies and greenery.

It looked like something from a royal wedding.

And then there was the food.

So much food.

The enormous banquet tables were already being filled with everything from roasted meats and fresh salads to breads, cheeses, fruits and countless desserts.

At the far end of the room stood the pièce de résistance.

The chocolate fountain.

It was enormous.

Three tiers of warm, melted chocolate flowed continuously down into the basin below.

I couldn’t help but smile.

“Tell me you aren’t still proud of that thing.”

I turned to see Tori standing beside me, staring at the fountain.

“Of course I am.”

“It’s completely ridiculous.”

“It’s a chocolate fountain.”

“Exactly.”

I laughed.

“You just don’t appreciate the finer things in life.”

Tori raised an eyebrow.

“I appreciate chocolate. I don’t appreciate enough chocolate to feed an army.”

“We have an entire pack coming tonight.”

“Which is exactly why I’m concerned.”

I laughed again before turning my attention back to the room.

“We’ve done it.”

Tori smiled.

“We really have.”

There was something satisfying about seeing everything we’d planned finally come together.

For the past several days, we’d talked about every tiny detail.

The decorations.

The food.

The music.

The entertainment.

The fireworks.

We wanted tonight to be perfect.

Not just a party.

A night everyone would remember.

And judging by the room in front of me, we’d certainly accomplished that.

I walked toward one of the tables and adjusted a small floral arrangement that was already perfectly positioned.

Tori watched me.

“You know it’s already straight, right?”

“I know.”

“Then why are you touching it?”

“Because I want it to be perfect.”

Tori shook her head.

“It already is.”

I smiled.

“Maybe.”

Before I could say anything else, the enormous doors at the entrance opened.

“Well…”

I turned.

Joss and Sam walked into the ballroom.

Both men stopped dead.

For several seconds, neither of them said a word.

I looked at Tori.

Tori looked at me.

Then I glanced back at the men.

Joss slowly looked around the room.

His eyes moved from the ceiling to the tables, then toward the banquet, the decorations and finally the enormous chocolate fountain.

His mouth curved into a slow smile.

“Wow.”

I grinned.

“That’s all you have to say?”

He looked at me.

“No.”

He walked farther into the room, still looking around.

“Arielle…”

There was genuine amazement in his voice.

“This is incredible.”

My heart warmed.

“You like it?”

“Like it?”

He shook his head.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen the ballroom look like this.”

I smiled proudly.

“Tori and I worked very hard.”

“I can see that.”

Joss crossed the room and wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me against him.

“You’ve outdone yourself.”

I leaned into him.

“Good.”

He kissed the top of my head.

“Very good.”

Behind us came a very different reaction.

“What in the…”

We turned.

Sam was staring at the chocolate fountain.

He looked horrified.

Actually horrified.

I burst out laughing.

“What?”

Sam pointed at it.

“What is that?”

“It’s a chocolate fountain.”

“I know what it is!”

He looked at Tori.

“Why is there enough chocolate in this room to drown someone?”

Tori shrugged innocently.

“Because it’s a party.”

“It’s a health hazard.”

“It’s chocolate.”

“Exactly!”

I laughed harder.

Sam cautiously approached the fountain as though it might attack him.

“How much chocolate is actually in there?”

“Enough.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one you’re getting.”

He stared at the flowing chocolate.

“Do you know how expensive this is?”

Joss chuckled.

“Sam.”

“No. I’m serious.”

Sam turned toward Joss.

“Our pack’s finances are flowing down that fountain.”

Joss laughed.

“You’ll survive.”

“I’m not so sure.”

Tori walked over and picked up a strawberry from the nearby platter.

She dipped it into the chocolate.

Then she held it out toward Sam.

“Want one?”

Sam stared at the chocolate-covered strawberry.

“No.”

She smiled.

“Are you sure?”

“No.”

“Absolutely sure?”

“Yes.”

She ate it herself.

Sam watched her chew.

His expression changed.

“…How is it?”

Tori smiled.

“Delicious.”

Sam sighed.

“Fine.”

He reached for another strawberry.

I laughed.

“See? You’re already giving in.”

“I am not giving in.”

He dipped the strawberry into the fountain.

“I’m merely conducting an investigation.”

“Of course you are,” Joss said.

Sam took a bite.

His eyes widened slightly.

“Okay.”

He looked at the fountain again.

“Maybe I understand the appeal.”

We all laughed.

For the next hour, the ballroom became a blur of activity.

Servants hurried around making final preparations.

Musicians arrived and began setting up their instruments.

The last decorations were carefully positioned.

The food was arranged.

Candles were lit.

Every detail was checked and then checked again.

And somehow, despite the chaos, everything came together.

Eventually, I stepped back and looked around.

The room was magnificent.

Joss came to stand beside me.

His fingers slipped into mine.

“Happy?”

I looked up at him.

“Very.”

He smiled.

“Good.”

I rested my head against his shoulder.

Tonight was supposed to be a celebration.

A celebration of our pack.

Our future.

Our life together.

Everything I’d ever wanted seemed to be standing right in front of me.

I had my mate.

I had my home.

I had my family.

I had a pack that loved me.

And tonight, everyone we cared about would gather beneath the same roof.

I should have felt nothing but excitement.

And yet…

For the briefest moment, an inexplicable shiver ran down my spine.

I frowned.

“Are you cold?” Joss asked.

“No.”

I looked toward the ballroom entrance.

Nothing was there.

Just the enormous doors waiting for the first guests to arrive.

I couldn’t explain why, but suddenly the room didn’t feel quite as welcoming as it had moments before.

Perhaps it was nerves.

Perhaps it was the knowledge that so many people would soon be here.

I pushed the feeling aside.

Tonight was going to be perfect.

It had to be.

I had no idea that before the night was over, I would look back on this room and remember it very differently.

Because while I was standing there admiring the beautiful life I thought I had…

Someone else was already waiting for the moment to tear it apart.

And when the first guest walked through those doors, the future I had always believed was mine would begin slipping away.

I just didn’t know it yet.