Chapter 59
I shrunk under the apprehensive eyes of everyone standing on the ballroom floor. They were dressed in beautiful gowns, wearing expensive jewelry that truly fit for a visit to the palace and I could tell with a steadfast certainty that they all looked down on me with a passion. Nobody could understand why the king had taken a chosen mate from the Hunt. He who could have his pick of female, had chosen a common girl with no extraordinary talents. Little did they know that the girl had no choice in the matter and that she was as unhappy with the result as they were.
On my way up to meet Darian I saw Elise strutting proudly around the large pedestal with a silver trolley on which she had at least six different kinds of wine. She gave each man around the table a wine glass and looked around the room for someone. That’s when it dawned on me that Iliana wasn’t with her.
Someone grabbed my arm, the smell of cologne burned my nose and he spun me around.
“Where is she?” Emanuel asked frantically. His fingers were pressing into my skin and his eyes darted over my face.
“I’m sure she’s around here somewhere,” I hissed and pulled my arm back.
Emanuel towered over me and his eyes darkened as they stared into my soul.
“She better be,” he remarked in a tone so chilly I could’ve sworn a cloud left his lips.
I was standing on the third step on my way up when Emanuel stepped down and turned to look at Iliana hurrying into the ballroom. She carried a bottle of wine and a big smile that stretched from ear to ear. Her brown eyes were glossy like they were after a good laugh and even they smiled when she looked at me as carried the bottle to Elise.
“You found it! Thank the gods,” Elise laughed silently when Iliana handed her the bottle.
A giggle rippled from them both and Iliana hurried down to Emanuel and grabbed his arm lovingly. He leaned down and kissed the side of her head, which was sweet, but I was more curious by his eyes that he squeezed shut and his jaw that unclenched and relaxed under her touch.
It felt like swallowing acidic wolfsbane when I tried to gulp down the lump in my throat. They looked like the picture-perfect couple, and Emanuel’s tinted cheeks and flustered breath when he turned his head to look at me spoke volumes of how he felt for her.
Ever since they stepped foot into the palace I felt that something was wrong with him and now I see that there was nothing wrong at all, he just has a new priority. No matter which mate he brought to a function, he was always there for me, to laugh and to console me, whatever I needed. I saw now that the special place I held in his heart had been filled with another girl- Iliana. I was happy for them. At least I tried to be.
Shit, my heart was not constructed to handle this pain.
‘Come. I will not tell you again’
I pushed the pain down into that little casket in the bottom of my heart where it would be hidden long enough for this nightmare to be over. Honestly, right now I just wanted them both to leave.
They held each other close when I turned to leave and neither one said a word to me. Darian reached his hand around my waist and I took my place next to
him.
“The wine has been delicately chosen for the annual Ball celebrating the Hunt and our Alpha’s,” Elise proudly presented over the room.
Cause they are the ones who should be celebrated. I rolled my eyes at the ignorance which was immediately followed by a burning pinch in my side.
“I saw that,” Darian whispered in my ear. His breath fanned the side of my face and he tightened his hold on my waist, “Behave puppet. Or I’ll have to make
you,”
1/2
The Alpha’s Hunt
