Chapter 6

AMELIA

　　　 “Wow. You look beautiful, Am.” Theia let her brown eyes scan me from head to toe.

　　　 “So do you, T.” She wore a forest dark tuck bodycon midi dress, one off-shoulder, showing off a little bit of femininity. 

　　　I also came prepared. So I put on a full-length deep red dress with V cut halter plunge neckline with high leg split and open back. I put a little makeup on, which I sucked at it, and then I tied my hair in a low ponytail style.

　　　 “Let’s get this over with.” Ren joined us in the truck in his well-tailored Japanese-inspired Italian suit. His hair was tied behind his head.

　　　 “I know you’re pissed off, but so do I. I just don’t want to fight anymore with him. He’s the alpha of this pack, and my brother has already angered him.”

　　　 “Well, he’s hot in person. I forgot to tell you earlier.” Theia chuckled. “I mean, wow. Handsome is an understatement. He’s hot and rich, and the alpha.”

　　　 “Your point?” Ren asked in disgust.

　　　 “Nothing, dude. Just pointing out the obvious.” She drove us off the Lodge parking area. The drive would only take ten minutes to the pack house. “No wonder that clingy Dora never let her tentacles off Alpha Ryden. He’s a catch.”

　　　 “It’s Nora. Just shut up and drive. I don’t wanna hear anything about Ryden tonight.” I looked outside the window and wondered what he was up to. He didn’t need me before. What did he want from me now?

　　　 “I think he wants you back,” Theia added.

　　　 “We were never together to want me back in the first place. I woke up after being burned alive to his words rejecting me and banishing me. If Ren left that night, I would have been dead by now, mauled by wolves in the forest.”

　　　 “But he gave you a nickname. I think it’s cute, ladybug.”

　　　 “Shut up,” Ren and I said in unison, making her laugh.

　　　 We arrived at the pack house. 

　　　I instantly heard noises and music. For the past two years, parties weren’t new to me, considering how rich and well-connected the Raitos were. We attended parties and got drunk, but I made sure I kept a low profile. The last thing I wanted was attention. And in that time, I never had a boyfriend or got into any flings.

　　　 Right now, I hated attention, especially when all I got were scrutinizing glares and prying eyes from everybody like I was some kind of pariah who had just returned.

　　　 Ignoring the looks on their faces, I snatched a flute of Champagne and sipped it, I hadn’t seen the host of the night.

　　　 “My, my.” I knew that voice— the funny and gleeful voice. “And here I thought it was just a rumor.

　　　 I turned around, beaming. “Maddie.”

　　　 We did a cheek-to-cheek kiss.

　　　 “Wow. Look at you.” She strolled her gaze at me from head to toe. “You’ve grown up into a beautiful and hot woman. And I like your hair.” Why was everyone so obsessed with my hair?

　　　 “Thanks, but I just turned eighteen when I left. And you look beautiful, too.” Maddie was a blonde, Ryden’s cousin and the only daughter of the previous alpha, but she chose to stay in the pack. She was of an average height and stocky with a heart of gold. “Meet my friends, Ren and Theia.”

　　　 After they shook hands, we fell into an easy conversation about the pack until someone was about to ruin the night

　　　 “Look what the cat’s dragged in.” Nora in the flesh in her white floor-length dress with her statement emerald necklace that looked like a family heirloom. She looked beautiful though. She always did. “Why did you come back? Why can’t you just stay dead? Everyone here isn’t so thrilled with your return, and this party is boring, but I am here to support my man.”

　　　 I sniffed the air. She didn’t smell like Ryden. My guess was they didn’t come together. “After all these years, you still haven’t changed, Nora, even if you got the man. You’re still an insecure rowdy bitch.”

　　　 “How dare you insult me!”

　　　 “Why can’t I?” If she thought I would back down this time, like I did two years ago, she was wrong. “Because you’re screwing the alpha? That your poor ill-attitude excuses you?”

　　　 Before she could claw my eyes out, the floor went silent. The hair on my skin stood up, and his scent filled the air, making my heart go wild. It was insane how his scent alone still affected me, quickly screwing me in the head.

　　　 I drew a deep breath and pushed the thoughts out of my head. Well, shit. I took it all back. I knew it was sheer stupidity to attend this party. In my defense, he didn’t give me a choice to get my sword back without creating chaos or a mortal enemy in return.

　　　 I swallowed hard and stood frozen between my friends as I watched him reach the threshold and climb upstairs, alone. He wore a well-tailored dark blue suit and a red tie that I couldn’t ever get used to when he always put on a rugged outdoorsy outfit. Yet he took my breath away. Every damn time.

　　　 Ryden was so handsome and firm. His expression seemed unreadable. His jaw set hard. If anyone could pull off the messy wavy espresso hair, it would be him.

　　　 His deep green eyes wandered the entire floor, landing on me. For a brief moment, I wished I could control my heart to stop from being a jackhammer. He managed to pull off a small smile before he clasped his hands together in a respectable alpha manner.

　　　 “Good evening, everyone. On behalf of the elders present and who couldn’t make it tonight, I’d like to welcome our guests, my friends, our allies, from White Moon Pack, Alpha Knight and his mate, Luna Nirvana.”

　　　 I looked at two lovely couples, subtly nodding at them, which reminded me of what happened years ago. Ryden went to help fight that monster in their territory.

　　　 “Alpha Califf and Princess Shadow of New York’s Night Stalker Pack.” I saw Shadow once but never met her personally. From what I heard, she was a good healer. “Priestess Zarah. Thank you for being here tonight. Of course, this party wouldn’t be complete without our guests of honor. Welcome to the Crimson Heart, Amelia Hayes, and her friends, Ren Raito and Theodora Vera.”

　　　 Applause erupted. I smiled politely at the alpha and everyone around.  Then I went to the guests to show some courtesy and respect.

　　　 “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” I shook everyone’s hand, except Zarah who kept staring at me.

　　　 “Why can’t I read you? What’s so special about you, young lady?” Then she grabbed my hand without warning, making me gasp.

　　　 For a moment, she widened her eyes at me before shifting to Ren standing beside me.

　　　 Oh, shit.

　　　 “Alpha Ryden?”

　　　 “Yes, Priestess.” Ryden came rushing over.

　　　 “Just Zarah, Ryden. How many times do I have to tell you that?”

　　　 “Apologies. It’s a formal party that I have to address you right. Can I get you something to drink?”

　　　 Zarah just stared at Ryden and smiled. Now I wished I could reach out to her and not tell everyone whatever she read in my mind. Could she read someone’s mind though? “You, little wolf, have some explaining to do.”

　　　 “About what exactly?” Ryden looked confused, staring back at Zarah.

　　　 “Are we in trouble?” I talked to Ren in our link.

　　　 “She’s a powerful witch. If we’re in trouble, we already are right now, but she definitely knows something, even more than what we know.”

　　　 “Crap.”

　　　 “We’ll find your sword and an exit if things won’t go our way.”

　　　 “You’re safe here, Ren,” Zarah said.

　　　 Ren and I shared a look that just proved our suspicion of how powerful she was.

　　　 “Or shall I call you Kazeshi?”