11 Dare to Look
For most guests, the day had been spent in relaxation with a mix of beauty treatments, sparring matches, and hot springs in the snow.
But when night fell, the real party began.
The ballroom had a roof made of glass, and the moonlight shone through like their own personal disco ball, making everything glitter and sparkle. The music blared, alcohol ran freely, and food of every kind was laid out everywhere.
Caleb and his wolves entered the ballroom, drawing the attention of most of the room.
There were tables and chairs scattered throughout the building, places to relax or enjoy some food. Caleb found one that was empty and chose it as their base of operations. He sat down, Galen joining him and offering a drink he had picked up somewhere along the way.
The rest of his wolves also sat; they fit almost perfectly at the table, with two left standing.
Galen looked around the table at all their severe expressions. Then, he noticed how the two wolves left standing appeared as guards to a somewhat unapproachable group.
“Alpha,” he began with a sigh. Caleb glanced at him, “don’t you think we are a bit too conspicuous?”
Caleb looked around the table and then back out to the room, where he saw that many eyes and whispers were directed at them. He cleared his throat before answering.
“It doesn’t matter where we sit in this room. We will still draw attention,” Caleb answered quietly.
“I understand that. However,” Galen tried again, “if we acted more like we came to enjoy the party… instead of like we are waiting to start a coup or something, it might help.”
Caleb rolled his eyes. He looked around at his wolves; most of them sat quietly, waiting for direction, one or two he noticed were glancing out at the dance floor, with a slight bob or rhythmic movement.
He turned back to Galen.
“Is it not your job to lead your fellow wolves by example?” Caleb asked. Galen tilted his head confused. “Go, show them how to enjoy themselves.”
“Yes, my Alpha!” Galen smiled. He stood up, drawing the attention of the others.
“Your Alpha has given his orders,” he spoke seriously before giving them a goofy grin, “Let’s party!”
The group was a mixed reaction, laughs, cheers, and confusion. They all gave Caleb a nod before following Galen out to the dance floor.
Leaving Caleb all alone for the moment.
***
“Oh, look at him!” Renee shouted excitedly. “It could be him!”
She pointed out into the mass of people below them on the dance floor, where she watched a young man of at least twenty-five as he gyrated to the music.
Ashleigh grimaced, she didn’t understand the appeal, but she didn’t need to.
“You do understand, Re, that you don’t get to pick, right?” Bell laughed.
Renee pouted at Bell’s response. Bell dramatically hugged her and pretended to wipe her tears.
“Oh, my poor darling, I’m so sorry! Tell ya what, for tonight, you can pick anyone you want, let’s live in your Cinderella fantasy! Come on, where’s your prince?” Bell laughed, looking out at the people.
“Hmm, maybe that one?” she called out, pointing to a man that stood leaning against a table. He was attractive, had a strong body, good hair.
“Hmm…” Renee said, leaning over the rail to get a better look, “he is cute.”
He turned and knocked his plate of food to the floor. He bent down and picked it up. Looking around quickly, he blew on the mini quiche before putting it in his mouth.
“Eww! Oh no! No! No!” Renee shouted in disgust.
Ashleigh and Bell couldn’t help their laughter.
“Ok, let’s look again,” Bell’s eyes traveled over the men below. When a familiar face caught her eye, she smiled mischievously, “how about him?”
Renee and Ashleigh both followed the direction she pointed in. Both gasped at who they saw, each for very different reasons.
“Bell, that’s Alpha Caleb.” Renee scoffed.
“What!? Really?” Bell said with mock surprise before laughing, “obviously, but this is a game, and he is hot. So, how about it? Is he your pretend mate?” ρꪖꪕᦔꪖꪕꪫꪣꫀꪶ
Bell wiggled her eyes at Renee.
“Even to pretend, there’s no way I’d choose him,” Renee answered, turning her back towards Caleb as though she were rejecting him.
“Oh, come on,” Bell said. “Really? Look at him.”
“No, thank you,” Renee replied with certainty. “No one in Winter would dare look at a wolf of Summer.”
Ashleigh felt a heat in her chest rising.
“Hmm, maybe not, but it looks like Spring doesn’t mind.” Bell snickered as she leaned over the rail to watch.
Ashleigh found herself pressing against the rail before she could process the thought. Bell was right. She watched with a strange feeling rising in her as a woman approached Caleb’s table.
The woman smiled at him. She said something, then Caleb looked up at her. Ashleigh felt a twist in her stomach. She couldn’t help but wonder what the woman had said to get his attention. Didn’t he find most people annoying? Everything she had heard about him said he avoided any and all unnecessary contact. So, why did he seem to be giving this woman all of his attention?
He was saying something to her. What could they be talking about?
“What are you looking at?” a voice whispered in her ear, causing her to jump.
Ashleigh spun around, finding herself in Granger’s arms. He smiled down at her and stole a kiss.
“We were playing a game of make-believe with Renee and her dream mate. Then we caught sight of something interesting.” Bell said, “One of the Spring girls—”
“Where did you go?” Ashleigh asked Granger quickly, interrupting Bell before she could mention Caleb. “I missed you,” she added with a sweet smile.
Granger kissed her again before embracing her tenderly.
“Yuck,” Bell commented.
“Oh, don’t be a child!” Renee chided, “they’re in love. It’s sweet.”
“Yep, giving me a toothache.” Bell rolled her eyes and looked away, her eyes catching sight of Galen dancing below. She smiled to herself. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Where are you going?” Renee asked.
“Hmm,” Bell mused, “to dare to look at a wolf of Summer.”
She scurried away before Renee had a chance to disapprove of her actions.
“Immature!” Renee called after her, drawing laughs from both Ashleigh and Granger.
Ashleigh stole a glance back over her shoulder, but Caleb was gone, and so was the woman.
***
“Thank you again, Alpha Caleb. I appreciate your help.”
“It’s fine,” Caleb replied.
“It’s not. You’re the Alpha of Summer, and I asked you to help me carry my drunk idiot of a mate to our room,” she laughed nervously, “I really do appreciate it.”
The woman bowed to him and averted her eyes nervously.
“I wasn’t busy. There was no reason not to help,” Caleb replied curtly.
He set the man that leaned on his shoulder down on the bed and stood back up.
“I will leave the rest to you,” he said before leaving the room.
As he walked down the hallway, he wondered to himself why he had come to this party. He hated parties. They were noisy, pointless, and always filled with drunken idiots like the one he had just carried.
The ballroom was dark and filled with so many people he couldn’t even see her. So what was the point of even coming?
He hoped that his wolves, at least, were having fun.