283 The Party
283 The Party
His tone was serious, protective, and it made my chest tighten a little.
“Just… if you feel anything strange,” he said, stepping closer, “anything off at all–I want
you to call me immediately.”
I snorted. “Barely.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Let’s just try to enjoy this evening
Tense. Quiet.
I studied him
r a moment before asking, “Aren’t you coming?”
My expression softened, and I nodded slowly.
Heads turned.
They both bowed slightly and slipped out of the room without another word.
Sofia and I exchanged a look.
Sofia and I walked arm in arm through the grand doors of Lord Frederick’s estate.
I forced a small, polite smile, nodding slightly to the guests who greeted me with too much curiosity. I hated this kind of attention. It wasn’t admiration–it was fascination, like I was some kind of rare painting they weren’t allowed to touch.
“As I’ll ever be,” she whispered. Then she leaned in. “Let’s go see what’s happening.”
I huffed softly but nodded. “I hate being stared at.
Alphas don’t just accept food or drinks from anyone–not unless it’s someone they trust completely. Especially not someone they just met the day before.
I stepped out of the car and immediately spotted Sofia waiting near the entrance.
“Well,” she whispered with a smirk, “he’s definitely watching you.”
Lolita nodded. “Yeah. From the kitchen downstairs.”
203 The Party
Silence settled between us.
“Why would he send Nora? He has personal servants for that.”
The guests laughed gently and lifted their glasses.
It wasn’t just polite interest or admiration. It was… awe.
“The special one.”
Music picked back up softly in the background, and people began to mingle and toast, and drift into small groups. But Frederick’s eyes lingered on me just a heartbeat longer before he turned away, speaking to an elder vampire near the bar.
“I’m here. You coming?”
“Excuse us,” he said, directing his words toward Nora and Lolita.
“This is my three hundredth birthday.”
“Oh,” Lolita said, moving to help adjust my necklace. “Alpha Calvin asked her to bring him a glass of juice.”
“Thanks.”
Until finally, he spoke.
My brows pulled tighter. That didn’t sound right.
He looked as elegant as ever in a dark velvet jacket, a silver brooch gleaming at his collar. His pale skin glowed faintly under the chandelier light, and his piercing eyes swept across the room until they landed briefly–firmly–on me.
“And hey…” he added with a faint smile. “I love you. Don’t you forget that.”
The door creaked open, and Calvin stepped inside. I didn’t turn to look at him. Not right away. Not after what happened this morning. After everything we’d said… or yelled.
“I thought the same thing,”
She admitted.
“You done swooning?” she teased.
Then he smiled.
283 The Party
“And,” he added, “since I have chosen to begin aging forward like the rest of you- starting now–I figured it was only right to acknowledge it.”
He shook his head. “No. I’ve got a few things to handle–pack matters and some loose
ends to tie up.
Eyes widened.
“To life,” he said, raising his own glass of thick red wine–though I wasn’t entirely sure
it was wine.
“I promise.”
Alphas are usually busy.
“Okay,” I whispered.
She looked stunning in a deep burgundy dress that hugged her curves perfectly. Her long black hair was curled and pinned to one side, and she smiled the moment she saw
- me.
“Trust me, all eyes will be on you,” Lolita teased with a wink, fluffing my hair as I checked myself in the mirror. I rolled my eyes and looked away, forcing a small smile. The truth was, I didn’t care about all eyes. I only cared about theirs–Lennox, Louis, and Levi. And they weren’t going to be there. So no, I wasn’t exactly excited.
- me.
“There you are,” she said, walking up to me and linking her arm with mine. “You look
Frederick descended the stairs slowly as he continued, “The last time I celebrated my birthday… was over a hundred years ago. I gave up the habit, thought it unnecessary- pointless, even. But tonight marks a new chapter”
“For… reacting the way I did earlier,” he said, his voice softer than I’d expected. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just- He paused, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m angry. Not at you. Just… at what you went through. I can’t stop picturing it. I hate that I wasn’t there. to stop it.”
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