King James, the Alpha of the Mystery Pack, to whom Alpha Henry planned to marry me off before changing his mind: what was he doing here? Did the pack invite other pack Alphas to the celebration?
My hand flew to my face to cover it while I hoped he didn't recognize me or else my identity would be revealed, but upon remembering that my picture was never taken, I sighed in relief.
I let out a gasp upon remembering something: "Uhm. Beta... I mean, Wyatt, were the Red Flame Pack also invited?" I inquired, my heart skipping a beat.
"Yes."
"Are they here?" I clenched my fist hard, my breathing coming out in a rush.
"No. They're grieving the late Filippa's death and won't be attending any celebration in the meantime." Beta Wyatt explained, which sent fury through me.
Those criminals will definitely be celebrating my death instead of grieving. I bet they're holding a feast in celebration. "Bullshit. As if they..." I paused, and my hands flew to my mouth upon realizing the mistake I almost made.
Beta Wyatt turned to me; his brows arched slightly. "They?" He repeated.
I bit my lower lips and tried to find the perfect lie to tell. I shook my head and cleared my throat. "It's nothing." I pretended to brush nonexistent dirt off my silver hair and said, "The power axis pack is one of the biggest packs in the wolf tribe; they can't ditch that to come here." I quickly switched the words and sighed in relief when Beta Wyatt didn't seem to notice my mistake.
Beta Wyatt shook his head, complex emotions flashing past his eyes. "They won't because of Filippa's nobleness." He revealed, which made me knit my brows in confusion.
"Isn't Filippa just the princess of the Red Flame Pack? What do you mean by her nobleness? I don't understand." I stared at him with curiosity, hoping he'd clarify for me.
But before he could reply to me, a handsome man in his twenties came toward us to exchange greetings with Beta Wyatt.
I was so filled with anxiety throughout Wyatt and the person's interaction that I was unable to reply to the person properly. I wanted to know more about my nobleness, which I never knew about.
I didn't realize that there were many secrets I didn't know, and now I realize that I'll need to stay in the power axis pack more than I thought.
As if realizing my eagerness, immediately after the person left, Wyatt chuckled and said, "Filippa's mom is..."
"And there is Beta Wyatt and his partner." The host suddenly pointed to us, interrupting our conversations and skillfully catching our attention.
I sighed in distress due to the interruption.
"Beta Wyatt, the current beta of the Power Axis Pack, has found one of the best rare plants used in destroying our enemies. This was a search that had been taking place for over three decades, but in less than three months, he was able to make it happen. Beta Wyatt, will you please come up to the stage?" The host had such a tongue that kept making everyone clap and laugh, and in a few seconds, we were on the podium with the host.
___
My breath stiffened as Alpha James made his way to us with a glass of liquor in his hand. My hand held onto Beta Wyatt's hand tightly. I could feel the sweat breaking through my skin. I purposely let my silver hair fall forward to hide my face.
"Beta Wyatt. Congratulations on your success." Alpha James said with a loud chuckle. His eyes were pinned on me, and he kept on eyeing me with lust.
I was a bit relieved to see that he didn't seem to recognize me, but a few seconds later, I felt so disgusted being in his presence that I wished for nothing other than to kick the disgusting man off the hall.
Beta Wyatt nodded to Alpha James' words indifferently, but Alpha James wasn't fazed; instead, he turned to me with an ugly grin I bet he thought made him look cool.
"This is your partner?" He asked, and without any decency, his hand suddenly reached out to grab mine. This man lives up to his image.
However, before Alpha James could, Beta Wyatt's hand took hold of my hand, albeit gently, and placed a kiss on it while staring at Alpha James with a cold look filled with killing intent.
"I hate when people covet what's mine." He leaned closer toward Alpha James and whispered, "I tend to kill them." He smirked devilishly, making Alpha James shiver in fear.
"I understand. I'll. I'll. Take my leave now." He stuttered and scurried off fearfully before any of us could reply, which made me laugh in amusement.
"I only know about Alpha dominating Beta. I've never heard of Beta doing so to Alpha." I paused in my tracks and stared at Beta Wyatt.
He arched his brows indifferently and asked, "Is that a compliment?"
"Curious about you," I replied, only for him to tap my nose.
"Don't be too overly curious." He said and leaned closer. I gulped at the closeness and avoided looking at his devilishly handsome face. "Where's the Maia who's afraid of my presence?" He asked me, which made me smile.
That's right. Ever since he saved me from becoming Lorelei's maid, I wasn't afraid of Beta Wyatt.
I smirked at him and leaned forward. I rearranged his suit and pretended to brush dirt off his suit.
"You've made her disappear," I whispered with a smirk, only to end up gritting my teeth due to Oswald's pressure, which wrapped me again! Crazy Alpha Oswald!
I glanced at the hall, searching for Oswald's presence, and not quite long after, I saw him at a distance talking to a lady. Our eyes met, and he gave me a warning expression.
I bit my lower lip, rolled my eyes, and separated from Wyatt.
"Stay here; I'd like to meet someone." Beta Wyatt instructed, and I nodded.
I stretched my hand toward the waiter, who was making his way toward us. I felt so thirsty, and I needed nothing apart from a drink.
The Waiter made his way toward us and stretched a glass of alcoholic wine toward me, and with a beam, I happily stretched my hand to collect it.
"Don't drink alcohol." Beta Wyatt frowned and pulled my hand down before I could, which made me pout. He waved the waiter away.
"I'm past the official age to drink alcohol by three years." I retorted with a lie.
"You don't look like it." He gave me a cold gaze, which made my courage slip. Ugh! Why am I so afraid of Beta Wyatt whenever he has that cold gaze of his?
How can I be more afraid of Beta Wyatt than Alpha Oswald? Shouldn't it be the other way around?
"Take a nonalcoholic drink; I'll be back." He said it with seriousness, and before I knew it, he had made his way to Alpha Oswald, who was still chatting with that lady.
I huffed sourly and walked towards the waiter carrying non-alcoholic drinks, but before I could grab a hold of one of the drinks, a masculine hand also reached out for it, our hands colliding with each other.
"Sorry, I'll take the other one." The deep voice said, which made me freeze.
"Yes," I replied absentmindedly, and I parted from him without taking the drink anymore.
He picked it up and followed me, which made me stop in my tracks. "Did you want something from me, Your Highness?" I asked without turning to look at him.
"Hm. I'm quite curious about the beta's partner. You look so much like a close friend of mine." He said. I didn't need to look back to see him licking his lower lip and ruffling his hair.
It felt as if someone clutched my heart and squeezed it tight. I took a deep breath and blinked my eyes before turning back to stare at him; I noticed that he hadn't changed at all; he still looked the same, just braver.
"Oh." I pretended to nod while feigning a smile. "And where's that friend of yours?"
"She died a few days ago." He replied in a monotone voice, but his expression was far from it, and it made my heart ache.
Tears pooled in my eyes, and I lowered my head to hide them. "I apologize for bringing up old wounds. I'll take my leave now." I said without raising my head.
"Hm." He replied, and before I could leave, he left.