Rejected Luna's Comeback

Chapter 4

The moment we stepped inside the hall, the sight of men and women dressed to kill greeted us.

The room was packed with guests, as expected of a top businessman's birthday celebration.

My eyes did a quick survey of the room, probably looking for a certain someone.

When they landed on him, I couldn't control the clench in my heart. As expected, he had a woman on his arm. What had I been expecting? That he would come alone?

Although I had already made the decision to move on, I couldn't help but feel bitter.

“Pathetic, aren't you?” I could hear someone inwardly mocking me.

I must have been the most pathetic being to ever exist.

I forced my mind off him, deciding he wasn't worth my tears.

My brother held no title in the pack. Although he was of Beta blood and had every chance of becoming Beta, he had chosen to follow our father's footsteps and take over the family company.

He was the CEO of a multi-billionaire company.

He had connections extending to every corner of the country and beyond.

He didn't need a pack title to be known. Not that fame was something he had ever chased. He was the most down to earth person I had ever met and the best elder brother I could have asked for.

Sometimes I wondered whether my feud with the Alpha had anything to do with him choosing business over the Beta position.

I remembered that growing up, he had always wanted to be a warrior and help keep the pack safe, but everything had changed five years ago.

The shock I had gone through when it was announced that Gael Reid would be taking over the family business still hadn't entirely left me.

Our father had never forced him to follow in his footsteps, even when everyone knew that only Gael could succeed him.

Surveying the hall, my earlier nervousness crept back in.

With Chloe's killer smile, the attention of every man in the room shifted to us.

I began to feel nervous.

What had I expected, making such a grand entrance with Chloe? She was a natural beauty who didn't have to try to become the centre of attention.

"Oh my God, look at all the eyes on you. I feel like I'll trip and fall if I'm not careful," Chloe whispered excitedly into my ear.

"What are you talking about? They're looking at you," I retorted, making her chuckle.

"Why would so many people be checking me out? First of all, I'm mated, no male is going to be interested in me. This spotlight is all yours, Lola. I feel like I'm back on set," Chloe giggled.

Instead of calming me down, her words only succeeded in making me more anxious.

I had always suffered from an inferiority complex. That was something nobody knew about me. With all those eyes turned in my direction, I started dreading the moment someone noticed my flaws.

"Relax. Don't panic. You've got me." Chloe gave my hand a squeeze and I felt myself settle.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to some of my friends," she said, pulling me toward a group of men whose eyes had been glued to us since we walked in.

She had always been a social butterfly. Coupled with the fact that she was a retired model and the Alpha's only sister, she had no shortage of friends.

"What a surprise to see you here, Chloe. You're looking as beautiful as ever. And your friend, she looks even more dashing tonight," a blonde-haired man with deep forest-green eyes said with a smile.

Heat rushed to my cheeks.

"Oh please, save the pretense. You don't need to be polite just to compliment my date," Chloe said, and the man's smile shifted into something sheepish.

He had been trying to flirt with me, and Chloe, being Chloe, hadn't hesitated to call him out.

Poor guy.

"You always find a way to embarrass me," he complained, but Chloe simply rolled her eyes.

"Allow me to introduce my sister and best friend, Lola Reid. She's Gael's younger sister."

Audible gasps rippled through the small group.

It was expected. My existence wasn't something the public knew much about. I had always been kept from the spotlight.

My parents always said it was for my protection, but sometimes I couldn't shake the feeling there was more to it than that.

"I never imagined President Gael would have such a beautiful flower for a sister," another man remarked, his gaze fixed on me in a way that made me uncomfortable.

"Careful what you call her, Alpha Brandon. You don't want to find out what happens when a tiger gets mistaken for a flower," my brother's voice boomed from behind us.

We all turned to find Gael walking toward us with Haylee on his arm.

I arched a brow at him, wondering what he meant. Did my brother know something? Because the Lola they all remembered was nothing but a weakling who couldn't defend herself.

"My apologies, President Gael. I only meant that your sister resembles a flower, beautiful enough to draw attention without trying," Alpha Brandon said smoothly.

"I hope you're all enjoying yourselves," Gael said, successfully steering the conversation elsewhere.

I had been growing uncomfortable with the exchange and he had clearly noticed.

"The party is wonderful, thank you," the blonde answered with a polished smile.

I couldn't help but notice how cultured and measured he seemed compared to Alpha Brandon.

"It's good to see you here, Alpha Valen," my brother said, his attention shifting to the blonde.

"Wouldn't miss it for anything," he replied warmly.

So he was Alpha Valen. I had heard that he had taken over his father's position as Alpha of the Midnight Pack at a very young age. His father had been killed in a rogue attack, a betrayal from within the pack that had cost hundreds of wolves their lives.

After a while, Gael excused himself and left with Haylee to attend to the other guests.

Not long after, Chloe was swept away by her mate, leaving me stranded among the men.

I panicked internally, silently cursing her for abandoning me after shamelessly declaring I was her date for the evening. The moment her mate appeared, she hadn't thought twice about leaving me behind.

"Miss Reid, may I have this dance?" Alpha Valen asked, his hand extended toward me, a quiet smile on his face.

With no one to keep me company and nothing else to do, I accepted.

I placed my hand in his and he led me to the dancefloor.

"Please, just call me Lola. If you're too formal with me I'll spend the whole dance feeling awkward," I told him, and he dipped his head in agreement.