Vengeful Luna

chapter 6

Delphine pov

Alpha Japhet’s voice filled the room, smooth as honey and twice as rich. He lifted his glass with that easy confidence, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he spoke.

“I stand before you tonight, not just as your Alpha, but as a brother and a son of this pack,” he began, his voice warm, resonating through the silence. “Each one of you here makes our family stronger, each of you a thread woven into our shared legacy.” He paused, letting his words sink in, and I could practically see the pride swelling in every chest around me. Japhet knew how to work a crowd, and he was doing it now—stringing us along, stirring up that feeling of belonging.

He shifted his glass slightly, a faint smile crossing his lips as he continued. “And on that note, there’s someone else who makes our family stronger.” Japhet’s eyes flicked across the room, landing on Jeffrey, who stood off to the side, his own glass raised in acknowledgment.

The mention of Jeffrey’s name was like a nail scraping against glass. My stomach twisted. I looked down, focusing on my fingers wrapped around my own glass, willing the nausea away. Japhet went on, his voice laced with pride.

“My brother, Jeffrey,” he said, nodding in his direction, “has been there for me every step of the way. He’s a force in this pack, always supporting, always pushing us to be our best.” He chuckled, eyes lighting up. “Couldn’t ask for a better right hand, could I?”

People murmured their agreement, nodding along with him. Even Emily joined in with a small clap beside me, but Isabelle—she was louder than anyone, her applause ringing out like she’d just witnessed a miracle. Her eyes were fixed on Jeffrey with a mix of admiration and excitement that made me want to roll mine.

Jeffrey gave a faint smile, lifting his glass higher in acknowledgment. His gaze moved over the crowd, lingering here and there with that self-satisfied air he always carried. And, of course, when his eyes passed over me, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. I held his gaze, refusing to look away, but inside, I could feel the disgust bubbling.

Emily leaned in, trying to whisper about something, probably what she was about to tell me before the alpha stepped in, but her voice wasn’t exactly subtle. I shot her a look, murmuring, “You might want to avoid being the one caught whispering while the Alpha’s talking.”

She blinked, nodding quickly. “Right. Good point.”

Finally, Japhet wrapped up his speech, and I was more than ready to hear what Emily had been itching to say. Just then, a tall guy sauntered over, slid his arm around Emily’s waist, and the look on her face turned into pure, lovesick bliss. “Del, this is Damien, my mate” she practically cooed, emphasizing the my mate bit like she’d won the lottery. I could tell she was completely smitten.

Damien nodded my way. “Hi, miss.”

Before I could say a word, Emily chirped in, “And this is Delphine—someone who thinks she’s my best friend.” She shot me a teasing grin, and I rolled my eyes, playing along. “Nice to meet you, Damien.”

He grinned back. “Same here, Delphine.” Then he turned to Emily. “Mind if I steal her for a bit?” He didn’t exactly leave room for discussion, practically dragging her away before I could even answer.

I sighed, straightening up. “Alright, back to the real business,” I muttered to myself. I wandered toward where Japhet was talking with an elder, surrounded by a swarm of she-wolves vying for his attention. They were laying it on thick, ready to pounce, but he barely seemed to notice, his eyes sweeping past them with almost bored indifference. For a second, I caught him glancing at me through the reflection in a glass. I acted like I hadn’t seen him, waiting him out.

And sure enough, he kept watching, letting his gaze settle. I finally met his eyes, giving him a little smirk—something just seductive enough to test the waters. But, disappointingly, he turned back to his conversation with the elder without a second glance my way.

*See? I told you,* Ash, my wolf, whispered.

I shrugged it off, mentally nudging Ash. *You’ve only got one job tonight—trust me.*

As I wove through the crowd, a guy I vaguely recognized—probably a pack member—stepped in my path. He was watching me with that spark of interest I’d seen too many times before.

“Good evening,” he greeted, smiling just a little too much. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

I forced a polite smile, already feeling tired of the conversation. “I’m not around much.”

He chuckled, trying to sound charming. “Well, you picked the right night to come by. You know, with everyone here, you just might meet someone special… maybe even your mate.”

I fought back a sigh, keeping up my fake smile. “Is that so?”

Just as I was silently begging for someone to rescue me, Alpha Japhet appeared like a vision. The man bothering me took one look at Japhet and practically vanished. Japhet flashed me a knowing smile, his gaze lingering as he picked up two glasses from a passing waiter and handed me one.

"I had a feeling you needed saving," he said, voice low and deep.

Standing this close, I could feel the pull of him—his scent, his piercing blue eyes, that rough scar slicing through one of his brows, somehow only adding to his charm. His voice was like silk over gravel, with a tone that could make me forget my own name. I must’ve been staring because he gave me a teasing look.

"Is there something on my face you’d like to help me remove?"

I blinked, catching myself and meeting his gaze. “No, my Alpha…”

He held my gaze, amusement flickering in his eyes. “Miss,” he murmured, his voice dropping to a more intimate tone, “you’ve definitely caught my attention tonight.”

I tilted my head, letting my eyes sweep over him in appreciation. “Is that a compliment, Alpha Japhet, or are you just being polite?”

He chuckled, his mouth quirking into a smirk as I collected the glass. “A compliment, without a doubt.”

Our fingers brushed as I took the champagne, the brief contact sparking between us. “Good to know.”

His eyes lingered on me, studying me. “That perfume… it’s familiar.” He leaned closer, inhaling softly. “I like it.”

I suppressed a smile, knowing it was his mother’s favorite scent, one I’d chosen deliberately. “it's a good thing that my Choice of perfume seems to intrigue the powerful Alpha of our pack,” I murmured.

“Oh, it does,” he said, his voice tinged with amusement. “Smart move. I like a woman with a little strategy.”

“Well, don’t get too comfortable. I’m not so easily impressed.”

He raised an eyebrow, that teasing glint back in his gaze. “I wouldn’t want you to be.”

As the music shifted to a slower, more intimate melody, Japhet extended his hand with a nod to the dance floor. “Care for a dance?”

I hesitated, giving him a slight pause, just to keep him on edge, then placed my hand in his. “I suppose I could make an exception.”

On the dance floor, he led with an easy confidence, his hand warm and firm on my waist. But I wasn’t about to let him control the moment completely. My movements were smooth, deliberate, just out of his full reach, enough to keep him guessing. His grip tightened slightly in response, but I stayed a step ahead, a playful smile on my lips.

“You’re a better dancer than I expected,” I murmured, leaning just close enough for him to catch the scent of my perfume again.

He smirked, holding me a bit closer. “And you’re far more intriguing than I expected.”

I chuckled, pulling back a little. “Well, don’t get used to it.”

He leaned in, his mouth near my ear. “Oh, I think I might.”

With that, the dance ended, and I met his gaze, holding it for a lingering second. “See you around, Alpha,” I said, giving him a teasing look as I turned and walked away, feeling his eyes following me.

I caught a glimpse of Jeffrey glaring at us, his expression dark and furious. Perfect. He hadn’t looked away once during the dance, exactly as I’d hoped.

I made my way toward the inner rooms, sensing Japhet’s presence behind me. I paused, pretending to scan the area as he approached, an amused look in his eyes. “Looking for something?”

I glanced over my shoulder at him. “Just the restroom,” I said, too casually, knowing he’d see right through it.

He smirked, stepping closer, catching my wrist and gently pressing it against the wall, his body inching closer until we were mere breaths apart. “Are you really?”

I smiled up at him, saying nothing, letting my gaze do the talking. Without another word, his mouth covered mine, the kiss deep and slow, sending a rush through me. His hand brushed over my thigh, igniting a spark as his grip on my waist tightened, his touch making it impossible to think. I could feel the strength in his arms, the roughness of his hand trailing along my skin, and I knew one thing—Alpha Japhet wasn’t one to play games.