Chapter 15 - Orange blossoms
1556 Words
Lex's POV
"Uhm," I hesitated, hoping someone would come save me. Instead, they met me with silence, their stares pressing down on me like a heavy blanket. I could feel my heart racing, wishing for a distraction or an escape from the awkward tension that filled the room. Something about this she-wolf made me hesitant to dance with her.
"Alpha," she said sweetly as she smiled up at me. "I promise I won't bite."
I couldn't help but chuckle nervously at her playful tone, but the unease lingered just beneath the surface.
"Well, I appreciate the reassurance," I replied, forcing a smile as I weighed my options, wondering if I could find a way to gracefully decline without offending her. She moved closer, squeezing herself between the bar and me, and took a seat on the barstool.
I narrowed my eyes at her.
What was her game?
"She is as slithery as a snake," Lotus remarked, watching her every move.
I couldn't shake the feeling that her intentions were anything but genuine. As she leaned in, her voice low and conspiratorial, I felt the weight of Lotus's words settle heavily on my shoulders. He didn't trust her. I could feel his annoyance build up.
"She's acting a bit weird," I replied.
"She is making me uncomfortable," Lotus growled, gesturing to her fingers stroking my arm.
"Is she trying to seduce me?" I muttered sheepishly.
"That will be the day," Lotus growled, forcing Sade to quickly pull her hand back.
"That's much better!" Lotus barked. "Keep your filthy paws to yourself!"
Sade's eyes turned red—was she about to cry? She blinked rapidly, her expression a mix of hurt and anger.
“I didn’t mean to—” she started, but Lotus cut her off with a sharp glare, the tension in the air thickening like storm clouds ready to burst.
"Dammit, Lotus!" I snapped. "Look what you have done. You scared her!"
"So?" he asked, looking at me with a mixture of annoyance and confusion. "She needs to learn her place. She can't touch what doesn't belong to her."
"You didn't need to offend her!" I hissed. "It will scar our reputation...."
Lotus lifted an eyebrow, looking me square in the eyes. "Do you really think I care about reputation?" he retorted, a smirk playing on his lips. "In this game, power carries more weight than the delicate image we strive to uphold."
"Besides, she is scarring our reputation as it is," he continued. "She-wolves like that only want two things—power and money. And we are not in the trading business."
"Seriously, man!" I groaned. "Calm the f*ck down!"
"Are you having difficulty talking to the pretty girl sitting next to you?" My father's voice chimed over the mind link. He seemed to enjoy my little uncomfortable situation.
Was he watching me?
My gaze snapped in his direction, finding him and Beta Luke standing at the far end chuckling while watching me intently.
I shot them a glare, heat creeping up my cheeks, before forcing myself to focus back on the conversation.
"No, it's just—" I stammered, trying to regain my composure, but the teasing glint in my father's eyes only made it harder to concentrate.
I shook my head.
"At least one of the she-wolves seems to be interested in you," my father continued. I couldn't help but notice his chirpy tone. He was finding my situation hilarious.
"Maybe you should accept the proposal to dance with her," Luke said, joining in on the mind link. "You will not get another chance after you find your mate."
I sighed and rolled my eyes, reverting my attention back to the girl sitting next to me.
"Sure," I said, picking up my drink from the bar and swallowing the contents. "Let's dance."
I held out my hand, and the she-wolf smiled up at me and gently placed her hand in mine. They were cold, making me unwillingly shiver at her icy touch.
I nodded to her, and we embarked toward the dance floor. The pulsating music surrounded us as we stepped onto the dance floor, the vibrant lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors over our bodies. I could feel the energy in the air, but beneath the surface, the chill of her hand lingered, sending a shiver down my spine.
I internally growled, trying to shake off the unsettling sensation as we swayed to the rhythm of the music. Each beat resonated through me, but her presence felt like a haunting melody I couldn't quite escape. Curious eyes were following us. Their glares made me feel a bit uncomfortable.
"I don't like this," Lotus growled inside my head. "She is not our mate. Only our mate can touch us."
"Calm down," I said, taking the girl in my arms for a waltz. "We are just doing our royal duty. Besides, we danced—"
My thoughts trailed off, and my gaze shifted toward the crowd. The girl I had danced with was nowhere to be seen.
Where did she go?
The sudden shift in atmosphere interrupted my thoughts, and my gaze shifted toward the ceiling—it was the beginning of the blood moon. The eerie glow of the blood moon cast an ominous hue over the ballroom, transforming the jubilant atmosphere into one of tension and unease. I felt a shiver run down my spine as whispers of ancient prophecies echoed in my mind, hinting that this night would change everything. Its powerful rays were creating a stir inside me, awakening an unknown part of me.
"You should be looking for our mate," Lotus continued. "Not follow petty orders..."
In the next moment, images flashed before my eyes. Startled, I abruptly let go of the girl in my arms and took a quick step away from her.
Gasps surged around us at my unexpected action, yet I gave them no attention. I was more concerned about what I just saw.
What the hell was that?
Another set of images flashed before my eyes, making me crumble to the floor. A horrific roar escaped my lips.
Something was wrong!
"Your highness," the girl yelled in false concern. "Are you okay?"
She stepped closer, placing her icy hand possessively on my shoulder.
The flashes became even worse. I felt intoxicated and nauseous.
What the hell is wrong with me?
Lotus grabbed control and snarled. He was warning everyone to stay away.
Everyone froze, the air thick with tension as they sensed the danger radiating from him. I struggled to regain control, but the darkness clawed at the edges of my mind, threatening to pull me under once again. Yet the girl ignored his warning. He quickly shifted his attention to her and showed his canines.
Startled at his behavior, she immediately removed her hand and stepped away. She glanced back at him, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and curiosity. As she retreated, the tension in the air seemed to dissipate slightly, but I could still feel the darkness swirling within me, waiting for the right moment to strike.
No one dared to move. All eyes were on me. The moon rays are burning deep inside me.
"Oh, Goddess," I mumbled, trying to get to my feet, but my body refused to comply with my will.
What the hell is going on?
The she-wolf quickly came to assist me.
"Alpha," she called sweetly, getting down to my level. "Should I call the doctor for you?"
Lotus furiously hissed at her to stay away, yet she stubbornly ignored him and tried again.
"Please, just let me help," she pleaded, her voice steady despite the tension in the air, but Lotus's growl echoed in my ears, cautioning me to carefully choose who I trusted at this moment of vulnerability.
"Doesn't she understand...?" He growled angrily. "I don't want her filthy claws touching me!"
"What the hell are you doing?" I asked, startled at his behavior. Why did he seem fine and not me?
"I am keeping you safe!" he yelled at me.
Just then, a floral scent with a hint of citrus and honey undertones filled my nostrils—it was fresh and sweet. It was intoxicating and disarming, momentarily distracting me from the chaos surrounding us. I turned to him, my heart racing, as I tried to make sense of his fierce protectiveness amidst the overwhelming aroma that seemed to wrap around us like a warm embrace.
I closed my eyes, filling my lungs with the beautiful scent, trying to decipher it.
It affected my body in various ways, yet still left my knees weak. I could almost taste it on my tongue—sweet and delicious.
"Orange blossoms," I muttered, taking another breath. "I know this scent..."
"Mate!" Lotus growled, cutting me off.
The next moment, the sound of bones breaking filled the surrounding area. As my body transformed, the world around me sharpened into vivid detail, every sound amplified and every scent intensified. In an instant, the primal instinct surged within me, urging me to find my mate, to claim what was rightfully mine.
The surrounding crowd scattered to the side as my body rose from the floor.
I lifted my intoxicated gaze, making out the afraid facial expressions of the surrounding wolves.
Why were they suddenly so afraid?
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- Writer
