The Vampire Princess and the mate curse

Chapter 7

-PIPPA-

D-Edge towered impressively, a three-story marvel of concrete and LED lights. Located in a renovated shoe factory not very far away from our academy, the club is renowned for its premier DJs and occasional live performances. The owner is a werewolf, and the visitors are, in the majority, supernatural creatures. I didn’t often go out, but when I did, dancing was always my goal.

Tonight, we skipped the first floor and made our way to the secluded VIP area upstairs. Dawn had booked us a table, and the drinks began to flow when I settled into the velvet cushion.

I’d enjoyed drinks before, but this was my first time doing so legally.

Helios uncorked a bottle of champagne, the cork flying into the air before landing out of sight. He filled our glasses and raised one in a toast. "To the princess who reigns over our hearts. Happy birthday."

My cheeks flushed with warmth at his words, and I quickly ducked my head, allowing my long hair to fall like a curtain. Thankfully, everyone—except Selene—was too engrossed in their drinks to notice my impressive impersonation of a tomato.

As I savored my drink, feeling the warmth of the champagne spread through me, I spotted Aaron leaning against the bar. Our eyes met, and he flashed a sharp grin before confidently making his way to our table.

Aaron is Helios's school friend, an Alpha from the Marsh Bay pack. With his tall, muscular frame, olive skin, and dark hair, he exudes Italian charm. Despite being one of Helios's closest friends, we don't see each other often. However, he’s always friendly and flirtatious with me.

"Hope I’m not crashing in," he said, his gaze settling on me. "Happy birthday, Pippa."

"Hi Aaron," I replied, offering him a small smile. "It's not really a party. Would you like to join us?"

Helios looked like he was about to say something, but Aaron slid into the empty seat beside me before he had the chance, his knee brushing mine as he leaned in. "Ladies, an absolute pleasure," he said, raising his whiskey tumbler in salute before shifting his attention to Helios. "Didn’t you say you were sick? Something about catching a cold from your grandma?"

"I took her medicine and bounced back," Helios shrugged.

Aaron smirked. "Makes sense. No way I’d miss Pippa’s big day either." He leaned in just a little closer, his voice lowering. "You look incredible tonight."

I felt Helios tense beside me, his fingers gripping his glass until his knuckles turned white.

"Thanks," I said, warmth creeping up my neck—not just from the compliment, but also from the way Helios exhaled sharply, his jaw tightening.

Aaron caught the shift instantly, his smirk widening. "Funny, Helios never mentioned you’d be here tonight. Otherwise, I would’ve come prepared with a gift. Twenty-one is a big deal, princess."

"Don’t call her that. She doesn’t like it," Helios cut in, his tone clipped as he threw back the rest of his drink. He leaned toward me, his shoulder pressing against mine, deliberately closing the space between us. "Weren't you supposed to meet—what was her name? Isabella?"

Aaron waved him off. "That’s done. It was never serious; we both knew that. Tonight’s about celebrating Pippa." He gestured to the waiter. "Tequila shots for the birthday girl."

Helios opened his mouth to protest, but I wanted the shots. The waiter was swift, and we knocked them back. Before the burn had even settled, Aaron slid another in front of me.

"To a long and meaningful life," he toasted, and I knocked back my next drink with a grimace.

I let the heat settle before pushing myself up. "Well, I need to move before I get too tipsy. Who’s coming with me to the dance floor?"

"I'm in," shouted Dawn, pushing a reluctant Selene up. "I love this song."

Aaron tried to stand up, but Helios placed a hand firmly on his knee. "You go first, ladies. I want to catch up with my man here."

Dawn, Selene, and I owned the dance floor, laughing, moving, lost in the beat. The DJ was on fire tonight, dropping only the best tracks. We barely paused—except when Dawn insisted I take another round of tequila shots.

My cheeks ached from laughing so hard until a guy decided to press himself against my back. I shoved him away, but he had the nerve to return. That was all it took for my father’s soldiers to start closing in.

But before they reached us, Helios was suddenly there.

"You just can’t resist saving the day, can you?" I shouted over his shoulder, struggling to be heard above the music.

"No, I just wanted to dance with you," he replied, flashing a grin that sent a wave of heat through me before placing his hands on my waist.

So we danced—just the two of us, wrapped in our own world. My mind was hazy from the tequila, my body buzzing from his closeness. My arms draped around his neck, his body nearly fused to mine. We fit together effortlessly. It was thrilling, intoxicating, dangerous.

We were treading into uncharted waters, and I wanted nothing more than to dive deeper.

His gaze dropped to my lips. My breath hitched, and he leaned in.

But instead of kissing me, he only whispered, "Let’s get something to drink."

Disappointment crashed through me, hard and sharp. But I forced a smile, and I let him pull me toward the bar.

"A gin and tonic, please," I told the bartender.

"Whoa. Haven't you had enough already, princess? Are you trying to get drunk?" His teasing grated on me.

"What’s the problem if I want another drink? I'm not underage anymore," I shot back, irritation bubbling beneath the surface.

"You barely just left your diapers," Helios smirked.

His words struck me harder than they should have. No matter how old I got, he would never see me as anything but a little girl. The realization settled like cold steel in my chest—he had been friend-zoning me forever, treating me like a younger sister instead of something more.

The bartender slid our drinks over, and I grabbed my gin without hesitation. Taking a long sip, I hoped the burn would easy the ache in my chest. Helios nursed his whiskey beside me, both of us silent.

Until she arrived.

"Helios, hiiii," the blonde purred, her glossy pink lips forming a perfect pout. Her arms draped over his shoulders, her voice dripping with sweetness that made my stomach turn. "I barely see you these days."

"Hi, Tania. Been busy. Pack business, you know?" He threw her his signature grin, and I swear, she nearly melted into a puddle on the floor.

She moved closer, using the loud music as an excuse to lean into him. "That’s not fair. You promised to teach me how to drive."

Helios loved fast cars—had an entire collection of them. Almost every morning, before starting his pack duties, he’d take one out just to push it to its limits.

"You already know how to drive," he countered.

"Not as well as you do," she giggled, spinning him to face her, effectively shutting me out.

I stood there, staring at his back while he flirted with a gorgeous, curvy blonde in a tiny, white dress. A green serpent slithered inside my chest, coiling around my lungs, making it hard to breath.

Tears ignited behind my eyes, but I refused to let them spill. At least not here. I refuse to stand here, humiliated, pretending I was anything more than a silly girl nursing an impossible crush on an old friend.

I had been deluding myself, believing that I could make him see me more than that.

The truth cut like a blade. Pain spread like a wildfire through me, making my limbs numb.

"I’m going to the ladies’ room," I blurted out, though I knew he wouldn’t care where I went.

Dawn and Selene were still lost in the music. Aaron had vanished. I didn’t waste time. I pushed through the crowd toward the exit, but before stepping outside, I turned to one of my father’s soldiers.

"If my friends come looking for me, tell them I had a headache and left. Tell my father I’m staying at the academy tonight."

The academy was not very far away from the club and I didn’t want to risk bumping into my parents tonight.

Outside, the cool night air embraced me, a light drizzle misting over the city.

My silk dress clung to my damp skin, but none of it mattered—not the cold, not someone shouting my name, not the wetness of my tears dissolving into the rain.

Without hesitation, I unfurled my massive, feathered black wings and rose into the sky.

I was leaving it all behind, once and for all.