Chapter5
1182 Words
Chapter 5
I walked out of the room to avoid being seen. The guards didn’t bother checking me — I was Ella now.
The main hall was filled with laughter, followed by the sound of music.
Some guys were at the corners, smooching the girls from the other school.
“Hey,” one of the guys approached me. I was focused on finding Elder Gideon amidst the large crowd, so I paid little attention to him.
He seemed pissed because I was ignoring him; then he blocked my view — that’s when I looked at him.
The rude guy from the gate?
“Do you want to dance?” He stared at my body, his eyes practically ripping my clothes off.
Psst, what a crazy psycho.
“Please excuse me, I already have a date,” I said politely, quickly slipping past him.
Finally, I found Elder Gideon moving quickly past the crowd of students gathered for the evening feast.
I followed after him, my head lowered.
Elder Gideon turned down a narrow hall, glancing over his shoulder.
My pulse quickened. I followed, careful not to let my heels click. The noise of the ball dimmed behind me as I slipped farther away from the hall.
Then a voice came from behind me.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
I froze.
“The party is in the hall. No student from other schools is allowed down there.”
I shut my eyes tightly, watching Elder Gideon slip away.
Damn! What should I do?
I forced a smile and turned slowly.
He stood against the wall, his arms folded, his eyes fixed on me.
But I couldn’t see his face clearly.
“I’m—” I began.
“Lost?” His tone was unimpressed. “You’ve been tailing Elder Gideon for the last three minutes. Hardly looks accidental.”
My lips pressed together. “I was just—”
“Following an elder in the middle of a royal event?” He pushed off the wall. “Strange hobby.”
I tried to move past him, but his arm shot out, blocking me. His hand wasn’t rough, but his presence made the air feel heavier.
“Move,” I hissed under my breath.
He raised a brow. “You shouldn’t be wandering alone. Especially not dressed like that.”
I didn’t miss the disdain in his tone.
Who is he? And what’s his damn business with me anyway?
I tried again to slip by, but he caught my wrist lightly, forcing me to stop.
“Let go.”
“Not until you tell me why you’re sneaking after him.”
My temper flared. “Why do you care?”
“Because I’m a student here,” he said flatly. “So yes, I care.”
The music from the main hall grew louder — people were approaching. I saw them rounding the corner, a small group laughing, heading straight toward us. If anyone saw me here, cornered by a boy, half-hidden in shadows, it’d draw unnecessary attention.
I’m sure he noticed too. His jaw tightened. “They’ll see us.”
“Then move—”
“Not unless you want them to think you’re sneaking around with me.” He exhaled through his nose, clearly annoyed. Then, to my utter disbelief, he grabbed my hand. “Come on.”
“What—?”
“Dance,” he muttered, pulling me toward the center of the approaching group as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
I barely had time to protest before the group of students entered, laughing and clapping as the musicians in the hall struck up another slow tune.
His hand found my waist, firm and steady. As we moved into the light, I saw his face clearly.
I gasped, shock written all over my face.
“What? You see a ghost?” He sneered.
I blinked and quickly turned my gaze.
What in the world is the Alpha doing here?
His expression stayed blank — cold as stone.
“This is ridiculous,” I whispered through gritted teeth.
“Agreed,” he said. “But it’s better than explaining why you were lurking in a restricted corridor.”
The crowd swirled around us, chandeliers spilling gold across the marble floor. To everyone else, we looked like another pair caught in the magic of the music.
To me, it felt like a trap. My heart pounded as his grip guided me through each step with infuriating precision.
“You’re terrible at pretending,” he said quietly.
“I wasn’t pretending.”
“You’re glaring at me while dancing. That’s pretending badly.”
My lips twitched. “Maybe because you dragged me into this.”
“I saved you from being caught.”
“By humiliating me in front of everyone?”
He tilted his head slightly, his eyes glinting. “Would you rather they found you skulking after an elder?”
I had no answer for that. His arm was tense around me — he wasn’t enjoying this either. If anything, he looked like he’d rather be anywhere else.
“Relax,” he murmured when I nearly stumbled. “You’re stiff.”
“Maybe because I’m being blackmailed into a waltz.”
The faintest ghost of a smirk touched his mouth. “Then stop fighting me and just move.”
For a moment, our steps matched, the rhythm syncing in ways that made my stomach twist. When the song ended, his hand dropped instantly, and without another word, he turned away.
“Next time,” he said over his shoulder, “don’t follow people unless you’re good at it.”
I glared daggers at his retreating back.
If this place was restricted, what was he also doing here? Luckily, he didn’t recognize me.
By the time I slipped away from the hall, my anger was boiling under my skin. I climbed the stairs to my room, tore the pins from my hair, and yanked the gown off with sharp movements. The silk puddled at my feet. My breathing became harsh.
He mentioned he was a student. Was the Alpha secretly attending school?
I dressed quickly in my usual clothes — loose shirt, dark trousers. When I looked into the mirror, the boy everyone knew stared back. The girl from the ballroom had vanished.
I stepped into the bathroom to wash my face, splashing cold water over my cheeks until the heat of frustration dulled. When I opened the door again, towel in hand—
I froze.
Two figures stood in the middle of my room.
Damien and Alpha Alex.
Damien grinned. “Took you long enough,” he said.
Alpha Alex stood beside him, his expression unreadable. His eyes flicked briefly over my now-masculine form — no sign of recognition or suspicion. Thank the moon.
I dropped the towel slowly. “What are you doing here?”
Damien pushed off the desk. “Thought I’d introduce you to someone.” He gestured toward Alpha Alex with a lazy grin. “This is Alexander Gray.”
- Writer
