The Lycan King's Rejected Omega

31 — The Dance Was Now Over.

Asmeria's heart skipped a beat. She had never seen him since that encounter, and she knew nothing about him—not even his name.

A shiver of apprehension ran down her spine as she realized he was in the same space as her and Thorian. What if he recognized her? What if he approached her, wanting to speak? The thought sent a wave of panic through her.

Glancing nervously at Thorian, she felt a knot form in her stomach. She hadn't told him about the man from her past, or the possibility that he could be Evander's father.

Asmeria's mind raced with questions and fears as she tried to compose herself, her eyes darting back to the man across the room. She couldn't afford to let him disrupt her evening with Thorian, especially not now, amidst all that was going on.

"Aren't you going to have anything to eat?" Thorian's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, tearing my gaze away from the man.

I shifted uncomfortably in her tight-fitting dress, feeling the constriction around her waist. She offered Thorian a wry smile. "Can't you see the death grip this dress has on me?" she retorted, gesturing subtly to the snug fabric encasing her figure. "If I take a single bite, I'm afraid I'll burst right out of it."

Thorian's lips lifted slightly in amusement at her words, a soft chuckle escaping him as he lifted his glass to his mouth. "Fair point," he conceded, taking a sip of his drink. "I suppose we'll have to rely on conversation to sustain us tonight."

She sighed, "I don't want to talk to you right now."

Thorian paused, taking in her words before nodding in understanding. "Fair."

Just then, a couple caught their attention as they approached. The man was tall and distinguished with salt-and-pepper hair and blue eyes. Beside him was a woman of equal stature, her fiery red hair cascading in waves down her back.

As they approached, the man stepped forward, extending a hand to Thorian in greeting. "If it isn't Alpha Thorian, stepping out with his new—" he said, then, his gaze shifted to Asmeria, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. "Belle," he added, before taking a sip of wine from the glass in his hand.

Thorian returned the greeting with a polite nod, taking his hand and shaking it briefly while Asmeria offered a feigned, gracious smile in return.

"She is indeed a lovely damsel — you have eyes, Alpha Thorian." the woman remarked, chuckling and her husband joined in. Thorian returned the smile, though there was a hint of discomfort in his expression, though there was a hint of discomfort in his expression.

Whatever traces of her previous, fake smile died on Asmeria's face upon hearing that statement. For some reason, it irked her.

"Thank you, she is indeed beautiful," he replied, glancing at Asmeria.

"But if I recall correctly, this isn't the woman you brought during last year's ball, is she?" the woman pointed out.

Asmeria and Thorian exchanged a brief, uncomfortable look before Thorian spoke again. "No, she's not," he admitted, "Asmeria is my first love, who went missing for some time. But I eventually found her—and our son."

The man's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You have an heir?" he exclaimed, his eyes widening with interest.

Thorian nodded, a proud smile crossing his lips. "Yes, indeed," he confirmed. "Our son, Evander."

"Congratulations!" he said, then his attention turned to Asmeria, "Forgive my manners, Luna—" he began.

"Luna Asmeria." she corrected.

The man nodded in acknowledgment and he bowed slightly. "Luna Asmeria," he repeated. "Forgive me for introducing myself earlier. I am Beta Vance from Hillbane Pack," he said, straightening up and gesturing to the woman beside him. "And this is my wife, Eloise."

Eloise curtsied gracefully, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Luna Asmeria,"

"The pleasure is mine, Beta Vance, and Mrs. Eloise," she replied, offering a small smile despite the nervous fluttering in her stomach.

After Beta Vance and his wife, Eloise, bid them a courteous farewell and departed, Asmeria turned to Thorian with a furrowed brow. "Why?" she questioned.

Thorian lifted his gaze from the departing couple and met Asmeria's eyes with mild amusement. "Why what?" he replied, his voice smooth as he took a leisurely sip of his wine.

Asmeria's irritation simmered beneath the surface as she struggled to keep her composure. "Why that whole conversation?" she persisted, her words clipped.

Thorian's lips curved into a smirk as he set his glass down on a nearby table. "I don't know," he admitted in a casual tine tat ticked Asmeria off. "Should I have told them to leave when they wanted to talk to us?"

'No, but—" she began, only to be interrupted by Thorian's dismissive tone.

"Then get used to it," he interjected. "There will be a lot more conversations like that tonight."

Her annoyance peaked at his nonchalant attitude, and she clenched her jaw in frustration. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she glanced away from Thorian.

The waltz band started to play new music, signaling the start of another dance, couples began to gravitate towards the dance floor. Thorian turned his gaze towards Asmeria, extending his hand towards her.

"Care to dance?"

However, Asmeria shook her head, "No, I think I'll sit this one out."

Thorian's expression fell slightly at her refusal, but he persisted, "Come on, Asmeria," he urged softly, his hand still extended towards her. "We have to do this. All eyes are on us, expecting us to dance together. If we don't, people will talk."

She sighed heavily before reluctantly accepting his hand, her grip tight and slightly resentful. "Stop using that as blackmail," she murmured under her breath.

Thorian couldn't help but smile at her feisty response. He pulled her closer, leading her onto the dance floor. Despite her initial resistance, he knew that once they began to dance, the tension between them would melt away, if only for a fleeting moment.

Asmeria's hands rested delicately on Thorian's shoulders, her fingers tingling with warmth as they touched him. His hands were firmly planted on her waist, his touch sending unwanted shivers down her spine as they glided across the floor.

They both knew the steps to the waltz, and their bodies moving in perfect harmony with each other. Their eyes met as they swayed to the rhythm of the music.

Asmeria felt herself getting lost in Thorian's silver eyes, the depths of his gaze pulling her in like a magnet. They drew her in and shutting her against the rest of the world. It was just him and her.

Thorian's gaze locked onto Asmeria's, he was captivated by the warmth in her blue eyes, that sparkled like sapphires, or te vast ocean underneath the sun.

She was beautiful — too beautiful even. Her gorgeousness transcended being described with mere words, for there was not a single adjevtive that could perfectly capture the prowess of this woman.

It was as if each glance revealed a new layer of her, drawing him in deeper with every passing moment. He couldn't tear his gaze away from hers, couldn't shake the feeling that he was falling, falling into a world where only she existed.

Asmeria's could see Thorian's gaze oj herintensify, his silver eyes shimmering with an emotion she couldn't quite place. He stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time, really seeing her, and it sent a thrill through her veins.

Thorian's grip on her waist tightened ever so slightly, his touch sending a jolt of electricity coursing through her body. He leaned in closer, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "You're beautiful tonight, Asmeria."

His words sent a flutter through her chest, and she felt a blush creep up her cheeks. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat as Thorian's gaze held hers captive.

And in that moment, everything else faded away—their surroundings, the other guests, even the passage of time seemed to slow to a halt.

Without hesitation, she leaned in closer, closing the distance between them until their lips were mere inches apart. The anticipation hung heavy in the air as she paused, their heads touching.

A voice of reasoning spoke up in her head, and she asked herself if she wanted to kiss him — an hour ago, she was beating herself up for allowing herself to be kissed by him.

And now, she was taking the lead.

Was this right?

And just as quickly as the moment had begun, it was over, the spell broken as the music came to an end. Thorian released her waist, stepping back.

The dance was over.