Novel Palace
Chapter 23: Take My Breath
Aira’s POV
I can’t believe this is happening.
I didn’t think I would ever return to that city so soon. I mean, has it even been up to a month? Why couldn’t Alexander go with someone else? Why did it have to be me? Why did he have to drag me back to the very place where my life turned into misery?
But then again, would I really be okay if I had gone with someone else? I don’t think so.
Did he really have to go at all? Gosh, this is all just frustrating.
When he told me that the annual alpha’s ball would be held at St. Louisa’s auditorium, I nearly burst out into tears. That was the very same place Jace and I met. It was late at night at an old friend of mine’s ball.
That was the night I found my mate and knew he was the one.
Now look at us. I will be walking into that very same place in the arms of another man. And Jace? Will he be there? Holding Ana by the hand? How will I even react if I see them again? What if we meet at the ball? Will he try to kill me like last time?
I don’t think he would even dare to be honest. I will have Alexander by my side, but that means I will have to keep him by my side at all times. If I do, then he will definitely find out the truth about my past. He would know Jace is my mate and that the woman he is with is my sister.
My very own twin sister.
Oh, I can already see the disaster that is about to unfold.
“Aira!” I snap back to reality, and my attention falls on Carla, who is staring at me with wonder and disbelief. “Where has your head gone? I have been calling out your name for a while now.”
My cheeks heat up with embarrassment. “I am sorry, I was just thinking about some things.”
She hums, putting two pieces of lingerie into my little box. After Alexander had given me the order to go pack my things, I thought I could use some help, and of course Carla was the only woman that came to mind.
The excitement on her face when I told her Alexander and I were going on a trip was one I wish I could possess. If it were under normal circumstances, then I would have been elated. I mean, this is almost like going on a honeymoon with my mate.
But the location just had to be the place that held so many terrible memories. How can I possibly be excited? We are going to the very same place where I lost everything.
My mate. My sister. My friends. My money. My property. My home.
We are going to the very same place where I was stripped of everything I ever owned and loved. I doubt this trip would even be enjoyable at all.
“I can tell they are not happy thoughts… You haven’t been looking quite good in a while, and I don’t get it. Look at all the Alpha is doing for you. He stood up for you, made you our head, and now he is taking you on a trip to attend a super cool ball,” she says, and I collapse lazily on my bed.
My hands drag across my face with frustration as I groan. “I know I should be happy about all of this, but I can’t. This city where this ball is being held… It is the very same one I ran from. There are people in that city I hoped to never see again, and now all of this…
Carla sits beside me on the bed, and I am more than grateful we are the only ones in the room. She takes my hand and squeezes it softly. “I don’t know who it is you are running from, but I want you to know that whoever it is can’t hurt you anymore. They are going to have to get through the alpha before getting to you, which is ninety-nine percent impossible. You are covered; I know the alpha isn’t going to let anything happen to you, and you should believe that too. So focus on the fun and all the benefits, and stop worrying.”
A small smile graces my lips, and I squeeze her hands back. “Thank you, Carla. I really do not know what I would do without you.”
“Neither,” she says, and we both laugh. “Come on, we still have a lot to pack; you will be leaving soon.”
We spent the next ten minutes debating what I should and should not wear. I am in awe at how many clothes Sharon, the royal designer, brought for me.
“Why not just take all of them?” Carla asks after a moment, and I chuckle at the tiredness in her eyes.
“There are over thirty different dresses here, Carla; I am only going to be there for a few days,” I tell her just before the door to the room bursts open and two maids come walking in. I catch them pausing to stare at my clothes in awe, but then I watch it slowly morph into envy.
They walk past us and stay on their beds at the very far end of the room. I would catch them shooting occasional glances at us, and it irked me.
“You are right, but what about shoes? You barely have enough shoes to go with these,” she says, and I place my hand on my chin as I think carefully.
Snapping my fingers, I gesture to the two girls in the room. “You two do tell Sharon that I need a couple of shoes to go with the dresses she brought. And make it snappy because I will be leaving soon.”
“Excuse me?” One of them snaps, rising to her feet, but her friend holds her down by the wrist.
I raise a brow slowly, and her friend bows her head in submission. “Yes, lady Aira.”
She takes her friend by the hand and leaves the room. The second they shut the door, Carla throws her head back and bursts out laughing.
“Damn, you are evil,” she says, and an evil smirk stretches my lips.
“I guess it is like you said, I should focus on the benefits.”
Alexander’s POV
“You put her in charge of the maids?”
“Yes.”
“And you are taking her to the annual alpha’s ball.”
“Yes.”
“And you do know you can get a bootie call, right?”
“Yes.”
“But you still want to take her with you?”
“Yes.”
Silence.
I looked up at my beta for the first time since he walked into my office. “Since when did you grow the balls to question me, Arnold?”
He swallows, then bows his head in submission. “Forgive me, your alpha. It’s just that the day we brought her to you, you seemed to not want anything to do with her.”
“Well, things have changed,” I reply before getting to my feet. “I called you here because I will be away for five days; you will handle the pack while I am gone.”
The grin that stretches his lips is sly as he bows. “Would it be my pleasure, Alpha?”
“You are dismissed.” I say, but he doesn’t move a muscle.
Instead, he tilts his head to the side and asks me, “I know it is not my place to ask, but are you okay? I was hoping we could hang out a bit before you go. You know, just like old times.”
My eyelids are narrow. It has been years since Arnold and I last hung out as friends. He used to play with Jared and me when we were kids, but he wasn’t that close to me; it was only Jared. But after the incident and Jared’s disappearance, I kept my distance.
And I will continue to do so.
“I am the alpha of one of the largest packs in the state, and you are my beta; surely you are well aware we don’t have time for games.”
His countenance falls, and he nods. “You are right; forgive me for asking. Excuse me,” he says, then leaves.
I check the time on my watch and leave my office. Stepping out of the palace, my gaze falls on the convoy waiting. My butler, William, walks up to me and then bows.
“Is everything packed and ready?” I ask him, and he nods.
“Yes, your majesty, I packed all of your essentials and the items you requested,” he says, and I nod. I check the time for what feels like the millionth time today, and I find myself growing impatient. I thought I told this woman to be ready by two p. m..
As though she can sense my growing impatience, she walks out of the palace, and I am suddenly unable to breathe.
This woman takes my breath away in rags, but now she threatens to take my life away in that pretty red dress.
She smiles sheepishly at me as she descends the stairs with her friend. My eyes travel up her exposed legs to her lower thighs, where the dress stops. Her hair has been neatly tied up in a bun, bringing out most of her delicate features.
She stops mid-way as one of the guards helps her with her bag. She hugs her friend goodbye before walking up to me.
“I’m ready!” she says, and there is something about the way she is smiling at me that leaves me breathless.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
Maybe I really should have gotten a bootie call.