Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Willow

Dressed in black, I left the hotel room at 9 in the evening. After putting Wyatt and Lori to bed post-dinner, I could attend to tonight’s business without worry. My children were mature and accustomed to being without me for extended periods, even days. Wyatt was a responsible older brother and took wonderful care of Lori.

The Alpha Ball was being held on the top floor of the shifter hotel where I was staying. Taking the elevator, I entered the venue. It was vibrant and lavishly decorated, filled with Alphas from various packs. They were gathered in clusters, chatting and laughing, all representing powerful packs. Being around them, I felt as if I had traveled into my past. It had been six years since I had been among so many werewolves.

A tall man in a gray suit at the entrance observed me for a few moments, as if trying to discern something. “Excuse me, Miss. May I ask which pack’s Alpha you represent?” He was remarkably polite and respectful, bearing the air of a high-ranking warrior. Clutching a list of guest Alphas, he seemed responsible for vetting guests and preventing non-Alpha blood from entering, what they referred to as intruders. “Actually, I’m familiar with every attending Alpha, but I’ve never seen you before,” he

clarified with a smile.

“I am the daughter of Alpha Benjamin. Due to an urgent situation, he couldn’t attend the ball. So I am here representing him,” I explained.

“Alpha Benjamin has a daughter?” he frowned, visibly surprised as he fl*pped through

the list.

“I am his adoptive daughter,” I clarified, searching for the invitation in my purse.

“Oh… it appears that he informed us about this beforehand,” he read something from the paper.

“Are you

here to meet the Alpha of Shine Moon Pack?” he inquired. Upon hearing that I was Alpha Benjamin’s adoptive daughter, he assumed that I would also have Alpha blood. So he did not inquire about me further.

“Yes,” I nodded, feeling a deep sense of relief when he didn’t ask for the invitation. I recalled picking it up from the table before leaving. Did I drop it somewhere? “Could you tell me if the Alpha has already arrived at the ball?” I asked.

“Yes, he’s here and waiting for you. Please, allow me to show you the way,” he replied

with a smile.

“Thank you so much,” I returned the smile and followed him.

I was relieved that I didn’t have to wait unnecessarily to meet with the Alpha. His. notorious nature turned out to be helpful as he simply wanted to discuss business. I

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Chapter 5

anticipated quickly concluding the meeting and returning to my babies!

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Lost in my thoughts, I was unaware that back in the room, Lori had woken up. “Brother, I found this invitation in the living room,” she hurried over to Wyatt, who was pouring her a glass of water. He always slept lightly and would instantly know when Lori woke up, shadowing her until he put her back to bed.

Wyatt frowned upon seeing the invitation, “It looks like mommy accidentally dropped it.” He bit his l*ps, “Mommy can’t attend the ball without the invitation,” he remarked.

“Then brother, let’s take this invitation to her!” Lori suggested, her eyes shining with excitement at the idea of the chance to get out of the hotel room.

“Okay, but we will return as soon as we deliver it to mommy,” Wyatt pointed.

“Okay, okay!” she nodded then hurried to put on her small skirt and top.

Once dressed, they both left the hotel room together with the invitation that gave them the location of the ball. They crossed into the hallway and headed toward the elevator but encountered a hurdle at the door. Being short, they couldn’t reach the elevator button-it was placed too high for their little hands to reach.

Lori glanced around and noticed two long legs in front of her. She lifted her gaze up to find a man dressed in black with a cold, sharp aura. Tugging at the man’s trousers, she said, “Uncle, can you please press that button for me?”

As the sweet, childish voice reached the man’s ears, he looked down at the two children who barely reached his knees. His green eyes flickered between the boy and girl, who were holding hands. Studying them carefully his gaze trembled uncontrollably.

His gaze was fixed first on the little girl’s stunning big blue eyes. Those innocent blue. orbs and her small lovely face seemed oddly familiar. Unable to resist, he reached down to touch the little girl’s soft cheek. She felt as soft as a doll. Never in his life had he had the desire to touch a child but at that moment, his hand had a mind of its own.

“Uncle,” a small yet authoritative hand suddenly stopped him from touching Lori’s cheek any more. The man glanced at the boy standing beside the little girl, emanating a sharp and protective aura. When the two sets of green eyes met it caused the man to abruptly halt. His wolf stirred within his mind and reflected in his eyes as he looked at the child. Those green eyes… they were the same as…. “Please, can you help us call the elevator door?” Wyatt asked, interrupting the tense moment.

The man tore his eyes away from the children, straightened up, and pressed the elevator button. After a few minutes, when the elevator door opened, one tall and two small figures quietly walked inside together. The man had his hands tucked into his pockets as he glanced at the two little ones beside him. Their little hands obviously could not reach the buttons again, “Which floor?”

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Wyatt looked up at the man and replied. “The top floor please, where the Alpha Ball is being held.”

The man pressed the button for the top floor, and the elevator began its ascent.

“Thank you, uncle,” Lori and Wyatt said simultaneously as they smiled at him. Their sweet, childlike voices were pleasant to hear. The man couldn’t help but give a slight nod in acknowledgment as he glanced down at the two of them whispering to each other.

“Brother, mommy says not to talk to strangers but this uncle helped us, Lori whispered to Wyatt. ‘And he is handsome too!’ Wyatt secretly glanced at the man from head to toe. He does not look like those men that he had chased away from his mommy before.

The man acted as if he was not listening to their whispers, “Why are you two going to the Alpha Ball?” he asked in a slow yer authoritative tone. It was evident that the man seldom engaged in conversation or concerned himself with anyone else’s affairs, yet he was doing so at that moment.

“We’re going to find our mommy,” Wyatt replied.

“Why?” the man raised his brows.

A

“She forgot her invitation in the room. We’re bringing it to her,” he explained. The man glanced at the invitation in Wyatt’s hand, noticing its golden hue typically given to the second powerful packs.

“Which pack are you from?” he questioned.

“We don’t live here. We’re just visiting our grandpa’s pack for the first time…” Lori mentioned.

The man paused, surprised by this being their first visit here. He turned to look at them. “How old are you two?”

“Five years old,” Lori held up one hand displaying five little fingers.

The man’s expression darkened. “What’s your mommy’s name?”

“You’re quite the drinker, Miss Willow,” remarked Alpha Alex, the Alpha of the Shine Moon Pack, pushing another glass toward me.

We stood alone on the balcony on the top floor of the hotel, far from the other guests. If it hadn’t been for the peace treaty, I would have declined his offer of wine, let alone be alone with him.

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Thank you. Alpha Alex.” I said with a sweet smile as I accepted the glass. “Honestly. I wasn’t expecting you to be so young. It seems the rumors about you are false. I added. taking a sip of my wine.

He was a handsome, charming man around twenty-two years old, three years younger than me. Given his notorious reputation in the outside world. I had imagined him as some older overweight Alpha with wrinkles. Yet, the man in front of me was the complete opposite of my expectations

“Well, the rumors do hold some truth,” he leaned in closer, a mischievous and wicked stirk curling on his l*ps. “It’s just that beauties manage to bring out my softer side.” he enveloped me with his sharp dark eyes, his demeanor radiating an evil persona, waiting for my reaction, expecting me to flinch away.

I took a sip of my wine, maintaining eye contact with his brown eyes and asked. “So. should I assume you’re ready to sign a peace treaty with the Wade Moon Pack?” I raised my brows, observing his amused expression….

Since I had broached the topic of the peace treaty and explained its advantages and disadvantages. he maintained a constant smile but didn’t initiate discussions about these matters on his own. Not keen on spending more time with him. I aimed to get straight to the point. I couldn’t leave Wyatt and Lori alone in the hotel room for much longer.

“I will sign it, but only. He edged closer, our bodies just a few inches apart.

“Only?” I asked, noticing a playful smile on his l*ps.

“Only if you agree to date me. Miss Willow, he whispered.

“I’m afraid you won’t ever be able to date my mate. Alpha Alex,” a sudden, deep and heavy voice pierced the air. Alex was startled and I tightly held my breath as a chill ran down my spine at the sound of the voice.

Slowly, I turned toward the source, where a large figure stood in the dim light, his wolf- like eyes glinting like a predator.

“Reuben…” My eyes widened in shock. How had he found me here? How could he be at the Alpha Ball? I had checked the attendee list, then I realized I hadn’t checked the names of females, elders, and hosts. Wait..was he the host of this Alpha Ball?

“Alpha… Alpha Reuben…” Alpha Alex stammered, his legs starting to shake. Then he turned to me with wide eyes. “You you are his soulmate?” He stepped back from me in horror then quickly ran away from the balcony as if his life depended on it.

The slap of his running feet faded away, the next sound I heard was. “Mommy

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Wyatt and Lori raced out from Reuben’s side and hugged my legs. I froze in shock. What were Wyatt and Lori doing here? How was it that they came to be with Reuben? My eyes locked with Reuben as he walked closer to me, his eyes as dark as the night sky.

“Willow,” he stopped a hand breadth away from me, watching Wyatt and Lori calling me mommy before locking eyes with me again.

“Mommy, is that uncle our daddy?” Wyatt asked. My heart sank. My worst fear had come true-they felt a bond with Reuben. I glanced at Rueben, he stood as straight as ever. There was no change in his expression at the news.

“No…. he is not,” I replied, meeting Reuben’s intense gaze. I held both of Wyatt and Lori’s hands and said, “He is nothing to us,” I added as I started to walk away.

Suddenly, Reuben grabbed my arm and pulled me into his chest, “Nothing?” he whispered, his gaze probing mine.

“Nothing…” I whispered back.

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