Dark Love (Sequel to The Last Alpha)

Chapter Two

Madeline POV

“I think I should just go down and check on the preparations,” Alina turned and looked at the door of the living room.

“No! You are not allowed to lift a finger today! Logan’s orders. Stop worrying, everything is perfect and you will love it!” Sloane placed her hand on top of Alina’s and pulled her attention back to us.

Alina, Sloane, Chloe and I were in Alina and Logan’s plush living room on the top floor of the pack house. Logan had ordered us to keep Alina away from the preparations for tonight’s masquerade ball as he wanted the theme to be a surprise. It was quite comical seeing him ordering bulky, butch warriors around with flowers and candles as they started to decorate the ground floor. Alina, on the other hand, was finding giving up control of her Luna role today very difficult.

“But what if they…” she started but Chloe interrupted.

“Lina, come on. When do we get told to spend the whole day together just us girls and pamper ourselves rotten? Relax and enjoy it!”

A slow smile spread over Alina’s face and she started giggling. “Oh alright! But Sloane and I cannot drink this champagne, so Madeline and Chloe, you will have to drink for the both of us!”

“Pass it here,” I chuckled and took a swig from the bottle before handing it to Chloe. “Right, what shall we do first ladies? Nails or face masks?”

“Face masks!” They all shouted at the same time, causing us to laugh as I reached into the pamper basket that Logan had made up for us.

Once all our faces were covered with ridiculous white sheets of Aloe Vera that were supposed to give us a youthful glow (it would take a miracle to get rid of these dark circles), we laid back next to each other on the floor, propped up by cushions we had taken from the sofa.

“So baby names! Have you guys got any yet?” Chloe asked Alina and Sloane.

“If it’s a girl, we like Margo after my mother, and if it’s a boy, Fredrik wants Thor!” Sloane rolled her eyes and we all burst out laughing. Trust Fredrik to want the most macho name out there. “Let’s just hope it’s a girl,” she giggled, “What about you guys, Alina?”

“Hmm, we haven't really talked about it in all honesty. It just feels too soon. I am scared something is going to go wrong,” she said quietly and we all frown.

I found her hand on the floor next to my side and gave it a squeeze, “Nothing is going to go wrong.” I said confidently.

Suddenly, a knock at the door interrupted us. “I’ll get it,” I said, standing up and rushing over to open it. I was surprised to see a rail of dresses instead of a person and I stepped aside as it was pushed into the room by one of Logan’s warriors. I know him from doing a few border control runs together. Isaac. He’s a good-looking guy and is always super flirty with me. He looked me up and down and a broad grin appeared as he took in my face. I frowned before realising I was still wearing the face mask. I ripped it off quickly and glared at him.

“Looks good! But I prefer you without it,” he winked, causing me to roll my eyes. The girls all sat up at the noise of the rail on the floor and took their masks off.

“What’s this?” Alina said curiously.

“A present from Logan. Time for you to choose your dress for the evening, my Luna,” Isaac bowed respectfully before stepping back. “He also said that if any of you girls would prefer one of these to your own, please feel free to wear them.”

Chloe squealed as she ran towards the rack and Alina giggled. “I thought he had already picked my dress?” She questioned Isaac.

“He picked twenty,” he smirked and started to walk back to the door. As he passed me, he leaned in and whispered, “I think the orange one will look good on you,” before slapping my ass and leaving the room. Arrogant bastard. Definitely won’t be picking the orange one now.

After an hour of trying on all the dresses, we all agreed on one for the birthday girl. A gold floor length mermaid style dress with an embroidered corset at the top. It was stunning and matched her white and gold masquerade mask that was a token to her wolf, Xena.

“Your turn girls!” she said and gestured towards the dresses as Sloane and Chloe dived in, making all kinds of appreciative noises. Only one dress was calling to me. A deep red silk dress that stopped halfway down my calf muscles with a deep split up one leg. The top was a thin strapped halter that crossed at the back and revealed my perked, full bust in a flattering way. It gave off dangerous and sultry vibes but with a touch of class. I loved it.

“Yes that is so you!” Sloane nodded at me appreciatively. “You look incredible!”

Chloe and Alina both nodded in agreement. “It’s very dark and mysterious. Sexy as hell!” Chloe interjected and Arius’ face flashed in my mind. No wonder I picked this out. I was channelling my mate.

After a few more hours of pampering, we agreed we would go back to our rooms to shower and then come back up to Alina’s to have our make-up and hair done. I was to be in charge of hair and Chloe was doing all our make-up. She was very talented in that area.

As I left their floor and made my way down to the second floor, where my room was, I slowed my pace as I saw a broad figure waiting outside my door. My heart raced as for a moment I thought it was him, but then the figure turned and grinned at me cheekily.

“Isaac, what are you doing?” I asked wearily as I strolled towards him.

“Waiting for my dream girl,” he pretended to look around before locking eyes with me. “Ah, there you are.”

I rolled my eyes at him again, a small smile playing on my lips. This guy was so cocky.

“What do you really want?” I narrowed my eyes at him and his eyes didn’t hide their desire as they roamed my body.

“To ask you to be my date to the ball tonight,” he grins at me with a charming smile. I wasn’t expecting that.

“I am going with my friends,” I said in a bored tone as I put my key in my door.

“Oh the friends that have all got dates?” he smirks and I pause. “I’ll come up with their dates at 7.” He winked and walked away, leaving me baffled. I shook my head with a smirk. I suppose there was no harm in not walking into the event alone.

***

Chloe POV

I made my way back to my room and stopped outside Darius’ door. I hadn’t spoken to him since our argument at brunch. I should probably go and tell him that I had changed my dress so there was no longer the issue of ‘matching’. But I didn’t want him to think I did it, so he would win the argument. I knocked once and pushed open his bedroom door. I heard the shower running in the bathroom, so I sauntered over without knocking.

Leaning against the door frame, I admired his huge, bulky physique from the back. My arousal built as his juicy bum clenched and he rubbed shampoo into his dark red hair aggressively. He was the definition of a real man. Rugged, strong and annoying as hell…

“I’ve changed my dress,” I shouted over the noise of the pouring water. He turned abruptly, momentarily startled at my presence.

“What? Why?” he asked, narrowing his eyes at me. The water rippled down his body and I forced myself to keep my attention on his face.

“Because I found a better one. So you don’t have to worry about looking like a couple now, because I know that would be oh so tragic!” I said sarcastically, and turned out of the bathroom. I heard him turn off the shower and he followed me hurriedly into the bedroom, wrapping a towel lowly around his hips.

“You are kidding, right?” he asked, his nostrils flaring. Ha, he was pissed.

“No. What’s the problem? I thought you’d be happy?” I crossed my arms over my chest and swayed onto one hip.

“You caused that scene this morning and bickered with me for days about this and all of a sudden, you just changed your dress!” he shouted, exasperated.

“Yes. Like I said, I found a better one,” I replied calmly and watched as the anger built inside him.

“You are impossible! So, we are not wearing the same now?” he shouted and raised his hands out at his sides.

“No because god forbid if someone thought we were an item!” I raised my voice to match his and his eyes widened. He turned on his heels and angrily opened his bedside drawer as I watched him pull out a long velvet box. My face creased with confusion as he strode towards me holding it.

“Look, I know I never say the right thing and I didn’t mean how it sounded this morning. I am no good at this s**t. This lovey stuff. It’s not me. Honestly, I don’t know what we are, but it’s more than I have ever let myself be with anyone else. We’re not just f*cking, I care about you. And I am proud to be seen with you, just maybe not in matching outfits…” his eyes twinkled with amusement and I felt my lips twitch into a smile. God, this man.

“So we’re not just f*****g?” I repeated, stepping towards him and running my finger down his muscly torso.

His chocolate brown eyes sparkled with mischief, “No, although it is my favourite thing to do with you.”

I smiled broadly and looked down at the velvet box still in his hand, “What’s that?”

He opened it and held it out to me as I saw a beautiful diamond necklace in the shape of a half moon. My hand instinctively came to my mouth as my other finger traced the outline of the pendent. “I was planning on giving this to you tonight. It’s my way of saying… I like you… a lot.”

My eyes snapped up to his and I saw a light flush on his cheeks. He really hated this but he was so cute at it! “You do?” I teased and he wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me into his body.

“I do. When you’re not being a stubborn, crazy woman, I like you very much.”

I hit his chest in fake annoyance, but I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. “I like you to. A lot.”

He gave me a big goofy smile and my heart melted. Leaning up on my toes, I kissed his lips sensually. Our tongues danced together as his grip tightened on me and he lifted my tiny body up, so he didn’t have to bend down. We pulled apart and he threw the box with my gorgeous necklace onto the bed.

“Hey!” I shouted as he started walking us back to the bathroom.

“You will get that after you finish my shower with me. You know the one you interrupted?”

I giggled as he started nuzzling and kissing my neck.

Oh Darius, you are no good for my heart.