Dark Love (Sequel to The Last Alpha)

Chapter Three

Madeline POV

“Guess who Alina invited tonight?” Chloe raised her eyebrows at me through the reflection of the mirror as I curled her brown hair so it bounced just below her shoulders.

“Who?”

“Maggie. The witch that did my Blood Oath last week,” she answered. I paused for a moment at the news and then picked up another strand of her hair. Maggie was an elder witch who was the member representing the witch community on the enchanted council. She had introduced herself to me at Cora’s funeral and gave me a copy of Cora’s will. I was confused as to why I would have received it and not Arius, but when she said he had a copy too, my heart pounded. We had to share her assets. Her house in Sweden. Her very healthy bank account. Her belongings and books of dark magic. It was all left to Arius and I jointly. I actually laughed out loud when I read it. What irony! She couldn’t have known that her son and I were destined mates although it explained a lot about her and my relationship.

“Yes I know her. She was good friends with Cora,” I said, and saw Chloe’s face falter. That was the reaction I normally got when mentioning Cora. Unease.

“Oh yeah, of course. I’d forgotten. Anyway, Alina seems to think we need to keep the woman on our good side, so she invited her tonight! She will be the only witch in a room full of werewolves!” Chloe stated, as if it was the craziest thing in the world.

“You will be the only human in a room full of werewolves?” I pointed out and she scoffed.

“That is different!” I smiled and caught the pretty gold necklace on her chest.

“That’s pretty! Is it new?” I pointed in the mirror at her chest. She picked the half moon pendant up between her fingers and smiled.

“Yes. Darius just gave it to me,” a slight blush crept up her cheeks and I grinned at her widely.

“That’s great! You must have made up then?” I asked.

“Yes you could say that. Although how long it will last before I want to kill him again remains unknown.” We both giggled as I finished up her hair.

We took it in turns to fasten our masquerade masks in place on each other and the girls sat down and started to put their shoes on. I took a quick moment to check my own reflection in the mirror. My wavy ice blonde locks were pulled back into a low messy bun and I have a few loose curls framing my face around my mask. Chloe gave me a heavy smoky eye which made my eyes look seductive and mysterious behind the black lace mask that covered the top half of my face. I ran my hands over the smooth silk of my deep red dress that matched the ruby in my bracelet and felt the best I had in months. It’s strange how certain clothes can give you such a boost of self-esteem.

There was a knock at the door and in walked four dashing gentlemen in tuxedos and their own masquerade masks. They all looked incredible. Alina ran into Logan’s arms as he swept her up and kissed her and Chloe and Sloane strutted towards their men, giving them seductive looks. I looked at Isaac wearing a deep blue suit and realised that was my cue to greet him. I strode towards him with an air of confidence and saw the twinkle of lust in his eyes.

Slow your horses, you won’t be getting more than a dance from me tonight.

“You look beautiful,” he grinned as he lifted my hand to his mouth. I felt nothing at the gesture but gave him a warm smile back.

“You scrub up well yourself,” I offered as he linked my arm in his and we all made our way down to the ground floor where the party had already started.

There were hundreds of bodies staring up at us all as we descended gracefully down the stairs and I felt grateful to Isaac for not letting me do this alone. As we reached the last flight of steps, I scanned the room and felt a pair of heated eyes on me. My body burned as my temperature rose under their gaze, but I couldn’t see who it was coming from. The masks everyone is wearing made it all the more difficult. We reached the bottom and turned around to watch our Alpha and Luna take their final steps and to welcome everyone to the party. Isaac pulled me to his side and rested his hand on my lower back. I shuffled under his touch a little awkwardly, still feeling a penetrating glare in the back of my head. I wanted to turn and look for the person responsible, but I forced myself to pay attention to the gorgeous couple in front of me.

“Members of the Blood Moon Pack and welcomed guests. Thank you for all dressing up and looking so spectacular tonight to celebrate our Luna Alina’s birthday. The bar is open and free and the dancefloor is waiting, so let’s get this party started!” He shouted with a beaming smile and everyone applauded him and whooped with joy. The crowd dispersed as the music started playing and the bar opened.

“Would you like a drink?” Isaac leaned in to me and I smiled.

“Yes, thanks. A Manhattan if they are making cocktails.” He smiled and walked off towards the bar. I turned and scanned the crowd of people before noticing Maggie gliding towards me elegantly. She stood out in the crowd, not just because of her magical aura but her fiery red curls that reached her backside.

“Madeline, you look lovely,” she leaned forward and kissed both my cheeks.

“Thank you, so do you,” I said with a polite smile. There was something about this woman that put me on edge. The fact she was such a good friend of Cora’s was the only thing that warmed me to her.

“Brilliant party. I do love a masquerade ball, don’t you? There is something about hiding your identity that feels so liberating. S*xual, don’t you think?” Her bright eyes shone through her own mask as she waved her fan over her face.

“Yes I would have to agree,” I said, looking around at all these very attractive yet mysterious people.

“Here you go,” Isaac interrupted us as he handed me my drink and I watched as Maggie looked at him up and down appreciatively.

“And who might you be?” she said and her voice changed to a smooth, silky tone. I refrained from rolling my eyes.

“Isaac, pleasure to meet you.” He replied politely, lifting her hand to his mouth. Ever the charmer.

“The pleasure is mine! Madeline, you never told me you had met your mate,” she grinned.

“He’s not my…” I started but my voice failed me as my eyes locked on a tall man leaning against a wall on the other side of the room. My heart started fluttering in my chest. He was wearing a black suit with a black shirt open at the collar and a black mask studded with black diamonds that covered most of his face. His gaze was intense and drew me into him as he roamed my body seductively and then stared back into my eyes. He smirked and my core tightened. He screamed s*x appeal. Who was he?

“Mate. I am not her mate, just her date.” Isaac finished my sentence for me, but I could not rip my eyes away from this man.

“Oh, that is a shame, a handsome chap like you. You make a fine couple,” Maggie’s flirty voice pulled me back to the conversation and I turned to regard her again.

“Mmm yeah. Er, would you both excuse me please? I just need to go to the ladies,” I smiled tightly at them both before turning back around to find that man again. He was gone. I scanned the crowds but it was like he was never there in the first place.

I started walking towards the bathroom but just before I got there, I felt a hand around my wrist and I was dragged behind a huge black velvet curtain by the back doors. I gasped as I looked up into two light blue eyes that sparkled behind the black diamond mask.

“Looking for me?” The stranger asked and his voice seemed almost familiar. It was deep and seductive and lit a fire within me.

“Who are you?” I asked, realising I had never seen him before but he smelled like a werewolf.

He c*cked his head to one side and studied me intensely. His gaze made me squirm as I felt a strong attraction to him. This shouldn’t be possible. Now I have met my mate, I shouldn’t feel anything towards another man until I reject him.

“Who is that man?” he demanded as his voice deepened even more and I saw jealousy in his eyes.

“What man?” I was so drawn to him, for a moment I forgot all other men existed.

“The man who seems to think you are is,” he leaned in closer to me, making my breath hitch.

“Isaac? He’s…He’s my date.” I said honestly. His eyes narrowed as if he didn’t like my answer and I swallowed audibly.

“Who are you?” I tried again, realising he had never answered me. He grinned mischievously and looked so sexy even though only half of his face was visible.

“How about we keep the mystery? It’s way more fun…” he teased and his eyes flickered down to my plump red lips that matched the shade of my dress.

“Madeline?” I heard Sloane’s voice calling to me in the bathroom and I jumped out from behind the curtain feeling as though I was a naughty schoolgirl being caught behind the bike sheds. “There you are! What were you doing behind the curtain?” She eyed me suspiciously and I hesitated.

I looked back at the black curtain and pulled it away to show her, only to find no one there. My eyebrows furrowed in confusion and she looked at me as if I was mad. “There…There was a man…” I started and her eyes lit up.

“What kind of man?” she smirked and I grinned.

“A gorgeous man,” I said as I pulled her hand into the crook of my arm and walked her towards the dancefloor again.

“And where is this mysterious man now?” she whispered into my ear as we started to dance together amongst couples and younger wolves who were clearly making the most of the open bar. I scanned the room again but couldn’t see him anywhere.

“I don’t know,” I said and tried to forget about him and just enjoy the music for the next few songs. Fredrik came up behind Sloane and nuzzled her neck. Alina pinched my waist, making me jump.

“How great is this party?” she grinned at us all and we all nodded in approval. “Madeline you should get up there and sing the next song!” I glared at her and immediately started shaking my head. “Oh come on! Logan told me that you love to sing and you used to sing professionally in pubs back in London,” she pleaded with me, squeezing my hand. I laughed.

“That was in front of strangers. Everyone I know is here!” I shouted over the music and she pouted. Just then, the song ends and the tempo changes to a slow and seductive melody. Couples started to turn to each other and sway to the music. Logan walked up behind Alina and I smiled as I walked away from the pair. I started to make my way through the bodies of loved ones having special moments, when I felt a strong hand pull mine back. I span as my body slammed against the sexy stranger from before. My heart raced as he grinned down at me.

“May I have this dance?”