Beta's Lover

Chapter- Fifteen

ALISTAIR

The party was in full swing when I stepped into the arena, the bass from the music reverberating through the floor, the laughter and chatter of pack members mixing into a low hum. The place was packed-people dressed to the nines, their voices floating above the beat of the music, but none of it excited me. With only one person occupying my mind, I peered down the crowd but couldn't find my mate. Sighing, I grabbed a drink and walked towards where Cylon and Arthur stood with some other pack members.

The moment she steps into the room, the air seems to shift. The music, the chatter, the buzz of the crowd-it all fades into the background. All I can hear is the rapid beat of my own heart, thumping louder with every step she takes toward me. She is accompanied by others but it seems only she exists.

She's... different. The same Mackenzie I've known, but somehow transformed. The way she walks-poised, effortless-makes it feels like she's in her world, and the rest of us are just watching. It's hard to pinpoint exactly what's different, but then I see the way the light catches her, the soft glow of her skin against the darkness of the night, and it hits me.

She is radiant.

The dress she wears clings to her like it was made for her-sleek, black, simple in design but so damn elegant. It hugs her frame, tracing the delicate curve of her waist, and falls in soft folds around her legs, just enough to hint at the shape of her body without revealing too much. The neckline dips slightly, not too daring but just enough to make her look effortlessly seductive. It's understated, but that's what makes it even more captivating.

Thump Thump Thump... My pulse is hammering in my ears, my fingers twitching at my sides.

Her hair, usually open or in a low ponytail with bangs covering the upper part of her eyes, today cascades up to her shoulders in loose waves, catching the light like dark silk. Every movement makes it shimmer, like there's fire running through the strands. Her blue eyes, those warm, almost too-knowing eyes, are even brighter tonight, lined perfectly, but still with that natural, effortless beauty that always leaves me wondering if she knows just how damn stunning she is.

And her lips-God. I can't stop looking at them. They have painted a deep shade of red, and when she smiles, I feel it like a jolt of electricity.

I felt my manhood getting a rush of blood and on the other hand, my wolf was trying to take control over me, urging me to shift and claim their mate.

But it's the way she carries herself she's completely unaware of how every eye in the room is following her. She's not just walking into the party; she's commanding it. I can feel the shift around me as people glance over, some with admiration, some with envy, but none of them with the same look in their eyes that I have.

I swallow hard, fighting the sudden pull of something that feels far too intense. I shouldn't feel this way. But there was something about her tonight- She didn't know what she was doing to him. But it was hard to hold back.

And damn, I can't tear my eyes away.

She's stepping closer. I can smell the faint scent of her perfume, the sweetness of her skin, and under that, a trace of something more primal. Something that calls to the part of me that's never been tame. I'm too aware of every inch of her.

"Alistair close your mouth or do you need a little help?" Jazmine's teasing voice pulled me back from my admiration for my mate.

Chuckling, I whispered back," I couldn't help but look," as my eyes followed her as she was talking to her friend and Cylon.

We all sat down on the seats, away from the dance floor. I grabbed a glass of champagne before I sat beside Mackenzie, passing it to her, I watched her eyes soften.

I lean in slightly, a playful smile tugging at my lips. "I think the rest of these people missed the memo," I say, my voice low enough for only her to hear, "They were supposed to be the ones dressed to impress. But here you are, making the rest of us look like we came to the wrong party."

Mackenzie doesn't respond right away, her gaze flicking from me to the crowd, as if she's measuring the weight of my words. The corners of her lips twitch, but she doesn't smile fully. Instead, her voice is soft, almost a whisper. "You think I'm overdressed?"

I chuckle, the sound low. "Far from it. You look..." I let my eyes move over her slowly, appreciating how the dress fits her in all the right ways, and how the soft light of the room makes her look almost ethereal. "...dangerous. In the best way possible."

For a second, her gaze softens, and I catch the faintest blush on her cheeks. But she quickly hides it behind that composed, almost distant air she has about her. "Dangerous, huh?" she repeats, her voice still cool, but there's something beneath the surface-something I can't quite read. "And how exactly do you figure that?"

I lean a little closer, just enough to close the space between us. "It's in the way you carry yourself," I say, my voice quieter now. "Like you could snap the attention of any room, without even trying. Like you could have anyone you want and make them think it was their idea."

Her lips curve slightly, a half-smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She's not the type to give in easily, and that only makes me want to tease her more. But I could tell she was enjoying the attention I was giving to her.

She tilts her head, glancing up at me from beneath her lashes, and there's just enough of a pause before she responds. "Is that your way of saying I'm intimidating?"

I can't help but laugh, the sound rich with amusement. "Only when you look at me like that." I lean in just a little more, my voice dropping to a whisper. "But then again, I'm sure you've made a habit of that, haven't you?"

Mackenzie doesn't flinch, doesn't pull away. She just sits there, calm as ever, looking up at me with those quiet, piercing eyes of hers. "I'm not trying to intimidate anyone," she says, her voice smooth. "I just don't feel the need to make an impression. If people notice me, that's on them."

I can feel the subtle weight of her words, the way she pulls back just enough to make sure I know she's not *really* playing into any of this. But even so, there's a spark in her eyes. Something just beneath the surface, waiting. She's quiet, yes, but she's more than aware of the way I'm looking at her.

I smile, leaning in just a bit closer. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, Mackenzie," I say, "You've made a hell of an impression on me. No effort required."

Her eyes flicker with something that's not quite a surprise, but it's enough to make me pause. She's still holding herself back, just enough to keep me guessing. She was finally opening up, maybe it was champagne, but I love her straightforwardness.

"Is that so?" she murmurs, her voice smooth but with just the faintest hint of intrigue. "And what exactly is it that you see?"

For a moment, I'm caught. The way she says it-so quiet, so controlled-almost leaves me speechless. Almost.

I meet her gaze, holding it, and for a split second, it feels like everything around us disappears. "I see someone who's far more dangerous than they let on," I say softly. "Someone who knows exactly what they're doing."

Her lips part just enough to let out a soft breath, but she doesn't say anything else. She doesn't need to. Her eyes have already told me everything I need to know.

The walls she has created around her were cracking and now I could see what lies beneath.

She has feelings for me and could feel the bond between us despite knowing it exists.

But due to some reason, she is resisting and doesn't want to admit this bond between us.

Later, the ladies went to the dance floor leaving us men behind.

Some of the pack members were aware of Mackenzie's importance to me so they have been careful to not give too much away and kept their distance from her.

"I hope everything goes well tonight." Cylon's voice was low, almost drowned out by the chatter around us. He was staring into his glass, probably sending some silent prayer to the moon goddess.

I took a long sip of my drink, the burn of the liquor doing nothing to ease the growing knot in my stomach. "I'm afraid of their reaction," I blurted out, the words just coming out before I could stop them.

Cylon looked up at me, his expression tense. "I don't know what I'm supposed to say," he muttered, voice rough. "I never thought it'd be like this. It's not just telling them; it's... everything changing. What if Quinn can't handle it?"

I didn't know how to answer that. I felt the same damn way. My mate had no idea what was coming—no idea I wasn't just some normal guy. The thought of her looking at me like I was something... other, something dangerous—it made my chest tighten.

"I don't think they'll ever see us the same way after this," I said, more to myself than to him. "It's not just a shock; it's a betrayal. We've lied to them this whole time. And once the truth's out, there's no going back."

Cylon grunted in agreement. "Exactly. I don't want to lose her, Alistair. I can't lose her. Not like that."

I clenched my fists on the table, trying to focus on something other than the mounting dread in my chest. "I don't want to lose mine either. We can't keep lying and hold them here any longer. They will find out one day no matter today or tomorrow. What happens when they find out? What if they accept their reality? Or worse—what if they leave?"

There was a long, painful silence. Cylon ran a hand through his hair, his jaw tight. "I don't know, man. But we can't keep this up forever. If we don't tell them now... it's gonna be worse later."

I leaned back in my chair, my eyes on our mates across the room, laughing and unaware. They had no idea. None of them did. And that was the hardest part of all.

"I just... I'm not ready for them to look at me like that," I admitted quietly. "Like I'm not human anymore."

Cylon let out a slow breath. "Neither am I."

"Guys, We will figure this out together. But for now, we have to try and make them understand. I have informed Thavma and Pavlos of the situation and they are willing to help if the situation needs,"

I looked over at him. There was a heaviness in his eyes I couldn't miss. We were both in the same damn boat. We had no idea how to handle this, but there was no going back now. We couldn't avoid it forever.

Please just don't push me away.

For now, that was all we could do—hope. Hope that we weren't about to lose everything we cared about tonight.

We pretended to laugh at a joke when we saw the ladies coming back to the table to get rid of the serious atmosphere.

"Did you have fun?" Cylon asked his mate Quinn, grabbing her hands on his.

"Yes! Dance with me," As they walked to the dance floor, I focused back on keeping my emotions at bay.

The music throbs through the air, I glance over at her. She was sitting a little to the side, her body slightly turned but her eyes were on me. She's watching me like she's studying me, her lips parted just a little. There's a calm about her, almost like she's waiting for me to make the next move.

"Would you do me the honour of sharing this dance with me?"

Her blue eyes looked up at mine with a hint of satisfaction in them as if she was waiting for this exact moment. Taking my outstretched hand, I gently pulled her up and led us to the dance floor with her hand still in mine.

I smirk. "You're not much of a dancer, are you? I watched you while you were up here," I reach out, my hand settling at the small of her back, guiding her just slightly closer. She doesn't resist, but she doesn't give in either.

Placing one hand over my shoulder, her gaze flicks to the floor, then back to me, but she doesn't say anything right away. I lean in further, keeping the playful energy between us. She's too quiet, and I love the way her silence makes me want to push as we gently move with the rhythm of the music that was playing.

I lean in just a little, close enough to make her feel the heat of me. "Don't tell me you're too shy to dance."

She tilts her head slightly, the corner of her mouth lifting just a fraction. She's not exactly shy, but there's something about the way she keeps her distance that makes it clear she's not as easily swept into the moment.

"You'll have to convince me," she says, her voice soft but steady.

I chuckle, stepping even closer, just enough that our bodies are nearly brushing. I lower my voice to a whisper, letting her feel the weight of my words. "Convince you? That's what I do best."

She raises an eyebrow, not backing away, but not leaning in either. I can tell she's measuring me, weighing her next move. I'm almost disappointed when she doesn't bite, but then, something flickers in her eyes.

"I don't need convincing," she murmurs, and there's a quiet confidence in her voice that catches me off guard. "I need to see if you can keep up."

I laugh lightly, more from surprise than anything else. There's a challenge in her tone, even if she's not saying it outright. I step even closer, my chest brushing hers this time. "Oh, I'll keep up. But I'm warning you now..." I let my words hang in the air, my lips brushing against her ear, "I don't do anything halfway."

She holds her ground, but I can see the way her pulse quickens just beneath the surface of her skin. It's subtle, but it's there. The heat between us is building, and I can feel it deep in my chest.

"What do you do, then?" she asks, her voice still soft, but with a touch of curiosity in it. She's watching me closely now, her eyes never leaving mine.

I let out a slow breath. "I take things to the edge."

There's a tension in the air now, thick and palpable like everything is hanging on the next move.

She looks up at me, her lips parting just a fraction. There's a spark in her eyes now, something unspoken between us. "And what happens when you go over the edge?"

Her voice is quiet, but it's exactly the question I've been wanting her to ask. I tilt my head slightly, leaning in as I speak, my lips just a hair's breadth away from hers.

"I think," I murmur, "that you'll be the one to find out."

She doesn't back away. She doesn't pull in either. Instead, she meets me, her body pressing a little closer, her fingers grazing the front of my shirt with just enough intention to make my heart race. She's responding subtly, but with a quiet force that pulls me in.

"I don't mind taking risks," she says, her voice low now, a little warmer, a little daring.

I smile to myself, that familiar rush of victory flickering through me. "Neither do I."

But then, just as quickly as the moment seems to tip into something more, she pulls back just enough to make me hold my breath. Her gaze stays on mine, steady and calm, but there's something in the way she watches me now that feels like the start of something dangerous.

Breaking the tension, I gathered her hands in mine gently and looked up at her curious searching eyes.

"Mackenzie..." My voice was lower now, a little rougher, though I tried to steady it. "There's something I need to tell you."

Taking a step closer, I cupped her face with one hand, fingers brushing the back of her neck. She didn't pull away, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes.

"I'm not like the other guys here," I whispered, each word heavy with truth. "And neither are they."

She frowned and slightly pulled herself away from my embrace," What-"

Suddenly frantic screams were heard, making everyone still with surprise, eyes searching for what caused the chaos. Several growls and screams came again and this time before I asked for the report, the message was relayed through the mind-link.

Beta, the rogue escaped from the dungeon! He must have entered the party by now. - Russell's panicked voice reached my mind.

Why the f**k are you reporting so late!? Take some men with you and cover the otuer border and don't let him escape again or i will have your head!

Grabbing Mackenzie's hand, I roughly tugged her and walked towards where Jazmine and Cylon stood. Arthur was nowhere in sight- as expected from the Alpha.

"Take care of her," Handing a confused Mackenzie to Jazmine who nodded her head and sprung into action, taking them into the shed- away from the scene.

There was no easy way to explain to Mackenzie what was happening, what was about to happen. And if I didn't act soon, the wolf would take over to protect its pack from threat. The change was already starting to itch beneath his skin. Throwing one last glance at Mackenzie who stood there not moving an inch as she locked eyes with mine.

Sending a curt nod to Cylon, we both shifted into our wolves, well aware of the peering eyes of our mates. Without looking back, scared to see her reaction- the look in her eyes- confusion, disgust and maybe hatred. I don't even want to imagine. With a growl, I ran faster towards where we heard Arthur's growls alongside the rogues.

....................