Forbidden Passion

Chapter 6- The Party

Liz POV

Like a cheesy romance from a fairy tale, the classical music mixed with some pop songs for fun swirled around the dancers well into the night. I accepted a few dances with some eager young wolves. I even got propositioned by two of them, which I flatly refused, much to their disappointment. I’m sure with the atmosphere of the night, there will be plenty of hook-ups between wolves who don’t even know each other’s names.

I looked around and spotted Ash again, looking dashing in his mask and suit and dancing with the same little blonde girl in the pink dress. Based on how enamored they seemed with each other, I’m assuming Ash found his mate. Good. I’m glad for him.

So why do I feel flushed and a bit dizzy? I feel as though I just had the wind knocked out of me. When he bumped into me in the hall earlier, I had hoped he would recognize me under my mask, as I did him. In all fairness, he wore a half-mask, while mine was covering most of my face, but still… has it really been so long that he doesn’t know who I am any more?

I exhaled and dug into my small satchel for my cell phone. 2:11 AM. I’ve had enough of this party. Too much testosterone and estrogen sullying the air for my taste. Besides, I’m not interested in getting asked by the leftovers for a hook up, and I can already see them desperately hunting for each other, those ‘last choicers’ who want a little kick to end their night. Well, sorry, boys, but I’m not one of them.

I sashayed out of the room unnoticed and decided to go upstairs. There are upper balconies there that would allow me to get some fresh air undisturbed. I lift my dress a little and take the stairs two at a time in my heels, a perk of being a supernatural creature, and wander into the dimly lit hallway. My room is just down the hall, but the twins are already asleep in there, and I don’t want to disturb them by trying to go onto the private balcony off my room. I opted for the balcony on the left as it is closer to my room and head down the little alcove to the doors.

Sliding the door open, I stepped onto what could more aptly be described as a settee based on its size and leaned against the smooth rock rail, inhaling the fresh air with my eyes closed. It was a beautiful night in the mountains. Perhaps humans would find it cold, but I found it comfortable after being in the stuffy main hall all evening.

I could clearly see the settee across from me as well as the spacious lower balcony that is attached to the main hall. Some couples are standing around down there talking, kissing, drinking, or slow dancing to the willowy music flowing from the inside. I watched them with minimal interest, really spacing out more than anything, until a pink flash of color snapped me out of my trance. I focused on the balcony to see none other than Ash escorting his mate date onto the balcony.

They walked to an unoccupied part of the balcony, which happened to be the closest to me, and I heard her burst into a high, nasal giggle.

Ugh. I shuddered. How awful to have to listen to THAT voice every day!

“Oh, Ashton! What a doll you are!” She whined out, causing me to grit my teeth in irritation. That girl’s voice was going to make my ears bleed, especially since she was talking loudly and obviously putting on a show for anyone else on the balcony. So she had snagged the guest of honor, the birthday boy, the Alpha’s son. So what? She was making a trophy out of him.

“Sophie, what kind of things do you like?” I heard Ashton quietly ask her.

“Ooh! Prezzies already, huh?” She squealed. Ugh again. Gag me with a spoon. “Well, I love pink things, makeup, designer purses, manis and pedis, salons, shopping, fashion, jewelry, you know. All the things all girls love!”

All girls, huh? All that stuff she just described sounds pretty superficial to me, but maybe I don’t qualify as a ‘girl’ in her mind.

“I’ll do my best to make you happy and give you everything you could ever want,” Ashton promised her. I could almost picture him holding up his boy-scout fingers as he swore to her. “I’m just happy I met my mate tonight. I don’t want to live another day alone, without you.”

My heart skipped a beat. He sounded so forlorn when he said the word ‘alone’. Why was there so much sadness in his voice. Shouldn’t he be happy right now? Or, wait. He’s in a mask. Has he…not shown her yet?

I peeked down over the railing at them. She was smiling up at him, twisting a strand of hair around her finger absentmindedly. I don’t know why, but I couldn’t stand her. My mom was right about the mate thing. The Moon Goddess didn’t always get it right. There’s no way that bimbo is meant to be with Ash.

I don’t know why, but I couldn’t help but keep eavesdropping on them like a bat in the belfry.

“Oh, Ashy! I’ll gladly move in with you tonight! And then you can announce me to your pack tomorrow,” she clapped her manicured hands together in glee. “That’s perfect! Laid tonight and promoted tomorrow!” She quipped.

My stomach twisted in disgust. Jealousy might have been creeping up, but now I just felt sick. Ash deserved better than that pink blonde airhead. I’ve seen ants with better personalities.

Ash blushed and took her hands in his, leaning down and planting a long kiss on her puffy lips. Can I throw up on them now? Gross!

She pulled away and giggled. “Oh, these masks! They’re in the way!” She carefully pulled hers off, obviously not wanting to mess up her hair. Then she glanced around him and squealed, “Perfect! My reflection!” And got so close to the window that her nose was almost touching it. She swiped her makeup under her eyes and gave her cheeks a pat before turning and grinning at Ash.

“That’s better! Now you can see my whole face for the first time! What do you think, hmm?” She put her hands under her chin to frame her face before twirling around to give him a full view of her. “Pink is so my color, dontcha think? Now, Ashton, lemme see your gorgeous face!”

Smiling, she approached him and reached for his mask. He recoiled and grabbed her wrist, pushing her away. Her face went from gleeful to surprised to hurt.

“Why won’t you take off your mask, Ashy?” She demanded. “Lemme see my mate!” She reached for him again, but he again stepped back and stopped her.

I leaned over the balcony a bit, entertained by this lover’s spat. Finally it was getting interesting. I thought mates did anything for each other. Looks like ‘Ashy’ (blech) has some backbone.

“Um, no. Not yet. I want to be, uh, mysterious a little while longer,” he sounded panicked to me, but she didn’t pick up on it.

“Oooh!” She squeaked, “like foreplay! I like how you think! You know, other guys don’t drag it on this long with me. I’m impressed. You’re a true gentleman, Ashy.” She bobbed her head in approval. His mouth fell open at her admission, and I once again felt the urge to heave. Or maybe accidentally drop a flower pot on her head. I don’t think I’ve liked any person less than I like this Sophie girl.

“Um. Sure, Sophie. Other guys?” Ash actually went there. Good for him! I cheered in my heart.

“Of course! But they were just warmups for you, Ashy. Don’t worry. They mean nothing to me now that I’ve found you. I don’t even remember their names.”

For some reason her reassurances weren’t very reassuring. Sophie reached out and grabbed at Ashton, wrapping his arms around her waist and leading him to slow-dance with her on the balcony. Other couples filtered in and out of the doors as I waited for the main event that would surely come soon. This girl didn’t seem like one to give up easily, and looks seem very important to her.

I didn’t have to wait very long before Sophie reached up and fluffed the back of Ashton’s hair with her hands and pulled him down to her. He obligingly leaned down to meet her lips and was engrossed in their kiss when her hands found what they were looking for. I almost called out to warn him, but it would have been too late anyway.

Sophie lurched away from him with a laugh and pulled his mask off at the same time, but the moment she saw his face, her gleeful smile froze, slowly melting into shock and then revulsion. I couldn’t see Ash’s face clearly from my angle, but I could see hers.

“Ew!” She shrieked. “Oh, goddess! Ew! Your FACE! EW!” She sure was kicking up an unnecessary fuss, her voice growing more screechy and obnoxious with every 'ew'. The other couples on the balcony immediately turned their attention to her and her date. Ashton was frozen, his hands balled into fists at his side. I couldn’t see his expression, but my heart ached for him.

“This is a sick joke, right? Stage makeup. You’re cosplaying as the Phantom of the Opera, right? This can’t be real!” Her voice turned mocking, which was even more annoying than the squealing. I felt the need to intervene, but at the same time, maybe it was best that he see her for what she was before he marked and mated her.

“It’s, it’s not makeup,” his deep voice rumbled. Other couples on the balcony were staring at him with mixed horror, shock, disgust, and sympathy. His mate, however, had no sympathy. Of course not. Not someone as superficial as her.

“Not makeup?! Your face ACTUALLY looks like that?!” She gasped. At that moment, I saw Luna Emily and Alpha Josiah run out onto the balcony. Another big man was with them. The alarm on his face instantly turned to anger.

“You!” Sophie yelled, turning and pointing her finger at Luna Emily. “You hid his face on purpose! Liar! Liar!” For some reason, I heard 'pants on fire' ring in my head in her nasal voice.

“What is this?!” Demanded the big man. “Sophie, get away from that demon!” He yelled, striding forward and pulling her to him.

“Daddy, I kissed him! I want to go home! Take me home!” She begged, clinging to his side and looking at Ashton in revulsion. Still he stood there, enduring it all. How was he so calm? Had something like this happened to him before?

“Josiah, I’ll never let my daughter be with your son! Our alliance ends here! Sophie, get rid of him!” The big man ordered her. “Daddy will find you a handsome boy back home.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” Sophie answered calmly.

“No,” Ashton finally spoke, and it was barely above a whisper. “No, please. Don’t do this to me.”

Sophie stomped up to him and squared her shoulders. “I Sophie D’arnot, daughter of William D’arnot, reject you, Ashton Jones, son of Josiah Jones, as my mate.”

“Boy, I’m warning you. You’d better accept,” threatened her father.

“I, I, Ashton, Ashton Jones, hereby ac…accept the rejection of, of Sophie *D’arnot…” He stood stone still. Emily was sniffling and crying, and Josiah had his arm around her, trying to comfort her.

“How could you do this?” She whispered in a broken voice. “He’s a good person. You didn’t even give him a chance,” and then her fury was released as she yelled, “you didn’t even give him a chance!”

Sophie just shrugged at her, and Alpha William put his arm protectively around her and led her back into the building, loudly promising her that she could mate with a rich boy from back home. The Alpha and Luna turned their attention to their son. He wheeled around in place and grabbed the balcony rail to steady himself.

“Son…” Josiah started.

“Just go away,” Ashton whispered. I was leaning over the balcony, watching the whole thing. My heart was breaking for him.

Then Ashton lifted his face upwards, and I saw the tears flowing down his cheeks. He had been humiliated, and his face blanked when he saw me watching from above. He had no more humiliation left in him. He was empty now.

Looking into his dead, lost eyes, I found my voice.

“I’ll give you a chance.”

*D'arnot is pronounced with the 't' being silent. It is Dee-are-NO.