Rejecting the billionaire, or alpha

Chapter 2

Christabel held up the front of her skirt and walked down the stairs gracefully. She was wearing a stunning floor-length gown in a deep shade of emerald green, made of luxurious silk that flows gracefully with each step. The bodice is intricately embellished with sparkling crystals, creating a dazzling effect under the dim lights of the event hall. The low-cut neckline and fitted waist accentuates Christabel’s curves and the mermaid skirt sways elegantly with every movement.

Christabel took a deep breath and steeled her nerves before opening the door leading to the main hall. Once she did, a burst of music and laughter filled the air. It was a coming-of-age ceremony for Austin Ross, Christabel’s adoptive brother. He will be getting his wolf today and the Ross family is very excited for him, thus this big party to welcome his wolf.

Christabel looked around for Austin before her view was blocked by 2 female werewolves - Sierra and Tasha. Sierra Ross is Christabel’s adoptive sister and Tasha is Sierra’s best friend.

“Hey Christabel, where’s Laxton?” Sierra asked in a clear, projecting voice. Christabel knew that it was her usual voice so she didn’t hold it against her… it’s just that the topic was quite sensitive for Christabel.

“He’s walking the Silverthread runway, so he can’t make it,” Christabel answered gently and her gaze swept across the hall again, looking for Austin. Before she could ask about him, Tasha interjected.

“If he really loves you, he wouldn’t miss this coming-of-age banquet. Austin is your family and this is an important milestone for him. My Gavin attends every family occasion regardless of how busy he is.”

Laxton is the country’s hottest supermodel right now. Christabel has been dating him for 5 years but hasn't gone public, so the only people who knew are those from their inner circles. Tasha is Laxton’s fan and refuses to believe that they’re dating. Anyway, Laxton has many tabloids and pictures of him with other starlets and celebrities. In everyone’s opinion, those celebrities are more worthy of Laxton than Christabel, who is a lawyer. They forget the fact that Christabel is a rising star in the legal industry, the unfortunate fact of this world is that celebrities are better than anyone else.

Christabel glared at Tasha immediately. She hates it whenever someone devalues her and her relationship. Not only that but Christabel and Laxton were friends since secondary school and they had a crush on each other ever since, so why should their relationship be discounted? To Christabel, these people are brainless and there is no need to waste her breath with them.

She ignored Tasha and asked Sierra directly, “Where is Austin? I haven’t seen him yet.”

“I saw him talking to his friend in the side hall. I’ll bring you there,” Sierra let go of Tasha’s hand and hopped forward to hold Christabel’s hand. “Tasha, I’ll look for you later. Enjoy the party!”

Christabel and Sierra left together, leaving behind Tasha who was furious for being left behind. Christabel and Sierra cut across the massive banquet hall while smiling and nodding at random people as a form of greeting since they’re from the host family. When they finally reached the corridor leading to the side hall, they were both relieved.

“Christabel, please don’t put what Tasha said to heart. You know she is always that impulsive in her words but she never really meant any harm,” Sierra whispered softly while pushing against Christabel’s arm familiarly. Sierra is the princess of the Ross family while Christabel was adopted before Sierra was born. Due to her upbringing, Sierra is very pampered and it shows in the way she talks and the way she behaves.

Christabel could never get angry with her for long, if at all, and it’s true now too. So she nodded and continued walking with Sierra holding her arm.

“But honestly, don’t you think that Laxton has been pretty neglectful and absent in your relationship? We haven’t even met him and the rumours… have been horrendous. Are you really sure about him?” Sierra asked.

“... Sierra… It’ll be ok, please leave my relationship with him alone. I’ll handle it, ok?” Christabel answered restrainedly.

They finally reached the side hall and saw Austin in the side hall with his mother, Vivian Ross. Austin bounded over as soon as he saw Christabel.

“Sis!! You’re here!” Austin hugged her immediately. He is 18 years old today, about to get his first wolf but he still behaved like a little pup around Christabel.

Christabel smiled and hugged him back. Among all the members of her adoptive family, she always feels most at ease with Austin who she kinda raised herself.

“Of course! I’ll never miss your coming-of-age party. Are you ready for the ceremony?” Christabel asked while looking over at him. Austin is a typical specimen of a young werewolf, his skin was unblemished, taunt muscles and thick biceps, except that Austin is on a more lean side so he was more agile than his peers. Everyone wondered what his wolf would be like.

“Christabel, how’re you?” Vivian smiled as she held Christabel’s arms and pressed her cheek against Christabel’s, both sides. Then she released her and smiled, looking content.

Christabel hid her discomfort for Vivian, her adopted mother. She never felt at ease with Vivian because she believes that Vivian only adopted her because she had a reputation of bringing luck to her adoptive mothers - before Christabel was adopted by the Ross family, she had been adopted thrice and all three adoptive mothers got pregnant and returned her to the orphanage. After Vivian got pregnant with Sierra, Vivian’s attitude towards Christabel changed drastically, neglecting her with the nanny and butler with no family warmth.

“Hi Aunt Vivian, I’m doing great, thank you,” Christabel answered stiffly, remembering all the etiquette teachings from the nanny, she stood a little straighter and her feet together.

Vivian smiled before pulling Sierra to her arms instead and turned to Austin, saying:

“Go on then, Austin. We’ll wait for you in the garden.”

Then she pulled Christabel and Sierra outside, to the garden. Along the way, they passed by guests who were being ushered to the garden. But this didn’t stop them from gossiping amongst themselves and Christabel couldn’t stop herself from hearing them. Sometimes, she cursed her werewolf's sharp hearing.

“Isn’t she the Ross family’s adopted child? She doesn’t look half bad.”

“Of course she’s pretty, but I heard that she was trying to get into the bed of a supermodel. So what if she’s pretty if she acts that way?”

“Yes, I think it’s Laxton. I saw a picture of them together on her profile before it was deleted.”

“Laxton? No way! Isn’t he the one who changes girlfriends every few weeks?”

“No, no, they’re all his friends. Don’t tarnish his image now, he’s my idol.”

“Tsk, what a waste of space. She shouldn’t behave so wantonly, it will only tarnish his and the Ross family’s image.”

All sorts of gossip entered Christabel’s ears but she kept her face straight and excused herself from Vivian. Vivian looked up at the moon and saw that it wasn’t midnight yet so she nodded. With her permission, Christabel hurried to the back garden, anxious to get away from them as far as possible.

The familiar feeling of suffocation rose in her chest, in this house where she has no voice, where her every move was watched.

She went to the back of the house where the garden was full of roses and darker than the rest of the house. She looked up at the sky full of glittering stars and felt like she was all alone, floating around like duckweed in a huge pond. A phone ringtone broke the silence of the night. The unique ringtone filled Christabel with longing. She lifted her head to the beautiful sky as she answered the phone.

“Hey,” a sexy male voice filled her ears.

“Hey.”

“What’re you doing?”

“Ha… I’m at the back garden, waiting for midnight,” her entire body relaxed as she heard more of his voice.

“The back garden?”

“Yeah…”

“Maybe I’ll come over later.”

“Haha, that’ll be nice. Are you done over there?”

“No, not yet.”

“Then how could you make it here?”

“Well, if I want to, I can just go to you.”

“Ok, do you need the address?”

Laxton was silent over the phone while her heart hung on a tightrope. Her breath shortened and her mind froze in anticipation. Her hopes were in the line and she wanted so much that for once, just this once, he would come through to her. That his maybe-s would become reality.

“No, I could find it if I need it. I have to go now. Muacks!”

The dead ringtone resounded in her mind, her thumb pressing on the side of her phone so hard that it turned white and she nearly dropped the phone. A feeling of hopelessness rose in her chest, she pulled up her head to look at the night sky with great difficulty before finally pulling in slow, staggered breaths of air. Her eyes misted over as she fought to keep her composure and to stop the little voice in her head.

He’s not coming. You know he’s not.

Christabel let out a soft sigh as she breathed through her mouth, her hand on her chest. She knew that this would happen but that knowledge never stopped her from hoping, from wanting to believe him, wanting to give him chances after chances to prove her wrong - wrong to doubt him. But no, he never did. Time and time again, his maybes gave her hope before crushing it and then he would tell her that relationships shouldn’t have any expectations.

But what is the difference between expectations and hopes given by him? What is life without expectations and hopes?

It doesn’t make sense at all. She had so much to tell him but there was no time in his life for her at all. Her heart pounded in her chest as she held a fist on it, her body slightly bent over as heartbreak covered her whole body. The silence of the garden amplified her short breathing patterns.