Torn Between Mates

#10 Center of Attention

"No!" Loui whispered.

Chloe smiled generously. She was on her way out to find Riven. She was here for him. When she couldn't find him abruptly, she didn't feel like she had any other purpose for staying in the ballroom. It was cumbersome, especially when ravenous unmated male wolves didn't even think twice before flirting with her with cheesy one-liners. A few females even tried to ask her out, assuming she was rejecting the males because she was into women! How presumptuous! Couldn't they see it was because she was out of their league? And what was with all those cheap one-liners? Do wolves really fall for such cheesy things? The human world was much better. But nobody could sway her heart like Riven. So she was back to claim what she had left behind.

Loui couldn't help but scan Chloe from top to bottom, feeling envious. The purple mermaid dress, full of stonework, hugged her body like a second skin. Loui gulped hard. Why did she wear something like that? She had assumed she had the best dress. But it was clearly not the case. This new wolf, whom she had never seen or met, was wearing something far more graceful. This woman was probably the only one who could be a potential threat.

Levi thought the lady was beautiful. But it surprised him when he didn't find her attractive. What was wrong with him? He shook his head, leaving the ladies. He didn't stay there any longer. He felt like if he stayed there any longer, his chest would explode like a volcano in rage. He didn't even wait for his sister to whine or complain. Didn't he do enough?

Ella used the opportunity to escape Loui. She rushed inside, hanging her head low, trying hard to vanish in the crowd. Most of the wolves were already with someone. She was later than she would have preferred. And Loui wasted a lot of her time at the door.

Riven did not even go far. He could see Chloe and Loui going their separate ways from where he was standing. Riven sighed, dragging his smoke. He wondered if he showed an interest in the blue girl, those two would probably leave him alone. With that thought in his mind, he drew the smoke one last time before extinguishing his cigarette.

Chloe was just about to get down the stairs when she saw Riven. She smiled, running to him. "Did you like the surprise?" She asked, her smile becoming broader.

"Why are you here? You don't even know our ways." Riven grunted, walking towards the hall.

Chloe sighed. Why was he playing so hard to get? If she had not left for the city, she would be his girlfriend by now. Maybe even his Luna. She blushed, pacing to match his long steps. But by the time she reached the hall, Riven had vanished amongst the crowd. Even if it wouldn't be hard to spot him despite the masks because of how tall and handsome he was, she still felt he was rude unnecessarily. Maybe she has to change her plans. She must seek Mateo and Tina's help.

But suddenly, everything came to a standstill- the music stopped, the light dimmed, and the performance ended. Everyone was murmuring because of the silence. Then suddenly, a spotlight fell on Loui.

Ella was standing in a corner, unable to mingle with anyone. Everyone appeared either too flirtatious or horny. She didn't want to get laid but found a mate based on an emotional connection. She could not even initiate a conversation if she found someone interesting. She lacked social skills. So, eventually, she got bored and withdrew to a corner, sipping her drink and enjoying the food. At least, for a change, she wasn't the one cooking them. Even without realizing it, she was searching for Riven among the crowd. She kept stealing glimpses at him, feeling jealous after spotting him near the bar counter. Why can't she approach him? It was unfair! But Levi's warning reverberated in her head, stopping her from imagining anything she couldn't have. The night was yielding out to be a big bore for her when everything came to a standstill, disrupting wild murmurs.

"Welcome everyone to the Bluemoon," Loui announced, giving one of her broad smiles. "Are you enjoying it?" She asked, booming. A lot of wolves cheered, a few even hooting. She had a lot of supporters and admirers.

"Great! Now it is time for some groove. Who wants to join me on the dance floor?" Loui winked, giggling. A lot of male wolves jeered, wanting to gain her attention. She flirted with a few before rejecting them all, breaking their hearts. "What about you, alpha Riven? Would you care to have this dance with me?" She asked out loud, smirking. How would Riven escape her this time? And it would be a great message to all the unmated female wolves present that Riven Black belonged to Loui Diaz.

The hall broke into murmurs, cheers, hooting, and clapping. The other spotlight was now on Riven, making him hiss. He knew Loui had planned it. But he didn't want to come out as a terrible person by rejecting her in front of everybody. After all, she was the only daughter of the second-most influential pack.

Chloe scoffed at Loui's audacity. But when Riven didn't object and walked towards the dance floor, she felt like a thunderbolt struck her, piercing right through her heart. She felt devastated; as if she got betrayed by Riven. She could no longer stay there and watch the two waltz. So she left, determined to change her game. She would be back and better.

Riven felt like he was carrying a rock on his shoulders, making him droop. But he couldn't protest in front of everyone. Even without any interest, he walked towards Loui. He knew soon others would join them, and the attention would shift. Using that opportunity, he would escape. He decided to clear the misunderstanding that Loui had nurtured in her head about them. If he had not met Ella or the mystery girl, she probably had a chance for them to spend time during the event. But it wouldn't have worked, anyway. He had no interest in a mate.

He looked around, searching for the girl in the blue dress. It made him feel restless when he couldn't spot her. But when his eyes landed on her standing at a corner, he felt an instant pull. But before he could act on it, Loui linked her arm with his, pulling him to the dance floor.

"Music!" She screamed, snaking her arm around his neck boldly.

A lot more couples joined them. Riven saw someone asking the girl in the blue dress to dance. It pissed him when she didn't deny it. She looked visibly uncomfortable because of the way he was dragging her. He felt like he needed to help her. He was going to thrash the wolf later. But before they could enter the floor or Ella could protest more openly, Levi dragged him away, startling him.

Ella was burning with envy when she saw Riven walking toward Loui. She shouldn't, but she couldn't stop feeling jealous. When Loui linked his arms with hers, she felt like someone brandished her with a sharp blade. So, when a random wolf asked her to dance with him, she didn't object. She didn't know what she did to make him feel she was available. But it made her feel uncomfortable when he snaked his arms around her waist just because she agreed to dance with him.

The wolf began to push her towards the floor, getting too close. She decided to object to him. However, she was scared she would ward off all male wolves if she behaved like a brat. After all, they were wolves. It was natural for them to seek physical contact. Everyone wanted to speed up things to see if they were mates. Even so, she couldn't shake off that uneasy feeling tingling through her. But before she could do anything about it, she felt someone drag him away from her, making her sigh in respite. She didn't even realize she was holding her breath all this while.

She turned to see her savior. Surprisingly, it was Levi. She gawked in shock, her eyes popping out. She was about to escape when Levi caught her hands and dragged her to the dance floor, confusing her.

"Alpha Levi, it is me!" Ella murmured, wondering if Levi had forgotten it was her.

"I know!" He hissed, holding his arm around her waist. "Dance!" He ordered. When she kept blinking, unable to understand her situation, he sighed in irritation. "Should I let you lurk free and try to seduce Riven Black? I know you will use some crafty excuse to dance with Riven once you are on the floor. I am here to help my sister. Don't get any ideas!" He hollered, taking her hands to put them on his shoulders.

Levi then grabbed her waist again. A tingle rippled through his body, making his insides churn. It was a weird sensation. It was the first time he had been holding her waist, and he couldn't believe how tiny it was. Did she not eat at all?

Ella had no other option but to follow him. When she looked him in the eye by mistake, it surprised her that he was already looking at her. She felt like she saw something other than hatred. But before she could figure it out, Levi had already averted his gaze from her. As they grooved to the music, she speculated. For the first time in her life, Levi was confusing her with his actions and words.

Riven could not concentrate on what he was supposed to do when Levi touched her waist. It made him feel suffocated and angry. It was as if he would go berserk if he allowed the two to stay like that. It bothered him, even more, when the mystery girl didn't object, picking up the moves. Were they really going to dance? He fumed, sending deadly glares.

Loui tried to get Riven's attention. It was a romantic number. Yet, he wasn't interested in her at all. A few nearby couples were even kissing.

"I think it is enough!" Riven groaned, pulling away. He glared one last time in the blue girl's direction before leaving the dance floor in annoyance.

Loui couldn't believe she was dumped once again. How much more humiliation does she have to endure? She looked in the direction Riven was watching. She gasped in shock to find Levi dancing with Ella like a couple. His eyes were fixated on Ella, even though Ella was looking down. Loui rubbed her eyes, hoping she wasn't seeing things properly in the dark. But her eyes popped out in shock, and her blood boiled in anger when nothing changed. She felt like she would explode out of rage.

What on earth was happening? Why was everyone interested in a nobody like Ella?