Seduced by My Childhood Sweetheart’s Brother
Chapter 41

41- Desert and dancing

1. AM. ABSOLUTELY. FLOORED. This room is stunning. How did Megan get this party put togetherin so short a time? She should go into event planning. There are round tables all around the edgesof the room. Each table has a black table cloth with decorative candle things in the middle. Thecentre of the room is clear to leave space for dancing and the DJ is set up at the far end of theroom. There are servers running around setting up places at the tables and I can smell somethingamazing coming from somewhere nearby which is making me wish it was time to eat already. Toone side of the room I can see large open doors which seem to lead outside. I can’t see much but Iknow there are some fairy lights twinkling away out there. The opposite side of the room hasseveral large tables pushed up against the wall. These are mostly empty but based on the fewthings I can see there, it’s going to be where the food goes. Buffet style dinner it is, I can’t wait.Megan and Tristan are still over with the DJ, Megan is gesturing animatedly but seems happyenough. Darrien is hovering nearby. Close enough to keep an eye on her but not so close as to becreepy. I guess he knows what he’s going to be doing all evening, perfecting his imitation of MrDarcy pining after his love. It doesn’t take long for the guests to start arriving and the room quicklyfills up. Bellamy gets dragged away by a group of Shifters I’ve never met and seems incrediblyannoyed about it. He eventually escapes them only to be swamped by a pair of women who wantto speak to him. Each time he escapes a conversation, he seems to be dragged into another one.It becomes clear that he’s too busy to hang out with me for the moment so I set about replaceingsomething to eat. The food is amazing and once everyone is about done eating they move on tosocialising. Megan is, of course, completely swamped with well wishers and I don’t have much of achance to talk to her. Darrien is still hovering which doesn’t leave him

very open

open for conversation either. Other than me, pretty much everyone here is a Shifter. I think I saw acouple of humans for a minute or two. But they seemed to have come, congratulated Megan then left. Ithink they might be classmates of hers. Oddly enough, There don’t seem to be any guests here to seeTristan. Megan is constantly introducing him to people but I haven’t seen him make a singleintroduction. I replace myself sitting at a table pretty much by myself. My solitude doesn’t last long howeveras Bellamy comes and drops into the seat next to me. He must have finally escaped his fan club,almost all his attention has been from women. Not that I’ve really been paying attention or anything. Hegroans.

“They’re driving me crazy. Half these people don’t even want to talk to me, they just feel like they needto because I’m the Alpha. The others are even worse, they hope to get my attention even if I havealready made it very clear in the past that I am not going to chose a mate for

convenience.”

Many

“Poor thing, too girls fawning over you?” Okay, that came out a little more bitter than I meant it to.Bellamy looks at me with an eyebrow raised. Okay so he noticed my attitude. Let him think it’s becauseI’m bored.

“Not anymore, I decided to come sit with you instead.” I feel instantly lighter. Darn it. He should nothave so much control over my mood. It would make sense if I loved him, but I barely know him so itcan’t be that… right?

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that.” I flick my eyes over his shoulder. He turns to see two girls who arehovering behind him. They both seem to look me over and after they realise I’m not a Shifter, theyconclude I’m no threat.

“Good evening Alpha Kane. We wondered if we could get you anything from the dessert table.” One ofthe girls offers. The other nods enthusiastically. Bellamy shakes his head and answers firmly butpolitely.

“No thank you ladies. If you’ll excuse me, I’m talking with Ryann at the moment.” The girls eyes shiftback and forth between us in a combination of confusion and irritation as they excuse themselves. Iwatch as they rejoin a group of girls in the corner of the room and they all seem to be talking at once asthey ask for information. I can see them all looking sideways at us. They aren’t terribly subtle. I makeeye contact with one who looks away immediately but seems shocked to have done so. The gossipingseems to go on and on. I sigh and look away. Something else catches my eye. A little boy is over at thedessert table struggling to carry two plates which both have huge slices of chocolate cake on them andpick up spoons. He can’t be more than eight years old. What really gets my attention about him is thatthere is a red thread streaming from his chest. I follow it to a little blonde girl who is sitting at a tablelooking lonely. Her mother is chatting with another woman and she looks rather bored. I turn myattention back to the little boy. He eventually gives up on carrying both plates and puts one back on thetable and uses his free hand to get a spoon to eat the cake with. I expect him to start eating right away,but with a last glance at the piece of cake he left behind he makes a beeline straight to the little girl. Herexpression brightens when he approaches. He looks incredibly nervous. He hands her the dessert andshe accepts it, delighted. He shyly takes the empty seat next to her and watches as she takes the firstbite of her cake. She finishes her first bite before offering the spoon to him. He is surprised and excited.I watch as the two of them take turns and share the cake together. I think I might die

from the cuteness of it. They are the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen.

“I take it that they aren’t doomed then?” Bellamy comments. I had almost forgotten he’s here.

He’s followed my gaze and has been watching the scene play out as I have. I nod..

“They’re fated to be together. They’re lucky to replace each other so young. It might just be the sweetestthing I’ve ever seen.” I gush, Bellamy smiles at me.

“Their names are Jacob and Emiah. Jake has been in love with her pretty much since always. Herparents didn’t really like him hovering around her so much at first, but he’s grown on them. It’s hard notto approve of him when he is so clearly dedicated to her. She is, of course, smitten.” He explains. I sighhappily. They’re lucky, they have already found the person who will stand by them forever, and they’reyoung enough to admit it without fuss, without complications or embarrassment. To face any issues asthey come head on. A flash of red interrupts my thoughts. Megan dashes through the crowd and headsstraight towards Bellamy

and 1.

“Hey!” She greets us brightly, her face is flushed and happy.

“What are you both doing hiding over here? You should be dancing! Someone needs to

get

things started around here and Tristan is a terrible dancer.” She confides. I laugh at her

comment.

“We aren’t hiding Megs, just sitting, and I’m perfectly happy right here.” I inform her. She rolls her eyesat me. I can hear someone calling her over. She waves at the person to show she’s on her way. Sheturns to face Bellamy directly.

“Ask the girl to dance Bellamy Kane.” She then whirls around in a glittering tornado of red and gold andrushes away leaving us sitting there awkwardly. Bellamy smiles at her fondly ast she rushes off. Hethen stands and faces me. He holds out a hand, a clear invitation.

“Dance with me?” I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. It would feel too much like he’s my date. Besides,all the girls here are already glaring at me and gossiping. I don’t think I want to risk their wrath. I shakemy head at him.

“That’s probably not a good idea.” I respond. He looks indignant.

“Why not? You heard my sister. She wants us to dance.” He insists. He is still holding hist hand out tome. I search for a good excuse.

Emergency calls onlyMu

41- Desert and dancing

— D83%

14:29

“My shoes!” I blurt out.

“I’m wearing heels. I don’t want to kill my feet by dancing in them.” I explain. Okay so it’s not a GOODexcuse. But it’ll do. Bellamy finally drops his hand and glances at my feet. I pull up the edge of my skirtto display my glittery black stilettos.

“Why are you wearing high heels? You hate them.” He questions. I shrug.

“I don’t care very much about trying to look good for strangers at work. But tonight, I care… To makeMegan happy of course.” I ramble on. Bellamy grins at me.

“You look good, with or without heels.” I blush and look away from his face. My gaze aims somewhereover his right shoulder as I thank him.

“That’s very nice of you to say. But it doesn’t change the fact that they aren’t exactly great shoes fordancing. It’ll be better if I just stay here.” I decide.