The Revenge
Chapter 12

My mind swirled with Torben as I dried myself just being out of the shower. The closer the hour of the ball came, more nervous I became. I couldn't help it. Along with nervousness came fear. All the memories of the Alpha forcing himself on me resurfaced.

Isobel offered to do my make up which I was grateful for. I had no idea what to do with it. Once she finished her masterpiece, a smile appeared on her face in satisfaction. She began doing hers while I started working on my long dark hair. I softly curled my hair and put them in a half-up hairstyle with a few strands flowing around my face. Once satisfied with it I went to get dressed. I chose a sparkling gold long gown with a full skirt, low plunge neckline with thin straps and an open low back with matching heels.

Once both of us were ready, we went to meet with the rest of the clan. Everyone turned their attention to us once we entered one of the smaller living rooms. A blush crept into my cheeks with everyone's eyes on us. Isobel's mermaid style dress that sparkled for miles away brought too much attention for my liking. She was stunning but so was everyone else.

“That’s everyone,” Celeste turned to Nicolas and Leon.

“Before we go, I just want to say to everyone to behave. Everyone needs to control themselves” Leon glanced at everyone, his gaze lingered on me a bit longer. I couldn't help the feeling that the comment was mostly directed at me.

Easier said than done.

Once he finished speaking Nicolas made his way over to me. “You look stunning,” he smiled at me.

“Thanks”, I replied awkwardly as heat rushed to my cheeks once again.

"you to look handsome” I attempted to compliment him, flashing him a wide smile.

He chuckled and linked my hand with his at the elbow as we walk out of the room. Passing other vampires in the hallways, soft orchestral music filled my ears. The closer we walked the louder the music became.

Entering the huge brightly lit grand hall my eyes roamed over the decor. It had a cream and gold theme, the ceiling had the intricate baroque type of ornaments and paintings. Three huge crystal chandeliers illuminated the hall. Orchestra sat in the corner, the source of the charming celestial music. The grand hall was already full of vampires and werewolves, mingling and more were arriving by the second.

"I need a drink,” I muttered to myself, needing the properties of the alcohol just in case I would face Torben. I prayed I wouldn't, but I wanted to be prepared. The alcohol would give me much needed bravery, which I lacked at that moment.

Nicolas must have heard me, the next second he took two glasses of champagne from a servant as he passed us. He handed me one, taking a sip of his and making a conversation with our group. I joined the chat while drinking the champagne. Once finished Nicolas asked me to dance with a charming smile on his face.

“I don’t know how to dance,” I couldn't help but feel awkward. I sent him a tight-lipped smile.

“It’s nothing hard, let me lead and you'll be fine.” He smiled at me reasurringly with playfulness in his eyes. My eyebrows flew up on my forehead. Whatever leading was in dancing, I had no idea. I never had a chance to learn how to dance. My mind was too caught up with Torben to realise that there would even be dancing.

I signed ”ok” and glued my eyes to the ground.

He led me to the dance floor. Putting one of his hands on the small of my back and the other held my hand to the side. Once on the dance floor, he moved my hand on his shoulder giving me reassuring smile.

He began leading, dancing to the slow melody. Silence engulfed us, my mind too busy concentrating not to step on his foot. I kept my gaze on my feet.

"Don't look at your feet" I heard his soothing voice. My eyes snapped to his. "Feel the music and relax, you're tense"

I sighed "easier said than done"

He chuckled "I need to teach you how to dance once we get back"

Smile appeared on my face.

Halfway through our dance, I felt more relaxed. We both watched around us as we twirled to the music on the dance floor.

“Torben is here” Nicolas's soothing whispering voice suddenly entered my ears. I tensed, scanning the grand hall with my wide eyes.

He sensed my uneasiness "Relax Reine, he won’t remember you”

I snapped my gaze to his.

"I hope so” my voice was low, wary of the situation I was in. At that moment, I wished I stayed behind.

Once the music stopped we head back to our group. Glancing at the familiar faces, there was only Celeste with Matteo glued to her side drinking their champagne, talking with Sin. Everyone else was scattered around the hall.

“Where is Isobel,” I asked my eyebrows furrowed. With werewolves around, you could never be too careful despite her being ok with them. They might have not been ok with her.

"She was dancing the last time I checked,” said Mattias, his eyes looking around trying to replace her. ”Look she’s there” he pointed with his head to the direction where she was.

My eyes followed the direction. She stood there laughing with a cute male vampire. I shook my head as I smiled. When she said she was going to have fun, she meant it.

For the most part, I just stood there, sipping my champagne as I tuned in and out of their conversation. My mind and eyes were too busy scanning the crowd, keeping an eye on Torben. And all the scenarios that would happen if Torben would recognise me.

He would either try to kill me on the spot, although I thought it would be a dumb idea. Or he could just not recognise me at all which would be the best scenario. Or he could try and catch me after the ball and either fight me or take me away. I shook my head, deep despair seized me at the thought of him kidnapping me and forcing himself on me again.

After a while, Nicolas and Sin walked away in deep conversation, leaving me with Matteo and Celeste. I grabbed another glass of champagne when one of the servants passed.

Celeste chatted with her husband while my eyes looked for an escape. I felt awkward just standing there like the third wheel I was at that moment.

Not knowing what to do with myself, my hand instinctively reached for my chest, looking for Luca's necklace. It made me feel naked at that moment not feeling it on my skin. I often reached for it when I felt nervous or need to calm myself. It felt as if Luca was there with me.

“I’ll be back,” I said to the couple as I headed to the bathroom not even waiting for their response. Once finished with my business I walked back.

I gazed at the sea of bodies in front of me, trying to replace the couple. They were dancing to romantic music. My eyes scanned the room in a desperate search for anyone familiar from my clan. I froze once my wide eyes locked with bright blue eyes that send a shiver through my body. The eyes that gave me nightmares.

Torben stood facing me with a dubious look on his handsome face as he bore his eyes into me. Pride and authority radiated off of him, about thirty feet away from me with werewolves around him. Glancing at the faces of the werewolves I recognised a few of them.

Memories of my time as a slave flashed through my mind. He said something to them never leaving his eyes from me. They all turned around, some of them had curious looks in their eyes, some of their eyes widened as if they recognised me and some just bored their eyes into me without any emotion.

The colour from my face disappeared, the hair on my back stood on end. I gulped tearing my eyes from them and cursing myself mentally at keeping an eye contact with him for far too long. He knew I recognised him and he definitely recognised me.

Walking through the sea of bodies and scanning my surroundings I found Isobel. She stood next to the vampire from earlier, drinking champagne and flirting. I made my way over to her hoping I would reach her before Torben would replace me in the sea of bodies. I would feel better with Isobel next to me.

Halfway through, I felt a warm hand on my elbow gently pulling me to stop. Quickly turning around, I froze, my eyes widened and the air from my lungs was knocked out. I was locked under the curious eyes of Torben.

"Can I have this dance?” his voice was soft with a charming smile on his face.

My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

What the hell. What's he doing? He's playing with me like he always did.

I glanced around the room nervously, looking for someone familiar. Nicolas cautiously watched me with Leon next to him, whispering something into his ear.

Suddenly the words of him and Leon played in my mind. 'Behave. I hope there won't he any fights. It won't be tolerated'

I kept my eyes on him, pleading with him to get me out of this situation. Nicolas hesitantly nodded, encouraging me to take the dance with the werewolf Alpha. I sighed, trying to calm my nerves as my eyes landed on Torben. I didn't want to make a scene, it wouldn't end well for me.

“Yes,” my voice was steady and I thanked to God for that. The last thing I wanted was for Torben to know how he affected me.

He smiled, holding out his large hand and I gently placed mine in his before leading me towards the dancefloor.

On the way there, I realised that I didn't need to be scared of him. I wasn't the young defenceless human anymore. I was a strong vampire and I’ve been training hard to be equal to him, to be able to kill him. I also had a clan behind me, I was no more alone. With that, I found my confidence or it could be the champagne finally hitting me.

We stopped in the middle of the dance floor. He spun me around then pulling me into him roughly. My hands landed on his chest while his hands sneaked their way to my waist. I couldn't help the feeling of suffocating.

I hated the feeling of his body glued to mine and smelling his scent which was a lot stronger since I was a vampire. His eyes bored into mine as if he could see my soul. Suddenly, he lowered his head to just under my ear and deeply breathed in, to smell my scent. I couldn't help the shiver running across my body from his breath so close to my skin. Then he pulled away from me.

“Hmm...I knew it was you, Reine,” a sinister smirk appeared on his face with a hint of desire flashing in his eyes.

I stared at him coldly, trying not to show any emotion. I tried to hide how vulnerable and scared he made me feel. Then he put his hands the same way Nicolas did when we danced and slowly started moving to the sound of music.

I felt relieved of the slight distance from him even though it wasn't much. I felt repulsed by his touch and his whole presence. My muscles were tense and the last thing I wanted was to dance with him.

I looked anywhere but him avoiding his intense stare. When he saw I’m not planning to reply he added “I could recognise your scent anywhere. It’s intoxicating...like a drug to me” his voice was husky.

He was taunting me, enjoying it.

My eyes snapped to his and I could see the lust growing in them. Anger slowly began to bubble within me like a hot tar but I tried not to show it. I wiped my face from all emotions.

"That’s why you raped me so many times?” I said with steely coldness.

He smiled devilishly his eyes filling with wickedness. ”Your pussy was one of the best ones I had” he whispered after leaning closer to my ear. My eyes watched everyone around us making sure no one heard his words.

Feeling his breath on my skin a shiver ran through my body again. I had the urge to push him away and punch him in the face to make him suffer. Instead, I let out a deep breath to try to take control of my body. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing my anger. I wanted him to believe I wasn't that fazed by him.

“Where’s Diana,” I said calmly, but I couldn't help the hatred in every cell of my body. Diana was his wife and Luna.

He chuckled. “Not here... she’d be happy to see you though,” he said sarcastically.

"Ya me too,” my voice was cold, thinking that the next time I’d see her she would be dead.

"So how’s your daughter and husband, are they here?” His eyebrows went high on his forehead, amusement plastered all over his face. I stared at him without blinking shocked at his audacity to even mention my family.

"You know, I knew they were yours. I could smell your scent all over them when I killed them” he whispered into my ear.

The second the words left his mouth I stopped dancing and all I saw was red as pure rage overtook my entire body. How dare he speaking of my family. I wanted to rip his head off then and there when I imagined how my baby girl and Luca must have been suffering. He deliberately killed them because they were my family.

I pulled myself away from his arms, the amusement on his face only intensified. I was about to reach for my dagger that was strapped to my thigh when I heard Sin next to me ”Can I have this dance?”

I deadly glared at Torben. He was staring into my eyes, taunting me and urging me to try.

Sin noticed the battle raging within me. Placing his hand on my bare shoulder he pulled me out of my murderous thoughts.

My head snapped towards him, however, the rage stayed within me. He was smiling but it didn’t reach his deep black eyes.

"I’d love to” I spoke coldly as I turned away from the beast. Sin took his place and when I glanced at Torben he gave me a wicked smile. At that moment, I wished Sin wouldn't interrupt me. I was ready to rip Torben's head off not caring of the consequences. At least I would have a good chance. He wouldn't expect it.

"What was that all about” Sin's eyebrows furrowed and his eyes narrowed at me as we slowly danced.

"Nothing” I fumed. After attempting to dance with him, I couldn't, not anymore. I didn't want to be in anyone's presence.

"I need alcohol" I muttered to him.

I scanned the hall looking for a servant with champagne as I walked away from the dancefloor with Sin on my tail. I beelined to the nearest servant grabbing two glasses of champagne, emptying both of them in one go, one after another and grabbed another one. Sin watched with his wide eyes, worry written all over his face.

“I’ve never seen you like this,” his voice was cautious as he leaned closer.

I turned my attention to him, my cold angry eyes boring into his, pleading him to drop the subject. At that moment, I felt the need to drink to the point of not knowing my name, alone.

He caught my pleading and sighed “let’s get out of here”

“I don’t need a babysitter” I hissed, my eyes narrowed at him.

"At this moment, yes you do. Plus it’s Nicolas's order to not leave your side” his voice was hard, commanding. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my nerves, not wanting to unleash my wrath at Sin. He didn't deserve it and I would regret it later.

Once I calmed, I signed in defeat knowing he was right. If Sin wouldn't rescue me, I would lose control, something I couldn't let happen with a room full of werewolves. It would end up in a massacre.

"Let’s go,” I turned around walking away from the busy hall.

He caught up to me as we walked in the hallway, away from the grand hall. The music faded more and more with each step we took. I felt the anger slowly ebbing away as we found an empty drawing-room. It was a small room with two sofas situated across from each other in front of blazing fireplace.

I sat down at one of the sofas, facing the warm fire. Sin came over and sat on the other side of the sofa handing me a glass of whiskey.

"What happened?" He asked his black gaze never leaving my face.

I sighed, sinking more into the cushions of the sofa. I brought the glass to my lips taking a big gulp of the alcohol. My eyes moved to his, his eyes still locked on my face searching for answers.

"He provoked me" I mumbled.

He didn't ask more questions, sensing I didn't want to talk about it, which was greatly appreciated. At that moment, I didn’t want to be talking about my history.

Only months have passed after my whole world crumbled. I wasn't ready to share it with anyone. I felt a lump forming in my throat and tears forming in my eyes. I moved my head away from him, blinking the tears away and took a big gulp from the glass. I didn't want him to see me so vulnerable.

As I drank the whiskey, the door flew open and I jumped. Nicolas marched in with concern all over his face.

“Are you ok?” he asked carefully, his eyebrows furrowed making a line in between them, his eyes serious and concerned as he eyed me.

“I’m fine,” I answered flatly.

“I should have never left your side” he sat next to me and took my free hand in his.

“You can’t be with me everywhere, I'm a grown woman I can take care of myself," I said tearing my eyes from his and finishing my drink with a large gulp.

"I know, but it could have been prevented if I was next to you.” his voice was low, defeated.

"Then why didn't you come and help me when I was begging you?" My voice sounded harsh, angry.

'I wanted to but Leon advised me not to do it. Torben is the werewolf leader and he's powerful. One wrong move and we could be dead. With him, we need to be careful" I saw the guilt he was drowning in.

I let out a sigh "He would replace his way to talk to me, with or without you next to me. I knew it once he saw me"

After a while Nicolas left back to the ball, seeing I was ok with Sin next to me. He needed to make sure our clan wasn't in any trouble. I drank whiskey after another until I physically couldn't anymore while me and Sin chatted.