Chapter 51 Confused.

Chapter 51 Confused.
Leona

Almost two hours had gone by and Arel still wasn't here. I wanted to ask the Beta if he'd heard anything, but I bit my tongue. Did not want to look desperate.

Beta Finn and I stood at the dessert table, grabbing sweets and ranking them. We had just finished rating everyone in the ballroom. I told him that when I hung out with my human friends, we killed time by rating guys or girls on how hot they were. One to ten, ten being the hottest. And since we were both bored, we tried it on all the Alpha males and females around us.

The Beta gave me a nine point five. And like the gentleman he always was, he did not rate anyone higher than me all night except for his future mate.

He was saving that perfect ten for her. I thought that was sweet. Could not wait until he met her and swept her off her feet.

I was holding back laughter at something the Beta said when a voice came through the speaker welcoming Alpha Cyrus into the ballroom. Then I heard Arel's name. Rain and I both perked up to find him.

"Announcing the arrival of our celebrant, young Alpha Cyrus of the Blood Moon Pack, together with Alpha Jacob of the Black Shadow Pack."

My whole body got hot. My grip on the Beta's arm went tight before I turned my head toward the entrance. My eyes found him right away. Locked onto those gorgeous dark blue eyes.

My lips curled into a warm smile. Like my whole body had just come back to life. He was not anywhere near me, but I could feel his warmth all over my skin.

"There goes my perfect ten," I said under my breath.

The Beta snickered next to me as I slowly loosened my grip on his arm.

Beta Finn leaned in close. "Just be careful and do not jump on him. This is not the right place for that. Remember, this is Alpha Cyrus's party. He is the one looking for his mate." He said it all in one breath.

I squinted at him. "Do you really think I would just jump on your Alpha? Excuse me, Beta, but I am a lady. I have manners." I tried to sound annoyed, but he was right. I was holding myself back from launching at Arel right then.

He snickered again but kept quiet as we watched Alpha Cyrus and Arel walk over.

"Looks like Lady Leona is enjoying herself well." Alpha Cyrus raised an eyebrow. A smug smirk on his lips, but I caught the nasty look he shot at Beta Finn.

"Indeed, Alpha Cyrus. Beta Finn has been wonderful company tonight." I smiled at him while my free hand tapped the Beta's arm.

I glanced quickly at Arel. He was faking a yawn next to Alpha Cyrus, refusing to look at me.

"Now I am jealous of all the time you spent with him." Alpha Cyrus took my hand off the Beta's arm and put it on his own. "Do you mind if I steal the lady for a while?"

The Beta's face showed nothing, but I saw his eyes flick to Arel.

"Beta Finn does not mind." I smiled smoothly. And just like that, I was in Alpha Cyrus's arms as we walked away from them.

Arel was frowning. His eyes went cold as stone, staring at me while we passed him.

Relax. I will behave, I teased him through the mindlink.

I walked around with Alpha Cyrus for a while. Had boring conversations with his guests. Everything went fine, but I was getting really bored. Did not know anyone. Had nothing to say to them.

He introduced me to Alpha Riley and Alpha Darvin. They did not say much until he introduced me as someone from Arel's pack. Alpha Riley asked where Arel was. Cyrus pointed him out, and Riley went straight over.

We stood in a circle with some Alpha from another pack and his mate. Guests all around us, everyone talking over everyone. I tilted my head and spoke directly to him. "I am a little tired. Do you mind if I go now?"

"You do not need to leave me, love. We can sit and talk, just the two of us." He leaned close to speak in my ear. I flinched at the word love but did not let it show.

I shook my head and pressed my lips together. "That would be rude to your guests. You should stay with them."

"They do not matter." He gave me a cocky smile. But before he could pull me away from the circle, a tall woman with long wavy hair came up to us.

If I remembered right, her name was Lady Rosalie from some pack I could not recall. Beta Finn had mentioned her earlier.

"I finally caught you, Cyrus. You promised to dance with me. I want it now." She said it like she was used to getting what she wanted. Right then, I wanted to hug her for saving me.

Alpha Cyrus paused. I knew he was about to say no. So I made sure that did not happen.

"Of course, Alpha Cyrus has been looking forward to that dance, Lady Rosalie." I gave her a sweet smile and put Alpha Cyrus's arm out for her to take. I mouthed, "He told me." Then I winked at Lady Rosalie before turning on my heel and leaving. Excused myself to the rest of the crowd.

I did not look back. Just walked straight through the middle of the ballroom to the other side. I knew I had just pissed off Alpha Cyrus, but I really needed a moment away from him.

My eyes searched for my Alpha and his Beta as I pushed through the crowd. But before I could find him, his scent hit me. A hand grabbed my wrist gently and spun me around. My body slammed into a hard chest.

I gasped. But my lips broke into a wide smile when I saw Arel looking down at me, smirking, looking better than anyone had a right to.

He put my hand on his shoulder. My other hand was already in his as he started to swing us into a slow dance toward the floor.

"You made me wait, little mate." His voice went low and rough. Sent delicious tingles spreading between my thighs.

I rolled my eyes playfully as I moved my body with his. Let the sparks between us burn. "If you think for one second I enjoyed standing there talking to people I barely know, then you are losing your touch, old man."

"I want to kiss you." He just blurted it out. His eyes stuck on my lips.

My throat went dry. "Me too. But we can not."

"And why not?"

"Beta Finn said.." He cut me off.

"So he tells you what to do now?" A scowl spread across his face.

"No. You are not getting it. He said we need to be respectful. This is not your party. He said we could do it somewhere else..." The last few words came out almost like a whisper. Heat crept into my cheeks.

"Alpha Argon talked to me earlier while you were in a meeting with his son," I told him when he did not answer what I just said. "He said Alpha Cyrus wants me for his Luna. He thought I would be a perfect fit for Cyrus."

"And?" His eyes drifted away from me.

"He wanted me to spend time getting to know his son."

"And what did you say?" He still was not looking at me.

"I told him it is between Cyrus and me. We do not need a middleman."

"And?"

"And what? What do you mean by and?"

"What do you plan to do?"

"Nothing. Just that..." I stumbled over my words. Did not know how to keep going.

"Just that?" He looked down then. Caught my eyes.

"I am not going to do anything until I get my answer from you." I swallowed hard and dropped my gaze to his chest. My body still moving slow, dancing with him.

Nothing.

"But if this helps, then please know I will be okay. Maybe I should give him or someone else a chance after we... you know. I do not want you to feel guilty if you have to... you know. I will be okay. I think." The words came out of my mouth, but I did not even trust them myself.

I would not be okay if he rejected me. I would never be okay.

"Leona..." He did it again. Said my name when he had no idea what else to say.

So I kept talking.

"Remember when we were younger and you told me I would be a good Luna but not your Luna? Maybe it is like that. Maybe I will be good for someone else."

Arel's body started to shake. He stopped moving to the music. I pressed my palms against his chest, trying to calm him down. "I just want you to be okay. I want you to be happy and not feel trapped by your choices."

"Are you already thinking about him? To replace me?" His voice went quiet. His eyes got soft, like he was falling apart.

"No. Not ever. No one can replace you. But I have to keep my options open. Just in case..." I took a long breath before tilting my head up to look at him.

He looked lost.

Confused.

And that made me confused too.