Chapter 3

Lin stared at me in bemusement, "You're going to get yourself killed one of these days." 

I shrugged my shoulders as I took a sip of my soda, watching everyone dance and socialize. I knew my actions were sometimes inappropriate, but I could careless when it came to that king. Obsidian was rude, but there is still something more to him. He's hiding under a mask, anyone can see it, but no one will challenge it. I couldn't make my mind up whether I wanted to find out the true Obsidian or not, it would mean needing to become friends. No enemy will give their secrets, that would require a trust neither of us have. 

"I guess at least he's hot," she sighed.

I chuckled, "Oh yes, because there are tons of unattractive alphas."

"Oh hush, you know it wouldn't be as fun in meetings if we had to stare at a slightly unattractive one." 

"Uh, no, I don't know that. Meetings aren't meant for making love eyes at men."

"Well, maybe not for your serious ass but for mine, they are."

I pinched the bridge of my nose as she shrugged, "You have issues, you know, that right?"

"Yeah, I just don't care." 

"I know."

"Anyway, how did it go with Brayden?" 

She let out a groan and slammed her head on the table, "I started speaking Italian...I don't even know Italian!" 

"For someone who drools over any hot man coming her way, you sure suck at flirting."

"There's a difference between drooling over them and attracting them. I'm better from far away, where I don't speak several languages."

I chuckled, "Relax, someone will come along that won't laugh at you when you do that."

She sighed as we watched Brayden take a girl by her hand to the dance floor. Gulping down the rest of her drink she began looking towards Obsidian and Malachi. I watched as she pursed her lips and studied them, her head tilting just a little. 

"Don't get any ideas," I mumbled.

"Who's his friend? He's kind of hot..."

"Lin."

"Oh, come on, can't I just lust after more than one guy?"

I smirked, "For you? No, you lust after hundreds of men."

"And I'm still a virgin," she hummed.

"Yeah, for now."

She stuck her tongue out before calling over a waiter to request some wine, causing me to shake my head in amusement. I took another sip of my soda as my father stood, requesting all the alphas to head into the throne room. Obsidian quietly sat in his seat as he watched all the others pass him before following. I almost laughed at how small he seemed compared to the Russian king, it made him far less dangerous looking. 

"You know, I don't get why we only invite the kings. Why not the other alphas?" Lin suddenly questioned as we watched the doors to the throne room close. 

Gently placing my glass down, I released a tired sigh. "Because the kings are basically the alphas of the alphas basically. They control all the packs in each individual country. Plus, imagine us having hundreds of alphas here. You know there are like twenty or so packs in each country."

"There are more than just twenty," Lin mumbled.

"I know, I wasn't trying to be accurate."

She shrugged, "Well, it would certainly give me more chances to find a mate."

"You just turned eighteen, why don't you enjoy being young and single?"

"Because, it's boring."

I scoffed, "I don't see how. I don't have to worry about being cheated on, sounds great to me."

She gave me a look right as the waiters delivered the appetizers, distracting her from my answer. I breathed a sigh of relief, I didn't mean for some of the truth to slip out. I'm supposed to appear resilient before everyone, even my best friend. No one can know that behind my facade, I'm terrified of falling in love. Of giving someone that type of advantage over me, knowing they can easily destroy my heart with an action or word. I've seen too many people become depressed after heartbreak, I refuse to be one of them.

Laughter and voices filled the ball room as everyone's dinners were delivered and the meeting came to an end. After a while the seriousness of the situation surrounding us had lifted, allowing me to laugh and have fun with Lin and few other teens. We joked around, talked and a few even danced. While she didn't get to dance with her crush, Lin still managed to snag another guy for a quick twirl around the floor. I politely declined the boys who asked me, except for my five-year-old nephew, I could never refuse a dance with him. Of course, once he got distracted by his father having an adult talk without him, my sister stole me for one of the fun songs. 

"Samantha!" I laughed as she began grinding on me. 

She giggled, "Oh come on, have fun! Man, I need to take you to the club with the girls!" 

"I'd rather not, I don't need to learn to grind on people and twerk on tables," I joked, causing her to shake her head. 

"You're just like father, always so serious."

I dramatically gasped, "Take that back!"

"Never!" 

We cracked up as I tackled her, causing her to bump into someone behind her. The both of us froze as his drink spilled onto his shirt, causing him to tense up. Samantha was practically shaking as he turned around, his grey/blue eyes landing on us. 

Since when did I notice the color of his eyes?

"Your highness, I'm terribly sorry," Samantha stammered, going for a napkin. 

He sighed, "It's fine."

"I—"

"Oh, my! Sylvia, darling, do you mind showing Alpha Obsidian where the bathrooms are?" my mother cut in, shuffling us both off.

I gave her one of my what-the-hell looks as she returned it with her mom stare, "Can't a waiter?" I whispered.

She sighed, "Honey, they're all busy and your sister is about to have a fit with what happened to Kaden."

I frowned, "What happened to Kaden?"

"His hair is now blue."

"What? How?"

"Long story, now go." 

I sighed before grabbing Obsidian's arm and tugging him towards the halls, "This way."

"Don't touch me," he grumbled.

"Get over it."

"I can follow without you dragging me like I'm a child."

I growled softly and let go of him before walking faster, causing him to let out an equally annoyed sound. An awkward silence fell over us as we entered the dimly lit halls, where all you heard was my low whining. 

"Can you be quiet? Your bitching is irritating," Obsidian grumbled.

I flipped him off as I continued mumbling to myself about how I'm stuck showing him around and wondering how in the world my nephew's hair was turned blue. As soon as we arrived at the bathroom, I turned on my heel and gave him a fake smile. 

"The bathroom, your highness," I sneered.

He raised an eyebrow, "Thank you, prince-ass." 

"Excuse me?"

"You're excused, I can find my way back." 

Rolling my eyes, I stormed off, my temper reaching its peak already. I marched through the halls and stopped, pursing my lips as I debated on returning to the party. Fatigue suddenly washed over me, making the urge to go to my bedroom even stronger now. Furrowing my eyebrows, I found one of the walls as I leaned against it. My head began to feel slightly heavy, causing me to slowly slide down to the floor. 

What did you drink, Sylvia?

I raced through my memories, but all I remember drinking was just soda and a glass of water. I'm pretty sure I would have noticed it if I were drugged. I tried to stand on my shaky legs, but they couldn't hold my weight as I toppled to the floor again. I tried swallowing the panic, knowing that my parents were only a few feet away. 

"Hello, Princess."

I looked up in confusion, not recognizing the voice nor the man's face. I tried forming words, but they came out slurred. He had a sadistic smile on his face as he took out a small vile, "Don't worry, I just need some of your blood." 

My blood? 

Suddenly, someone grabbed his arm, "What do you think you're doing?"

The man paled as he came face to face with Obsidian, his eyes widened with fear when he seemed to realize who he was currently seeing. Obsidian didn't give him a chance to speak before throwing him against the wall, his eyes dark with anger. 

"Human," he stated coldly. 

I frowned, I tried asking why a human would be here, but couldn't form a word. His eyes glazed over for a second before he knelt beside me. Gently, he scooped me into his arms, "Where is your bedroom?" 

I lazily pointed towards the corner, unable to tell him the directions. He silently followed, "And now I'm assuming up the stairs?"

I nodded. 

"Sylvia? Oh my gosh, what happened?" my mother's voice suddenly sounded as she and my father ran towards us. Obsidian turned to face them as my vision began to blur.

"A hunter drugged her somehow, Malachi should have him."

"We know, he told us. How would a hunter even get in here? I have patrols everywhere," my father questioned.

"I'm not sure, but she should be fine. She probably just needs to sleep it off." 

"Thank you, Alpha Obsidian." 

He nodded silently as my father carefully took me, "Ophelia, honey, do you mind dismissing the party early? And have the guards search for more humans."

My mother nodded before placing a kiss on my forehead, "I'm going to grab some Advil, she'll probably have a headache when she wakes up."

"I'll help seek out any hunters, I'll also take care of getting answers from the one we have now," Obsidian spoke.

My father nodded, "Of course." 

I watched Obsidian's blurred form walk away before my vision went completely black.