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Celine found a seat some distance away from where their mates sat. She was smiling as she pulled her seat closer to Layla.

The chair was pretty comfortable and the table was covered in white embroidered sheets. Fancy wine glasses lay on top of it with an unopened bottle of wine.

"Would you like a drink?" Celine asked.

"Is it alcoholic?" She asked, trying to stare at the bottle.

"Let me see." She picked it up and stared hard at it. "Yes, about eighteen percent. Is that too strong?"

"Not that," she said. "I can't drink it."

"Wait," Celine called with wide eyes. "Are you pregnant?"

Layla nodded. She wanted to be suspicious but Celine was also a Mafia King's mate and to be honest, she was dying for someone she could speak to that would understand.

"Oh my goodness!" Her eyes looked ready to pop. "How far along are you?"

"A little over five weeks."

"I'm four weeks pregnant!" She yelled.

"You're serious!" Layla cried in disbelief.

"I am," she said, nodding her head. "I can't believe it. We have to be friends for sure."

"I can’t believe it too. Congratulations.”

Celine chuckled. “Congratulations to you too.”

She smiled back. “How did you meet Alpha Asher?"

"He bought me," she said with a shrug.

"What?" She brought her voice down to a whisper. "Like human trafficking?"

"You could say that. I was kidnapped to be sold off and he bought me."

"You sound quite happy about it."

"You sound concerned," she chuckled.

"I just want to know you're not held against your will."

"You're so nice," she said with a small giggle. "No, not in the slightest." She turned to look at Asher sitting at the table with the other Mafia Kings. "I know he is a Mafia King but I love him with all my heart."

"Me too," she replied.

"Also, describing our meeting like that sounds awful but I'm glad he was the one who bought me, unlike…"

"Alpha Nolan? I heard he tried to kidnap you."

"He did!" She said in horror. "Why do you sound like he also tried something with you?"

"He held us hostage at the hospital and made us come to the party. Alpha Davian wanted no part of it."

"Asher too but I thought it would be good for Reef City. I am glad I convinced him. I didn't even know Alpha Davian got a mate. So, how did you two meet?"

Layla blushed suddenly. There was no way to talk about their meeting without explaining her circumstances. She was worried Celine might judge her for being poor.

"I worked in his mansion as a maid and ran into him during his rut!"

"What?!" Celine yelled in horror. "Is that how you got pregnant?"

"Yeah."

"Oh my," she gently placed her hand on Layla's. "What happened after?"

"I ran away and he practically chased me down and now I'm in love with him."

She palmed her face, realizing her story wasn't any better than Celine's. But there was no question about whether she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him or not.

"I understand," Celine replied, nodding.

She chuckled and was about to speak when her phone went off. "My friend is here," she said.

"Friend?" Celine asked with wide eyes.

"Yes. Our relationship is strange. I was able to run away from Alpha Davian because of her."

"Oh."

"She is at the entrance, do you mind if she joins us?"

"What? No! I don't have any friends in Reef City. I'll welcome anybody."

Layla laughed. She didn't know what she had been expecting from Celine but she was much friendlier than she expected and nice too.

"Wanna come with me to go get her?"

"Let's go," she said and jumped to her feet.

The two women made their way towards the entrance. Thankfully, Rosa was not hard to spot with her blue hair.

"There she is."

"Blue hair?" Layla asked.

"Yes. Rosa!" She softly called and gave a little wave.

Rosa looked relieved when she saw Layla and rushed towards them.

"You look so beautiful." She said and gave Layla air kisses.

"Thank you," she replied and then turned to Celine. "This is Celine. Celine, this is my friend Rosa."

"Celine?" She said with wide eyes. "Alpha Asher's mate?"

"You've heard of me?" Her tone held amusement.

"Of course. It would be criminal for me to work in one of Alpha Asher's clubs and not have heard of his mate."

"You work in his club?"

"Yeah. The one not too far from here."

"Wait a minute," Celine said with delight. "I might have been there."

"Really. Well, next time you stop by, ask for Rosa," she winked.

"I will," she giggled excitedly.

"Should we go sit?" Layla offered.

She didn't mind standing but they were drawing attention and she would rather not stand out. She was really glad she didn't have to attend the party alone. With Davian busy, she would have been so alone.

"Let's go."

The women sat together and Celine waved for the waiters to bring them non-alcoholic wine.

"Wait, both of you are pregnant?" Rosa squealed as she poured out the wine.

The two women nodded, looking from one to the other. "I was shocked," Layla said.

"Not as shocked as I was. I didn't even know you existed until tonight."

"Congratulations," Rosa said and lifted her cup. The two women repeated her gesture and took a sip of their wine.

"What about you, Rosa?" Celine said after a while. "Any…" she cleared her throat and wiggled her eyebrows.

"I was curious about that too," Layla said with a small smile.

"I'm not dating. If that's what you're asking."

"You don't want to?" Layla asked.

"I'm just busy with work. The club takes most of my time. Never really thought much about dating."

"What if she dated Alpha Nolan? I don't think he is seeing anyone."

"Ah! How dare you suggest someone like Alpha Nolan to my nice friend? No!" She said and made an X with her hands. "Run Rosa."

"I was joking," Celine said with a smile.

"It's the wine," Layla said.

"It's not even alcoholic," Celine cried.

The three women giggled and chatted some more, making more plans to meet up.

"I need to use the restroom," Layla suddenly said.

"Do you need me to come with you?" Rosa asked.

"No, I'll be quick. Must be all the wine I have been drinking."

"Alright," Celine replied and waved her off.

Layla found a servant to direct her towards the bathroom. It was in the far corner and she was completely hidden from the party.

She walked into the room that had ‘women’ written over the door and opened the second stall. She took care of her business pretty quickly and stepped out to wash her hands.

From the mirror, out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the first stall open. It had been locked which was why she didn't go into that one.

However, the person that stepped out was strange and just as she turned around to get a better look, she felt a sharp pain.

She tried to grab hold of something, anything as she fell but she couldn't even scream. Everything went black.