CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY TWO

CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTY TWO

VIVIAN'S POV

I was still shocked that I was even invited to a party like this. My hate for Mark wasn't something that was hidden. After all, he was the reason why Derek and I got separated. But I was mostly there for the drama. And the drama alone.

I was putting on a dark blue dress, in contrast to the red dress that Alpha Logan had selected for me. I could see the frown on his face as I walked downstairs. I wanted to bring Miles with me, but I didn't trust the guests around him. Or whatever drama and trick Logan might pull in the long run.

“Are you sure Derek won't be brought here?” I asked Amelia as we both stood at the bar, pretending to get drinks.

She nodded, taking g a swig of the water that was in front of her. “Alpha Logan might be angry, but he did tell me that he didn't want any kind of nuisance at his son's mourning party. I looked around, trying to see what made the whole thing a morning party. There was barely even one picture of Mark in the whole setting.

“You did a good job though,” I whispered to Amelia, taking note of all the decor. She nodded.

“I made sure that there wasn't even one picture of the man that I killed around. I couldn't take any of that.”

I nodded, raising a glass in her direction. She did a great job at avoiding that one. I looked around the hall, until my eyes settled on Enzo. He gave me a small and almost unnoticeable tip of his hat.

“Ah, if it isn't Vivian,” Alpha Kyle said, with Alpha Logan right beside him. The way he had switched on his fake best friend mode was something I had to study. He gave me a small wink when Alpha Logan wasn't looking.

“Alpha…” I said, pretending to forget his name.

“Kyle,” Logan completed for him. “How could you forget the name of someone so important? Do you want me chasing you out of the party?”

I made no move to defend myself, and Alpha Kyle held his hand in the air. “That's enough, Logan. It happens. She's a busy girl anyway.”

Alpha Logan murmured something but as long as I didn't hear it, I didn't want to ask. I turned, and Amelia had left my side.

“I'll be right back,” Alpha Kyle said, leaving Alpha Logan and I alone. He grabbed my hand immediately, pulling me to another side.

“Didn't you see the dress I sent you?” He asked, with his face turning red.

I feigned surprise. “You sent that?” I asked, and he frowned. “I saw a note that was pretty much commanding. I didn't know that was how you sounded.”

He narrowed his eyes at me. “Now you know that I'm the one that sent it. Go upstairs and change. Wear the dress, and come downstairs.”

At the back of my head, I was thanking the heavens that I didn't wear the dress. There was definitely something going on. “Did you put something on the dress? Why are you urging me to wear it so much?” I asked, and he pressed his lips into a thin line. His hold on my hand increased even more.

“You're hurting me,” I cried out, and he suddenly let go.

“You are dressed too poorly. You are standing out too much. I don't want people asking me who you are. I would be too ashamed to introduce you as Derek's wife.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “I am not his wife. The last time I checked, he got mated to Anna after me. That cancels me out of the picture right? Your son is very much single.”

I knew that he was trying to make everything perfect for Derek this time. Mark, his favorite child was gone. The way he even forgot about him, barely grieving, was shocking.

“Alpha Logan,” someone called out, and he stuffed his hand into his pocket like he was having the nicest conversation with me in the world.

“How are you?” He asked the strange man.

“I'm fine. The party is nice and of course, I'm sorry for your loss.” Alpha Logan managed to nod in response. That didn't stop the man from speaking. “Where is Alpha Derek? Nobody has seen him around.”

“Derek had gone for a meeting right outside the pack,” Alpha Logan lied so effortlessly. I was forced to open my mouth in shock. “He will be back soon. He hasn't even heard that his brother is…dead just yet.”

I wanted to laugh. According to Amelia, Derek was there when Mark dropped dead on the floor. So what was the need of lying?

“Ah,” the man said, smiling. “Your kids have always worked so hard to make the packs work. It is sad that Mark had to go.”

If I wasn't seeing it wrong, the man was just rubbing salt into Alpha Logan's wounds. I couldn't wait to even experience or find out how many more people were posing as friends. But even I had better things to do. Someone finally called out to Alpha Logan, and he walked away from me, allowing me to finally breathe.

I looked back at the place where Enzo was standing before. He was no longer there, but I managed to see Ricardo. He barely even acknowledged me, but I could tell that he was up to some serious business. I watched as he went to the other bar, and ordered a whiskey. No one was paying attention to him. Of course, no one was looking at him. Except me, Amelia and Kyle on the other side of the room. Within a second, he had dripped something into the drink. I didn't know what he put, bit I just wanted it to work.

He handed the glass over to the waiter, slipping a little tip on the tray. The waiter spru g into action immediately. I used my eyes to follow him, watching who he was going to give the glass of wine to. I didn't know who Enzo was going to go for first.

The waiter finally stopped right in front of Vincenzo. Logan's right hand man when it came to pack defence, information m, and protection. I watched, narrowing my eyes as the man took a swig of the drink immediately. The waiter nodded, and smiled as he walked away, winking at Ricardo.

Enzo was at the other side of the bar as well, watching. We were all anticipating for the main drama. Vincenzo swayed a bit, and I watched his lips as his words seemed to slur. Of course, it was going to be a slower effect. I tuned everything out, paying attention to the man. If this was going to be a slow effect, then it was going to have to be effective.

Slowly but surely, his hands flew to his chest. He couldn't breathe, and I could feel a small smile creep to my face.

“Vincenzo,” one of the women beside him called out softly. “What's wrong? Are you okay? Talk to me.”

Vincenzo tried replying the woman, but no words came out of his mouth. I watched him as he slowly collapsed to the ground, and foman spilled from his mouth. Alpha Logan and Alpha Kyle rushed to him as well, while the other people at the party looked on.

“Get up, Vicenzo,” Alpha Logan screamed, and Vincenzo let out a last breath that was loud enough for me to hear.

One man down. Four men left.