When James snapped to his senses, he saw Cornelia's warm brown eyes directed at him, silently sending him messages he didn't understand, but he knew that she was telling him they were in this together.
Alpha Edward was right there, behind him, exchanging shallow pleasantries with Meg and Kai.
Damon, Talia, Maya, and Caden were on the dancefloor, and James wondered if his father had waited for people from the Dark Howlers pack to leave their table before coming there. Alpha Edward and Alpha Damon never got along well, and things worsened after the Marcy fiasco.
Normally, James could smell Alpha Edward from a mile away, but when James was with Cornelia, everything faded because her sweet scent of wild berries would overtake his system. Like now.
James turned robotically toward Alpha Edward and forced a smile while getting up. Sitting in front of a standing Alpha was a sign of disrespect.
"Father," James called. "This is Miss Cornelia Silverflame, special advisor to Alpha Natalia Moonrider from the Midnight Guardians pack." He turned to Cornelia. "Miss Cornelia, this is my father, Alpha Edward from the Red Moon pack."
With a stoic expression, Cornelia raised her hand toward Alpha Edward with her fingers curling slightly. She saw that in movies. That was how people greeted royal females; in this setting, she was definitely a royal.
Alpha Edward stared at Cornelia's hand, needing a moment to process the situation. Why was she still sitting? And did she expect him to kiss her hand? Did she treat him like he was inferior? He was an Alpha, for crying out loud!
But Cornelia had a special status, and he couldn't risk offending her. Meg and Kai were observing this interaction, and there were too many witnesses.
Alpha Edward held Cornelia's hand and moved to kiss the back of her palm with, "It's a pleasure, Miss Cornelia."
Cornelia's lips lifted into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Oh, trust me, Alpha Edward, the pleasure is mine."
As Alpha Edward bowed to kiss her hand, Cornelia noticed a female behind him.
"And this is?" She asked.
Alpha Edward straightened his posture and stepped to the side while gesturing. "This is my mate, Luna Layla."
Cornelia nodded at Luna Layla, not bothering with pleasantries. She heard how Alpha Edward was harsh toward James; any mistake would result in physical punishments, and that woman who called herself James' mother would just stand there and let it happen. James said he doubted that Alpha Edward was his father, but considering how cold Luna Layla was, Cornelia wondered if that woman was James' mother.
Alpha Edward opened his mouth to say something, but he paused when Cornelia stood up.
"I heard a lot about you, Alpha Edward."
He smiled and leaned toward Cornelia. "Good things, I hope."
James gritted his teeth while suppressing the growl that bubbled in his chest.
James knew very well that sleazy smile and how his father would approach little by little, not making it evident that he was flirting until it was too late. By the time female in question realized what was going on, she was forced to accept his advances or to cause a ruckus by refusing an Alpha. No one dared to offend the Alpha of the second largest pack in North America, and then there were those who foolishly thought that they would get some benefits by giving in.
Cornelia tilted her head and didn't respond to Alpha Edward's comment. Instead, she turned to James. "Is your offer for dancing still valid, or does your parents' appearance change that?"
"Still valid," James responded right away.
Cornelia hooked her hand with James' and said to Alpha Edward. "I would love to stay and chat, but my partner asked me for a dance, and it wouldn't be polite to let him wait."
Alpha Edward's smile fell, and he stared at James, silently asking him for an explanation.
"Father, mother," James said while nodding at them. "If you excuse us."
Alpha Edward's face darkened at the sight of James leading Cornelia away.
'What is the meaning of this?' Alpha Edward's voice boomed in James' mind. 'I told you to introduce us and not take her away! And to think that I had to come to her!' Instead of the other way around.
'I asked her to dance before you came,' James responded coolly. 'Did you expect me to go back on my word? I would advise you to avoid Miss Cornelia and let me handle this. Her opinion of our pack is not very good.'
Alpha Edward could smell bullshit from a mile away. 'Not good? She is friendly with you.'
'That's because I prevented her from embarrassment during the ceremony. Didn't you tell me to stick to her and leave a good impression? I am doing my best to turn her gratitude into something more. As a special advisor to Alpha Natalia, Miss Cornelia can open the door of the Midnight Guardians pack for us. Or would you rather I approach those three females you assigned to me in advance? Will you handle the pack that never wanted anything to do with us while I already have a foot through the door?'
After a few seconds of silence, Alpha Edward responded, 'Stay with Miss Cornelia. Make us look good.'
'That's what I'm doing, father. Instead of jeopardizing my progress, I recommend you keep an eye on Nora. If she ends up in a dungeon again, I'm not going to be the one lowering myself so that she can be freed.'
Alpha Edward grumbled something, but James didn't care about it anymore.
James was fuming when his father approached them, and he had no idea how to get Cornelia away from Alpha Edward, but then Cornelia stepped up and humiliated the old guy. Did Alpha Edward realize that Cornelia looked down on him, and he let it happen? What kind of an Alpha would allow for such a scene to happen? His chocolate-colored Goddess is awesome!
James couldn't enjoy the show fully because now his father knew who Cornelia was. More than her looks, he also got her scent. If Alpha Edward gets a whiff of Cornelia's presence at the Red Moon pack, things will turn sour quickly.
James was spending his nights with Cornelia, and if Alpha Edward could pick up her scent on him, he would think that it was any woman, but now... James will need to shower well after leaving Cornelia's side. Maybe he should get a different shower gel.
They were on the dancefloor now, and James and Cornelia turned to each other.
"I hope you can focus on me now. Others won't disturb us.", Cornelia said.
James agreed with this. He had no idea how tonight would end or the next three, but he knew that right then and there he was with Cornelia, and staying away from her was impossible.
"Put your hands on my shoulders."
Cornelia did as he asked, his hands landed low on her waist, and they started to sway to the music.
They didn't do more than one step left and right, but it was still wonderful because James' hands were on her, and they were close, in the middle of the people who danced, yet it seemed like they were alone. Finally.
