Page 24 of Their Promise

The song ended and Mason stopped, staring down at me. “Lily, I know we messed up. I know we hurt you. I’m sorry. Will you go with me somewhere tomorrow?”

Was he asking me on a date? Or was he going to show me something? “What time?” I asked.

“My turn to dance with the beautiful princess,” Luca said, grabbed my hand, and pulled me away from Mason.

Mason growled and took a step towards us, but Trey put a hand on Mason’s chest and shook his head.

Luca smiled at me as we danced, completely oblivious to the danger he was in with that stunt. “It’s rare now to find women who have been trained with classical dances. I don’t often get to show my skills.” He spun me in a circle so fast I got dizzy for a second, then slid his arm around my back to pull me close. “So, Princess, I spoke with your mother and requested a chance to court you.”

“Oh, uh, that’s quite a compliment,” I said and laughed awkwardly. “I didn’t think you were the type of guy to settle down.”

He spun me again, but I was prepared this time so I didn’t trip or get dizzy. Bending down, he whispered in my ear, “For the right woman, I’ll do almost anything. Even stop my playboy ways.”

Why did that sound like a lie?

“Mind if I cut in?” Kayden asked and pulled me by the waist away from Luca.

“Um, I do mind, actually,” Luca said and tried to follow us, but Trey stepped in front of Luca, introducing himself and stopping him.

“Happy birthday,” Kayden said. His thumb rubbed my side where it rested on my hip.

“Thank you for making an appearance,” I replied. “I know you hate dressing up.”

“Mason grumbled the entire way here.” He laughed and shook his head.

The song ended and he bent close to whisper in my ear, “A gift is on your bed.” His lips pressed gently against my cheek before he turned and walked away, leaving me hot and breathing uneven.

“Time for cake,” Maya said and looped her arm through mine as she pulled me towards a huge cake on a table at the end of the room. Leaning close, she whispered, “The trio were looking at you much differently than when we were kids. And that other alpha was definitely interested as well.”

“I’m definitely not interested in him,” I said, ignoring her comment about the trio.

The DJ made the announcement that we were cutting the cake and everyone turned to watch as I walked up and took the knife from Mom.

“Not a word,” I said out of the side of my mouth to her when I saw her smirk.

“I’ve got a list of ten names already,” she said, “and it’s only been two hours.”

“I don’t want to know right now, let’s discuss that tomorrow,” I said and shook my head.

“Look this way!” a photographer said and began snapping pictures of Mom and I as I cut the cake.

The rest of the night was spent dancing with family and a few guys I had never met before that I highly suspected were invited by my grandparents and great grandparents.

I stepped outside for some fresh air and gasped as a pair of gloved hands grabbed me around the face. Spinning in the hold,I pushed the attacker away as hard as I could, causing them to fly into the wall.

It was a man I’d never seen before with a huge scar down his face and a pair of black gloves on his hands.

“Who are you and what do you want?” I demanded, arms up in preparation to fight.

He didn’t respond, just snarled, shifted into a werewolf warrior form, and attacked me again. His claws cut through the tips of his gloves and scratched my face, causing little rivulets of blood to drip down my cheek.

“Lily!” Maya screamed and ran outside, calling her fire to coat her hands as she started attacking the man, keeping him away from me.

Her scream had alerted those inside and Mason and Kayden immediately ran outside.

The man jumped over the railing as soon as he saw them, fleeing.

“Go!” Trey snapped at Mason and Kayden. Both jumped over the railing and followed after the attacker. Trey set his hands on my shoulders, looking at my scratched face. “Are you alright?”

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