Page 96 of Pack Rivals, Part One

I snap her hand from my arm and grip her elbow, pulling her towards me. "What do you mean by that, Melody?"

The smile remains on her perfectly made-up lips. "Word has it she's just a game, a game between your pack and Pack Boston. Everyone's saying that once the first pack's rutted and knotted her, the game will be over and she'll be cast aside like the piece of trash she is."

I always knew this woman was a bitch. Underneath all the feigned sweetness and practiced manners, her heart always seemed cold. I never knew she was so vindictive and bitter though.

"Not true, Melody." I drop her arm, letting her fall back in her chair. "But you know what is? This. You're running out of time. Your looks are fading and people are beginning to see the real you. Better find your pack soon, better mate them quick, or you're going to end up all alone."

She opens her mouth to snap back at me, but I turn around and stroll back onto the dance floor.

I scan through the people, searching for Bea.

She's gone.

21

Bea

God,all the times I dreamed of slow dancing with Connor Doyle. All the times I lay in my bed dreaming of just that; imagining him crossing the room to ask me; imagining him taking my hand in his; imagining him spinning me around to face him; curling his arm around my waist and pulling me close.

A silly school-girl crush and yet moments ago I was living out that fantasy.

My life has been a whirlwind, a crazy dream since the day of my wedding, since I rocked up in the city. But everything I've been through, all the topsy-turvy discoveries, have been nothing, nothing at all, to that dance. Because that had to be a dream, right?

I didn't really dance with Connor Doyle. He didn't really hold me.

It wasn't real.

And yet his scent lingers on my skin and in my hair. It is the same as it was back then. All smoky wood. I could smell it all those years ago. Clear as day and mouth-watering to my senses. It should have been a clue I guess. I should have known.

Would things have ended up differently if Connor Doyle had noticed me like I'd noticed him?

The quiet, beautiful boy who sat on his own in the cafeteria, reading his books, occasionally glancing around with those dazzlingly dark blue eyes of his.

Could things be different now?

I don't think so, because he's gone, stolen away by a more beautiful omega.

And I'm alone.

Is that always how it's destined to go down?

I sigh and tap my hands against my thighs.

Now what?

It felt strange arriving at the dinner dance as a guest and not as a waitress. It feels even stranger wearing a dress which costs more money than I can wrap my head around.

Not that I'm complaining. It feels divine against my skin and the alphas accompanying me tonight haven't been able to keep those mesmerizing eyes of theirs off me. In fact, everyone has been looking and staring my way. But with Axel's arm around my waist, guiding me through the ballroom, I hadn't felt awkward or afraid.

I felt like a princess. I felt like a goddess. I felt exactly how I expected to feel on my wedding day – before everything went to shit.

Now, I feel alone and awkward.

I glance around seeing if I can find Nate or Axel. Even Ellie. I catch several alphas' eyes plus the hard stares of omegas. And then I catch a pair I know.

Angel.

He comes striding toward me, pushing people to the side and then he's towering in front of me.

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