18. Party People

Chapter eighteen

Party People

*AURELIA*

M y friends love Arden, and while I know it's enough that I want him and accept him as my mate, just like he wants me and accepts me as his, I'm so happy they are happy for me.

He and Eric leave us after dinner so we can go to a club, but only accompanied by what feels like ten guards. Eric is not letting his princess go anywhere without proper protection. Once both of them drop us off at the club and head home, and our bodyguards have subtly positioned themselves around the club, Marilou, Tori, and Jazz press for details.

"Goddess," Marilou squeals. "Your Arden is a catch!"

"Hey." Terry pouts, making Marilou laugh. She leans back against his chest.

"Don't worry, he isn't for me." She giggles. "I like my guys with curly hair and for them to be good dancers."

Terry has his arms around her, swaying with her. "I'm glad I'm safe, then."

"Did you already…" Tori wiggles her brows.

"I was about to ask the same." Jazz laughs. "And then, I need spicy details from Val and her prince."

"Oh Goddess," Nox groans. "I'm going to fetch us drinks."

"Don't leave me alone," Lion mutters, but Nox just grins at him and shuffles away.

"So?" Tori eyes me.

"Not yet," I answer. "But it was close today during our lunch break."

"He is head over heels for you." Val beams. "I'm so happy. He is a great guy."

"How are things with Eric?" Jazz wants to know.

"Amazing." Val smiles happily. "I didn't expect to like it here as much as I do, and Eric is"—she wiggles her brows in a very un-Val-like manner—"a god."

Marilou and I laugh at her words.

"He has amazing stamina," she says.

"So, not only does he carry you in his arms." Jazz grins. "He is also the bomb in bed."

"I'm so envious." Tori sighs.

"Goddess," Lion groans. "I'm going to check on Nox."

Once he is away, Jazz pulls Tori and Marilou onto the dance floor, Terry following them to dance with Marilou. Val and I stay behind to wait for the two boys and the drinks.

"Listen, Aurelia." Val uses the moment of privacy to take my hand. "Arden is truly amazing. I know some say he comes off as dry and unemotional, but that couldn't be further from the truth."

"Don't worry, Val." I try not to smile like a love-sick pup, but it's difficult not to. "I know, and I think he is amazing. I can't wait to introduce him to my family."

"Eric is going to miss him," Val says.

"I hope I'm not going to uproot him, and force him to come with me to Silverlake," I say. Arden did say that he wants to come with me, but it still feels like he doesn't have much of a choice.

"Now it's you, who is worrying too much," Val chides me. "Arden is the type of person you can truly take at their word. He doesn't feel at home here. He loves the council but not his pack. I think he has never truly felt at home anywhere, and I hope that Silverlake can be the place for him."

"I will make sure that he feels at home," I promise. "You know it's funny," I say while I watch my friends dancing with Marilou snuggled against Terry. "I never truly had an imagination about my mate, and sometimes, I was wishing for someone from my pack to happen to be my mate, someone I know, but now that I have met Arden, I wonder how I could ever not imagine him." I pause. "Sorry, that's confusing."

"No, it's not," Val says. "I know what you mean. I didn't have a vivid imagination about my mate either, but once Eric arrived, I wondered how I was never thinking about someone like him as my mate, because he is perfect."

"You said others call Arden's character dry, but to me, it looks like he is just communicating directly and thinks about things rationally," I say. "He also shows emotions yet keeps the bigger image in mind. I'm similar in that. He is just more logical in his thinking, while I'm more the type to head into action."

"Like any alpha." Val giggles. "I think he will be a fantastic addition to you."

"And he is hot," I add with a grin.

Val laughs. "He is."

"Don't let Eric hear that," I tease.

Val just grins. "Oh, Eric would probably agree."

"I'm really glad you are happy here," I say. "You look great."

"You too," Val tells me. "When we heard the news that Alpha Elden announced you as the new heir to Silverlake, I was so happy. You worked hard for this, and you will be amazing. And Arden will be a great help."

"Silverlake is a huge pack, and while I have the support of my brothers and their packs, I can't always rely on them," I say. "I'm relieved the Goddess mated me to someone with Arden's intelligence."

"Strategy and planning are his forte," Val agrees. "His brain is amazing."

"I told him I have a past with Lion, and he easily accepted it," I say. I'm not ashamed of my history, and I'm not sure how I would have reacted if he had shamed me for it, but I'm happy he accepts me the way I am.

"Did you accept his?" Val asks.

"Of course. He told me he broke up with his ex, only a few days before I arrived," I say.

"He has been interested in girls, and he was very respectful to his last girlfriend, but he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you!" Val rubs her cheeks in joy. "I can't believe he found the guts to stand up against his toxic father just because of you. That's so romantic!"

"Now you sound like Marilou and Tori," I tease.

"They aren't wrong, though."

I nod while gazing at the dance floor, watching Tori and Marilou dance with each other. Tori gazes into the crowd like she is searching for something but soon focuses back on Marilou. Both of them look incredible tonight. Tori, who usually wears rather cute designs, is wearing a tight black top, and Marilou went for something a tad bit revealing, too.

"I wonder if Arden knows how amazing it was that he stood against his father's alpha command," I say, as my thoughts take me back to my mate. "It was incredible."

"I doubt he sees it that way," Val chuckles. "I hope you will kick some modesty out of him. He is so humble, it's enraging sometimes."

"It adds to his charm," I say, thinking of the way Arden treats those around him. He never makes anyone look stupid, although, he easily is the smartest one in the room, probably in any room.

"So… his dad really commanded him?"

"Yes." I nod. "And he broke out of the command. I know how difficult that is. Dad practiced it with Liam when he trained him to become alpha, and he also started to practice it with me. And you know, I have a loving family and lots of support. It's easier to put up mental blockades against a command if you are content and happy in your life. But, Arden managed to do it despite his difficult upbringing."

"Make sure to tell him that." Val giggles. "He will be so embarrassed, but he needs to hear it."

"Count on me." I chuckle.

Tori chooses this moment to approach us and tug us onto the dance floor. "What are you two doing?" she asks. "Chatting and watching us youngsters like two old ladies."

"She is right. You are only young once." Jazz laughs. She stepped out for a few minutes to call her mate and chat with her but is now back with full force.

Tori is clinging to me, and I make sure to dance with her. Eventually, the guys return with the drinks. Nox makes sure the drinks keep coming. I know him; he is just relieved he has something to do. Partying was never something he enjoyed. It's more Tori, Jazz, and my thing, though this time Tori seems a bit too eager to party. Maybe it's because we are in Europe and away from home and our parents, but she is celebrating hard.

At one point, Jazz and I take it upon ourselves to gently tug her drink out of her hands, making sure that Nox stops providing us with more alcohol. Fortunately, the others are too distracted to notice anything.

"I'm not feeling well," Tori slurs into my ear. She has her head buried in my neck and is swaying slightly, but not to the music.

"Let's take a step outside," I tell her, carefully taking her arm. On the other side, Jazz supports her.

"Everything alright?" Nox whispers towards us.

"We are just going to get some fresh air," I say.

He glances at Tori and nods. His question seems to have alerted Lion, as well. "Did something happen?" he asks in worry.

I can feel Tori's hands clenching around me, and I'm scared she is starting to feel sick for real. I don't want her to be embarrassed by anyone noticing, so I shake my head. "Nothing," I say. "Just a circulatory problem."

With that, Jazz and I manage to find our way outside. Lion follows us for a couple of steps, but when he meets my gaze, he sighs slightly and falls back. Nox doesn't follow us, but one of the bodyguards not so subtly steps outside.

It's freezing cold which helps Tori to sober up slightly. Another good thing about our wolf genes: getting so drunk that we pass out is hard.

"Don't worry about me," Tori breathes out while taking short breaths. "I'm okay. Just a bit sick."

"You don't look okay," Jazz says, helping her sit down. "I'm gonna go get some water for you, or better, some cold Coke."

"Shit," Tori curses when Jazz has dashed off. "When was the last time that happened?"

"When we were sixteen and snuck out to party," I tell her. "I climbed through my window."

Tori snorts. "We got so busted."

"I had the hangover of the century." I laugh. "Dad was so pissed. Luckily for me, Marius and Finn chose that night to fuck up even worse. That's the good thing about having so many siblings. Someone is always in more trouble than you are."

Tori chuckles, her laugh turning into a cough, though. "Don't make me laugh, or I will throw up."

I want to ask her why she was drinking so much tonight, but I don't want to humiliate her or ask something she is uncomfortable with. When Jazz returns with some cold Coke, we make sure Tori takes a few sips.

I'm holding her hand while Jazz holds the can. Eventually, I see the color returning to her face.

"No more drinks or tonight," she mutters. "I'm done."

"Do you want to go back inside?" Jazz asks.

"No," Tori shakes her head. "I actually just want to go home."

"Let me gather the others," Jazz says.

"No!" Tori exclaims a bit too harshly.

Jazz blinks at her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, but they are still enjoying the night. And… and Terry and Marilou are anxious about Marilou turning eighteen in a couple of days. I want Terry to enjoy his time."

I squeeze her hand. "Maybe they are mates."

"Maybe," Tori says. "Maybe not. The Goddess is weird sometimes."

She is not wrong, though it feels weird for Tori, the ever so romantic living-in-the-moment type of girl, to say it.

"I will take you home," I say.

"Then, you will miss the rest of the party," Tori says.

"I don't mind," I reassure her. "Arden promised he'd wait for me, and it's already past midnight. I don't mind heading home early. Actually, you would give me the perfect excuse."

Tori looks at me in relief. It's all the answer I need, so, I make sure to talk to our bodyguard. Jazz alerts Val without anyone noticing, and she meets us outside. She discusses further with the bodyguard in French, which amazes me to no end. She has learned French so fast and with such dedication.

"He will leave with you," she tells me. "The other guards will stay here with us. Jazz and I will keep an eye on everyone." She hugs Tori and me before heading back inside.

Tori and I climb into the car the bodyguard has organized and travel home. "You really don't mind?" Tori asks.

"Not at all. I actually only wanted to stay another hour maximum," I assure her.

"To imagine you were the girl who used to stay until the end of the party." She chuckles.

"So were you," I tease right back.

Tori's smile falters. "Yes," she says.

"Is something wrong?" I ask her, remembering when we picked dresses for the winter solstice. Tori is my oldest friend, my first friend. We were already friends as babies. "You know you can talk to me, Tori, right?"

"I think I like someone," she says.

"Wait… what!?"

"But I'm not sure if it's leading anywhere, and I don't think the feelings are mutual," she mutters, resting her head against my shoulder. I try to ask her some more, but she doesn't answer. I let it rest eventually, hoping that when she is ready, she will tell me more.

When we arrive at the Council, I take Tori to her room, making sure to wait for her to shower and crawl into her bed. She is asleep the moment her head hits the pillow. I brush her hair, gazing at her in worry. "It's going to be alright," I mutter.

Once I'm sure she is deeply asleep, I make my way to Arden's room, noticing that it's empty. Judging by the untouched bed, it looks like he didn't return to it. I wonder what he is up to. A part of me clenches in worry at the thought of something having happened to him.

I can sense him, Maxima reassures me.

I allow her to lead the way, and soon, his scent fills my nostrils, and I step into his office. He is still working? To my surprise, he is sitting on the ground with folders of all the possible victims around him. On the whiteboard, he has pinned Meg's picture. I also notice he has started with the geographical profile, pinpointing the orphanage Meg lived at and where she was last seen.

Arden hasn't even noticed me yet; he just keeps looking at Meg's picture while sometimes shuffling around some of the others. He closes some of the folders and puts them away and instead pulls others out.

I wonder what he sees when he looks at this data, when he looks at the pictures. He doesn't even blink once. What kind of connection is his brain making?