Big Bad Alphas

    "I brought your dress," Caroline tells me as she comes through the bedroom door with many things piled in her arms. I quickly grab some before items go tumbling to the floor.

   "What's all this?" I ask.

   "I thought we could get ready together, you know since this entire party was our idea," Caroline explains and lifts up the dress for me to see. "Don't you love it?"

   The dress is entirely black with an off the shoulder neckline and thick straps. It hugs my body all the way down, exposing every dip and curve with a small, elegant flare at the bottom. Gazing in the mirror, I call to Caroline from the bathroom. "It is very exposing on the top."

   "Not too much," she calls back. "Come out; I want to see!"

   "Is Eric there?"

   "No, now hurry up!"

   I hesitantly twist the door handle and push it open. Caroline glances at me and cheers. "I knew it would look fantastic on you!"

   "I don't know; it is a little too much."

   "Too much?" She gapes, "you look like you're the queen of the world."

   "Okay, only because I don't want to change and have to make another decision. What are you wearing?"

   "A white dress, it's appropriate and what not," she waves me off. "Want me to do your hair?"

   I pick up a strand and shrug. "I was just going to keep it down."

   "Okay, at least let me curl the ends some more or give it more volume on top," she suggests, and I give up, letting her do as she pleases. It is not like this night is about me, it is about Eric's father and Olivia finding her mate, that is all that matters.

   Once the both of us are finished, we head to the ballroom to make sure everything is in place. Caroline yells at a few people, and I trail behind her, enjoying all her hard work. She truly transformed the room into something work celebrating in. "I told you that the desert table goes after the hot appetizers," she dramatically throws her hands up in the air. "People are going to start arriving any minute!"

   She pulls me towards the entrance. "Okay, we're going to happily greet people as they come in."

   I nod, following her orders so I do not get scolded also. She fixes my hair then straightens her dress. "You know, I'm not very good with strangers," I admit, feeling my anxiety rise in my stomach.

  "It's okay, worst comes to worst, just stand there and look inviting—well the cleavage kinda does that already," she jokes, and I blush, quickly covering my chest.

   "You said it wasn't that bad!"

He is a Beta, and she takes care of

her quietly, and she

through a back door,

nod and venture out into the crowd. Everyone looks so lovely, and I find myself walking slower to admire the fantastic dresses many of the women have on. They all look classy and elegant while I feel like a bimbo with my cleavage out, but maybe Caroline

   "Isabella?"

seeing him in a suit in making me all hot and bothered. While smiling, I hurry over. "I was looking for you," I tell him and he excuses us

to the side. "Your dress, it's very—revealing," he says to me, and I curse at

it! Caroline told me it was okay, and I knew it was too much, but

and I slap his shoulder. "Sorry, it's just terribly distracting,

   With red cheeks, I struggle.

"Well, can you

the dress and try to shimmy it up further. "Help me," I

   "Isabella? Is that you?" A strangely familiar voice

I almost have a minor heart attack. It cannot be. "Talia?" I question with wide

A giant smile overcomes her face, and she rushes over, dragging a man with her. "I

for Eric's hand, and when I find it, I squeeze

looks rather miserable, but Talia attention is stuck on Eric. "Alpha Tate," she breathes out. "You

sighs then smiles charmingly. "Why, yes I

  "How

  My eyes narrow in on her. "Who's this?" I ask, motioning

in command for Alpha Richards," she explains. "We meant two years

"Actually," Eric begins, but I cut

"I'll be waiting, though." Eric peers down at me, and

  Talia smiles a wicked smile, something fake, and I tug Eric away and around

to tell her we're mates?" Eric asks

   "No, you're not something to make her jealous, I care about you enough

and grabs ahold of me again. Just as I notice the dress starting to cover more, a gut-wrenching tearing noise blares in

"It's ripped," he mutters and let's go. "You have to put on something else; the tear

head back. "I told Caroline that

you," Eric says. "We can go back to Carolines and find something

shake my head. "You don't have to come

back to Carolines. Crickets chirp in the distance and Eric surprisingly links his arm with mine, as if he is escorting me somewhere. I look up at him, and he shrugs. "Did you see your dad?" I ask, wondering

mother is pulling him around to thank everyone for coming," Eric tells me with a small smile. "I think he is dealing with his current situation rather