Page 22 of My Broken Mate (Healing Bonds #1)

Chapter fourteen

Making An Entrance

*KAT*

“ A lright, honest opinion.” I twirl around in front of Ayden and Fi. “Do I look presentable?”

“More than that, actually,” Ayden says. “You look fantastic!”

“Really?” I eye myself in the mirror, feeling completely out of my comfort zone.

I had my hair done professionally, and even my makeup, to look my part for the gala.

I can’t believe it’s already happening. Somehow, I fell into my usual procrastinating and denial, and thought it would be much longer until I had to go to this high society event, but no, the date is here.

Today. To-fucking-day. “Please be honest. I need to make a good impression on Joel. I can’t embarrass him. ”

“Kat,” Fi says. “Ayden is right, you look fantastic. You won’t embarrass anyone!”

“You will look perfect next to Joel,” Ayden agrees. “You are the perfect amount of hot and elegant.”

“Yep, you look like an alpha’s sister,” Fi says.

“Shouldn’t I be more princessy, then?”

“No, the typical alpha sister is either the spoiled princess or the athletic warrior girl. There isn’t much in between,” Fi says. “And you fit the second category perfectly. That’s a good thing, Kat.”

I look at my reflection in the mirror and smile slightly. “Maybe you are right.”

There is a knock at our door, and Joel steps inside. “Sorry to interrupt, but we have—” He looks at me, before closing the door again. “Sorry, wrong door! Whoever you elegant women are, I was looking for my sister!”

“You idiot!” I laugh.

Joel opens the door again and grins.

“Do I look okay?”

He gives me a thumbs up. “My sister is literally perfect! Good that everyone will see it tonight.” He looks at Fi. “Oh, you must be Kata’s new friend. Fiona, was it? It’s nice to finally meet you.”

Fi looks completely flustered. Joel has that effect on people, and women in particular. He has that natural charm about him when he talks to them and draws them in. “It’s an honor to meet you, Alpha Joel!”

“The next one who says that,” he grins. “Maybe I should get used to it.”

He is right. Remy said something similar, but he didn’t beam and smile like Fi does.

It’s almost as if he drew back completely when he spotted Joel.

Maybe he doesn’t like him or has heard bad things about him?

I know Joel and our whole family don’t have much of a good reputation yet, which is why Joel works so hard in all those meetings and is trying to strike that deal with Alpha Sean.

He might sound aloof and like he is just in it for a flirt, but the truth is, he knows it’s important.

Eve said that Gabe, the middle brother, is a fine enough guy, but I don’t know much about the brothers.

I just know that they are from old money and part of the real high society.

No matter how much money my family will earn, no matter our rank, we will always be considered below Alpha Sean and his brothers.

They are treated as royalty, and we are just… us.

“We are leaving in half an hour, Kata,” Joel says. “We’ll take two cars. You and Ayden can drive with me. Fiona and Eve will take the second car.”

That’s also typical for him. He is very kind to my friends and very forthcoming, but doesn’t overdo it, especially with my female friends.

He doesn’t want them to develop a crush on him.

It’s the perfect balance of being kind yet also making sure that there is some distance.

Fi seems perfectly happy with that suggestion, too.

Driving with Eve has its perks, too, obviously, and she is just happy we are taking her along, especially seeing how she is from another pack.

“To imagine we’ve come so far,” I say, watching Eve greet Fi and two warriors who will drive with him, “we can have friends over from another pack. We are free.”

“Feels weird, huh?” Joel agrees. “We are not constantly hiding and keeping low anymore. No one in the pack is.”

“You are a great alpha,” I say. “And a great brother. I am so happy with where you are now, and that you’re getting the recognition you deserve.”

He laughs. “Cute. Where did that come from?”

“Just felt like saying it because it’s true.”

Joel pulls me into a hug. “Don’t say stuff like that, Kata. You are making me all teary-eyed. Couldn’t have done anything without you and Eve. I am nothing on my own. You and Eve always had my back.” He pats my head and grins. “Now, let’s go. Your date is waiting.”

“My date?” I blink. “You mean Ayden? You are aware we are just friends, aren’t you?” The mere thought of dating Ayden is weird. There are not many things I am certain of, but Ayden is definitely not interested in me, and I am not into him.

“I am not being serious,” Joel tells me. “Sorry, was just teasing you. He just hangs out here, so often, I got used to him.”

I stay silent at his words. Like a flash, I can see Remy in front of my inner eye.

The long eyelashes, the beautiful face, and his serious expression.

He is distant, cold and doesn’t seem to like me at all, yet I can’t turn away from him.

I just can’t. “I will wait for my mate,” I tell Joel.

“Besides, Ayden is truly just a friend. He doesn’t see me that way, and nor do I. ”

“Got it,” Joel says. “I knew that. Sorry for being clumsy. I just wanted you to know that you can choose whoever you want. If you want your mate, that’s wonderful. If you want to choose someone, it doesn’t matter who they are. We will be happy for you anyway.”

“Now I am the one getting teary-eyed,” I say. “I can’t believe I am saying this, but if I cry now, it will ruin my makeup.”

Joel and I exchange a look and then burst into laughter. “We don’t want that to happen,” he grins. “Goddess, imagine me going down in history as the alpha whose sister appears at a gala with ruined makeup!”

“The embarrassment and disgrace,” I grin.

He offers me his arm. “We would never be invited anywhere again.” He pauses. “On second thought, maybe we should ruin your makeup.”

I elbow him. “You idiot, you need these galas and meetings to network.”

“Well, at least Alpha Sean will be there,” he says, for once not saying anything with a weird innuendo when he talks about him.

He always acts like he has the hots for Remy’s oldest brother, but he also knows when to say or do something silly, and when not.

“There is an older alpha. Alexander, I think. He seems like a decent guy, too.” He takes a deep breath.

“No time for being nervous now.” He looks at me, a smirk curling his lips.

“Fake it till you make it, right? Let’s go and network like crazy. ”

“I won’t let you down,” I promise. “I will try to mingle a bit with the younger ones there. Maybe there is an alpha’s daughter I can get to know a little.”

“You don’t have to force yourself,” he reassures me. “Just have fun. The whole networking issue is truly something Eve and I need to figure out.”

As if on cue, I can hear Eve approaching. “Are you two coming? We are all waiting.”

“Sorry,” I call back, grabbing Joel’s arm and pulling him along. “We are here.”

“Why again did I agree to come along?” I whisper.

We successfully made it to the gala, and Joel has his entrance, hopefully without any fails from my side.

He, Eve and I have to enter from the main entrance and will be officially introduced.

Ayden and Fi, as our guests, will be guided to a separate entrance that leads the guests to the hall directly, without having to take the lengthy walk downstairs.

Only the alpha families and their official mates get the special introduction.

In a way, it’s completely over the top and weird, almost like an old-fashioned high-society event with an eyes-on-you moment when we walk down the staircase and all the other important families look at us.

Briefly, I feel truly important, almost like a princess.

An uncomfortable and anxious princess, but a princess.

My heart is beating so loudly, I am scared it will jump out of my chest any second. I am just so focused on walking downstairs without tripping and not embarrassing my family.

Relax, Eve links me. You almost made it down the stairs in one piece.

Thank the goddess.

The second we are downstairs, Joel is greeted by some fellow alphas and leaves us to mingle with the crowd.

Eve’s and my moment is over. There are no eyes on us anymore, and I, for one, feel more than a little relieved about that. “I couldn’t do that every day,” I mutter.

“Same,” Eve admits. “To imagine having your every step judged and followed always would be a nightmare. I am glad I can stay in my bubble most of the time.”

“You did it,” Ayden exclaims when he and Fi join us. “And you looked great.”

“Absolutely fantastic,” Fi agrees. “Oh look, there is Clara with her mate!” She waves at her friend, who happily waves back at her. She is here in her official position as the beta female and definitely looks the part.

“She looks fabulous,” I say.

“She was so nervous,” Fi explains. “It’s the first time she’s had to accompany her mate to such an official event. And it’s not just her mate, they are immediate guests of their alpha and his family.”

“She looks happy, though,” I say. “I bet she aced it, and the next time will be so much easier for her.”

“I agree.”

“Let’s make sure to catch up with her later when the official part is over,” I say.

We fall silent again when more and more families enter.

The more important the family, the later they come in, probably to make sure they have all the audience to greet them.

Joel is standing next to two alphas, with whom he seems to be on friendly terms, while they watch one alpha family after another being introduced and walking down the stairs.

“It almost feels like one of these events for debutantes,” Fi whispers.

“You have a point,” Eve mutters. “I can’t believe I took this walk just half an hour ago. Looking at it now, it feels like an out-of-body experience.”