Page 58 of Puck My Life

Here’s my chance.

My phone rings.

I glance down at it and frown.

“Hello?”

“I’m looking for Vae McMillan.”

“Speaking,” I murmur, turning away from the guys.

“Hello, my name is Rebecca, and I’m a doctor at Rosemead Hospital. I have a patient here by the name of Maria McMillan. Is there any chance you can come in?”

****

PRESENT

I walk in and stop just inside the doors. The room is immaculate. Tables with black tablecloths and gold plates are arranged around the room in the most elegant display I’ve ever seen. There are gold fabric banners running along the roof, leading to where people are walking around talking in the most beautiful dresses.

Marilyn appears beside me, a glass of red wine in her hand.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yes. I still don’t know why I’m here.”

“Because I need to keep my side of the bargain. I’ll introduce you to Alpha Jansen tonight. Consider this your first date.”

My stomach drops out, and I want nothing more than to reach out and tell her that I can’t. That I’ve changed my mind. But then I remember Indy’s words and Raynor, who never called.

She moves away from me, smiling and talking to an old couple I don’t recognise.

I brush my hand down the front of my dress and take a glass of white wine when the server pauses beside me.

“Thanks,” I murmur.

He smiles slightly and walks off. He was cute. If I were a beta and weren’t at risk of dropping what is almost a pheromone bomb on people, I could try to meet someone like him.

He’s in my league. I have no doubt that he would understand the difficulties facing serving in a place like this. Hell, I’ve served drinks in this building on a different night.

I sip the wine, but I can barely taste it. Where is the pack? Surely, they are here? Raynor said he would be here.

I make my way around the room, staying at the edges, nodding and smiling at people who watch me but don’t try to engage me in conversation.

Where is Raynor?

I hate the staring, like everyone here knows I shouldn’t be here. They know I’m a fake and a phony. I stand out; everyone can see I don’t belong.

An alpha approaches me and smiles. He is gorgeous, with a dark beauty and a chiselled jaw. His tux is black, but with a gold shirt, which is striking. But it’s the friendly smile that undoes me.

“You look beautiful tonight, Vae.”

I jerk, glancing at him and around. “I’m, uh, sorry, but do I know you?”

He’s older but not by much, with dark hair smoothed back and bright brown eyes.

“My name is Jansen Dores.”

My lips part on all the things I want to say but can’t.