Chapter 4 - Day 365 of Moving Pt2

AMBER.

“You’ve been quiet,” Cassidy asked me as she handed me a cocktail drink. I didn’t even check what it was and just sipped the straw. The burn hit my throat at once, and I began coughing. 

“Hey! Are you trying to get drunk?” She chuckled and patted my back.

“Zach is arriving with his family,” I told her. I was at a friend’s union, and I didn’t expect him to attend. He had never attended any functions since the accident. He would rather stay in his territory and isolate himself. 

Most of his Alpha friends kept visiting him at the beginning until they all just gave up. But I knew they would still extend invitations to him, like this one, but no one expected him to show up. 

So I couldn’t believe he would show up here.

“Really?” She asked.

I nodded and gave the glass to the server who passed by before taking a glass of water to soothe the burn in my throat. 

Cassidy was still talking but my attention was already elsewhere. My eyes swept around the ballroom, looking at everyone. I smiled back at those who smiled at me. I was smiling broadly that it was hurting my cheeks. I tried to mask the pain inside me.

Everyone looked happy—except me. 

I smiled at the female server as she approached me, and I took one sparkling wine from her tray. If I see Zach today, I needed to prepare myself—either he would ignore me or he would throw hurtful words.

I was still drinking my water when a commotion drew my attention. And someone’s voice rang in the air. “Zach!” 

I swiftly turned my body around and watched Zach enter the ballroom with his Beta pushing his wheel hair, and his whole family surrounded him. 

His face was stoic, but I could tell he didn’t want to be here. 

The moment his eyes found mine, his expression changed. His face warped into a scowl, and as I had expected, the mighty Zach came down from his throne and decided to bring chaos and wrath with him. 

He withdrew his gaze almost immediately while I remained stuck, just looking at him. Despite the dimmed lights of the ballroom, I could see him perfectly—the deep-set eyes, the chiseled nose, and his sharp jaws. I knew the physical aspect was the only thing left of the man I fell in love with. 

I kept looking until the crowd blocked my view of him.

“Stop with the staring as if you’ve seen a ghost.” I heard him say to the crowd. I closed my eyes as his voice echoed in my ears despite the music around us. 

While everyone tried to have a friendly conversation with him, he was shutting them off. 

“I only agreed to be here, but I didn’t say I would attend the party. I want a room so I can rest.” 

“There’s nothing interesting here.” His voice was filled with animosity, and with too many Alpha pheromones around us, I was sure as hell they were restraining themselves from snapping at him. 

I took a deep breath as my hands curled into tight fists. 

Relax, Amber. I told myself. But I couldn’t just stand here and let him ruin everyone’s night. 

“Stop! I’m not a pup. I’m tired. I want to rest.” Zach snapped at his mother, and I couldn’t stop my rage this time. He could disrespect anyone but not his mother, who had shown him nothing but understanding. 

My feet move on their own as my hands gently push people out of the way until I end up in front of the crowd, but just around the side of him.

“I’ll show Zach the available room upstairs,” I said in my regular, sweet voice, smiling at everyone when, in reality, I wanted to narrow my eyes at him.

Zach’s gaze fell on me, and I didn’t like how he raked my body up and down with that sarcastic grin plastered on his face. “I said I needed a room. I don’t need anyone to get me there.”

Jace, one of our friends, cleared his throat and walked toward Zach, probably to take him away, but I already had enough. 

I moved faster and placed my arm in front of Jace to stop him from walking forward. I ended up in front of his wheelchair, and all the “good girl” in me had gone off the smoke. 

“Shut it, Zachary Vernon!” My hand raised, and my finger pointed at him, something I rarely do. “I didn’t say you were not capable of going to that room on your own, but this is not your party to ruin! So stop snapping at anyone, and let’s get you out of here!”