Chapter 43: Getting Ready for the Ball

(Piper POV)

With the exception of the weird interaction with Aiden and Jonas on my birthday, the peaceful eye of my stormy life continued for another week. Looking back on it, it was almost like an eerie prelude to the chaos and pain that was coming.

Regardless of what it was, I enjoyed it. Even today, I think back on that week and the subsequent mating ball with fondness.

Jonas was gone doing something the entire week; Aiden seemed to be largely avoiding me; and Daphne inexplicably continued to work the night shift.

With those three occupied, Maya had plenty of space to keep me happily busy during almost all of our non-working hours. I seriously think that she was more excited about the mating ball than I was, even though she was not old enough to meet her mate.

“Mating balls are perfect non-pressure opportunities to practice our flirting skills,” she had explained. “And working behind the bar at one is an even better way to make sure we get a lot of that practice with a lot of