Omega

Chapter 18

Harry had never seen such opulence in his life.

The drive took about an hour, Harry was sure they weren't even in London anymore. The property was large, something out of a fairytale. The mansion was large, it's huge windows and trees twinkled with what seemed like fairy lights.

They were lead into the mansion, through a hall that emptied into a magnificent ballroom. The hall was dome shaped, gold chandeliers hung from the elevated ceiling lighting up the room beautifully. The whole room was decorated in red, fold and green. An absolutely enormous white Christmas tree stood proudly at the centre of the ballroom. Waiters, dressed smartly in maroon vests and black trousers, moved between the guests, saliently offering drinks and light snacks.

The guests themselves looked shiny and almost otherworldly dressed to the nines on designer clothes and expensive jewellery.

Harry found himself looking around curiously, his eyes taking in everything at once from Draco's side. The alpha had placed his arm around Harry's waist when he opened the door for Harry to come out of the car and hadn't moved it since.

Draco did not like parties like this.

While the decorations and luxury were nice, the glamour of it all dimmed over time, especially to someone as wealthy as him. Besides, beneath all the glitz and glam, the whole affair was bleak and rotten. Compliments disguised as threats, fangs hidden behind polite smiles, knives held behind backs, Draco knew exactly how vile socialites were.

He especially did not like the looks they had been getting since they stepped in.

Naturally, Draco always turned heads whenever he attended events like this so he didn't mind. What he did mind were the leers that Harry had been getting since they arrived.

Harry of course didn't notice. He was too busy admiring his surroundings with innocent glee that made him even more adorable. His arm around the raven tightened even more when a group of young alphas they passed by openly gawked at his date.

'Fuck this wasn't a good idea.' Draco thought morosely.

He was forced out of his thoughts when they were approached by an old man. He was dressed as the other people around him, slightly hunched with age and his gray hair slicked back in a low ponytail . There was a distinct twinkling in his eye that reminded Harry of an old snake, curled and ready to strike.

"Mr. Malfoy," the old man greeted, "I'm glad you can be of attendance."

While he had a polite smile on his face, his voice had a mocking lilt to it. Draco smiled back in return but it wasn't the genuine smile that brightened his eyes  Harry was used to. This one was tight lipped and sharp edged, his eyes completely guarded.

"Mr. Riddle," Draco drawled, "Your company is always a pleasure."

Although Draco didn't outwardly say anything to Harry, the grip on his waist tightened in warning and the blonde slightly moved Harry behind himself. It was a subtle movement but it was a large statement as any. Mr. Riddle, Harry noticed, had very deep brown eyes that looked almost red in the subtle lighting. The older man leaned forward slightly, a graying brow quirked in question.

"Oh?" Riddle hissed amused, "And who might this be?"

Harry felt himself shrink back. Alarm bells rang off in his head. His gut tugged at him, something was wrong about this. The way Riddle's eyes ran over him and that almost knowing look in his hooded eyes.

"Quite unique eyes you have," Riddle mentioned, looking pointedly at Harry he seemed to be in deep thought, "They seem familiar."

Draco pointedly stood between them, shielding the omega from the old snake's gaze. Harry let out a shuddering breath, grateful that the alpha's frame hid him completely from sight. Draco stared the old man down, lips curled in distaste.