The Night I Met The Alpha

8

Word Count: 2660

~Dove

For a moment I just gape at him, at his outstretched hand.

The thought of pressing close to him, feeling his grip on my hand, on my waist it almost too much to bear.

But who am I to deny an Alpha's invitation?

My heart is in my throat as I reach out, slipping my hand into his. It's warm, his fingers closing around mine as he stands.

He pulls me merely a few feet from his chair, tugging me close. My breath remains securely held in my lungs, even as they begin to burn.

I'm painfully stiff as his hand glides around me, settling on my lower back. My stomach brushes against his, my head turned so I don't have to look up at him.

Despite being immersed in a world of sin, touching Alpha Varian feels like the most corrupt act I could partake in.

"This feels surreal," I breathe as we sway to the gentle melody.

He tilts his head down and to the side so he can meet my eyeline. I wish he wouldn't — it makes it so much harder to concentrate on not stepping on his feet.

"What does?"

"Dancing with you."

My shoes sink into the plush crimson carpet as I'm twirled around. This makes me quietly grateful for nights when Eden would whirl me around our house, bumping me into bookshelves and into the table while we laughed joyously. It's the only experience with dancing I've ever had.

For that reason I can keep up, but I'm still breathless, clinging to Varian's body in case I slip away and into another sinners arms.

"Tonight I am like any other male," he assures me, the gentlest smirk tugging at his lips.

I can only shake my head. How am I to believe that? Everyone watches us because of him, because he has a way of commanding attention.

"Are you doing this to get a rise out of Claude?" I ask him, still unable to fathom how I've come to end up in this position.

Claude is lingering near the far wall, watching us. A woman has sidled up to him, drawing her hand down his chest. He pays her no mind.

Something tickles at my senses. I like that he's watching.

"I'm doing this because you're a beautiful woman in a beautiful dress," Varian admits smoothly, tightening his grip on my waist. "I'm doing this because we're both sober and I enjoy your company. Is that enough?"

My breath catches in my throat as his compliment dissolves in my mind. This Alpha believes I am beautiful, is wilfully engaging in this dance with me.

"If it's all true, then yes," I say.

"I don't lie," he assures me, strands of raven hair raining down over his forehead.  "Not about this."

I feel like a bookmark that has been slotted into the crease of a fairytale, only to have melded into the story. I feel no fear, only excitement as I sway in the comfort of strong arms.

"I'm going to think about this night forever," I admit wistfully.

"Consider yourself invited to every party I host from now on," Varian offers, his voice like molten honey. "I'll have your name put on a list and have the guards know to look out for a woman in a dress just like this one."

His gaze ventures downward, taking in every ruffle and stitch, every pale and dainty flower. My cheeks warm, tinting the same colour as my dress. 

"You can't possibly like my dress," I say blandly, weaving my stare over each hard line of his face, wondering faintly what it would feel like beneath my fingertips.