"You look like a princess!" Hazel gasped.
I ran my hand down the fabric of my dress, smoothing it over before taking in a deep breath.
"You think so?" I asked.
She nodded as she came around the dress, lifting the skirt.
"It's so flowy."
I smiled. Aunt Sarah was a miracle worker.
Kat and I had gone from store to store for days looking for the perfect dress.
But nothing we found was good enough. And if they were, they were way above my budget. Roman had offered to pay but I had firmly refused him.
I knew that he usually saved the money he got from working for Uncle Victor because his foster parents hardly gave him a penny. And he was still a few weeks away from getting his AAP allowance. I wasn't at all comfortable with taking money from Roman.
Kat and I had pretty much given up when Aunt Sarah came to the rescue.
She had a seamstress friend, Miss Rachel, who had been making bridesmaid dresses. One of the dresses had been left behind because apparently one of the bridesmaids had been hooking up with the bride's father and... I don't even want to go into that.
My point is, a perfectly good dress had been left behind.
And it was gorgeous.
With Kat and Aunt Sarah's suggestions, we had it modified to suit me better. After lowering the neck line a bit, tightening the waist, adding delicate flowers to the skirt, I had a light blue and white sleeveless dress that I absolutely loved.
Aunt Sarah had half braided my hair to the side leaving the curly ends undone. She had asked Miss rachel for some of the flowers she had used for the dress and had attached them to plain hairpins which she put into my hair.
It all went with the dress perfectly.
I loved it.
I felt like a sort of fairy princess.
Kat appeared at the door with a smirk on her face.
She leaned against the door. "Hey Cinderella, your prince is here."
Roman was here? I hadn't even heard the door.
I sucked in a deep breath.
"Do I look alright?"
Kat sighed and sighed and placed her hands on my shoulders.
"Oh dear grasshopper, when will you learn that you are woman and you are perfect?" She smiled. "You look amazing, Crystal. I should know."
Kat had done my makeup and it had come out perfectly.
All those make up tutorials she had spent years watching were definitely paying off.
"Now come on. You're already late."
I picked up my purse and my phone.
I checked the time, it was half past 8 and we were supposed to be there by 8.
I hadn't even noticed.
"Walk me down stairs?" I asked, outstretching my hand to Hazel.
She jumped off the bed in excitement and took my hand.
"Remember not to do anything I wouldn't." Kat told me.
I honestly wished she was coming with me.
There was an age restriction for the ball but I was an exception because I was Roman's date.
Roman had initially wanted to invite Aunt Sarah and Uncle Victor in place of his parents but of course Milly and Sal, chose to act like actual guardians for once in their lives.
When I got downstairs, I heard Uncle Victor and Roman's voices.
I walked into the living room.
Parker was sitted on Roman's lap messing around with his cell phone while Roman was deep into a conversation with uncle Victor about some football game.
"Men." Kat scoffed.
She cleared her throat loudly grabbing their attention.
They both stopped to look at me.
Roman set Parker down and stood up.
He stated at me, his eyes roaming my dress.
"Wow." He breathed out.
"Hi Ro." I spoke shyly.
"H - hey." His eyes wandered to my body. "You look amazing, Crystal."
I felt my face heat up. "Not as good as you."
He brushed a hand down his tuxedo jacket. It was an expensive looking deep blue one which brought out his stormy grey eyes even more.
"Well you know, when you're good, you're good."
I rolled my eyes but smiled.
"We should get going, right?" I spoke.
"Wait! We need a picture!" Aunt Sarah exclaimed, rushing in from the kitchen with a camera in her hands.
"Mum, you're embarrassing them." Kat spoke.
"Oh come on, you two will want to remember this night." Aunt Sarah argued.
Roman smiled at me. "She's right."
He walked towards me and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
I felt all warm and giddy inside.
Aunt Sarah took the picture and Roman dropped his arms and I found myself wishing he hadn't.
"Well we really should be going," Roman spoke. "I'm supposed to be lined up with the other candidates by 9."
"Well okay, son, be safe and take care of our baby girl." Uncle Victor instructed. He smiled at Roman. "I'm proud of you, son."
"We're proud of you." Aunt Sarah nudged Uncle Victor.
Roman smiled. "Thank you, Mr and Mrs Benson, that means a lot coming from both of you."
"Don't mention it son, get on your way, drive safely and remember curfew is -"
"Not a minute after 12." Roman and I spoke sminultaneously.
Uncle Victor narrowed his eyes at us. "Do not sass me."
"I'll see you guys later." I called as I took Roman's hand and led him out of the house.
The night was cooler than I had been antcipating.
Roman and I walked to his truck and he opened the passenger door for me.
He was unusually quiet and I realized that there was still some tension between us since our study date in the park.
"Radio?" He asked.
"Sure." I nodded.
He turned on some soft rock song that I didn't recognize.
I didn't want things to be so awkward between us on such an important day for him.
I wanted him to be happy. And I wanted to share in his happiness.
"How come you're late?" I asked, figuring that was safe enough to break the ice.
Roman was an extremely punctual person.
"Oh, um - I got into an argument with Sal." He explained.
I frowned. Why would he make Roman angry on this day of all days.
"What was the argument about?"
Roman clenched his hands around the steering wheel. "They wanted us to drive up to the party together like some big fake happy family." He scoffed.
They didn't treat Roman like their son and now because he had accomplished something this amazing, they wanted to share in it?
Roman had a right to be mad.
"I'm sorry." I told Roman, rubbing his shoulder.
He sucked in a deep breath to calm himself down. "It's not your fault."
The car took a turn and I realized that we were already in the town square.
The town hall where the ball was taking place was lit up and I could already hear the soft music.
Roman drove up to the entrance. A valet took his keys as we got out of the truck.
Judging by the lack of people outside, I could tell that we really were late.
Roman held his hand out for me. I took it and let him lead me up the steps.
When we got to the middle of the grand steps, he stopped.
He turned and looked at me.
"Listen, I'm sorry for going off on you the other day." He spoke suddenly.
I really hadn't been expecting such a random apology but I was grateful that we were getting it out of the way.
"It's okay, I shouldn't have pried." I told him.
Roman tapped his fingers on his pants and I could tell he was anxious.
"I just don't like talking about it - my past, I mean." He spoke.
"It's okay, Ro -"
"No, I think you need to hear this." He looked right into my eyes. "Crystal, you're the best thing that has ever happened to me."
He took my hand in his. "And my past, it's messy. They are just some things -"
He sucked in a deep breath.
"I love you, Crystal." He spoke with a certain desperate tone in his voice. Like he needed me to hear this. "This might just be a high school romance thing for you but I... I have never had anything or anyone to call my own until I met you. Heck, you could dump me right now and you would still be the best thing that ever happened to me." He chuckled weakly.
"Ro, I would never -"
"I don't need to hear you say it back, Crystal. I honestly don't. But I love you. And I know I don't deserve your love because you were right, I'm broken."
I ran my fingers over his cheek. "You're not broken, Roman. Don't ever say that. And you do deserve love. Everyone deserves love."
He looked up at me and forced a smile. "I didn't plan on being a total cheese ball. I just - nothing lasts forever. Especially for me. Nothing has ever lasted long in my life. You told me that sometimes you feel like I'll disappear and I'm sorry about that. It's just that I'm not used to being kept around for too long."
I knew what he meant. When Roman was brought to Woodfell, it wasn't too different than when he lived with humans, being bounced around from home to home. At least here he had settled with Sal and Milly. They weren't the warmest towards him but at least they weren't as abusive as the others had been. At least not physically.
"Incase you didn't notice, Ro." I told him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him close so that our foreheads touched. "I'm crazy about you. I don't plan on going anywhere."
It confused me how Roman still didn't see how much I was obsessed with him. My fascination towards him hadn't diminished one bit since I had met him. And honestly, it frightened me how much this boy had a hold on my heart.
His face dropped slightly. He tried to cover it with another smile but I could see the strain behind it.
"My life is more complicated than you would think, Crystal. I wouldn't want to drag you into all of it."
I rolled my eyes. "I can handle whatever baggage you come with. I have my own baggage too, you know."
"Like your complete apathy towards physical education?" He chuckled.
"P.E is evil and if you were normal, you would know that too." I told him with seriously. "Now will you please kiss me, already?" I whined.
With the position we were in, I had been hoping that he would get the hint. The moon looked like a toe nail, we were standing on the steps of the grand hall of the town square, the night was beautiful and this handsome boy's lips weren't on mine.
Instead of complying, Roman pulled away and took a step back to my reluctance.
I frowned at him.
"First, I wanted to give you something." Roman dug into his pocket and pulled out a rectangular black box."
"You didn't let me get you your dress so I got you something else."
I gave him a small smile. "You really didn't have to, Ro."
He shrugged. "I wanted to."
He opened the box and I saw a silver glittery phone case with the initials C.S on it.
I had honestly been expecting a necklace or a bracelet or something more conventional, I guess.
I took it out of the box and giggled. "This is different."
Roman put his hands in his pocket and shrugged. "I know. I wanted to get you a necklace but you already have that one that your mother gave you and you already promised her you wouldn't take it off. I just wanted to give you something that special as well. Something you would take with you everywhere you go. Almost like you have a piece of you with me." He chuckled. "Do you like it?"
I had too admit, it wasn't the gift I was expecting but it was a gift from Roman so I didn't mind. And I did pretty much carry my phone everywhere.
"I love it." I told him as I immediately dug into my purse and switched out the covers with my old plain purple one.
Roman beamed at me. His excitement at something so small amused me.
"Now do I get my kiss?" I asked.
He laughed. "Someone can't control themselves tonight."
I shrugged. "What can I say? Balls do these things to me."
Roman smiled before moving closer, "well, if the lady wants her kiss," with quick hands, he suddenly dipped me, causing me to yelp. He looked deep into my eyes with a mischievious look on his face. "The lady shall get her kiss."
Roman begun to lean in, but just as our lips were about to make contact, I heard someone clear their throat.
Roman looked up and his eyes widened before he quickly put me back upright. I stumbled a bit as I got back into a steady position and when I did, I gulped.
Alpha Tristan stood in front of us with his blonde beta behind him and two men in black suits.
"Alpha Tristan." Roman gave a bow.
I bowed as well but no words came out.
"You're in the way, kid." Bridget spoke..
"My apologies." Roman spoke smoothly before taking my hand and stepping aside.
It surprised me how cool and collected he was. Well, I guess this encounter didn't give him as much anxiety as it did me, for obvious reasons. And let's face it, Roman was just naturally composed in all situations.
I wished right then that the ground would just open up and swallow me. I avoided Tristan's gaze as best as I could but his eyes weren't even on me.
"Candidate Roman. Shouldn't you be lined up with the other candidates by now? It's almost 9." Tristan spoke in a cold and reprimanding tone.
"Yes, alpha." Roman spoke. "I was just -"
"Punctuality is key in this program. Or weren't you told that?" Tristan spoke sternly.
"Sorry, alpha, it -"
"Beta Bridget, get the candidate inside and lined up." Tristan instructed.
Bridget nodded at Tristan.
"Let's go." She told Roman.
Roman looked at me, he was about to open his mouth when Bridget snapped, "Now."
"I'll find you later." I told him.
He wasn't exactly in the position to start arguing. He nodded at me. "Okay."
He gave one last look at Tristan before following Bridget.
I still avoided Tristan's gaze, wondering who was supposed to move first.
"Leave us." Tristan spoke dismissing the two men.
They obeyed without question.
I don't know why Tristan had even ordered them to leave. Us being alone together was sure to come off as suspicious.
"You don't have to be so rude to him." I told him in a small voice when I realized he wasn't going to say anything anytime soon.
"I don't need you to tell me how to talk to my candidates." He spoke.
"But maybe you need some pointers on how to talk to people. Do you want Roman to get suspicious?" I asked.
"What I want doesn't matter. We established that already." He spoke.
I suddenly felt like I had struck a nerve that I hadn't even been aiming for.
I looked at the ground.
Why did he have to do this to me? Wasn't it bad enough that my wolf already called out to his whenever we were within feet of each other. The magnetic pull was still intense and it took all I had to fight it. To not look at him and want him all so badly.
"You should get inside as well." He spoke in a tone void of emotion. "It's cold out here."
With that he walked past me. I hugged myself suddenly feeling the effect of the weather. The weather wasn't the only thing that was a little chilly.
Different thoughts had been haunting me, turning themselves into nightmares in my sleep. The wolf Tristan had mercilessly attack, it's face morphing into my mother's, the Van Cliffe wolves chasing me through the woods, trying to hurt the other candidates and there was nothing I could do. Strange wolves appearing at our doorstep demanding Uncle Victor go with them, Aunt Sarah screaming for him to stay...
And it was all my fault.
But one thought outweighed them all, I was taken back to the day of the ball, Roman and I by the steps
... I just wanted to give you something that special as well. Something you would take with you everywhere you go...
The gift...
My eyes shot open and I sat up in bed.
Holy crap! The gift
I reached over to the bedside table that Kat and I shared and grabbed my phone.
I took the cover off and searched it precariously for any weak spots.
Just as I suspected. I gulped.
I took off the stud earring that I wore. Kat had gotten then for me last Christmas.
I used the pointy end to poke at the edges of the case until it finally came loose at a weak spot.
I gulped
.
I put the earring down and slowly started to peel off the inner plastic part of the phone case.
When I was done, I saw it. The small black sticker like round device. I was taken back to that day.
...I'm actually not supposed to be showing you this but they're surveillance patches... We're learning how to use them in AAP training. They're still in development but I could put one of these on your backpack or on the walls of your room and I'd be able to not only track your location but hear everything you say on an appropriate device...
I gasped and dropped the case, surveillance device and all.
I stood up and ran my hand through my hair in exasperation.
He had been tracking me.
Of course he had been. He was a freaking spy.
I started hyperventilating.
Spy.
Spy.
Spy.
Everyone had been saying it yet I had chosen not to believe them.
Spies lie.
Spies manipulate.
Spies steal.
Spies...
I looked at the little device.
Holy crap!
He had probably been listening to me.
He had been listening to everything I said. Everything I said about him, about Tristan...
I felt my heart begin to thud in my chest.
So he had probably known my secret all along. He had known that Tristan was my mate.
The liar!
How could he?
Was that a bonus for him? Dating the alpha's mate?
Or pretending to?
Was he planning on using me to get to Tristan?
Was anything we had ever real?
I was beyond furious.
The feeling of betrayal ate at me and threatened to consume me.
My privacy! He violated my privacy without a care about how I would feel.
The jerk!
I thought he loved me!
I sure as hell loved him.
I glared at the device
And without thinking I marched up to it.
I picked up the case and looked at the attached round, patch.
"Roman, can you hear me?" I spoke into it, shaking with fury. "Ro, if you can hear this..." my voice was breaking but I didn't care.
"I freaking hate you!" I screamed. "I hate you and I hate your guts and..."
Hot tears started falling down my face. "I hate you." I spoke putting as much spite into my words as I could.
I threw the case into a drawer and threw myself on my bed.
I wanted to continue crying but I couldn't. I was too mad.
I gripped my hands into fists.
I could feel my wolf stirring within me, urging me to let the animal out.
And I wanted to.
I wanted so badly to shift and rummage the woods, running to just escape my human problems and not have to feel so much pain.
My wolf form subdued most of my human needs and urges.
I heard my phone beep on the floor.
My heart skipped a beat as I looked to the side at it.
I sucked in a deep breath before making my way over to where I had left it on the floor.
I picked it up and looked at the message icon that had flashed up showing that I had two messages.
I grew even more nervous as I unlocked it.
I sighed in relief when I saw two familiar names.
Kat had texted me a few hours ago.
Dude! Did you serious get attacked by more rogues? So cool! Arg! You're having all the fun.
The second was from Chris a little later on.
Hey, judging by the fact that you haven't been in school, I suppose you're doing some super cool AAP thing. So I guess I'll be attending the first ever official meeting of the nature club alone.
#sigh.
I placed my hand on my chest partially relieved. For all I knew, this thing didn't even work anymore. Or maybe he had stopped listening after he had completed what he had come to do here.
I sighed and walked over to my bed, taking a seat.
I rubbed my temple in frustration. I still wasn't at ease.
Well of course I wasn't.
I had just found out my enstranged boyfriend had bugged me!
What was I supposed to do now?
Surely this is something Tristan would want to know.
I mean if he thought Roman was back, maybe this would help, right?
But why did I immediately feel guilt at the very thought of handing it over?
Why did it feel like I would be betraying him?
He had betrayed me first! He was the traitor!
I opened the drawer where I had thrown the case and took it out.
I looked at the device tentatively.
"Roman?" I asked in a shaky voice. "Are. You. There?"
My phone let out a beep.
I quickly picked it up and looked at a screen.
There was an unknown number and a text message.
Oh babe, I never left you.