Chapter 57

Olivia

“Let’s dance,” he said.

Nathan held his hand out to me with a smile on his face, but there was something performative about it that made my chest ache more than it already was.

But I knew why he was doing it; we had to do this. We had to put on a good show, because people were doubting our relationship. Not only was Nathan’s place on the Alpha Council at risk, but so was my reputation.

We were already in this too deep, and I didn’t want it to be known that I had let my childhood best friend use me for social advancement. I also didn’t want anyone to ever find out the horrible truth about my baby’s real father.

“Come on, Olivia.” He held his hand out a little further, urging me to take it.

And so, with an equally performative smile, I took Nathan’s hand and let him lead me over to the dancefloor.

As we approached, some of the other guests moved out of our way and looked at us in shock. I felt the weight of everyone’s gaze on me, their “Luna”.

Nathan put one hand around my waist, holding my other hand firmly. He pulled me close, and I felt my unwarranted affection for him stir within me as our bodies became pressed together.

The ballroom spun around me as I danced in Nathan's arms, fully aware that our every move was part of an elaborate facade. The more we moved, the more it felt as though our bodies were melting into one.

Yet, despite my understanding, a subtle nervousness tinged my every step, amplified by the intoxicating scent of grapefruit that enveloped us. It was both sweet and dizzying, like an intoxicating spell that clouded my senses.

Damn it, Nathan, I thought to myself, unable to deny the stirring emotions within me.

“You’re not half bad,” Nathan said quietly as we moved gracefully around the dancefloor.

I felt myself blush. “You’re not half bad either,” I replied. “Since when can you dance?”

Nathan chuckled and held his hand up, allowing me to spin before our waists pressed closer together once more. There was a new comfort there as I pressed myself up against him, as though we had done this a thousand times.

“Believe me,” he said, his voice carrying across the thin space between us to fill my ears. “I never asked for all of the ballroom dancing lessons. You can thank my mother for that.”

The music crescendoed, indicating that it would soon come to an end. Nathan dipped me gracefully, and a soft gasp caught in my throat. Our faces lingered close to one another, our breaths mixing in the air between us.

“It’s almost over,” Nathan whispered, so quietly that I could hardly even make out what he said.

Deep down inside of me, I somehow didn’t know if I wanted it to be over soon.

That moment between us felt like an eternity during which we hung suspended in the air. Everything else seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but an empty dance floor with us standing in the center.

But then, I was thrust back into reality when he pulled me back up.

Suddenly, he planted a soft kiss on my cheek, accompanied by a smattering of applause from the onlookers. A blush stained my face, burning hotter than the lights that illuminated the room.

Finally, the song came to an end. Nathan and I, both breathless, took a step back. He bowed, and I curtsied, hoping that no one would notice the fact that my entire body was trembling.

The onlookers clapped again, this time more loudly, for their newest Alpha and his Luna. I could feel the weight of the other Alphas’ gazes on me, and I wanted to curse out loud at them, asking them if they were finally pleased with our sordid display.

But I didn’t. I couldn’t; this was only the beginning of what we would have to do to make people believe that we were in a real relationship.

Suddenly, I felt incredibly overwhelmed by the sudden attention.

“I-I need to use the restroom,” I muttered breathlessly. Before Nathan could even open his mouth to say a word, I picked up my long skirt and fled from the dance floor, my steps hastened by a mix of embarrassment and an overwhelming need for solitude.

I ran down the hall and found the nearest bathroom, where I burst inside and let out a deep sigh of relief to find that it was empty.

Still breathing heavily, I staggered up to the sink and leaned over it, where I splashed cold water on my flushed face, trying to regain composure.

But as I looked at myself in the mirror, uncertainty gnawed at me. “What am I doing?” I whispered to myself.

How had I allowed myself to become entangled in this web of lies and deception?

Not only that, but how had I allowed myself, once again, to have my breath taken away by my childhood best friend?

I stood there for a long time, staring at myself in the mirror as I leaned on the sink and contemplated the path that I had chosen until finally, I mustered up the courage to return to the party.

Sighing, I smoothed down my skirt, fixed my hair, then took a deep breath and headed back out into the hallway.

“Hey.”

A familiar voice coming from behind suddenly caught my attention. Startled, I turned to find Nathan standing there, his arms folded and a stern expression etched upon his face.

The sight of him leaning against the wall sent a wave of conflicting emotions crashing through me.

He had his suit jacket slung over his shoulder, held only by two fingers, while his shirt sleeves were rolled up halfway up his forearms. There was a slight tinge of sweat on his neck and his forehead from our dance, and his chest rose and fell heavily as he caught his breath.

He looked too handsome to me for someone who was just supposed to be my friend, and the kiss that he had planted on my cheek continued to burn into my flesh. At the back of my mind, there was a little voice urging me to feel that kiss again, but on my lips this time.

For a few long moments, we just stared at each other, both at a loss of words.

"Why did you run off?" he finally asked, his voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration.

“I just needed to use the restroom,” I lied.

Nathan, perceptive as always, saw right through my lie. He let out a sharp, long breath that sounded like a hiss, and pushed himself away from the wall.

There was another long moment of silence, filled only by the sound of his shoes clicking on the marble floor and echoing through the hallway as he closed the space between us.

“Is that really it?” he asked, his voice quiet but somehow stern at the same time.

Under his gaze, I felt my resolve waver, the hardness in his voice melting away any resistance within me. The words tumbled out before I could stop them.

"I hope it's a girl," I blurted out, the truth slipping past my lips.

Nathan's eyes widened, surprise flickering across his face.

For a moment, there was silence, as the weight of my confession hung in the air.