Chapter 25
1645words
The Lupercalia venue was on top of the mountain, where a resort and event hall were located.
Trees surrounded the area, letting the fresh air engulf the guests. It was rather refreshing.
I hadn't entered the place yet when a blasting sound of music already greeted me. It's loud but magically uplifting. I could feel its beat synching with my heart, making the place lovelier.
Bars were situated on the side of the venue, and bartenders constantly served various kinds of drinks.
The floor was made of matted tiles akin to a stone, and in the middle of the venue was a massive pool with depths differing based on your area.
Everyone was either in summer clothes or swimsuits, flaunting their bodies as they swam to the pool. I could even hear a few whistles from the nearby unmated men who were lingering their eyes on unmated women swimming in the pool in their two-piece swimsuits.
Finding the ground floor crowded with dancers and drinking extroverts, I went up to the second-floor balcony, where I could have a full view of the event and the picturesque nature.
I leaned on the fence with a glass of champagne in my hand, looking at people dancing and laughing downstairs.
A few feet away from the bar, my eyes focused on a man who looked quite dazzling.
"Oh, don't lie! He is much more than dazzling!" Trisha commented, making me laugh.
Alright, he's handsome, almost comparable to Kylian.
He was tall, and his blonde messy hair gave off a unique charm. His eyes were sparking blue, and he had a small dimple on his right cheek that only showed when he smiled widely.
With that said, it's unsurprising that he was being swamped with distinguished women who were bluntly trying to gain his attention.
Unlike the other men who'd only chosen one and avoided the others, he seemingly loved the attention.
He's well-spoken and knows how to make a woman go crazy. Beside him was also a beautiful woman who suited him well. She had long ginger hair and freckles on her cheeks. Her hand was clinging to the man's arm. Unlike most women in the venue, though, she wore a one-piece swimsuit, making her look sophisticated.
I narrowed my eyes. Who was he?
For some reason, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him – curious even.
It didn't seem like he had a relationship with any of those women. He's just luring them to him. Just enough to make them crazy but not enough to make them his.
Apparently, he was a playboy!
When I said that, I remembered him! I had seen this man before at one of Jackson's parties. Jackson even attentively warned me that he was a famous playboy among women.
Well, he was right. But it seems that he didn't do anything specially, and the girls and women were attracted to him.
And his expressions showed that he enjoyed this feeling of attracting others like a strange talent...
Aside from him being a playboy, though, I couldn't remember his name or identity.
But since he was here, I'm sure he was a high-ranking werewolf because only ranked members, such as Alphas and Betas, and their families, were invited to Lupercalia.
I took a sip from my champagne but still kept my gaze on him. I admit, he's a very attractive man.
His smile and laugh were attractive factors that pulled women closer to him.
If I met him before Kylian, I probably would have also been enticed by him.
I sighed and inwardly scolded myself, 'Agh, Della! Why do you always go for red flags?’
Before I knew it, I had been staring at him for too long. The next thing I knew, he raised his head and looked in my direction, seemingly feeling me staring at him.
He smiled, showing that attractive dimple on his right cheek. Then, he raised his glass at me for a long-distance toast.
Damn, he's really handsome, and not to mention that his temperament was shouting nobility.
I was startled to realize I had been staring for too long. How did he know I was staring at him? I'm on the second floor!
After a few seconds, though, I composed myself despite how much my heartbeat was accelerating. Standing properly, I smiled back at him and raised my glass as well.
We kept our gazes on each other as we took a sip, which sent the butterflies in my stomach into a frenzy.
After our toast, though, I was slightly disappointed when he looked away and returned to entertaining the other women around him.
Upon seeing that, I slapped my cheeks a bit to wake myself up and stepped a few back away from the fence. Once my heartbeat calmed down, I felt my phone radiated from my purse. Pulling it out, I saw a message from Flora.
"Let's meet at the Lupercalia. I'll wait for you near the swimming pool."
I narrowed my eyes and looked back down at the ground floor to see Flora looking at me. She was wearing an old brown dress that fell to her mid-thigh.
Kylian actually brought her here?
I couldn't help but be stunned that Kylian really had the guts to bring Flora, an unranked member, into the Lupercalia, which she was obviously not invited to.
Scoffing, I tasted bitterness in my mouth. So, did he come here as Kylian's family or… his wife?
We weren't divorced yet, and he's already flaunting his mistress publicly. He really had a way of disappointing me more than he already did the last time I saw him.
I couldn't help but feel my heart aching all over again. Even when I already decided to leave him, it angered me that since he was already doing all these things, why would he cooperate with the divorce and end it completely?
Why would he have to be so stubborn and refuse it when he's already attending events with that woman?
I shook my head and turned around to go downstairs and meet her. I was curious to know what scheme he was planning again.
While walking toward the pool, I was taking deep and slow breaths to calm my radiating anger.
Seeing I was getting closer to Flora, my face became more serious, and I stood tall while I walked with grace toward her.
Probably seeing my face void of fear, I saw how Flora was stunned. After all, the past few times she tried to call me alone before, I would be a little scared.
But everything changed now.
Back then, it was before I was afraid that she'd slander me and take Kylian away from me, scheming her way to make Kylian stay with her at night.
But all those fears were because I was deeply in love with Kylian. Now that I was determined to leave him, those fears were pushed deep down my heart, making me brave and firm to face her now.
"Why did you call me over?" I asked, looking around where we were.
Flora's really a coward. She always liked to meet me in places with few people. Now, though we were on the side of a pool, we were at the end where there were only a few guests because not only was it far from the bar, but beside it was where the cleaning tools were piled up.
No one would dare to stay here for long aside from her.
She stood tall, smirked, and proudly boasted at me, "I attended the Lupercalia today as Kylian's fiancée. You're no longer the Luna of the Dark Moon pack."
Hearing her arrogance, I couldn't help but laugh. "If that's why you called me here, I'm not interested."
I was about to turn around, but she spoke again. She narrowed her eyes and threateningly warned me, "Since you ruined my reputation online, mark my words, I definitely won't let you go. Once I officially became Luna, I'll make you disappear completely!"
When she finished her lame threat, I smiled proudly and replied, "No one can make me completely disappear."
How could Flora make the Lycan Prince disappear? Such a huge joke.
Walking closer to her, I smirked and added, "Not even Kylian himself."
Seeing I was laughing, Flora was stunned for a few seconds, but soon she became contemptuous again.
"You don't think Prince Jackson will protect you,, do you?" She crossed her arms and said with a raised chin.
I raised my eyebrows and said nothing. Before going to the Dark Moon Pack, Jackson had always protected me very well. And I believe he woulf protect me forever.
Flora was not wrong about this.
"The Lycan Prince only allowed you to attend this party because he's kind.” Flora sneered, “He'll soon lose interest in you, and then I'll easily stomp on you like the worthless you are."
Smiling, she promised, "I swear, I'll prepare a good show for you. Do you want to see Kylian and I kiss or…" She licked her lips seductively. "Have sex?"
My breathing hitch. Just imagining what she said brought turmoil to my mind. It made me heartbroken and angry.
But I also had to admit to myself that it probably could happen. Kylian would allow Flora to do such a thing, but I'd never let myself be humiliated like that.
So, without hesitation, I held the glass of champagne in my other hand and slapped Flora with my right hand so hard that her face turned the other way around.
Just in perfect time, though, Kylian arrived in shorts and an unbuttoned short-sleeved shirt, showing his six-pack abs and muscular chest.
His eyes were dark from anger, and his jaws were cleaning in rage.
His anger was evident, and his voice boomed when he asked, "Flora, what happened?"
