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“Vanilla malt,” Poppy beams.
“Girl, no.” Violet playfully mimics vomiting before turning to me. “Poppy is Sawyer’s little sister. I didn’t even know that girl had a sibling.”
Neither did I. This time, when I look at Poppy, I offer her a warm smile. “It’s nice to see you again, Poppy.”
“Do you know who you were dancing with?” Poppy interjects without a care for introductions.
“Some alpha named Dave. That’s all I know,” I reply as we approach the buffet table. My stomach grumbles. I neglected to feed it in order to squeeze into this dress.
Poppy grips my arm and steps closer. “No, Seraphina, that was Davey Finch.”
The strawberry in my hand plops onto my plate. “You’re kidding me?” The heir to the Finch pack.
“Rumor has it he’s a dick,” Violet chimes in, positioning herself on my other side. “He’s no good, Seraphina. We weren’t sure how to get you out of that.”
“I’m glad you did.” My stomach grumbles in agreement as I pile a colorful assortment of fruit onto my plate. “He asked me out for brunch tomorrow,” I mutter under my breath, my appetite momentarily forgotten.
“Get out of it,” Poppy urges with a hint of concern. “I can call my sister and have her say that all omegas are on lockdown.”
I can’t help but chuckle at the thought. “No, he thinks I live here,” I reply with a mischievous smile. “I don’t mind letting him make that assumption.”
My eyes lock on a tempting chocolate fountain as we navigate the buffet table. It may not be the same as a drink fountain, but its allure is undeniable. “You know they aren’t serving omegas alcohol tonight?” I comment as I make a beeline for the chocolate, with Poppy and Violet trailing behind. “Blasphemy. Dean Matilda and her strict rules should at least let us have some fun if we have to put up with this crowd.”
“Does she now?” The voice of Dean Matilda Anderson, a petite yet imposing figure, breaks into our conversation.
I halt my progress toward the chocolate fountain and turn on my heel, clutching my fruit plate. Violet and Poppy stand behind Dean Matilda, both wide-eyed and trying not to laugh. I squint at them briefly before addressing the dean. “Matty.”
“Don’t you ‘Matty’ me,” she scolds, brandishing a finger in my direction. Despite her small stature, she has a presence that demands attention. “No drinks,” she reiterates sternly before walking away, but not before adding, “And do not spike the punch.”
“I hadn’t thought about it until now. Thanks for the idea,” I quip.
Ignoring the traitorous giggles from Violet and Poppy, I finally reach the chocolate fountain. There’s something enchanting about fountains, even ones filled with chocolate. I dip a succulent strawberry into the flowing chocolate and bring it to my lips, savoring the indulgent treat. I take a moment to savor the sweetness before catching a faint scent in the air—chamomile tea with a hint of cream. It’s delicate but intriguing, evoking a desire for a cup of tea.
Moving too quickly to satiate my curiosity, I accidentally spill some chocolate on my dress. “Oh no,” I mutter, gazing down at my bodice, a mix of annoyance and amusement coloring my expression. I may not be a princess, but the chocolate fountain never fails to leave its mark on me.
“Looks like you got a little something on you,” a man’s voice chimes in beside me. He pulls a handkerchief from his pocket and extends it toward me.
“How very gentlemanly of you,” I reply, accepting the handkerchief without hesitation. He takes my plate without me even asking. I focus my attention on the chocolate stain, dabbingat it with the handkerchief, though I’m well aware that it’s likely to leave a mark that’s impossible to remove.
“A little bit of club soda might get that out,” he suggests.
I glance up at him, the faint scent of tea wafting over me. It teases my senses, leaving me yearning for more. However, it’s not just the scent that captivates me, it’s the alpha who carries it. Standing before me is a strikingly handsome man, the epitome of grace and symmetry. It’s as if the creator meticulously sculpted every detail of his appearance with an artist’s hand. His piercing green eyes twinkle above a perfectly proportioned nose. His low, contemplative brows give him a perpetual air of thoughtfulness, and while his eyes may appear somewhat severe, something inside me recognizes the falsehood in that impression.
To me, he’ll never exhibit cruelty, or at least that’s how it seems in this moment. I can’t help but wonder where that thought sprung from. Clearing my throat, I casually glance at his neck, attempting to spot a bond mark, but his collar conceals it from view. Returning my gaze to his vivid green eyes, I realize he caught me searching for it. Busted.
“They probably keep some in the kitchen,” he remarks, leaning in closer to whisper, “I’ve heard there’s ice cream in the freezer.”
His words make my face contort with surprise. Only Avery and I ever ventured into that hidden treasure trove of ice cream. How on earth does this alpha know about it? Foolish Seraphina, everyone knows that’s where we hide the ice cream.
“It’s a secondhand dress. I can get it dry-cleaned.” Feeling self-conscious, I grab a hunk of cheese and pop it into my mouth to keep from blurting out something foolish.
“Well, do you have a free dance?” he asks with a charming smile, his sparkling eyes focused entirely on me.
I like it.
Turning my attention back to my friends, I find their jaws on the floor as they stare at him. “Oh, so you also see him?” I nod. “Glad he isn’t imaginary.” I hand my plate to Violet.
“Devlin,” he introduces himself, giving me his actual name and not a fabricated one.
