Big Bad Alphas

Chapter 21

"I brought your dress," Caroline tells me as she comes through the bedroom door with many things

piled in her arms. I quickly grab some before items go tumbling to the floor.

"What's all this?" I ask.

"I thought we could get ready together, you know since this entire party was our idea," Caroline

explains and lifts up the dress for me to see. "Don't you love it?"

The dress is entirely black with an off the shoulder neckline and thick straps. It hugs my body all the

way down, exposing every dip and curve with a small, elegant flare at the bottom. Gazing in the mirror,

I call to Caroline from the bathroom. "It is very exposing on the top."

"Not too much," she calls back. "Come out; I want to see!"

"Is Eric there?"

"No, now hurry up!"

I hesitantly twist the door handle and push it open. Caroline glances at me and cheers. "I knew it

would look fantastic on you!"

"I don't know; it is a little too much."

"Too much?" She gapes, "you look like you're the queen of the world."

"Okay, only because I don't want to change and have to make another decision. What are you

wearing?"

"A white dress, it's appropriate and what not," she waves me off. "Want me to do your hair?"

I pick up a strand and shrug. "I was just going to keep it down."

"Okay, at least let me curl the ends some more or give it more volume on top," she suggests, and I

give up, letting her do as she pleases. It is not like this night is about me, it is about Eric's father and

Olivia finding her mate, that is all that matters.

Once the both of us are finished, we head to the ballroom to make sure everything is in place.

Caroline yells at a few people, and I trail behind her, enjoying all her hard work. She truly transformed

the room into something work celebrating in. "I told you that the desert table goes after the hot

appetizers," she dramatically throws her hands up in the air. "People are going to start arriving any

minute!"

She pulls me towards the entrance. "Okay, we're going to happily greet people as they come in."

I nod, following her orders so I do not get scolded also. She fixes my hair then straightens her dress.

"You know, I'm not very good with strangers," I admit, feeling my anxiety rise in my stomach.

"It's okay, worst comes to worst, just stand there and look inviting—well the cleavage kinda does that

already," she jokes, and I blush, quickly covering my chest.

"You said it wasn't that bad!"

Before Caroline can answer, she is distracted by the first guest, a couple from a pack out west. He is

a Beta, and she takes care of the children, schooling them and what not. I watch Caroline in awe as

she so quickly welcomes people inside and converses.

"Where is Eric?" I ask her quietly, and she motions into the party. "He passed us?"

"No, I'm sure he went through a back door, just go look for him, I'll be fine up here."

I nod and venture out into the crowd. Everyone looks so lovely, and I find myself walking slower to

admire the fantastic dresses many of the women have on. They all look classy and elegant while I feel

like a bimbo with my cleavage out, but maybe Caroline was right, maybe it is not as bad as I think.

"Isabella?"

I turn to the side and spot Eric standing with two other men. My jaw must have dropped a few inches

because seeing him in a suit in making me all hot and bothered. While smiling, I hurry over. "I was

looking for you," I tell him and he excuses us from the group.

Confused, I follow him as he leads us off to the side. "Your dress, it's very—revealing," he says to me,

and I curse at Caroline mentally.

"I knew it! Caroline told me it was okay, and I knew it was too much, but I listened to her anyways."

Eric's eyes continuously drift down, and I slap his shoulder. "Sorry, it's just terribly distracting, yet

wonderful."

With red cheeks, I struggle. "What do I do? Should I go change?"

"Well, can you pull it up?"

I grip the dress and try to shimmy it up further. "Help me," I mutter, and Eric grabs on also, almost

lifting me off the ground.

"Isabella? Is that you?" A strangely familiar voice hits me, and Eric let's go of the dress

Glancing behind me, I almost have a minor heart attack. It cannot be. "Talia?" I question with wide

eyes.

A giant smile overcomes her face, and she rushes over, dragging a man with her. "I thought it was

you!"

I frantically search for Eric's hand, and when I find it, I squeeze him tightly. "Talia, it has been so

long."

The man beside her looks rather miserable, but Talia attention is stuck on Eric. "Alpha Tate," she

breathes out. "You know my old friend Isabella?"

Eric sighs then smiles charmingly. "Why, yes I do, very much."

"How surprising."

My eyes narrow in on her. "Who's this?" I ask, motioning to the man.

"Oh, this is my mate, Brandon, he's third in command for Alpha Richards," she explains. "We meant

two years ago. Still haven't found your mate, huh Isabella?"

"Actually," Eric begins, but I cut him off.

"Hopefully someday soon," I lie. "I'll be waiting, though." Eric peers down at me, and I squeeze his

hand. "We have to go help with the party, but you two enjoy yourselves."

Talia smiles a wicked smile, something fake, and I tug Eric away and around a corner which leads to

a hallway. I take a deep breath and lean against the wall.

"You didn't want to tell her we're mates?" Eric asks and comes up beside me.

"No, you're not something to make her jealous, I care about you enough to know that," I tell him.

"Now help me with this dress."

He nods and grabs ahold of me again. Just as I notice the dress starting to cover more, a gut-

wrenching tearing noise blares in my ears. My eyes bulge from my head. "Don't tell me..."

"It's ripped," he mutters and let's go. "You have to put on something else; the tear is right under your

chest."

I throw my head back. "I told Caroline that I would be here to help her with Olivia."

"I'll come with you," Eric says. "We can go back to Carolines and find something else."

I shake my head. "You don't have to come with me."

"I want to."

Eric leads me down the hallway to the backdoor, and together we walk back to Carolines. Crickets

chirp in the distance and Eric surprisingly links his arm with mine, as if he is escorting me somewhere. I

look up at him, and he shrugs. "Did you see your dad?" I ask, wondering if he is enjoying the party.

"I did, my mother is pulling him around to thank everyone for coming," Eric tells me with a small smile.

"I think he is dealing with his current situation rather well."

"I feel bad for leaving Caroline."

Eric assures me, "Caroline enjoys public events, she'll be fine."

"You know, I did not tell you how handsome you look yet," I smile as we walk up to the front door.

"Tuxedos suit you."

"Why thank you, Isabella, comments do not mean much unless they are coming from you," he takes

my hand and leads me upstairs, acting as a fine sir from a time before ours. I laugh as he dramatically

opens the door for me.

"She won't mind, right?" I ponder as I peek in her closet. I locate the dresses and sift through them.

"Caroline sure has a lot of clothes," I call back to Eric.

When I do not hear him answer, I look out to find him sitting on the edge of her bed with a picture frame

in his hands. "Eric?"

He gazes up at me. "Sorry, I didn't know Caroline had this picture of us." He holds it up for me to look

at. It is the two of them when they were both very young, Caroline wearing a purple dress and Eric,

only a toddler.

"You guys were adorable," I comment.

He sighs and places the picture back beside her bed. "Back then we got along, surprisingly."

Eric waits for me as I slip on one of the dresses I randomly chose from the bunch. It is long, silky, and

red, but most of all, it covers my chest. I step out of the closet, which I utilized as a changing room, and

Eric looks up at me. "Okay, we can go back."

He stands up and kisses my hand, making me laugh with a light blush kissing my cheeks. "No matter

what you wear, you always tend to steal my attention."

"You are acting funny tonight."

I follow him downstairs. "I did have a few drinks." I roll my eyes, and we make our way back to the

ballroom. "Isabella, though I may be slightly intoxicated, you do look lovely."

"Thank you," I say as I peer into his eyes. "But you need to stay away from the bar when we get

back."

We sneak back inside thanks to the backdoor, but once we were part of the crowd again, I noticed

that the mood has changed. Curious, I stop Heath when I catch him walking by. "Heath, what

happened? Everyone is so calm and, well, dancing."

Many couples now cluttered the center of the room, swaying smoothly to the soothing music. "There

you two are, Caroline, was looking for you everywhere."

Confused, I glance back at Eric. "What are you talking about?" He questions.

Heath explains. "Caroline found her mate and everyone was inspired by the romance."

Eric grabs onto me. "Caroline found her mate?"

Heath nods and a giant smile breaks out on my face. "This is unbelievable! Caroline, where is she?"

Before Heath can answer, Eric steps forward. "Where is he? The guy?"

I rest my hand on Eric's arm when I notice the stern look in his eyes.