Cornelia was worried about her high heels, but with her holding onto Jas' shoulders and moving slowly at the beat of the music, it was not so bad. Actually, she enjoyed it very much because it was with Jas.
"Will your father give you a hard ti?" She asked.
Jas shook his head. "Don't worry about him. My mission for tonight is… you."
Cornelia's eyes widened. "Did your father ask you to charm with your good looks?"
"What if he did?"
"Then, I look forward to being chard. But you should tell him I'm not a woman who will be satisfied with just one night."
Jas chuckled, and he really wanted to kiss her, but he knew it wouldn't be appropriate. Damned party! He was glad that he didn't need to entertain random won, and that Cornelia was right there, close enough for him to inhale her addictive scent of wild berries, and he could hold onto her, yet it was not close enough.
"What is weighing on your mind, Jay?" Cornelia asked in a whisper.
He smiled sadly, her concern was genuine, and it touched his heart.
"Many things," he admitted. Mostly about the future and the two of them. He didn't want to spoil the mood, but the images of his father getting kissing Cornelia's hand were flashing in his mind, and he feared that Alpha Edward will take her away.
"Don't worry too much," she said. "Nature has a way of making things work. You were worried about this party, yet here we are, together, dancing."
Jas knew she was right, but… "Things don't always work out for the best."
"Nature is teaching us by providing situations where we get to learn and grow, and if the sa challenge repeats, it ans we didn't overco it the previous ti."
"You are saying that as long as I don't get rid of obstacles, this will keep repeating." The biggest obstacle being Alpha Edward.
Cornelia confird. "If you pay attention, you will notice that every next ti, you are handling it with more confidence. Your experience taught you lessons you wouldn't know otherwise. On top of that, you are not alone."
He was not alone. Jas knew that she was talking about herself and all the other people they had befriended in the last few weeks; so of them were present at this event. Could he call them friends or allies? Would they help him if it ant jeopardizing their safety? That would be the ti he needed them the most, yet he had a feeling that if things turned to worse, only Cornelia would stand by his side. And it was contradictory because in that case, he wouldn't want Cornelia with him; he would want her far away, where it was safe. If anything happened to Cornelia, he would go mad, and if she suffered because of him, it would make things so much worse.
Cornelia could feel his mood fluctuating again. She knew that Jas had a lot on his mind, it was a habit that allowed him to survive in harsh conditions, and her heart ached for him.
She wanted to comfort him, but how could she do that with all these people around?
"Excuse ..." A male voice drifted their way, and both Cornelia and Jas snapped to look at the middle-aged man.
Cornelia had no idea who the man was, but Jas recognized him.
"General Dalton," Jas called grimly. "What brings you here? Did Alpha Richard send you here to deliver a ssage for my partner or ?"
General Dalton's expression darkened. Why did Jas reduce him to a ssenger? He decided to ignore Jas and focus on the person why he was there.
"Miss Cornelia, I wonder if I can have the honor of dancing with you."
Before she could respond, Jas asked her, "Do you know him?"
"I didn't get a chance to et the gentleman."
Jas shook his head. "Miss Cornelia, you are too kind. A gentleman wouldn't interrupt two people dancing. This is General Dalton from the Steelbite pack. And it seems that he left his mate at ho, otherwise, lanie wouldn't allow him to approach you."
General Dalton couldn't believe this. "Don't twist this into sothing that is not."
"And what is it?" Jas sneered.
"I just asked the lady for a dance with the hope that we can talk and get to know each other. There is nothing more to it." He turned to look at Cornelia. "I had no indecent thoughts."
Cornelia observed Jas, who had fire coming out of his eyes. Her mate was possessive, and she liked it very much.
"I apologize, General Dalton," Cornelia said. "But I am dancing with young Alpha Jas, and we were in the middle of a conversation. If you still wish to dance with later, you can approach when I'm at the table."
General Dalton forced a smile and, "Of course. Pardon my intrusion." And then he turned on his heel and walked away.
Cornelia smiled at Jas, who was still glaring in the direction where General Dalton disappeared.
"If you act like that, people will suspect sothing," she said.
Jas' eyes flashed at her. "Should I step to the side and let him take you?"
"No. But you should let reject him."
Jas liked her answer, but he was still pouting.
How co no one interrupted Damon and Talia? Damon was too strong, and no one dared to cut in, while Jas was just a fledgling. He needed to get stronger and do it quickly, or soone might snatch Cornelia away from him!
Thinking about how to pacify her mate, Cornelia said, "I have a feeling that soon my ankle will get worse, and I will need help from soone to escort to my room."
Jas was not sure if her injury was really worsening or if she was just playing, so he had to ask, "How bad is it?"
"It won't get better for a long ti. Probably until morning."
Now he knew she was joking. "It will be a pity for such a beautiful woman to spend the night alone. I will be honored to give you company as you heal, Miss Cornelia."
"I will hold you to your word, young Alpha Jas."
He wished that she held much more than just his word. And she will. Soon.
Cornelia noticed Jas frowning while looking at the left side of her neck, realizing that's where his mark is. She covered it up with makeup, and he didn't like it.
"I'm sorry", she said.
Jas was surprised by this apology. "What? Why?"
"Because I… covered it up."
He pressed his lips into a line. "It is I who should be apologizing."
It was Cornelia's turn to be confused. "Why would you apologize?"
He leaned closer and spoke softly, "If I'm not this weak, there wouldn't be a reason for you to cover it up."
"Please, don't bla yourself," she quickly said, the guilt was gnawing on her insides. Now that he was looking at her sadly, she wondered why she hid that mark in the first place.
"Jay," she called. "Rember what I said about nature giving us challenges and teaching us lessons? Think of this as one of those. Next ti, I won't cover it up."
Jas' heart expanded at the sincerity his chocolate-colored Goddess was encouraging him to stay strong. She was wise, and her words touched his soul, and no one ever coaxed him so gently yet with so much strength.
But Jas didn't want the next ti because he wanted to figure out the ss with his father and to co up with sothing that would allow him to be with Cornelia, without hiding.
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