Lauren''s


    POV


    Even though Michael''s words wouldn''t upset me anymore, I still felt touched by Victor''sfort. He wasn''t trying to sweet-talk me into anything but he could always impress me with his sincerity.


    I smiled at him, "And you''re not threatened by me at all and shine even brighter when you''re next to me."


    I would never say things like this in the past but now I did it so naturally. Maybe it was because I was with a different person now. But after saying that, I flushed and my ears turned red.


    Not far away from here, M was waving to me and pointing to her wrist. She wasn''t wearing her watch because it didn''t match her evening dress but I knew she was reminding me to keep an eye on the time. The Moondance Ball was about to start. I nodded at her and said to Victor, "See youter."


    "See youter," Victor chuckled on the phone and then added, "I changed my mind. See you in a minute, Lauren."


    After saying that, Victor hung up the phone and I waspletely confused.


    He changed his mind?


    Changed his mind about what?"


    Before I could figure out what he meant, M came to me and said, "Although I don''t wanna interrupt you guys and your little game, the ball is about to start. Please keep it in your pants for now."


    "Were you with Richard?" I changed the subject, "You smell like cakes. Looks like someone has already given you something to eat."


    M wanted to make fun of me but got teased instead. She froze and then said, "I was just too hungry. And I left because I don''t wanna interrupt you two, okay? Let''s go. The dance''s about to begin. Let''s see if there are any hot guys this year." "Maybe there are."


    "Oh, I can''t wait anymore," M said excitedly but she didn''t look like she was looking forward to it. She paused for a second and asked, "I saw Michael going your way, looking sneaky. What did he do? Did he bully you?"


    I raised my eyebrows and asked, "You think he''s capable of bullying me?"


    M thought about it for a while and answered honestly, "No. No wonder he stormed out like that. He couldn''t do that in the past and he definitely can''t do it now. After all, alpha Victor''s got your back. Come on, let me check you up before we go. Though you got a boyfriend now, I still wanna make sure you''re gonna make a big entrance."


    I couldn''t say no to her and just let her adjust my dress and jewelry again. She wanted to fix my makeup but she just took a look at me and put the lipstick back, "You already look gorgeous right now. You''re stunning tonight."


    "I thought I''m gonna impress you more at work, Miss M," Iughed at what she said and joked.


    M giggled, "Oh,e on, I''m not that bossy. Though you do look charming when working, Dr. nco."


    "I know," I dly epted herpliment.


    The Moondance Ball wasn''t only an inter-tribal social event but also a charity banquet. The organizer would use the money raised at the ball to help orphans, which was something my mother would''ve done if she were still alive. So I kind of had a friendly rtionship with the organizer of the ball, alpha Morgan.


    The ball usually opened with members from the same tribes or dancing partners entering together. But I didn''t want to go with Manuel or Janice. On this kind of asion, Manuel would definitely choose to go with L and I didn''t want to make myself ufortable. Going with M would be a good choice. Who said I couldn''t bring a female partner with me for the dance?


    I could always count on M on big asions like this. She hid the mischievous side of her and became elegant and graceful. But then her phone buzzed and M started praying with a smile on her face, "Please don''t be the hospital...I don''t wanna go back...Hmm?" "What''s wrong? Did the hospital really tell you to go back?" Then it would be such a shame for M to not be able to stay.


    "No," M read the text and said, "someone asked me a question and I gotta reply to this text."


    "Go ahead."


    I didn''t know what kind of emergency M had but she seemed to be in a hurry. But I was relieved that it was just a text, not a call. But after a long time, she still hadn''t gone back and the waiter at the ball had alreadye to invite me to go in. I didn''t know how long it would take for M to get back so I had to go in with the waiter. However, I bumped into Michael and Janice at the gate.


    Michael looked kind of weird when he saw me. Maybe he was thinking about the conversation we had just then.


    But Janice looked calm as if she had already forgotten about what happened in the lounge a few minutes ago. She held Michael''s arm and said to me, "Lauren, how about going in with us?"


    I didn''t n to have any kind of interaction with these two but they had toe and bother me.


    The three of us instantly drew the attention of other people and they started gossiping. After all, people were all curious as hell about the scandal of the son of the Lunarko Tribe''s alpha having an affair with the lovechild of the Fullmoon Tribe. "The eldest daughter of the Fullmoon Tribe''s alpha is here too."


    "Michael and Janice look so lovey-dovey. I wonder how she''s feeling right now."


    "I heard she''s leaving the tribe, is that right?"


    "Don''t be silly. Where else can she go if she really leaves the tribe? Maybe she was just too mad and didn''t mean what she said. Hering to the ball with those two must be a sign ofpromise."


    Compromise?


    How gullible could they be? To be honest, I really didn''t want to stand here and let them gossip about me. But Janice had toe up and gave me a big smile, "Lauren, let''s go in together. Even though you don''t wanna recognize me as your sister, we''re all from the Fullmoon Tribe after all. It''ll be...very lonely for you to go alone."


    I didn''t want to waste my time on her at all and before I could say anything, I heard people gasping and making noises. They started staring at what was behind me and stopped talking.


    Only one person could cause such a reaction.


    "Is that...the alpha of the Midnight ws Tribe?" Janice clenched Michael''s arm.


    Victor came up in his wheelchair slowly, followed by beta Richard and his other servants. Though he was in a wheelchair, he still looked quite intimidating and his alpha aura overwhelmed everyone in the room. Not only did they stop talking, but they also quieted down their breathing.


    No one dared to look down upon Victor because of his temporary leg disability.


    It was as if they were all quite certain that his condition wasn''t permanent and he was still the powerful and terrifying alpha as before.


    But Victor stopped right next to me.


    Michael froze for a few seconds and then smiled, "It''s an honor to meet you, alpha Victor."


    But Victorpletely ignored him and didn''t even look at him. He just turned to me and asked, "Prettydy, did youe alone?" "Yes," I vaguely realized what he was gonna do.


    "Then could you be my date?"


    So was this what he meant by saying he changed his mind?


    I could tell he was smiling from those golden eyes of his.


    I guessed I knew who sent M that text.


    And everyone was waiting for my answer.