Chapter 120


    Making my way through the people again, back the way I came, I find James and ask him if we can


    talk. He gives me a worried look and excuses himself before following me back into the corner. "Is it


    about my father?" He asks. "The guards reported back that they saw nothing."


    "No, it''s not. Ava told me about this King of Alphas thing. What is she talking about, James? Howe


    you never said anything?"


    He lets out a breath and rxes. "It''s nothing. It''s just some idea that a few people have been tossing


    around."


    "She told me that it was discussed at some Alpha meeting and that your name was brought up. If it''s


    being talked about at some all-important meeting then it sounds serious to me."


    James grabs my hand, using the bond as some sort of assurance. "If I thought it was important, I would


    have told you. It''s been in discussion for a while, even before I met you, Rae. It''s not likely. And the


    meetings happen every two or three months. I didn''t go to thest one because I was handling things


    with you. They aren''t as secretive or as interesting as they sound, I promise."


    I sigh. "Okay. I just feel like I''m finally being let in on all the secrets, and I want you to tell me about


    everything. I want to learn and grow, so if there''s anything else that I don''t know about, and that


    involves you, I''d like you to tell me before anyone else. We''re a team, right?"


    "Of course," he murmurs. "And I will."


    The night continues on, and after another hour I find myself nodding off. As we stand and talk, I lean


    against James, depending on him to hold me up and not let me tumble to the ground. At one point my


    eyes shut and stay shut, and James gently taps my back to wake me up. "The party is almost over,


    why don''t you head back and sleep," he says softly into my ear while the two men across from us


    babble on.


    "No, no, I can''t go. It''s my party," I mumble, forcing myself to lean off of him, showing him that I''m not


    tired. "I can wait."


    "I promise everyone is leaving in a few minutes. I''ll meet you back at the house after I thank everyone


    foring."


    "No," I protest, "I need to thank them, too."


    I stand for five more minutes before I feel James move. Assuming he''s walking to more people to start


    the ''Thank You''s,'' I mindlessly trail along. "Can you take her home, Theodore? She''s falling asleep."


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Awake again, I quickly mutter, "I''m not. I''m going to say goodbye."


    "Let''s go," Theodore says and grabs my arm, leading me out like a grandmother. I give James a re


    and he smiles and I can''t help but not re because he''s so charming.


    "I''ll be there in half an hour, okay?" James calls as we exit the building.


    I obediently walk with Theodore, but I can''t help but say, "I could have stayed. I''m fine. I didn''t get much


    sleepst night, but I can handle it for a few more minutes."


    "We''re already on the way," he says and I listen, beginning to look forward to my bed.


    It''s dark now, the sky blends with the tops of the trees, and I can hardly tell the two apart. My eyes don''t


    really watch the ground as I walk, but I don''t stumble, and I''m sure it''s because I''m busy dreaming of


    sleep, and Theodore is doing all the work. He pulls me out of the way when somethinges up on


    the path, a tree root or stone that I''d be sure to trip over.


    Thinking of myselfying in bed is easy when I''ve only slept for four hours in nearly two days. I was


    nervous for the party before I had my battle with myself in the mirror, and the anxious thoughts came at


    night. Iid beside James and enjoyed the feeling of it for the majority, finding a simple distraction in


    him.