Big Bad Alphas novel Chapter 20

    "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."