Mated to the Alpha and His Beta (Lanie Stanton) novel Chapter 494

Chapter 494
Stella

Wildly, I spun in place. I was trapped, unless I wanted to push rudely through the crowd. I opened my mind to find Selena and was relieved to feel her presence still close by. Unagitated. She was having a good time.

“Don’t go,” said the man who’d been dancing with me when I pulled away.

I didn’t really want to, but I couldn’t concentrate on keeping my aunt out of trouble and also get swept up in dancing myself. Yes, she’d promised to teach me how to be normal, and apparently, this counted. But I’d promised to keep her safe, and even if humans weren’t coming after her the same way supernaturals would be, it was very clear that I couldn’t trust her to use good judgment.

I found her standing near the bar with the guy she’d been dancing with. Or it could have been a different one. Honestly, it was hard for me to tell these humans apart. They all wore the same kinds of clothes, had similar features, and didn’t have a distinctive, signature scent. They all smelled the same to me, an odor I couldn’t put my finger on but was basically bland.

“This is Joey,” she shouted.

“Meetcha,” Joey said with a nod. His gaze slid over my face and down my body.

I’d forgotten for a minute that I didn’t look like myself, so his blatant appreciation took me aback for a few seconds. Then, warmth flushed my cheeks again. I chased it away by forcing a cool smile and lifting my chin.

“’Sup,” I said, imitating what I thought someone who looked like Elleah Whitehaven should say.

“Joey,” Selena said, “has a friend.”

She sipped her drink and wiggled her eyebrows at me. I thought she might have something in her eye, but then I got it. Oh. She meant he had a friend for me.

“Where’s your friend?” I asked.

Joey shrugged, leaning against the bar. “You want a drink?”

“No, thanks.” I licked my lips and tasted sweat. More sweat pasted strands of my hair to my cheeks, so I pushed them back.

How did Selena stay looking so put-together? We’d only been here for a couple of hours, and I felt like I looked like someone had hit me in the face with a shovel. I could feel my mascara streaking. My lipstick had to be smeared. Sweat coated my back. I could’ve freshened up by manipulating my shapeshifter talents, but it would have to be subtle. I didn’t want to risk anyone watching as Elleah’s messy makeup repaired itself.

What was the use of being able to do everything, like Selena had said, if I couldn’t do anything?

“Oh, go on,” she said. “Live a little. Have a drink.”