Too Beautiful for the Alpha novel Chapter 35

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? How come you never said anything?"

He lets out a breath and relaxes. "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 the last 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 for coming."

"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."

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 glare and he smiles and I can't help but not glare 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 sleep last 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 something comes up on the path, a tree root or stone that I'd be sure to trip over.

Thinking of myself laying 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. I laid beside James and enjoyed the feeling of it for the majority, finding a simple distraction in him.