The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 131: Chapter 131

Josie POV
I dressed. Part of me was considering dressing up to show my so-called mate what he was missing out on, but another part of me believed that I should be loved for who I was, not what somebody else thought I should look like. I didn’t want to change who I was for somebody else’s benefit. I put on a pair of black bootleg jeans and a dark green, mid-riff shirt that showed off my eyes and complimented my hair. I wore flats and left my hair loose and wavy down my back. I decided not to wear makeup, hated the way it felt on my skin, and put flats on. Feeling more like myself and bracing myself for what was to come, I headed downstairs and out to the grounds, towards the large marquee, where the party was taking place.
Already it was crowded. I squeezed inside and saw my father gesturing to me, a large smile on his face. He hugged me tight, my mother beside him, his arm wrapped around her waist. “You look beautiful,” he told me sincerely “Gorgeous. Your mate is going to adore you,” he told me fiercely.
I looked down at the ground. My mate hated me. I swallowed hard and gave a tiny nod. My father clapped his hands and addressed the crowd who had gone silent, smiles on all their faces. “Ladies and gentlemen the guest of honor and birthday girl has arrived, my daughter Josie who turns eighteen today! Happy birthday” he shouted.
“Happy birthday” the crowd roared and I smiled, waving at them, before the crowd began to chatter amongst themselves
once more.
“Why don’t you go introduce yourself to some of the younger crowd darling?” my mother urged, a gentle smile on her face. Of course. It was my duty as the guest of honor to mingle amongst the crowd and speak to those close to my age, even if I didn’t want to. I sighed. I disliked parties. My mother and father, however, thought it best to hold one, in case it brought me my mate. Ironic as it was. I plastered a fake smile onto my face. “Sure,” I said as my parents began to turn towards the guests “I’ll go do that,” I said lamely.
I headed towards a small group of people, feeling like I was going into battle. A server went past me, loaded with champagne glasses and I snatched one, taking a large swig for liquid courage. The server looked taken aback. I was just about at the group of people, when I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning me. It was him again. Great. I took a sip of my drink and raised an eyebrow.
“Now what do you want?” I said icily.
“Why didn’t you tell me that you were Alpha Blaze’s daughter?” he snapped.
I rolled my eyes “Would it have made a difference” I drawled, “or are you telling me it does now?” I peered at him suspiciously.
He looked uncomfortable. I narrowed my eyes.
“Look,” he said gruffly, as I kept sipping at the champagne “the thing is…”
He didn’t get a chance to finish as my father came waltzing up, clapping my mate on the back of his shoulder. My mate looked disconcerted now. “Josie” my father beamed “I see you’ve met Alpha Drake of the Black Moon Pack,” he said.
Alpha Drake. At least I had a name. I kept my face bland. “We’ve met,” I said calmly as the Alpha began to look awkward “Why do you ask?”
My father just smiled. “Alpha Drake is here to sign a treaty with our pack. I asked him here for your birthday as a common courtesy” he said lightly “I’m glad to see that you are getting along. Alpha Drake, we will discuss business tomorrow, for now, enjoy the party and take the opportunity to recover from your journey” he added.
Ah. No wonder the Alpha looked so uncomfortable. I wanted to laugh as my father sauntered away. Alpha Drake rubbed the back of his neck, looking sheepish. “You’re afraid my father will refuse the treaty if he finds out you rejected me,” I said coldly “That’s all you care about.”
His jaw clenched. “Listen,” he said in a low tone, watching me drink the last of the champagne “It’s not that simple” he tried to explain, but I wasn’t having it.
“This is your problem, not mine,” I said, enjoying the look of frustration on his face “You can explain to my father what is preventing you from taking me as your mate, and by the way, you haven’t rejected me fully. You might want to make up your mind, I have a feeling my father won’t be happy if you reject me after he agrees to a treaty with you.”
The Alpha let out a low growl. I chuckled, placing the glass down and heading away, feeling Alpha Drake’s eyes on me, boring into the back of my skull. I grabbed another glass, humming lightly under my breath, and joined the nearest crowd who eagerly welcomed me, eager to chatter about their latest gossip. By the time I had finished the second glass, I was feeling a bit lightheaded and made my excuses, giggling quietly to myself as I made my way outside and onto the grounds. It felt like the ground was moving up and down and my body swayed as I walked, looking up at the moon as I took off my shoes, wanting to feel the grass underneath my feet.
“What’s a beautiful girl like you doing out here alone?” a voice asked and I turned my head, to see a gorgeous boy with slicked-back black hair and dark eyes looking at me, a small smile on his lips.
“Walking,” I said recklessly, wanting to forget all about my stupid mate and his dumb inevitable rejection.
“Can I interest you in walking with me?” the boy said, his eyes filled with laughter “Perhaps even in the forest?”
I hesitated. But then I remembered the way that Alpha Drake had looked at me, the way he’d spoken when we first met. He didn’t want me. If he accepted me now, it was only because he felt he had to for that damn treaty. Screw him, I thought viciously and I took a step towards the boy, ignoring the small voice in my head that warned me not to, it was my birthday after all and I was here to have fun. I took the boy’s hand and gave him a winning smile.
“Let’s go for that walk” I breathed, allowing him to lead me away without a second thought. Alpha Drake could go to hell.