The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 17: Chapter 17

Jordan POV
I feel sick to my stomach. An impending sense of dread makes me swallow hard as Jaxon pulls up right in front of my house. I give him a nervous smile, trying to appear nonchalant but not sure that I am succeeding judging by the careful look he’s giving me. Act normal Jordan, I remind myself, remember to act like a normal teenager. I grab my backpack and he opens the passenger door for me, helping me out as I smile gratefully at him. He eyes my house with curiosity. It’s large, as befitting a Gamma’s status and I lead him inside and sit him down in the kitchen, putting my backpack down. The house is strangely quiet.
Sarah, I’m relieved to see, isn’t home. For once something is going right in my life and my father is no doubt at the pack house or on the grounds working. “Are you hungry?” I ask Jaxon, grabbing us both some water. He takes a big gulp from his glass and shakes his head.
“Where’s your room?” he asks eagerly.
I look at him askance. I hadn’t quite anticipated him asking that.
s**t. Visions of my threadbare mattress, broken dresser, and blanket with holes in it fill my mind. I force a smile on my face. “Um, the basement but it’s a mess down there” I stammer as he looks confused “My um underwear and stuff is all over the floor” I squeak blushing.
“I don’t care,” he said easily. Damn. I’d forgotten about the whole gay thing. Of course, my underwear wouldn’t bother him. Either that or he was a slob as well and therefore not judgemental.
“Didn’t you want to ask my father about the weekend?” I change the subject with desperation.
“Oh yeah. Is he at the pack house?” asked Jaxon looking around.
“Probably” I shrug “or on the grounds. We can check the pack house first if you want and I can introduce you to Alpha John and Luna Mary.”
He stands up, towering over me, a wry grin on his face. “Let’s do it” he chuckles, easygoing as usual.
Heaving a big sigh of relief, I lead him outside and we begin to walk over the grounds. I see a lot of pack members, girls in particular, glaring at me, but Jaxon, as usual, remains oblivious. I swear he does it on purpose, I thought to myself grumpily. Either that or he really was just blind to the girls who were interested in him. We reached the pack house and I opened the door, ushering Jaxon inside.
“Your pack house is awesome” he whispered, impressed. I grinned. I had to admit that it was pretty impressive. It made me wonder what his pack house looked like.
“Alpha John and Luna Mary are probably in the study” I murmured, leading him down the hallway. I stopped at a door which was firmly shut and knocked on it tentatively.
“Come in” boomed Alpha John’s voice.
I opened the door and slowly walked in, Jaxon behind me. Alpha John straightened up in his chair, while Luna Mary smiled from her position, standing behind her husband.
“Well who do we have here Jordan?” he asked with interest “I can tell he’s an Alpha.”
I smiled. “Alpha John, Luna Mary” I inclined my head respectfully baring my neck “This is Alpha Jaxon, my friend from school” I explained.
“So you’re the new student” Luna Mary beamed, holding out her hand.
Jaxon shook it, before shaking Alpha John’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you,” Jaxon said politely.
“A friend of Jordan’s you say?” Luna Mary said, her eyes dancing as she glanced between the both of us.
Oh no, I knew what that look meant. Jaxon had a look of amusement on his face. I shot him a look of daggers. Far be it from me to divulge his secret, but he could at least say something so they didn’t have the wrong impression. He raised an eyebrow at me his eyes twinkling. Damnit. He wasn’t going to help me out at all. If looks could kill, he’d be on fire by now and a pile of ashes within minutes.
“Um” I began but Luna Mary interrupted me, an excited look on her face.
“Alpha Jaxon” she breathed “I’m hosting a ball in a few weeks at the Hotel De La Vou in the City.” She rifled through the desk and produced an invitation, handing it to a stunned Jaxon “I would be delighted if you would come.”
I looked at Jaxon with envy. Jaxon eyed the invitation thoughtfully. He bowed his head. “Thank you for the invitation. May I bring a plus one with me?” he asked respectfully.
“Oh of course” exclaimed Luna Mary “that would be delightful.”
He eyed me mischievously. Oh god, surely he wasn’t about to…but he was.
“Jordan it would be my pleasure if you would accompany me to the ball as my date,” he said formally as Luna Mary put a hand to her mouth and beamed, Alpha John smiling widely.
I hesitated. I really, really wanted to go. I glanced at Luna Mary uncertainly. “I’m um, supposed to help with the ball,” I said lowly.
“Oh honey, an Alpha asks you to the ball you don’t say no” Luna Mary exclaimed loudly “especially one that looks like that.” I blushed as Jaxon chuckled. He was really enjoying himself. Bastard. Still, I couldn’t stop the excitement washing over me. For one night I could dress up and be a girl for once. Not to mention be with my friend. I looked at Jaxon shyly. “I would love to go to the ball with you” I whispered, my throat closing up. Once again Jaxon had surprised me with his kindness.
“You lucky thing” Luna Mary enthused.
“Hey” Alpha John protested “I’m right here you know. Or did you forget that you have a husband” he grumbled as I giggled and Jaxon chortled.
Luna Mary ignored him. “Jordan I’ll get someone else to help, you have fun at the ball,” she said clapping her hands together as my father walked in.
Oh s**t. This wasn’t going to be good. My father raised an eyebrow. “What’s this about Jordan going to the ball?” he said heatedly.
Luna Mary beamed at him. “Alpha Jaxon here” she indicated to my friend “Just asked your daughter to the ball. Isn’t that fantastic” she gushed.
I could tell my father was anything but pleased but he forced a smile on his face simply for the Alpha and Luna’s sake.” Congratulations,” he told me coldly “on getting someone willing to take you” he added pointedly.
Nobody else picked up on the innuendo but me.
“Jaxon this is our Gamma Maxwell” Luna Mary introduced them “Maxwell Alpha Jaxon.”
I watched my father shake hands with him. Jaxon’s eyes were assessing my father, a thoughtful expression on his face. “Jordan speaks very well of you,” Jaxon said quietly.
My father’s expression was guarded as he glanced at me. “Does she now?” he said shooting me a look “I’m glad to hear that.”
I tensed. Jaxon sensed the tension in the air and looked confused. He smiled at my father. “Mr Maxwell sir, I was wondering if I might ask you something,” he said cheerfully.
My father looked a bit stunned. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting this from an Alpha. Alpha John leaned forward and so did Luna Mary. They gazed at their Gamma expectantly who knew he would have to tread very carefully with Alpha Jaxon and whatever his request might be.
“What would that be Alpha Jaxon?” he asked carefully, shifting slightly on one foot.
“Well I don’t know if you know this, but Jordan and I have become very good friends,” Jaxon said as my father nodded grimly “and I would like her to visit my pack this weekend, show her around and let her meet my parents. I would like your permission for Jordan to attend my pack,” he told my father.
Oh, dear. I knew my father was stuck. He couldn’t very well refuse such a polite request, especially coming from an Alpha. Especially when Luna Mary and Alpha John were nodding their agreement. I fidgeted with my hands, feeling nervous.
“Will your parents be there, and will Jordan be in a separate room?” he asked suspiciously.
Since when did he care? Or was he simply angry at the thought that somebody might be interested in me I fumed?
Jaxon looked offended. “Of course, sir. I am a gentleman” he stressed. I almost scoffed at that but managed to keep a straight face.
“Maxwell, Jordan is a very well-behaved young lady. I am certain there is nothing for you to be worried about” Luna Mary chided him “You’ve never had any issues with her, have you?” she exclaimed indignantly. “This is a great opportunity for her to learn how other packs function. I think it’s fantastic” she declared.
My father gave a low growl. “No Jordan has never given me any trouble,” he said with a frown.
Jaxon looked at me triumphantly. He had no idea the trouble he had caused and I wasn’t about to give any indications of it. Alpha John’s eyes gleamed. “I expect to hear a full report on how organized this pack is compared to mine” he teased and I laughed as Jaxon grinned.
“I’m sure my pack doesn’t compare to yours,” Jaxon said with a smile “Your pack appears to be very efficient” he complimented my Alpha who looked chuffed with the compliment.
My father’s jaw tightened. He was on the verge of exploding, I thought worriedly. It was time to get the hell out of there. I grabbed Jaxon’s arm and smiled coyly at him, batting my eyelashes. “How about I give you a tour of the grounds” I breathed.
“Sure” he agreed, inclining his head “Thank you for your hospitality,” he said, following me out as Luna Mary winked at me. We burst into laughter once we got outside. “Did you have to lay it on so thick” I complained “Now they think you’re in love with me” I whined.
“You mean you don’t want to go to the ball?” he gasped.
I looked at the ground. “I do” I admitted “but are you sure you want to take me? I mean what if there’s some guy you want to take instead?”
He grinned. “There’s not. So pick out a pretty dress, grab some shoes, and get ready to dance your little heart out” he boasted “And in the meantime, we’ll go from school Friday to my pack, so make sure you have changes of clothes on hand” he said.
I rolled my eyes. “You’re so bossy” I complained.
“You love it” he countered back. I huffed at him.
I gave him a tour of the grounds which he seemed to appreciate, asking all sorts of questions, and then reluctantly said goodbye to him, waving as he pulled away in his car. I heard footsteps behind me and then a hand roughly grabbed my arm, eliciting a cry of pain from me. I turned around and met the cold, dark eyes of my furious father. I gulped.
“You’re coming with me.”