The Alpha’s Curvy Cinderella - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

Jordan POV
It’s the day of the ball. I’ve spent the last few days dodging Grant, to his great disappointment, and Sarah as well. Jaxon is the only one who knows what she did to me and he gave me his blood so that I could heal quickly again. I’m nervous. Frightened. What if Sarah tries to humiliate me at the ball? What if she does something to hurt me again? I pace back and T forth, nibbling on my nails, trying to keep my breathing under control. The only saving grace I have is that Sarah rushed out of the house this morning with everything she needed, claiming she was getting ready at her friend Sandra’s house. My father, not giving a stuff about the ball, also left early in the morning, after breakfast, without even so much as a backward glance. It’s now early afternoon and I’m expecting Jaxon any minute now, with my dress and accessories.
Knock, knock. I hear the loud sounds of Jaxon knocking on the hard wooden front door and rushed to open it. He grins at me, handing me my dress and the accessories as I carefully lay them on the couch. “Mother insisted on putting your dress in a garment bag. She had it drycleaned as well” he explained as I gaped at him. Jaxon looked absolutely stunning, dressed in a black tuxedo, with a pale blue dress shirt, silver cufflinks, and black dress shoes. He had a bowtie which he smoothed out as I stared at him in awe.
“Well,” he said winking “are you going to get dressed or what?”
He looked around the house and narrowed his eyes “Where is Sarah?” he asked, a menacing tone in his voice.
He was still angry at her for beating me the other day and I knew he would have loved to get his hands on her, even though I’d begged him to leave it be.
“At a friend’s,” I said with a shrug, carefully grabbing the dress and bolero, draping them over my arm, and scurrying upstairs “I’ll be back in a minute” I yelled.
“Take your time” he shouted, “heaven knows we have plenty of it.”
I slid my clothes off, keeping my white lace panties on, and shimmied into the dress. I held onto the front and realized I couldn’t get the zip-up on my own. “Uh, Jaxon” I yelled, “can you give me a hand with the zipper?”
He came sauntering up. “Turn around,” he said and I obliged.
He moved my hair to the side and then slowly slid the zipper up as I sucked in a breath, the dress clinging tightly to my bosom and then flowing outwards. He gave a low whistle. “Looking smoking hot,” he said as I shoved him and giggled. I put the bolero on, a white one to go with the royal blue dress, and left my hair loose. I didn’t own any makeup, unfortunately, so my face was completely free of it.
“You look beautiful Jordan. You don’t need makeup. Nobody is going to look as amazing as you do” Jaxon complimented me.
“You’re just saying that,” I said lightly, my throat constricting “but I appreciate the sentiment behind it anyway.”
He shook his head and sighed. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” he said sadly “and the way your second chance mate will see you.”
“Do you really think I’ll get a second chance mate?” I asked Jaxon doubtfully.
“I’m sure you will. If anyone deserves to find love and happiness with their mate, it’s you” Jaxon said fiercely.
“So do you Jaxon. I hope you find your mate at the ball” I said wistfully.
He smiled and inclined his head. I took his arm and he led me back downstairs, handing me the clutch and digging the white heels I’d chosen out of the box. “Sit down Cinderella” he teased as I sat on the couch “Let’s see if the shoe fits.”
He carefully put the heels on for me, the straps winding around my ankles. They were shiny, gleaming in the light. I sucked in a breath. I felt gorgeous for the first time in my life. Jaxon was grinning broadly. “You’re going to blow them away,” he told me firmly, standing up and offering his arm to me “and your sister is going to be so jealous of you, that she’ll go berserk” he enthused.
“I hardly think so” I commented drily “I’ve seen her dress and it’s amazing. She almost looks like a bride” I said crinkling my nose “not to mention she’s got makeup and jewelry.”
I fiddled with my bracelet; the eighteenth birthday present Jaxon had gotten me. “I love this bracelet though Jaxon” I assured him as he opened the passenger seat of his car “and I really appreciate you getting it for me.”
I buckled myself in as he hopped in the driver’s side and began to rummage through the glove box. “That reminds me,” he said with a chuckle, “mother thought you might need a necklace to go with your dress,” he said, grabbing a small wrapped box and handing it to me.
“Oh, but she’s done so much for me already,” I said in dismay, tears pricking the corners of my eyes, as I stared down at the small box, feeling grateful for everything Jaxon and his family had done for me.
Jaxon chuckled some more. “There’s nothing my mother loves more than to go shopping. This just gave her an excuse to do it” he joked as I giggled. “Now open it” he complained, “she didn’t even show me what it was.”
I slowly peeled the wrapping away and lifted the lid off the small jewelry box, gasping as I saw the small necklace inside. It was unique. A Nautilus shell necklace made of gold with a matching gold chain. It was gorgeous. My hands trembled as I slowly lifted it out. Jaxon raised an eyebrow. “Do you like it?” he asked doubtfully “I mean, it’s a seashell” he said a little flabbergasted.
“It’s so pretty” I breathed “and your mother really knows me. I love seashells and the beach” I whispered, “my mother used to take me when I was younger and we would collect seashells together.” My voice cracked as I remembered. Jaxon looked a little nervous now.
“Would you like me to put it on you?” he asked kindly.
I nodded happily, a lone tear trailing down my cheek. I would have to thank Luna Serena personally when I got the chance. Jaxon took the necklace from my hands and I turned my back to him, presenting my neck, holding my hair up as he placed the chain around my neck and expertly did the link up. He let go and I let my hair go, holding the shell in my hand as it nestled just above my breasts, shining brightly.
“Thank you” I choked out.
“No problems. Knowing my mother that’s real gold too, so try not to lose it or bet it in a poker game” he teased.
“Oh no, this is most definitely something I’ll keep forever” I breathed ecstatic.
He started the car and handed me the invitation. “Have you ever been to this Hotel De La Vue?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, but I do know it’s a hotel that’s entirely for shifters and I’ve heard it’s really impressive, especially the ballroom. I’ve always wanted to go and see it.”
We began to drive and I stared out the window, lost in my thoughts. It seemed like hardly any time passed by before Jaxon was pulling up and helping me out of the passenger door, handing his car keys to the valet, and escorting me into a massive building that looked so regal and expensive that I worried we wouldn’t be let in.
I shouldn’t have worried. Jaxon handed over our invitations and we were given instructions to the nearby ballroom. Security let us pass and we walked inside. I stared around in awe. There was a massive crowd of people. Tables were set up in one corner of the large room for people to sit, there were waiters and waitresses maneuvering through the crowd with trays of food and champagne, and the dance floor was large and open, with couples dancing with one another as a live band played music. All the women looked gorgeous, dressed to impress in their dresses and the men were just as handsome in their suits. I glanced around and noticed that Sarah wasn’t present yet, so she must be running slightly late. Alpha John and Luna Mary came up to me, with wide smiles on their faces.
“Jordan, you look, stunning” Luna Mary gushed “I absolutely love that dress on you. Jaxon you are one lucky boy,” she said, making me blush.
“You look gorgeous,” Alpha John said beaming “And you look very handsome son” he added, shaking Jaxon’s hand while Luna Mary gave me a hug.
“Now, please, mingle, dance, help yourself to food and drinks,” Luna Mary said cheerfully “I have also reserved the entire top floor if you need a room to just lie down and rest or want to spend the night, alone of course,” she said narrowing her eyes at Jaxon “just come see me and I’ll give you the room number that’s still available.”
“Wow, that’s so nice of you” I breathed “Thanks a lot Luna Mary, Alpha John.”
She waved her hand at me “Now go have some fun” she squealed “I’m so excited to see if Grant meets his mate tonight or chooses one. But you two make such an adorable couple, it’s a shame your father didn’t want to come tonight” she added with a shrug “I think he would have been proud to see how beautiful both his daughters looked. What a shame.”
I said nothing but politely nodded, Jaxon squeezing my hand and then gently tugging me toward the ballroom floor, a small smile curved on his face.
“May I have this dance Cinderella?”
I playfully shoved him. “Stop calling me that” I laughed “and yes you may.”
He grabbed my hand and placed his other one on my waist as we began to sway gently to the music, other couples around us doing the same. He pulled me close, and I closed my eyes, enjoying myself and letting go of all my fears and inhibitions at that moment. Right then, I was just a girl, dancing with a boy, a friend, and nothing else existed.
Then Jaxon suddenly stiffened. My eyes shot open and I glanced at him worriedly as he gave me a frown, a perplexed expression on his face.
“Do you smell that?” he asked me gruffly.
“Do you mean the food?” I asked uncertainly.
He sniffed, his eyes darkening “No” he growled “It smells like sandalwood and pine” he muttered, turning around and looking around frantically.
Oh boy, I thought excitedly, I knew exactly what this meant! My heart was swelling with joy for my best friend. He locked eyes with another boy across the room and both of them let out a growl at the same time and then shouted the same word simultaneously as I beamed, delighted for Jaxon. That word was “MATE.”