The Mates of Monsters
Chapter 16

During dinner, I can't help but day-dream between short, sweet conversations with those around me. Of course Aurora has placed herself beside me, giggling and blushing like the girl I met earlier no longer exists. "Oh, Brigette, you have to tell me more about your family. Do you have any siblings?" She asks, poking at her food and brushing the hair from her shoulders.

I turn to her and shrug. "No. It's just me. How about yourself-any brothers or sisters?"

As Aurora drones on about her older sisters, my eyes wander back to my right, to David as he sits at the head of the table. I cross my ankles under the table to stop myself from bumping his foot with mine. Being surrounded by such people makes me yearn for his attention. It is strange, but I can't help it; I want everyone to see how much he adores me, or rather, how much he appears to adore me.

"Brigette," Alpha Nicodra beckons from across the table, "might you entertain me for a moment? I hear that you want to travel the world, is that true?"

For the first time tonight, I'm caught off guard. "Oh, well," I mutter, glancing to David, "I've thought about it, yes. But that was mostly before I became Luna. Things are a little more complicated now."

"Maybe someday, then. I must say that nothing is better for the soul than travel. I'll have to tell you about my own adventures; I've been everywhere you could think of."

Aurora butts-in and says, "You do have some interesting stories, don't you? Anyway, I think the world would suit you well, Brigette. You're wise for your age." "Glad you think so."

Once the dinner plates are cleared, there is a moment of rest before the desserts are brought out. I excuse myself, making up an excuse to have a breather away from the guests. I head into the kitchen and watch at the counter as one course is cleaned up and another is prepared. Helena asks if I'm alright, and I wave her off, assuring her I'm just fine. "If anyone needs a break, it's you," I tell her. "Take the day tomorrow. David and I can manage on our own."

Before she can argue, her attention is stolen by her Alpha. David comes into the kitchen, and when his eyes find me, he seems to settle. "Can you make it to the finish line?" He asks as he comes over. "Yeah, of course. I just needed a minute."

He sighs then nods to the hallway. He wants to talk alone, away from any possible eavesdroppers-and when you're an Alpha and Luna, everyone tends to be. I give Helena a reassuring touch on her shoulder then follow him out. My fingers fiddled with each other at my sides. What if I've done something wrong? I thought I was playing the game pretty safe, and I kept my distance from Alpha Nicodra as he asked.

David turns to me. He looks at me and I wait for him to say something. After a few seconds, I start to think that he has no argument or criticism ready to go. The more time that passes, the more nervous I become. I stare at him with judgment on my face, yet it isn't for anyone but myself. I knew acting like this would only lead to further temptations. It isn't possible to pretend to be so close without wishing we truly are, especially when my costar is someone like him.

"Is everything okay?" I ask, breaking the silence. Something about his gaze makes my chest grow tight.

"Is he making you uncomfortable?"

"Who?"

"Nicodra," David clarifies.

"He surprised me a little with that question, that's all. It's nothing I can't handle. He's just a man."

David peers to the end of the hall, checking for any curious snoopers. "They leave tomorrow morning. You won't have to worry about them bothering you anymore. These visits only happen once a year or so." "Everything will go back to normal," I consider. We'll have no reasons to see each other-to be close.

"Yes. I suppose so."

The tension between us is too much to bear. I haven't been alone with him for this long since our argument before the guests' arrival; when I stupidly confessed that he's all I want.

He touches me. His hand caresses mine. I watch his fingers gently wrap around me, feeling my skin as if he's never felt another person before. I know his eyes are on my face, but I don't have the courage to look up. I'm scared of what will happen if I do. "Is this a part of your act?"

"My act?" I question, far too focused on his touch.

"For Alpha Nicodra and his Luna. Is one of them supposed to unknowingly walk in?"

I murmur, "No. No, this is entirely unscripted."

David rubs the back of my hand with his thumb. "Are you going to run off?"

"Are you going to give me a reason to?"

"I might have to."

The walls between us and our guests muffle their voices. I'm sure Helena is sending out the desserts by now; small individual chocolate mousse cakes that I watched her place curled chocolate shavings on top of with the utmost precision. I breathe in and peer to the side. David's hands connect to the wall on either side of me. "You have to hold tight or I'll slip away," I tell him.

We don't have much time. They're going to start wondering where we've gone-what we're doing. My heart begins to race as my adrenaline kicks in. One of his hands leaves the wall and comes to my cheek, caressing and lifting my gaze to meet his. Maybe it's the wine; I must have drunk too much. There must be a good reason behind my sudden heedlessness.

He looks at me and all of the world falls away. I'm intoxicated by everything he says and every way he moves. There is an annoying, sober person deep inside of me calling from that far away place, warning me not to do something I will regret in the morning. Yet despite that little voice, my head tilts back, resting against the rich green paint. David moves closer and for a second I feel like the man who was pressed to death under the weight of rocks for being deemed a witch. His body is closer than it's ever been, and I can hardly breathe. "Alpha," Helena calls, "Brigette."

Panic surfaces on my face, not because I'm scared of being caught, but because I'm scared of losing my one chance. Helena nears like a circling shark but my eyes do not stray. My lips part and my hands ball into fists. I beg the words to leave my lips, but the only sounds are our soft breathes and Helena's footsteps.