“She is,” I say. “And Eric always treats her as one.”
“I noticed.” She smiles at me. “I’m glad she is so happy here and is treated well.”
“Why don’t you visit more often?” I ask. “You are Val’s best friend, right? You can come anytime.”
“I think I will,” Jazz says. “Next time, I might bring my mate with me. Aryanna is amazing, and I’m sure she would love it here. She and Eric are friends too.”
“That’s a good idea,” Marilou says. “You should do that!”
“Yes, isn’t your anniversary in April?” Nox says. “Surprise her with a trip.”
Jazz beams. “That’s why you are becoming beta,” she says with a grin. “They always have the best ideas. And I know for certain because I’m sleeping with one.”
“I’ve heard alpha’s sons aren’t that bad either,” I point out.
“So are warriors,” Terry says.
“And as usual, everything turns into a pissing contest with them,” Jazz grins.
She teases us a bit more while I feel Léna tugging at my sleeve. “Arden, I completely forgot to tell you something.”
“What is it, Léna?”
She lowers her voice. “Well, I just heard about it today, but Coralie is attending the party. I don’t know how… seems like she got an invitation through some contacts,” she whispers.
Before I can even grasp what she is saying, I can see Coralie moving through the crowd, waltzing directly towards me. She grabs my arm, beaming at me, while trying to tug me away from Aurelia. “Arden!” She smiles dashingly. “You’re here!”
“Of course I’m here,” I say, trying to tug my arm away without tossing her across the room. For a moment I can’t even comprehend what she is doing here and why she is talking to me. Did she go insane!? I decide to ask her. “Are you going crazy?”
For a moment she looks flustered, while Vander grins slightly.
“You are so funny, Arden,” she says.
“I wasn’t joking,” I point out.
For a split second, she looks annoyed before squeezing my arm again and rubbing her body against it while glancing at Aurelia. “Oh, you! Have you already forgotten our amazing dates before? You said you would take me as your chosen mate.”
She is nuts, clearly losing it, and on top of that she makes me look like a psycho in front of Aurelia and her friends. They must believe I’m leading my mate on.
Chapter thirty-two
Showdown at New Year’s Eve
*AURELIA*
If this girl didn’t infuriate me, with her blatant disrespect by crossing mine and my mate’s boundaries, I would double-over laughing. Arden looks annoyed and ready to shake her off like an irritating tick. Also, he is completely oblivious to her very obvious attempts to provoke drama between us.
“What’s wrong with you?” Arden says, while tugging his hand away and forcing her to step away. “Do you need help? I never said I would take you as a chosen mate. You, supposedly, were waiting for your fated mate, if I may remind you.”
“But you said you would want to make me luna,” she says.
“Luna?” Arden furrows his brows and shakes his head. “I never planned on taking over the pack. Why would I promise you the luna position?”
The way he is killing her with his logic is hilarious and fascinating, and I find it so hot.
“But we shared so many things,” she says. “All the time we spent with each other.”
“Coralie,” Arden says earnestly. “We dated for two weeks. I’m serious. Do you need help? You don’t seem alright.”