Filed to story: Sorry Alpha I Am Wolfless Novel
Riviana and I handed the babies off to our moms and Roisin and Abigail gathered cake for them to take upstairs. They had offered to leave the party early so that the twins weren’t down here all night. They needed to get their rest since they were so young. In fact, Shawn’s mom and dad weren’t even here because they were watching their five young grandchildren as well.
Riviana and I didn’t want the cake right away, so we were opening the ball part of the evening. I took her hand and went to the part of the dancefloor that had been magically blocked off from the others. Only those with permission were allowed to enter that space. That was to protect the Queen, of course.
I danced with her first, and I would also dance with her last. This time, I didn’t need to worry about who else danced with her, and it also let me go and have some private conversations while she continued to dance with some of the others.
I twirled her around the dance floor expertly. In that moment, it was just the two of us. There was no one and nothing else. It was just me dancing with my wife at her birthday party. I was also quite aware of how the dress she was wearing showed off so many parts of her body.
Her breasts looked amazing even though I could only see the top of them. The marks on her chest, shoulers, neck, and back were in full display and glowed in the light. And the way that her neck kept flashing at me reminded me of the night before, and the way that I had bitten her again. My mouth watered and I desperately wanted to sink my teeth into her again. She tasted so delicious that I couldn’t help it.
After I was done with my dance, Wesley came up to dance next. He was her Dad for all intents and purposes, and he wanted to dance with his daughter. After I handed my wife over to him, I left the dancefloor and went in search of Valerian. I needed to tell him about what had happened with Gloriana. I knew that he would want to check on his sister soon. He was a man who was fiercely devoted to his family after all. There was no way in hell that he was going to let this incident slide without finding out what happened.
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Riviana
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“May I have this dance, your majesty?” Dad asked me when the music for my dance with Joaquin ended.
“I would be honored to dance with you, good sir.” I played along with him.
“Then I will take my leave.” Joaquin kissed the back of my hand before sliding it into Dad’s hand. “I will be back for our next dance soon, my love.”
“See you soon.”
I already knew that I was going to be dancing with quite a few preselected guests while Joaquin made his rounds.. It was a good way to keep me protected and occupied so none of the other random people at the party tried to dance with me.
“You look beautiful tonight.” Dad smiled at me. “And I just can’t believe that you’re already twenty-one.” Dad was looking at me with slightly misty and nostalgia filled eyes. “I have to wonder where all the time has gone.”
“It passed right before your eyes, just like it’s going to be with the twins.” I gave him the same look as I thought about how quickly this past thirteen months had passed with my own little ones around.
“It really is sad, isn’t it? To see your baby growing up right before your eyes.”
Dad was dancing perfectly, spinning me around the dance floor, but he was also looking like he was about to cry. He was sad, and I knew why.
“I know Dad, I know.” I hugged him close to me and rested my head on his chest while we danced. I had to work hard not to cry right now. If I did, Ella and Gina would yell at me about my makeup. “I love you.” I whispered the words, but he heard me as well.
“I love you too.” He squeezed me back as he said it. After that we didn’t say anything; we just danced together silently until the song was over.
The next to dance with me was Grandfather. He always looked at me with a serious look, but this time when he took my hand it reminded me of my wedding day. It was the same sort of emotional look. He, just like Dad, was on the verge of tears.
“It took several years longer, but I am having those moments that every father looks forward to.” He smiled at me despite the sorrow in his eyes.
“What are you talking about, Grandfather?” I was confused by his words.
“Watching you grow up, I’ve gotten to see all the things that I missed with your mother. Watching you get married, having a family, seeing your twenty-first birthday and everything else to come. I never got them with Lily. I am not saying you’re her replacement since you’re completely different people. No, that’s not it at all. What you are, Riviana, is my second chance at life.”
“Grandfather?” I nearly cried from his words as well. “Why would you need a second chance at life?”
“Because that day that your mother was taken from me, I died. Not physically, but emotionally. It took me a long time to come back to life, and it was mostly thanks to you. You were my new lease on life. That’s why I poured my everything into you. And now, I also have your little ones to watch over. I will make sure that I do my best by you and them.”
“I know you will.”
I hugged him just like I did with Dad, and he held me close while I rested my head on his chest. This was two very emotional dances in a row. What were they trying to do to me? The next one, I was handed off to was Athair m貌r.
“Queen Riviana, may I have the pleasure of being your next dance partner.”
“Why, Prince Valerian, I would be honored.” I grinned at him and took his hand.
“Have I told you lately that you’re doing a wonderful job as Queen?”
“I don’t feel like I am.” I sighed at his words which only made him chuckle.
“You are.” He spun me around in a way that was different from the others, most likely a way that was from the Fae. “The fact that you can’t see it is just fine. In all honesty, that will keep you humbled and stop you from becoming maniacal with power.”
“Well, we certainly don’t want that now, do we?” I giggled.
“You’re a lot like Glory was when she was first starting out. She was nervous and afraid that she was going to mess up all the time. Sorrel and I were here to help her though. And now, I am here to help you. I am more happy than you will ever know that I get to be here with you for all of this. I get to watch the birth of a kingdom from the Queen’s side for the second time. How many people do you think could make that claim?” I could see that he was proud of me and that he truly was happy.
“I would say that not many people could say that. I’m glad that you’re here with me for this, Athair m貌r.”
“Me too.”
Finally a dance that wasn’t so emotional. After that, I danced with Noah and Carter, and thankfully neither of them wanted to try to make me cry. Though they both said they couldn’t believe how much time had passed. They felt it in the same way that I did though, watching their kids grow up and get older before their eyes.
