Mated to the Alpha and His Beta

Chapter 494 Stella

Wildly, I spun in place. I was trapped, unless I wanted to push rudely through the crowd. I opened my mind to find Selena and was relieved to feel her presence still close by. Unagitated. She was having a good time.

"Don't go," said the man who'd been dancing with me when I pulled away.

I didn't really want to, but I couldn't concentrate on keeping my aunt out of trouble and also get swept up in dancing myself. Yes, she'd promised to teach me how to be normal, and apparently, this counted. But I'd promised to keep her safe, and even if humans weren't coming after her the same way supernaturals would be, it was very clear that I couldn't trust her to use good judgment.

I found her standing near the bar with the guy she'd been dancing with. Or it could have been a different one. Honestly, it was hard for me to tell these humans apart. They all wore the same kinds of clothes, had similar features, and didn't have a distinctive, signature scent. They all smelled the same to me, an odor I couldn't put my finger on but was basically bland.

"This is Joey," she shouted.

"Meetcha," Joey said with a nod. His gaze slid over my face and down my body.

I'd forgotten for a minute that I didn't look like myself, so his blatant appreciation took me aback for a few seconds. Then, warmth flushed my cheeks again. I chased it away by forcing a cool smile and lifting my chin.

"Sup," I said, imitating what I thought someone who looked like Elleah Whitehaven should say.

"Joey," Selena said, "has a friend."

She sipped her drink and wiggled her eyebrows at me. I thought she might have something in her eye, but then I got it. Oh. She meant he had a friend for me.

"Where's your friend?" I asked.

Joey shrugged, leaning against the bar. "You want a drink?"

"No, thanks." I licked my lips and tasted sweat. More sweat pasted strands of my hair to my cheeks, so I pushed them back.

How did Selena stay looking so put-together? We'd only been here for a couple of hours, and I felt like I looked like someone had hit me in the face with a shovel. I could feel my mascara streaking. My lipstick had to be smeared. Sweat coated my back. I could've freshened up by manipulating my shapeshifter talents, but it would have to be subtle. I didn't want to risk anyone watching as Elleah's messy makeup repaired itself.

What was the use of being able to do everything, like Selena had said, if I couldn't do anything?

"Oh, go on," she said. "Live a little. Have a drink."

"Just a cola, then."

Joey laughed. "Sure, princess."

I frowned at the hint of sarcasm in his tone. Joey was not as handsome as the server had been. Selena leaned into his embrace as he gestured at the bartender. She seemed to like him well enough, but she was also definitely feeling the influence of the alcohol.

"Don't be so uptight," she scolded.

"One of us should stay sober," I told her.

Joey snorted. "Why?"

I hadn't realized he could hear me. The bubble I'd put around me and Selena was entirely gone. I didn't try to put it back into place. So much was going on, and I needed to keep my head about me. "Come on. Let's dance again!" Selena swayed on her high heels.

Joey put his arm around her. "Whoa, whoa, little lady."

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Little lady? Ugh. How could she stand to be talked to that way? But Selena shot me a secret grin that showed me she was not as intoxicated as she seemed...or least as not as much she wanted Joey to think she was. Her wink didn't really make me feel better, either.

"I'll stay here," I told them both. "My feet hurt."

That was true, I might not have squeezed my feet into the kind of

pointy tettos my aunt was

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wearing, but these fashion boots were still a lot different than the sneakers and flats I was used to. It wasn't the real reason I didn't té get back on the dance floor, though.

I really just wanted to be able to keep my wits about me.

"You go," I told her. "Have a good time. I'll be over here."

I could tell Selena was torn, but only for a few seconds before she shrugged and took Joey by the

hand. She led him back to the dance floor. She didn't even glance back. I felt a little insulted, honestly, She was obviously more interested in having her own fun than helping me.

I was content for the moment to stay here at the end of the bar and sip the fizzy cola with the bubbles tickling my nose. I wanted to take in every sight. Every smell. I wanted to simply experience this night, even if it was on the sidelines.

That's when things started to get really interesting.