Dust within ancient walls Miles Brooks 65

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

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CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

Talia’s POV

The week passed uneventfully. No Jason stalking me and no Nolan being condescending. Before I knew it, the night of Della’s party arrived. I walked into the hall with a wrapped box tucked under one arm and a bottle of Rosefall wine held carefully in my other hand. Convincing Father to part with one had been relatively easy.

I could hear the music blasting before I reached the hall. Upbeat pop music pulsed through the speakers. Colored lights spun across the ceiling casting the room in shifting patterns of red, green, and gold. A group of younger pack members were already dancing.

Della stood out among them. She looked radiant in her new gold dress. Della looked like a firefly on the dance floor as the light caught the sequins on her dress. She danced close to a young man who was equally intrigued and flustered by her attention.

‘Della, ease up on him. I think you’ll give him a heart attack if you keep dancing like that with him,’ I teased Della through our mindlink.

‘Where are you?’ Della asked as she pulled away from the young man who looked relieved but also disappointed.

‘Over here at the entrance,’ I responded. When she saw me, she squealed and rushed across the room. Della threw her arms around me.

“You came!” she said, beaming.

“Careful! You’re going to make me drop your gifts!” I warned her and she pulled back.

“Sorry, sorry,” Della stated.

“Of course I came. I missed too many of your birthdays. I wasn’t going to miss this one,” I said, smiling back.” Happy birthday.”

I handed her the box first. She tore it open without hesitation. Inside was a delicate white gold necklace with a small rose-shaped pendant.

“Talia, it’s beautiful. I love it!” She immediately clasped it around her neck. “I’m not taking this off, ever.”

I offered her the bottle of wine next. “And this is Rosefall. My father made it.”

Her mouth fell open. “You actually brought Rosefall?! I’ve always wanted to try this. Thank you!”

As Della hurried off to show her father the bottle of Rosefall, I let my eyes sweep the room. No Jason lurking around, trying to win me back. No Nolan standing around looking indifferent. Just music, laughter, and my best friend enjoying her night. Good.

Someone shouted over the music. “Come dance, Beta Della!”

“In a second!” Della answered after giving her father the Rosefall for safe keeping. “Cake first. We have all night to dance.”

Della clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and the volume of the music lowered. “Alright, everyone, over here! Cake time!”

I followed her to the long table where the towering birthday cake waited with candles already lit and glowing. The crowd pressed in close, and we all began singing.

“Happy Birthday to you!”

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“Don’t sing so loud, you’re off-key!” someone teased. Everyone laughed. The song continued and at the end was when the door to the hall opened.

Nolan stepped inside first with Marco at his side. Marco carried neatly wrapped gifts. Behind them followed Jason and Henry.

The smile on my face quickly dropped. So much for hoping that they wouldn’t show up. “Ok, everyone, back to dancing! The night isn’t over yet,” I said, and the guests warily went back to their seats with cake or back to dancing on the dance floor.

“Happy Birthday, Della,” Nolan said smoothly as he approached.

“Yes, Happy Birthday, Della,” Jason chimed in, but Della didn’t even look at him.

Marco stepped forward and said, “Where would you like your gifts?”

Della froze as if she had seen a ghost. It lasted only a second before she forced a polite smile.

Della cleared her throat and said, “Thank you for coming, Alpha Nolan and Beta Marco.” She gestured to the opposite end of the table. “Right over there is fine.”

Marco and Henry set the gifts down, stepping back behind their respective Alpha. Everything in me screamed for me to send them away. Della was acting weird and I didn’t want anything to happen to ruin her night.

“You’ve delivered your gifts,” I said evenly, forcing calm into my voice. “You should go.”

Nolan’s eyes met mine. He looked amused at my irritation. “Why rush? Della is the princess’s good friend. I was hoping to meet her. I wonder where she is tonight.”

My wolf bristled instantly. He was baiting me. If he revealed that I am the Princess, Jason would never leave me alone.

Della, quick as ever, stepped in. “The Princess wasn’t feeling well. She came earlier,” she said.

“A shame. Maybe next time,” Nolan replied, faking a disappointed look.

Jason took the opportunity to insert himself into the conversation. “Della, thank you for allowing us to celebrate with you.”

Della’s smile vanished. She crossed her arms. “I didn’t invite you, Jason.”

“I know, but…”

“If you know that, why are you here?” Della asked, interrupting him.

“I think we got off on the wrong foot in the past. Tonight, I’d like to make things right,” Jason replied and forced

a smile.

Della snorted, unimpressed. “Right. Convenient for you to do that at my birthday party. How selfless of you.” She turned her head toward me. “What do you think, Talia? Should we let him stay?”

All eyes shifted to me. Jason looked hopeful. Nolan, in contrast, looked indifferent as if he already knew how I would answer.

For the moment, Nolan wasn’t going to expose me. That much was clear. But Jason was ready to twist my decision either way.

If I denied him publicly, Jason would cause a scene and ruin Della’s birthday. If I allowed him, it would make him

CHAPTER SIXTY FIVE

feel like he could continue to push boundaries. There was no good choice, only damage control.

“If Jason stays,” I said firmly. “It will be under one condition.

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