Chapter 929: James' birthday party (4)  George felt Dawn's emotional turmoil, and he was about to go after her, but he saw Keith and Arya standing there, and he knew that Talia had got it covered.

George mind-linked Owen to see what was going on, but Owen dodged to answer, saying how he was not sure, and there was nothing George could do unless he wanted to cause a scene.

Only when Dawn appeared unharmed did George relax, and he took a mental note to thank Talia. It was his duty to protect his mate, yet he needed to rely on others. George felt like a failure.

Talia returned next to her table with Keith and Arya trailing after her. Damon was quick to resume feeding Talia, and it appeared that the situation there was tense for a bit, but then things resumed as usual.

The space was filled with murmurs about Alpha Damon and Alpha Natalia, and George felt good about the fact that he knew about them before others.

When George saw Penelope coming from that direction, his questions related to Dawn's unstable emotions were answered.

George cursed internally. He wanted to find privacy and tell Penelope to scram, but so far, they were always in the company with Alpha William nearby. George was not responding positively to whatever Penelope was doing. He avoided looking at her, and he would take a step back and twist his arm out of her grasp, but it seemed that she didn't get his subtle hints, and he needed a blunt approach.

George observed that Penelope made a beeline to the door that led to the garden, and George went after her. He needed to tell her to back off before Dawn lost her composure, and George hoped that he was not too late already.

George found Penelope on the terrace, and he made sure no one was nearby as he approached her.

Penelope got a cigarette out of her purse and put it in her mouth. A second later, she took it out of her mouth, broke it into two, and flung it into the nearby bushes while cursing under her breath.

"Smoking is bad for your wolf."

Penelope jumped in fright. She didn't hear George approaching her.

George touched his nose. "It messes with your scent as everything smells of tobacco."

George stuffed his hands into his pant pockets and observed the pack of cigarettes in her hand. "I am surprised that Alpha William is allowing you to smoke." Werewolves, in general, don't smoke as others of their kind will find them stinky, and a posh she-wolf like Penelope shouldn't allow herself to be stinky.

Penelope stuffed the cigarettes back into her purse. She never smoked when her father was around. That's why she threw the previous cigarette away.

Penelope was not in the mood for chit-chat. She was still processing what had happened in the restroom. She was suppressed and humiliated. Twice.

"I guess you are here with a reason," Penelope said.

George nodded. "I didn't want to be disrespectful in front of an audience, but I want to clarify things to avoid potentially embarrassing you tonight."

Penelope frowned. One more humiliation? Just what was wrong with this party?

"Let me guess. You have a woman. This tall…" Penelope gestured with her hand. "Short blonde hair."

George didn't want to implicate Dawn in this further. "That's not my point. If you looked up my history, you would see I'm not a ladies-man."

Penelope tilted her head. "Do you prefer guys?" She stifled a giggle at George's obvious discomfort. "It doesn't matter. That's why I picked you."

George was confused. "What?"

Penelope rolled her eyes. "Do you think I want to be here and do this? Alpha's daughter should be mated to nothing less of an Alpha, but young Alpha James is too young, and Alpha Damon found his Luna, so…"

George nodded faintly. He was backup to a backup, and he was not bothered by it. Was she hitting on him because she knew he wouldn't accept her? Did her father make her do that? It was none of his business.

"I'm glad we cleared that up. I wish you pleasant rest of the evening, Miss Penelope."

George turned to leave, and he froze when he felt Penelope clinging to his arm.

"I didn't say I will give up," she said. "You see, my father gave me a task, and he expects results. I can't end this evening without delivering."

George pried his arm out of Penelope's grasp. "I suggest you find a way to satisfy your father's expectations without implicating me because I'm not a man who plays games. I didn't come here to negotiate. I came to tell you to back off, or I will make you."

In Penelope's eyes, George was a handsome warrior, but that was it. He didn't have a title or bloodline, and those were people at the top. Technically, George was below her in the hierarchy. She was beautiful and desirable. Why was he not crawling at her feet? Was that warrior's pride? She was eager to break that.

Penelope smiled smugly. "Really? And how will you make me back off?"

George leaned over Penelope, and his Alpha aura pressed on her. "Don't underestimate me, Miss Penelope. As a Commander, I learned to classify people into allies and foes. Pick one."

Penelope struggled to breathe. What the hell was going on here?

…

Cornelia got out of the bathroom and hurried to the dining room. It was almost time for the cake.

Cornelia didn't know about birthday customs followed by werewolves, but she watched a movie with humans. They had a special cake with candles and the birthday person got to make a wish and blow them in one go. She wondered if James would do the same.

Cornelia was halfway down the hallway when…

"Ahh!"

Her surprised cry was muffled by a hand over her mouth while someone dragged her into a room and closed the door behind them. The distinct click sound told her that the door was locked.

Cornelia's fingers prickled with magic to incapacitate her attacker when she recognized the voice.

"Did I tell you how beautiful you are?"

Cornelia relaxed against a firm body that pressed on her back. "The color reminded me of your eyes."

"Hmm…" James hummed. "The dress on you is like my eyes on you. I like it."

"Should you be here, Jay?"

"Where else should I be if not with my mate?"

Cornelia turned to face him. His open talk confirmed they had privacy.

The room was dark, and only moonlight sneaking through the windows cast shadows, but she could see his eyes looking at her eagerly.

"How are you holding on, Jay?"

James pulled Cornelia on him, buried his face in her neck, and took a deep breath. "Better now."

Cornelia hugged him tightly because she knew that he needed it, and she needed it as well.

"You are doing great," she said.

"Am I?"

"Yes, you are. I am watching you. Your image of the future Alpha who is powerful and distant is impeccable."

"You are watching me?"

"Always."

James' heart expanded. It meant the world to him to know that Cornelia was there with him, for him.

Cornelia giggled when she felt James' hands roaming her body. It was innocent, at first… along her back and sides, but then he started bunching her skirt up.

"Do we have time for this?" She asked.

"I always have time for you, Cora," James responded and pressed himself against her, making her feel his erection.

"What about the cake? People will notice."

"Who cares about the cake and people? I only care about you."

Cornelia moaned into the kiss when he pushed inside her with urgency.