Bye, My Ruthless Alpha
Chapter 25: Tori to Be Party’s Joke

Chapter 25: Chapter 25: Tori to Be Party’s Joke

"She isn’t," Cayden stated, a slight irritation in his tone.

"I don’t mean to quarrel, but I would like to hear what the lady has to say, Cayden. Plus, you have kept her away from us up in that room the entire time we have been here. I am intrigued to know more of her, and why you are so taken with her."

When all eyes fell on me again, I turned to Cayden. He had a hesitant look in his eyes.

But with a small nod, he permitted me to respond– not that I wanted to.

"I– well... One day I do hope to meet my mate and have the life I have always dreamed of, with a man who loves me and will protect me. But, for now, I have other priorities."

I hadn’t thought I would have the courage to say that, but it felt great to let it out.

However, I immediately felt that cold atmosphere descended again. Knowing where it was coming from, I didn’t dare to look at Cayden this time.

"That’s wonderful. But you do know that, in society today, women often do not worry about destined mates. That is a thing of the past. When they are offered a proposal, women take it. It becomes their social standing, after all. Tell me, what is your station in society?"

Marcus was asking too many questions I didn’t want to answer, and I was more than uncomfortable. I wish I could return to my room already.

"Father, it isn’t polite to ask an Omega that kind of question," Sophia replied to me as she sipped her drink.

I couldn’t argue back. What was I supposed to say? Should I tell them that, no, I was also an Alpha’s daughter? And that my own family sold me?

"Tori is no Omega."

Suddenly, Kas’ words rang from the other end of the table.

"She is the daughter of an Alpha and deserves respect."

I was shocked at her words. Even Jace looked at her with disapproval in his eyes. But Kas showed no sign of regret and simply shrugged her shoulders.

Sophia was momentarily surprised, and then her smile revealed even more contempt. "Is that so? Oh my my, poor thing..."

She needed to say no more. I was an alpha’s daughter, but I was not with my pack – meaning, yeah, I was abandoned by my people. How pitiful was that...

Jace gave Kas a stern look, while Kas seemed sorry that her words hadn’t helped me but seemed to put me in a worse spot.

Worst yet, Sophia wasn’t done with me.

She raised her glass gracefully and looked me in the eyes. "Tori, I heard you’re an excellent dancer. My Beta dances as well. Would you do us the honor of demonstrating your skills alongside him? The music I’ve selected for you will surely make you the center of attention."

"This arrangement of Sophia’s is enough to make everyone think she is quite magnanimous," Kas whispered to me.

"She doesn’t seem to have had any professional training. I’m afraid her performance might not be up to par," Alpha Marcus said with a smile.

At this moment, a young man dressed in a black tailcoat, accompanied by Alpha Marcus’s soldiers, approached me and invited me to dance the first waltz of the evening.

"Get ready." Sophia coldly observed the dance floor, a faint sneer forming on her lips as she noticed me nearly stumble when standing up.

"Afraid you can’t even stand steadily in high heels, much less dance?" Joy remarked sarcastically.

Cayden and the onlookers watched attentively.

The music began to play, while the crystal chandeliers in the hall gradually dimmed, leaving only a single beam of light focused on me.

Understanding the protocol of the ball, the others made their exits, leaving the dance floor vacant.

Then, the gentle melody shifted into a rapid, urgent tune. Lucas, Sophia’s Beta and my dance partner, quickened his steps.

Unprepared, I nearly stumbled.

"Humph!" Sophia sneered coldly.

"Indeed, she is about to embarrass herself." Joy sneered coldly as well.

Presently, the entire dance floor was occupied solely by me and Lucas, with everyone else spectating from the side.

Unaware of my identity, their gazes remained fastened upon me.

Amidst this curiosity, with everyone watching my dance, I became increasingly nervous. "She is about to bring shame upon herself, becoming the laughingstock of the entire wolf pack. Cayden values his reputation above all, and seeing his Breeder reduced to ridicule would likely lead him to never give Tori another glance."

Sophia reckoned I couldn’t catch her thoughts, but as a wolf, I distinctly heard her inner voice.

Everything was going just as Sophia cooked up in that head of hers. She was easing up a bit, not so tied up in knots anymore.

She was eyeing the dance floor real close. I slipped up a step, and she was straight at Cayden with her words aimed, "Alpha, check her out—she’s getting down like a pro on those moves..."

Cayden furrowed his brows. I was unsure if it was jealousy over me dancing too close to another man or just a critique of my dance moves.

He sounded displeased. "I think she’s not dancing well. A woman sticking so close to a man just isn’t appropriate."

Sophia noticed and was even more satisfied. "Bitch messed up a step, and Cayden frowned. Once she falls and makes a fool of herself, I bet Cayden won’t want to see her tonight."

Sophia let out another relieved breath. I heard her nasty thoughts clear as day.

When she came to her senses, I was already in the middle of the dance floor, my steps adjusted. Against Lucas’s gradually quickening rhythm, I somehow managed not to mess up again.

The rhythm of the music became more intense.

Lucas’s steps got even faster.

Somehow, I kept up with Lucas perfectly, not missing a beat, fluidly matching his pace. My pink gown flowed through the dance floor like a fluttering butterfly.

"How is this even possible!" Sophia was shocked.

"That damn breeder! How on earth could her dance be so graceful?" Her envious thoughts were practically screaming in frustration.

"Even experienced dancers might struggle to keep up with such a fast waltz, yet Tori moves without a hitch," Ava commented, defending me.

As the tempo picked up, so did Lucas’s steps, and I kept right on track, letting my hair down mid-dance.

Amidst the neon-lit dance floor, I glided in perfect sync with my partner, my every step tuned to the frantic rhythm.

"She’s like a rose under the moonlight—absolutely stunning!" Kas admired. “Being a woman myself, I’m so envious of her!"

"Even you are stunned," Kas said. "Alpha Cayden, you must be kicking yourself for not being the one dancing with Tori just now."

As soon as the music stopped, everything went silent.

"Amazing!" Alpha Marcus was the first to snap out of it, clapping joyfully. "Tori’s dancing was breathtaking, absolutely stunning. She’s stealing the show tonight. Cayden must be beaming with pride."

As soon as the applause started, everyone—men or women—joined in, creating a deafening sound in the ballroom.

I didn’t expect to get so much applause.

"She’s amazing. I’m so jealous you have such a perfect woman by your side!" Alpha Marcus chuckled.

While bowing to express my thanks, I glanced up and saw Sophia and her maid Joy still staring in shock at the dance floor, unable to believe what had just happened.

"No way!" Sophia was stunned.

She prepared so hard, yet I didn’t embarrass myself—but actually shined? I heard Sophia cursing me inwardly.

As the song ended, applause surrounded me, and I gave a faint smile.

Before the dance began, Sophia had told me her Beta would lead the dance.

Why would Sophia give such a spotlight moment to me?

Sophia hated me to the core; she wished others couldn’t even see me.

Even I’m not dumb enough not to see the plot here.

Sophia hated me to the core; she wished for everyone else to be blind to my existence.

Even the most naive among us would comprehend that there was a sinister plot at play here.

When she offered to have Lucas as my partner before, I gave a subtle smile, stayed composed, and nodded in agreement. "Alright. Thank you, Beta. I hope we have a pleasant collaboration."

Then, with my arm clad in black lace gloves, I rested it on Lucas’s elbow.

As we glided into the dance floor, I noticed something off about Lucas. I didn’t quite grasp it back then but felt Lucas was reserved and lacked the confidence one would expect from a Beta.

As the music quickened and Lucas suddenly picked up the pace, I realized this was not a commonplace waltz but the Viennese Waltz.

Waltzes were classified into fast and slow types, with the fast Waltz being referred to as the "Viennese Waltz," while the slow variety was simply called Waltz.

"So, the plot lies here." I immediately understood Sophia’s intent.

Although Sophia had arranged a solo dance for me, she selected the fastest dance music and assigned a nimble dancer to accompany me.

She believed that I, someone she assumed was only fit to bear children for Alpha, hadn’t learned to dance. Even if I had, it was likely only superficial, barely passing in slow dances and sure to falter in fast ones.

Her partner danced beautifully, but I fell behind the rhythm, on the verge of becoming the evening’s laughingstock under everyone’s gaze.

It was, of course, a brilliant strategy—most girls would fall for it since quick dances were too challenging. However, she miscalculated.

The Viennese Waltz was fast, though difficult, with continuous, flowing steps that created a more elegant and glamorous visual appeal. It was visually delightful, but physically exhausting, hence rarely used in ordinary balls.

What Sophia would certainly never have expected, however, was that I had studied these dances.