I felt like I was going to pass out.

As soon as Adam and I entered the room, everyone's heads turned.

Adam didn't seem to notice and he walked right in and began to greet people. I stood close by him, my hand still resting in the crook of his arm.

He walked over to a man who was wearing a black and gold dashiki with matching pants. The man smiled as he saw Adam approaching him.

"Ndewo," he greeted.

"Hello, Nwabueze," Adam said, shaking his hand.

"It has been too long," Nwabueze said.

"Indeed. This is my mate, Evelyn," Adam said, introducing me.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I said, holding out my hand.

He took my hand and kissed the back of it. "The pleasure is mine, Evelyn."

"Where is your father?" Adam asked.

"I have no doubt he is wandering around somewhere," Nwabueze said, laughing.

Adam laughed. "I think I'll go find him. Enjoy yourself tonight."

I smiled at Nwabueze as Adam and I walked away.

"Who was that?" I asked.

"Nwabueze Oghojafor," Adam replied. "He's the Beta Superior over the African packs, based in Nigeria. His father, Orabueze, is the Alpha."

I nodded. "He seemed nice."

"He is," Adam said, waving at someone. "He and his father are very close allies of ours."

"I thought Europe was your closest ally?" I asked, lowering my voice.

"Not anymore."

"Alpha Deveraux," A man said, walking over to us.

He was dressed in a sharp all-black suit, and I couldn't help but notice the black, satin slippers on his feet.

"Nǐ hǎo, Alpha Chen," Adam said.

They shook hands.

"This is Evelyn," he said, introducing me.

He bowed his head curtly in my direction.

"Have you seen my son?" He asked Adam.

Adam shook his head.

"I've only just gotten here. But, you know Zhao, he's probably talking strategy with someone in the hallway."

The man smiled at this.

I caught a glimpse of Jace standing to my left, subtly trying to get Adam's attention.

"Enjoy yourself tonight," Adam said, patting him on the shoulder.

We walked away from Alpha Chen towards Jace.

"They're here," was all he muttered and Adam turned to see a group of four men walk in.

They were all tall and regally dressed. Pale skin, light hair, piercing blue eyes, and a sharp jaw were common features to three of them. The fourth was shorter, rounder, and older-looking with dark brown eyes.

"Who are they?" I asked.

"That is the Alpha and Beta of the European packs, along with the Alpha's sons, Diedrick and Barret," Adam informed me.

"They're German, right?" I asked.

Jace nodded.

Their presence commanded the room and sucked all the air out of it. They watched the crowd with narrowed eyes and clenched jaws.

"Do you think they know?" I asked Adam.

"Let's hope not," he said.

"This will be very awkward if they do," Jace commented.

Their eyes continued to analyze the crowds until one of them caught my eye. He smiled slightly before beginning to make his way over to where we stood.

"Alpha Deveraux," he greeted in a thick German accent, his eyes still locked on me.

"Diedrick," Adam said. "How are you?"

"Fine," he answered shortly, finally looking up at Adam. "Could I speak with you for a moment?"

The two men locked eyes in a short stare-off.

Diedrick was as tall as Adam was, although he wasn't near as burly. But, if there was anything I had learned in that castle, it was that looks could be deceiving.

"Right this way," Adam replied.

I pulled my hand from Adam's arm as he and Diedrick left Jace and I and disappeared into the crowds.

"They definitely know," I remarked.

"Have a little faith in your mate, would you?" Jace said. "He's a level-headed man. He'll figure it out."

I took a deep breath in response.

"Evie!"

I looked over to see Vega and Liu walking over, to which Jace cleared his throat awkwardly and left.

"You guys look great!" I said to them.

Vega had on killer makeup with her hair half-up and was wearing a white lace, halter-neck dress that fell to the floor. Liu, who wore red lipstick and had pulled her hair in a sleek ponytail, was in a crimson red, form-fitting dress that had sheer sleeves and a long slit up her right leg.

"Your dress looks fantastic!" Liu commented.

"Yeah, you look great," Vega agreed. "Did you happen to get a look at that fine piece of chocolate cake in the traditional garb?"

I laughed.

"His name is Nwabueze Oghojafor," I informed her.

"I'd change my last name for him," she said, sipping from the gold-rimmed crystal champagne flute in her hand.

I looked up and saw Nwabueze walking around alone.

"You should go talk to him," I said. "He's walking by himself."

"No way," Vega said.

"He's a Beta Superior, why wouldn't you want that?" Liu asked incredulously.

My mind immediately went to Jace and my heart hurt for her.

"That means he's a pureblood," Vega said. "He probably has a mate."

"He doesn't," Liu said.

"Have you looked him in the eyes yet?" I asked Vega. "You have to make eye contact with someone to initiate the mating bond."

Vega gave me an unamused look.

"You actually think he could be my mate?" She asked.

"You never know," I said.

"You have to at least give it a try," Liu prompted.

Vega groaned and downed the rest of the champagne.

"Okay, here goes nothing."

She turned to leave, but immediately turned back around.

"Ugh, I can't do it!" she squealed.

"Go!" Liu and I said simultaneously.

"Fine, gosh..." she said.

She turned around and walked away, but before we could watch her introduce herself, a loud shattering sound was heard.

Liu and I looked to see what the noise was and saw Tyler, whose face was as red as a tomato, quickly try to pick up the food from the ground and the shattered glass that had once been his plate. Victoria, who was sitting at a table talking to a few other women her age, rolled her eyes at this.

God, one day I am going to punch that woman.

"Those plates were three-hundred pounds apiece," Liu mumbled.

My eyes widened.

"That's over four-hundred and sixty dollars," I gasped. "Why on earth did Adam pay so much for plates?"

She shrugged. "One day that klutz will break something and Jace will break him."

I swallowed a knot in my throat as she mentioned Jace. I wanted so badly to ask her about him, but I didn't know how.

Screw it, I thought. We're friends. I can ask question like that, right?

"Liu, is it true that-"

"Evelyn."

I turned to see Adam and Diedrick walking over to us and I found myself under Diedrick's intense stare once again.

"Dinner is about to start," Adam said. "Would you like to come sit down?"

I looked back at Liu.

"You can ask me later," she said smiling.

I nodded at her and turned to see Adam holding out his hand for me to grab.

Weaving my fingers through his, I followed him as he led me over to the long tables where we would be sitting.

Adam pulled out my chair and I sat down.

"How did that go? What did he want?"

I spoke in hushed tones as he sat down next to me.

"I'll tell you later," he said winking.

I nodded and looked across the table to see Alpha Superior Chen sit down. Beside him sat a young man—or at least he looked young—that was probably Adam's age.

He had high cheekbones and jet-black hair that was combed back.

"Who is that?" I asked Adam.

"That's Zhao Chen," he said. "He's Alpha Chen's son as well as the Beta Superior over the Asian packs."

I nodded.

"He's very quiet," Adam added. "He and his father both keep to themselves, but no one would dream of crossing them. That family takes their pack and their pride very seriously."

I looked back over to the two men.

Whereas Nwabueze and his father were joined on their side of the table by nearly two dozen of their family and advisors, Alpha Chen and his son were alone. They weren't even speaking to each other, just observing everyone else.

"Where is the rest of their group?" I asked.

Adam looked over to the two of them with a grim expression.

"Like I said, they're very private. No one knows if Zhao has a mate, or even if his father has anymore children. Every time we have these meetings, it's just the two of them."

I nodded slowly.

Zhao caught my eye and I looked away.

I remembered Vega and began to look around. I looked down at the end of the table where Nwabueze and his family sat, but I couldn't see her.

"Looking for someone?" Adam asked me.

"I don't know where Vega has gone off to."

He began to look around himself.

"I don't see Jace either. They're probably in a closet somewhere."

I sighed.

I was really hoping Nwabueze was her mate. They would have been cute together.

Once everyone was seated, the doors at the end of the room opened and servants began to pour out and place everyone's plates before them.

"You did a brilliant job with this," Adam said, pointing between the floral arrangements on the table and the archway over the doors on each side of the room.

I smiled. "Thank you."

My plate was sat on the table in front of me and the smell of the food made my stomach growl. The dish was Alfredo sauce poured over tortellini pasta with strips of grilled chicken tossed in. Parmesan cheese was added for taste and parsley for garnish.

"I'm so excited to eat this," Adam said under his breath.

I tried not to laugh.

Once everyone had been served, Nwabueze's father tapped the side of his crystal water goblet with a salad fork, gaining everyone's attention.

"Good evening," he said, standing up. His voice was laced with a thick Nigerian accent.

"As the eldest Alpha here tonight, it is my duty to honor our hosts, Alpha Superior Deveraux and his Luna Evelyn, and thank them for preparing this Centennial."

Everyone applauded politely and I noticed Jace come back into the room and take a seat on the other side of Adam, who shot him a hard glance.

"I'm looking forward to this week. I'm hoping our meetings move the entire population of Lycanthropes forward and go by swiftly," Alpha Oghojafor continued.

A few of the Alphas and their Betas laughed at this.

"Thank you," He finished, taking his seat.

Everyone began to eat.

I kept looking around, trying to find Vega.

I saw Liu, who sat beside her father and Tyler. I saw Mrs. Chandler talking with one of the women from Alpha Oghojafor's pack. I also caught a glimpse of Victoria and Xavier, who sat side by side and conversed with the people around them.

I did notice that Malcom was nowhere to be seen, however.

Adam noticed me searching for her and leaned over to Jace.

"Where's the Chandler girl?" He asked him.

Jace's face showed one of genuine confusion.

"I don't know. You told me to leave her alone," he said defensively. "I haven't spoken to her in two days."

Hearing this, I bit my lip trying to imagine where else she could be.

"Don't worry about it," Adam whispered. "She's probably down a little ways on our side of the table."

I couldn't be sure since I couldn't see everyone who was sitting on our side.

I hoped he was right.

Everyone finished their meal and dessert was served, which I noticed Tyler had three servings of.

Afterwards, everyone began to leave the table. Alpha Chen and Zhao were one of the first to go.

Soon, there were only a few people left and Adam stood up.

I looked around and still didn't see Vega anywhere.

I stood up myself as Adam began to shake hands with a few more people and went over to Liu, who was talking to Tyler.

"Have you seen Vega?" I asked her.

"I saw her," Tyler said. "I passed her in the hallway when I came back from cleaning up my spill, right before dinner was served. She had a plate of food in her hand and told me she was going to eat dinner with her father."

I nodded, relief filling my body.

"What's wrong?" Liu asked.

"Nothing," I said shaking my head. "It's just... there's a lot of people here. It makes me uncomfortable to have people with their own agendas roaming around the palace. I didn't want her to walk by herself."

Liu smiled reassuringly. "She'll be fine."

"She's a little sketchy if you ask me," Tyler said, earning a punch in the shoulder from Liu.

"Oi!" He exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder. "That hurt."

"It was supposed to," she said, glaring.

Tyler just shrugged and looked around the room.

"Oh, there she is," he said, pointing behind me.

I turned and saw Vega talking shyly to Nwabueze.

"I guess they're not mates, then," Liu sighed. "It's a shame. They would have been cute together."

I nodded in agreement.

"This is getting too much like a Hallmark movie for me," Tyler said. "I'll catch you guys tomorrow."

With that he turned and left the ballroom.

"Evelyn."

I turned to see Adam standing a few feet away, pointing at his watch.

"It's getting late," he said. "Are you ready to leave?"

I looked at Liu and smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow."

She smiled and waved as she turned to leave.

Adam took my hand and placed it in the crook of his arm once again as he led me out of the ballroom.

"Enjoy yourself tonight?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Dinner was great, dessert was great, and so was the company," I said, leaning my head against his shoulder as we walked.

"I am great company, aren't I?" He joked.

"I was referring to the African prince, Nwabueze," I said.

He rolled his eyes and I laughed.

We made our way up the stairs to his room and down the hallway when I noticed the six guards lining his corridor.

"Why are they here?" I asked him as he opened his bedroom door.

"I work with these people," he said, referring to the other Alpha Superiors. "But I sure as hell don't trust them."

The thought made my stomach drop as I followed him into the bedroom and he shut the door behind him.

As I began to change, I removed my shoes and took the duster off and hung it up on the rack.

"Would you mind helping me with the buttons again?" I asked, turning my back to him.

He gently gathered my hair and brushed it over my shoulder.

I had goosebumps as he unclasped each button and I felt the cool air against my exposed back.

We were both quiet as he undid the last few buttons.

I could feel my heart beat against my chest as he pulled the straps down from my shoulders and the dress slipped down my body and hit the floor.

I sucked in a quick breath as I felt his hands trace along my back, around my waist and press against my stomach.

"You looked beautiful tonight," he said, his warm breath hitting my ear as he embraced me gently.

"You didn't look so bad yourself," I said breathlessly.

"I wasn't the one getting all the stares," he said. I detected a hint of jealousy in his tone.

"Yours is the only one I care about," I whispered, running my hand down his arm affirmingly.

"Well you've had it all night."

Adam bent down and gingerly kissed the spot where my neck met my shoulder, inches away from where his claim was marked.

His lips moved further up my neck and I found my eyes fluttering closed.

As his hands slid further down my stomach, I began to panic.

"We-"

He stopped me.

"I'll stop," he said, backing away. "But I want you to know that I'm not happy about it."

I turned around to face him and saw the look of frustration on his face.

"Adam, I-"

"You don't have to explain yourself," He said, interrupting me. "I understand you've got a promise to keep."

He began to undo his bow tie as he turned and walked into the bathroom, leaving me to stand there nearly naked and extremely irritated.

Why did I make that stupid promise?

- - -

Author's Note: I did well over two hours worth of research for this chapter and the new characters that were added. I try my hardest to include diversity in the characters and I thought this would be a perfect chance to add a few ethnically diverse people into the cast. That being said, it took me forever to do all the research for the new Alpha/Beta Superiors and to find them ethnically appropriate names, actors for their face claims, greetings for their languages, and their traditional dress. So please be gentle with me if I got something wrong. I'll be more than happy to correct it if I did, but I did do a lot of research so it was an honest mistake if there is one.