Love And Strength

are

ack to reality. I stepped away f

ze darting to the floor as

canned me from head to toe. "From the look

nd shot him a glare. To my surprise, he

conversation with Julie. My stomach churned, and I walked pa

e mean I don't belong here? Just because

n. The years of quiet admiration I'd held for him felt meaning

head low. She noticed immediately

" she asked, st

tered, trying to

t look like you just walked out of a soap opera? And why is

g up," I mumbled, though even

peaker crackled, catching everyone's attenti

a senior stood with a microphone in hand

generation. A man whose lifestyle we all envy, who's back in town with an entourage that turns heads everywhere they go.

with cheers, whis

g next to us started screaming

this Ryan Iversen?" I m

me. "You'll find out soon

he was-Ryan Iversen, flanked by two men who could have be

nfidence, his sharp features accentuated by the shadows. His black eyes

der as he stepped f

breath. Another guy to remi

xcitement barely contai

"If you like the arroga

sible. Come on, let's see

g what made Ryan so special. I j

when I realized w

der my breath, staring at th

rom the other girls grew

! He's so

que! He's come back from abroad

aring at his fac

be that good-looking. But now... I'm start

s going to be our Alpha one day. Ryan doesn't have the same aura. Besides, I heard Ryan's

ted. It was obvious the guys were jealous-not just of Ryan's looks, but also

n unimpressed. "Great. Another idi

laugh. "What's tha

e, we'll have twice the chaos. The girls are already losing their minds. Ho

opped open a bottle of champagne, and

nd whispered, "I'll ad

ha

y. "He's actually more h

her wrist in frustra

w?" she asked, f

I pleaded, already fed

t got here! At least let me enjoy t

idn't argue. It was go

and just because I didn't enjoy them or because Et

, and she immediate

esa muttered, glancing towar

nder back to where he sat with Julie. He seemed off, like he had been e

spering something to him. Suddenly,

dark eyes of his felt like they could pierce right

to Julie, shaking his head at whatever she had s

ngs to Ethan like her life depends on it. They've be

mbled, unsure of

ched, pulling m

ke to drink, Miss?

r, please,

me a look. "

good. You know

r. I sipped on it quietly, my gaze occasionally dr

r lives. Some boys and girls were already tipsy, their laughter echoing above the beat of

Eliza. They were bubbly and full of energy,

ce with us!" Teresa ur

g. "No, you go ahead. I

t Lily reassured her. "She'll be fine!

them, quickly losing hersel

round with the others. She looked so happy, an

. I pulled out my phone an

er my breath when I saw t

, I got up and headed to a quieter

faded slightly, and the atmosphere g

dows. The boy had his arms tightly wrapped arou

lking. But before I could decide, my phone lit u

ed up, his angry eye

OU

as I recogni

as R