**Ch 293: Another Coven Alpha

"Thank you, everyone, for the beautiful gifts!" I hollered across the gallery before everyone started to clap.

I spent the last half-hour unwrapping presents in front of over a hundred guests, whom I mostly didn't know.

Luckily Coraline, Joshua, and Colton helped me unwrap the presents. Along with Nora, Mia, and Veronica, who helped me with the gifts too. After that was done, Kai had his minions take the gifts back to the mansion. Now that I was free, Nora and I socialized with a few guests that came to us. Among them was a more familiar face.

"Please tell me you remember meeting me in the city?" Gabby chippered all too bubbly whenever she and her friends came up.

"Of course." I giggled as we started talking. "This is my friend Nora."

It's such a shame Rome had to obliviate her memory from meeting me beforehand on our double date. I reflect on that movie night as Gabby happily eyed Nora's costume.

"It's so nice to meet you! Your costume is so cute! You look like a little sheep!" Gabby squealed in a high-pitched voice.

Nora laughed. "Actually, I am a sheep."

Oh, my goodness!" Gabby squeals, excitedly. "I guessed right!"

Just when you think she couldn't squeal any louder, she somehow managed to. At least she is a sweetheart over Rebecca. I thought, right when I noticed Rome was making out with Rebecca in the corner. You've gotta be kidding me! Out of all the women, I catch him tonguing her. Luckily I knew one vampire that would be willing to help me out in ruining Rome's fling.

"Excuse me, ladies, I am going to go find my husband," I told them. "Are you ok with that Nora?"

"Go ahead." Nora smiled, waving me off. "I'm good."

On that hint, I proceeded my way to where I saw Kai. His back was turned while he was busy talking with a group of different vampires, I presumed. He disdained non-granted humans so much that I knew he'd never carry on a conversation with any human unless he planned on eating them.

"Hey, Kai!" I spoke over the music whenever I tapped his shoulder.

The second he turned my way, I took a step back to realize he wasn't my husband. Although he looked similar to him. They shared the same heavy cupid lip, and their facial shape was nearly identical. His nose was straight but a bit thicker by a smidge, and his eyes were a teal color, so I knew they had to be related somehow.

Countless times I've seen this vampire at every party, including my wedding. I recall whenever I walked down the aisle, he and his friends were some of the ones that looked at me like they wanted to devour my blood. Who would've known that inward feeling was probably accurate because they're bloodthirsty vampires.

"As much as I'd love to be your husband, to my discouragement, he's over there." He corrected, having a sly flirtatious voice as his head motioned to my right. I peeked over to notice Kai was over by the couch with a handful of his friends, including Ace and Rose. His eyes peered at us like a hawk. No doubt, his ears were on full focus to hear this conversation between us.

"I'm sorry." I muffled, feeling my face shining a rosy blush from my embarrassment.

A jaunty chuckle came singing from his voice before his eyes scanned me over. "It's quite alright, my dear cousin," he fluently revealed.

"Your Kai's cousin," I repeat as if I were astounded, yet I wasn't since they do resemble each other.

Although he made me feel timid by the way he stared at me with those ravenous eyes. Even though I shouldn't be nervous because any vampire from the Collin Coven wouldn't be a threat to me, especially for carrying three reins to the royal bloodline. My babies were awake, and they weren't giving me any distressed signals, so I knew I was safe.

Once more, he chuckled with his five friends. "My name is Evan. Kai's slightly younger cousin by five minutes," he clarified as he introduced himself with an exuberant handshake.

"It's nice to finally meet you." I smiled, being cordial, and pushed the nervous feeling aside when we shook hands.

"Likewise. Those little ones are quite content and growing nicely." Evan gave an incredibly handsome smile as he studied my belly.

"For sure, I can't wait to hold them in my arms." I shone even brighter when sharing that.

Evan smirked delightfully. "I don't doubt that, but I can tell you'll have your hands full with that more dominant one."

"So I've been told." I giggled. "Kai may have met his match."

Evan and his advisors cracked up in agreement. "He just might," he said, not denying that fact. "Well, I won't keep you from your hubby."

I gave a gratifying head gesture before I went off toward Kai. "You've met Evan, I see," he mentioned, taking me into his arms for a kiss.

"I have," I confirmed after we pecked our lips. "He seems nice."

Kai nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. "He isn't too bad for a player, I guess," he remarked, appearing partly disappointed.

"I take it you don't like that he is a player?" I muttered softer.

Ace answered from the couch. "Royals should never be players, is how most of Kai's family feels."

"You know Kai hates cheaters and players," Rose added beside her husband.

"This I do know." I lightly smiled. "I guess I should be wary of him?"

Kai chuckled momentarily. "Evan can be a bad influence at times, but he's trustworthy. There's no reason to feel wary around him. He'd protect you with his life."

"I'll remember that." I giggled, trusting his words for it.

Kai smiled lighter before he asked. "Care to go for a walk?"

"But what about Nora?" I reminded him and myself that I needed to get back to her.

Kai didn't seem to care. "She'll be fine."

"But...I—"

"Will keep an eye on her," Rose proclaimed over me.

"Sure."

Once that was confirmed, I made a simple response as I hooked onto Kai's bent elbow. He directed me out of the party, and we walked along the corridor.

"Is there somewhere in particular that you wanted to go?" I questioned since it didn't seem like he did.

"Not really," he replied lazily, proving my speculation.

At random, he veered off inside this doorless lounge. Upon entering, my eyes gaped to discover Rome and Jack had pinned a helpless young woman between them while they each sucked on the opposite sides of her neck. A light groan gasped beneath her breath as I heard them suckling the last bit of blood into their mouths.

"Victoria!" Nora's voice called loudly from down the hall at the worst possible time.