Florence stood in the doorway, his gaze darting between Seth and me, his jaw tight with suppressed anger. I couldn't help but find it amusing as I noticed his fists balling at his sides. Was he really feeling jealous? It was almost laughable, considering he was the one showing off Carolyn like some kind of trophy.

After a long, tense pause, Florence growled, "What the hell are you two doing in here?"

To his credit, Seth didn’t flinch. "We were just talking," he answered calmly, his hands slipping into his pockets.

Florence scoffed, clearly unimpressed. "In a bedroom?"

I let out a short laugh and stepped forward. "Oh? Is it really so strange that I’m having a private conversation with Seth?" I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. "Funny, I don’t recall you having an issue when you talk to my sister alone."

Florence stiffened, his expression faltering for a moment. It was enough to silence him, and a small sense of victory flared within me.

I saw the flicker of guilt in his eyes, and the slight part of his lips as if he wanted to argue but couldn’t. Satisfaction spread through me like warmth. He had nothing to say.

Instead of continuing to argue, Florence raked a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "The party's starting soon," he muttered, clearly trying to change the subject. "You two should get ready."

Without another word, he spun on his heel and stormed out.

I couldn’t help but smirk at his retreating figure, but beside me, Seth sighed heavily. "Aimee, you shouldn’t provoke him like that," he warned, his voice soft but serious.

I turned to face him, my amusement slowly fading. "Why not? He needs to feel the humiliation that we do."

Seth rubbed his temple in frustration. "Florence isn't just some arrogant Alpha—he’s calculated. If you keep pushing him, he’ll find a way to turn this around on us."

I lifted my chin, resolute. "Let him try. I know exactly how he operates." I met Seth's gaze, my voice firm. "I'm done playing nice. He thinks he can stroll all over me while flaunting my sister like a prize? Not anymore."

Seth hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Just be careful, Aimee."

By the time we reached the grand hall, it was already teeming with guests. The golden glow from the chandeliers bathed the room in warmth, and the hum of conversations created a low buzz. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, wine, and the delicate fragrance of fresh flowers.

I couldn’t help but feel self-conscious in my simple, understated dress. It was nothing like the extravagant gowns the other women were wearing, and I knew it. But honestly, I didn’t care. If Carolyn thought I’d shrink under her superior shine, she was in for a big surprise.

And there she was, stepping toward me with that smug grin of hers. Her red gown shimmered in the light, hugging her curves perfectly.

"Why do you look like an old woman?" she sneered, her voice dripping with mockery. "Seriously, Aimee, you’re embarrassing."

I met her gaze without flinching. "We’ll see who’s more embarrassing tonight," I said smoothly, a small smile tugging at my lips.

For a brief moment, her smirk faltered, but she quickly recovered, flipping her hair and sashaying off.

I let out a breath, pushing down the irritation rising within me. Not tonight, Carolyn. You won’t get to me tonight.

The evening sped by in a blur of music, laughter, and idle chatter. I sat at my table, nursing a glass of wine, my eyes occasionally drifting over to where Florence was spinning my sister across the dance floor. Their laughter rang louder than the music, their movements perfectly synchronized.

I ignored the way my stomach churned.

But I couldn’t ignore the whispers around me.

"Isn’t she the Alpha’s mate?"

"Why’s he dancing with Carolyn like that?"

"Poor thing... He barely even acknowledges her."

The pity was almost palpable, and I hated every second of it.

Just as I was about to spiral, Seth slid into the seat beside me. "Dance with me."

I blinked, surprised. "What?"

He nodded toward the dance floor. "You heard me. Dance with me."

I laughed, a breathy sound. "Seth, I’m terrible at dancing."

His lips curled into a small, reassuring smile. "Then I’ll teach you."

I hesitated. The last thing I wanted was to make a spectacle of myself, but then my eyes landed on Florence again. He was still twirling Carolyn around, but this time, his gaze was on me.

And just like that, I made up my mind.

"Okay," I murmured, standing up.

Seth took my hand, leading me to the center of the room. He placed one hand on my waist, the other taking mine.

"Just follow my lead," he whispered, and I nodded.

At first, I was clumsy—awkward and unsure of my movements. But Seth was patient, guiding me with ease, and before long, the music took over. For the first time that night, I wasn’t thinking about Florence.

I was enjoying myself.

Then, I caught sight of Florence again.

His face was unreadable, but his grip on Carolyn tightened. His jaw clenched, and his eyes... they were filled with something dark, something close to jealousy.

As soon as the dance ended, Florence was there, his presence looming over us.

"You need to keep your distance from my brother," he said in a low, dangerous tone, only for me to hear.

I let out a soft, sarcastic laugh. "Why? You think you can tell me who I can and can’t spend time with?"

His glare intensified. "I’m your mate, Aimee."

I tilted my head, my amusement turning to ice. "Are you?" I met his gaze, unwavering. "Because from where I stand, it looks like you care more about Carolyn than you do about me."

Florence’s lips pressed into a thin line, his face flushing with what looked dangerously close to shame.

I took a step closer, lowering my voice to a near whisper. "If I should stay away from Seth, maybe you should stay away from Carolyn."

His expression hardened.

But before he could respond, Carolyn’s voice rang out across the hall.

"Everyone, may I have your attention?"

The crowd went silent, all eyes turning toward her.

And in that moment, I knew—whatever she was about to say, it wasn’t going to be good.