“Will the good madam do me the honour of a dance?” he asked.
“I don’t know how to dance,” Bellatrix replied. “It’s my first time at a ball, you see.”
“Ahh, there is nothing more enchanting than getting the privilege of teaching a beautiful woman how to dance,” Antoine said, giving her another smile. He extended his hand and bowed. Bellatrix placed her hand in his, and he slowly pulled her towards where everyone was dancing.
He placed a hand on her waist, sending weird shivers down her spine. He took her hand in his other hand, and they started to dance. He led her, his moves controlled and powerful. He looked into her eyes, and Bellatrix could feel herself being pulled into the depth of his eyes.
The humans danced much different than the wolves. They moved elegantly, in a proper way. As a wolf, she was used to dancing freely, moving to the tune of the music, letting her body get attuned to the song, and then dancing however she wished.
“I am so lucky, Bellatrix,” he said. “I am happy that your friend brought you here tonight. It has become special because of you.”
Bellatrix blushed, feeling hormones rampaging through her body. Everything about him intoxicated her, removing her ability to think properly.
“I am happy too, that I met you,” she whispered, and he smiled before slowly kissing her hand.
Chapter 3
Eric
“Right. I will definitely write about out in my blog,” Eric replied, shaking hands with his friend.
“Thanks, man. My business can really use a boost,” his friend said gratefully.
“Nah, bro,” Eric replied. “You helped me get those tickets. Means a lot.”
His friend said goodbye, and Eric turned around to walk back to Bellatrix. He had finally decided to tell Bellatrix the truth. Today, he was finally going to tell her how he felt about her. Eric has been in love with Bellatrix for a while now. He had been instantly attracted to her from the minute he had met her. The more and more time he spent with her, the deeper he had fallen. By now, he was thoroughly head over heels.
So, when his friend had offered cheap tickets to the opera, Eric had jumped at it. He had imagined the scene. He would take her to a classy place, he would woo her. He would ask her to dance, and she would say yes. Then he would kiss her and tell her he loved her.
Eric walked back to where he had left Bellatrix. He was still imagining her in his arms as he confessed her feelings. He was hopeful she would say yes, and he would finally have her. His head soaring in the clouds, Eric reached the ball room, only to find that Bellatrix wasn’t there. He frowned, looking around as he wondered where she could have possibly gone.
Then he saw her. He felt as though the earth was disappearing from under his feet. She was dancing, embraced in the arms of another. The man was tall and handsome, exactly the kind that most girls find attractive. Eric swallowed, his heart burning with a pain that he had never known. Tears prickled his eyes, and he supressed them.
She was laughing, her head thrown back. She looked beautiful, with her beautiful red hair flowing around her. Her beautiful blue eyes sparkled and twinkled, a smile on her luscious red lips. She had looked exceptionally beautiful tonight, dressed up. It didn’t surprise Eric that she was already dancing with a man. She looked so beautiful; every man would have their eyes on her. It still hurt, though. It hurt a lot.
As Eric watched, Bellatrix looked sideways, and their eyes met. Bellatrix gave him a wink and a smile, obviously happy to be dancing with that man. Eric swallowed once again. The fact that she was so happy about it hurt even more.
The song ended, and Bellatrix walked over, dragging the man with her.
“Eric,” she called out. “This is Antoine. Antoine, this is my friend Eric. I came here with him.”
“It is so very nice to meet you,” Antoine said. “I am very glad that you brought Bellatrix here today. Because of you, I got this chance to meet someone so beautiful.”
Bellatrix blushed, and Eric clenched his hand in anger.
“Very nice to meet you too,” Eric replied through clenched teeth. He turned to Bellatrix and said, “I am feeling tired. Let’s go home.”
Bellatrix looked up at Antoine, her eyes sparkling. Antoine took her hand and said, “Perhaps Madam can stay a bit longer? I was hoping that she will honour me with another dance.”
“Eric, why don’t you go home and rest?” Bellatrix said, still looking at Antoine. “I will come home by myself.”
“Perhaps, Eric, you can take my car. I will have my driver drop you home,” Antoine said, giving Eric a stiff smile. “I will return Bellatrix back home, myself.”
Eric was clenching his hand so hard, his nails were digging into his palm. “I don’t think that will be wise. Times like these, you don’t know who to trust. I will wait until Bellatrix feels ready to go.”
“Shush,” Bellatrix said to Eric. “He is perfectly trustworthy. Don’t be rude, Eric.”
“I am only trying to protect you, Bellatrix,” Eric said, surprised that she was being so rude to him for a man she had just met.
