As soon as Aria fainted, Hailey shouted, "Help! I think she is not well."
Cole rushed to them, his brows furrowed in concern. "What happened to her?"
Hailey's eyes glistened with tears as she said, "I don't know, but she complained about dizziness before she came here, and I still forced her to tag along with me. Please, she needs to rest somewhere, like a bed."
Cole hesitated, glancing at the unconscious girl. Werewolves rarely fell ill, and her sudden collapse felt… strange.
"Alright," he said, his voice firm. "I'll take her upstairs and call a healer."
"Please, hurry." Hailey urged him when she noticed that he was starting to get lost in thought.
Cole carried Aria in his arms and immediately frowned. Is this girl really a werewolf? How can she be so light? Perhaps she is truly sick and is in need of urgent healing.
"Sasha," Cole called out to a woman standing nearby in a sleek black gown. Her long dark hair shimmered under the light. "Get a healer. Now."
Sasha hesitated for a moment but nodded.
Cole carried Aria to a room upstairs and gently laid her on the bed of one of the guest rooms.
"Can I stay with her until the healer arrives?"
Cole glanced at the unconscious girl and nodded, "You can stay with her until the healer comes."
"Thank you," Hailey said and was about to release a sigh of relief as Cole turned to leave when she heard him ask
"Which pack are you two from?"
Why is he asking her that question now? No, she can't tell him the truth. It's no secret to her that her pack and Golden Rills pack hate each other, so telling him the truth will only make him be on guard, and Aria will lose her chance to meet Tristan.
"I... I can't say."
"You can't say?" Cole asked with a frown.
Hailey suddenly dropped to her knees. "My mistress was supposed to attend this party and not me. If I were to disclose the name of my pack to you, then she would get in trouble, and I would be killed instead, so please, just save my friend, and we will leave."
"Huh?" Even though Cole was confused, he didn't bother to push for an answer to his question and just left them. He needed to check if the healer had arrived.
After he left, Hailey slowly opened the door to check if he was truly gone and finally let out the breath she was holding.
"Aria, he is gone." Hailey whispered.
Aria opened her eyes and said, "Now, how do I know which room belongs to Alpha Tristan?"
"Just look for the room that looks mysterious and big. Alphas usually like those types of rooms."
"Alright. I'm going." Aria said and got up from the bed, ready to leave, when she suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Hailey, asking, "What if they bring the healer?"
"Don't worry, I will take care of it; just go, and remember, even though he can't see, he is still a man, so don't forget to use your charm."
Aria nodded and slowly opened the door to leave.
"Mysterious and big." Aria whispered to herself as she walked around the hallway looking for a mysterious and big type of room.
Aria froze when she spotted Cole emerging from a room down the hallway. Quickly, she ducked behind a pillar, holding her breath as he walked past.
When the coast was clear, she approached the door he had exited. Her hand trembled slightly as she reached for the handle when she suddenly heard the Beta's voice.
"Aren't you supposed to be unconscious?"
Aria's heart sank immediately when she heard his voice. It's over; there is no way she would be able to meet Tristan now, unless...
Cole frowned at the girl ignoring him and was about to force her to face him when she suddenly opened the door and locked it from the inside before he could even react.
"That..." He was too speechless to even curse. Cole tried opening the door, but he couldn't, so he kept pounding on the door.
"Leave us." Came a calm, commanding voice from inside.
Cole frowned at the command but obeyed, nevertheless.
Inside the room, Aria was speechless at the sight in front of her. Why was he shirtless?
"Are you done staring at me?"
"Huh?" Aria came out of her daze and said, "How do you... can you see me?"
Tristan collected his shirt from where he had kept it and replied, "I do not need to see you to know that you are currently ogling at me. Who are you?"
"Aria. My name is Aria Wilson."
"And?" Tristan asked calmly, buttoning the last button of his shirt.
Aria was stunned with the way he acted and spoke even though he could not see her. There was no need wasting time; she should just go straight to the point: "I want you to marry me."