hapter 10
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The look on Derek’s face was one of complete shock. I had never in my life seen an Alpha so
utterly discombobulated.
“But…Mia…” he said, the name I’d left behind coming out of his mouth on a breathy hitch.
Despite the hammering of my heart and the vaguely nauseous feeling roiling in my gut, I
looked at Derek with calculated, casual indifference.
“That’s not who I am anymore.”
a
Cassandra once again sidled up next to the Alpha, her body language possessive.
“It’s…Elena now,
is it?” she asked, her tone hinting at accusation. Like I’d duped them all
with malicious intent.
I nodded resolutely, not really trusting myself to speak.
“Well…You’re alive!” Cassandra bleated, pressing her hands to her chest, her voice sickly sweet. “That’s wonderful!” Beneath the surface of her words, I heard the sharp edge of
possession, a silent declaration of territory.
She was reminding me–and everyone watching–that Derek was hers.
Derek took a step forward, his gaze locked onto me, raw emotion flickering in his eyes. But
before he could get any closer, Mason smoothly stepped between us, his stance casual but
unyielding.
“Ah ah. Manners,” he said. His face was wearing a smirk, but his tone was deadly.
Derek let out a low growl, and I reached out and grabbed Mason by the hand, hoping to distract him before he bared his own fangs.
Alphas, I thought, inwardly rolling my eyes.
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Chapter 10
Mason squeezed my hand, letting me know he’d gotten the message.
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Derek’s eyes were still locked on mine, and I watched as they flared gold for a moment.
“Tsk, tsk,” Mason said, unable to help the patronizing tone. “In front of your date, Alpha
Derek?”
Cassandra sucked in a harsh breath, mouth wide open, and that was all it seemed to take
for Derek to return to his senses.
He looked down at my hand, still holding Mason’s in a death grip.
“And what’s your relationship with… Elena?” Derek said, his expression darkening.
Mason glanced at me, had the audacity to wink, and turned back to the other Alpha.
“She’s my date,” he said smoothly. “You may want to start focusing on your own,” Mason went on, pointing briefly at Cassandra who stood there, mouth gaping like a fish. “I don’t think she’s breathing.”
With that, Mason led me away, his grip tight.
I wanted to scold him for being such a smartass, but my pulse still thundered from Derek’s reaction. His voice. His presence.
The way he’d looked at me as if I were a ghost come back to haunt him.
“Elena?” Mason whispered, maneuvering us through the crowded venue. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Derek would be attending, and I certainly didn’t know he’d bring a date. I swear he told us all he would be absent.”
“It’s okay.” I finally found my voice. “I’m fine,” I assured him.
He gave me a skeptical look.
The venue was crowded, the heavy scent of expensive perfumes and colognes mingling with the rich aroma of aged wine and fine leather. The Alpha Council meetings were always extravagant, but tonight’s gathering buzzed with even more tension than usual.
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Chapter 10
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As the meeting began, I could feel Derek’s gaze searing into my back. I refused to turn around, but every nerve in my body was aware of him. I didn’t need to see him to know he
was watching me.
The meeting was called to order, and the Council elder stood and addressed the room.
“The annual Alpha Ball is upon us,” he said. “As we all know, the ball is a time to mend fences. To strengthen alliances and build bridges between our kind. We are a strong people. We are a proud people. And while strength and pride can build us up, they can also tear us apart.”
The elder swept his eyes over the blended packs in attendance, letting his words sink in.
“Let us hope that this year’s Ball brings us the former, rather than the latter.” He clapped his hands, his tone changing from one of gravity to lightness. “It’s a grand event. And it
requires a host pack!”
“The responsibility will likely fall to one of our most powerful packs this year,” the elder continued. “Both the Moonstone Pack and the Silverclaw Pack haven’t hosted the Alpha
Ball for some time.”
Immediately, murmurs rippled through the room as eyes turned to Derek and Mason.
The Alphas exchanged sharp looks. Our two packs were generational rivals, and now, suddenly, there was a new element that threatened to tear us even further apart.
Me.
A silent battle waged between them, thickening the already strained air. It was the kind of
tension that made the other Alphas shift uncomfortably in their seats.
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Chapter 11
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Chapter 11
