Chapter 167
Istudied her profile. The way her eyes darted toward the trees, always alert. “You were incredible, you know.”
She let out a breath. “I was furious.”
“Still incredible.‘
She tilted her head up, eyes catching mine. “You took a bit pretty well.”
“I’ve had worse.”
“That’s not the flex you think it is.”
“Hurts less when you’re dancing after,” I said, spinning her gently before pulling her back.
She actually laughed
And just like that, the tension between us melted–for a moment. For one, sacred breath of time.
The song came to a close, the final chord lingering in the air like a held breath.
Elena stepped away, her hand slipping from mine with the faintest brush of fingertips. She looked out across the crowd, cheeks flushed, hair tousled from the movement. Around us, a quiet settled for half a beat–then applause erupted.
Louder than I expected. Not polite, not perfunctory, but warm. Real.
Not just for the dance, but for what it had done. For the moment we’d created. For the illusion of peace.
Guests who had moments ago been glancing over their shoulders were now clapping, smiling, relaxing. The children laughed and began running around again. The drummers lifted a softer rhythm, one that smoothed the air like balm.
But even as the last note echoed across the courtyard, I heart it.
Engines.
A low growl rolling over the rise, followed by the crunch of gravel under heavy tires.
The illusion shattered like glass.
Headlights swept through the trees, cutting through the haze of torchlight and smoke. Vehicles returned in a tight cluster, fanned out like a tactical formation. The dust they kicked up hung like a veil in the air, golden in the glow
of lanterns.
Elena turned instantly, her body snapping to attention before her mind could even catch up.
“They’re back,” she said, and without waiting for an answer, started moving toward the driveway.
I followed,
She walked with purpose–fast, graceful, not pushing, but not hesitating either. Her presence made the crowd part like water. I stayed just behind her shoulder, and every muscle in my body tightened as the warriors emerged from the lead SUV.
Chapter 1677
+25 BONUS
Mason was first–his hair windblown, a fresh scrape across his jaw. He wore the look of someone trying very hard to appear unfazed.
Logan came next. Silent. Composed. His face unreadable, his shoulders squared with deliberate ease.
Gamma Chad hopped down from the front seat and adjusted his cuffs like he’d just come back from a grocery run instead of a potential skirmish.
Two other guards climbed out behind them, both younger, yes sharp and scanning
The air grew still again.
No howls. No shouting. No wounded being carried in.
Elena’s eyes darted over each face like she was scanning for invisible injuries.
Mason approached the Alplia first, brushing dust from his sleeve, ever the dutiful son. He wore his casualness like a mask, but his posture was tight.
“Everything all right?” Elena asked.
“Everything is fine, Father,” Mason said, not looking at her “Just a few wolves. Nothing serious,”
The Alpha nodded. “Good” He clapped a hand to Mason’s shoulder, as if to signal to the rest of the watching crowd that all was well.
A few murmurs of relief rippled through the nearest guests.
But Logan–standing just behind Mason–didn’t move. Not at first.
Then he took a step forward, his movements measured. The light caught the edge of his face, highlighting the slight sheen of sweat, the stiffness in his jaw.
His voice cut through the moment like a blade.
“However,” he said, just a little too loud, just a little too crisp.
All eyes turned to him.
“One of them, as he was fleeing,” Logan continued, “dropped this.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled something out–held it up between two fingers.
A golden medallion.
It glinted in the headlights. Polished. Clearly intentional,
Even from where I stood, I recognized it instantly.
