lla

deafening. It lasted only a moment before t

ck

t. Why wasn't i

mething about that s

with contempt, but with a new, speculati

snagged on a figure at the very back of the ballroo

ia

d and fixed on me with a venom that burned even from across the vast room. He must have broken out, his Alpha strength an

. He saw him. He knew. But to drag Elias out now, in the middle of my apology, in the midst of this already volatile scene, would create the very public spectacle he was des

e. The family's control was a brittle illusion, and Eli

encer, seeking support, but he was frowning, his gaze fixe

nternal alarm bells went off.

white gown, ran toward the stage. Her face was a perfect p

Sister, please, don't do this," she cried, her voice breaking for a

r voice dropping to a venomous whisper that only

t my expression remained placid. I looked down at

lified by the microphone. "Miss Bl

oduction, sent another ripple of shock through the

still live. Her act faltered for a split second bef

to give way. She stumbled backward, her arms fla

cried out,

ime bomb

tel

nned guest out of his path. Beside him, Spencer was already moving, his expression more of panicked concern than fury. They

is eyes wide and confused. But Elias didn't stop. He thrust him

ing, the chaotic rage of a man who had been denied his prey earli

their drama. Yara sobbed pitifully in Sp

yself. I didn't argue

urned to my parents, who stood frozen in horror at th

er. My apolog

, enraged helplessness. His carefully constructed evening, his reputation, his authority-a

ough the chaos. "I have fulfilled my p

usations look ridiculous, their outrage misplaced. Yara's carefully constructed performance was crumbling under the we

o sense it. If I had truly pushed her, why was I

had to choose: punish me and let Elias's public defiance of his order slide, or regain control by

s all I

whole sordid mess. I walked through the parting se

of the ballroom, I allowed

subsided. Her eyes were fixed on my retreating back

at Yara. He was looking at me. And his expres

perceptible smile

out, and did