ia's

intending to find a quiet corner, but a young

bition was not. His eyes, bold and appraising, roa

g his drink a little too clos

offering a tight, dismiss

e again, his hand reaching out as if to

k, my polite facade cra

a hand landed firmly

erl

pleasant and unassuming as ever. He adjusted his gold-rimmed gla

ston's shoulder must have been immense, because the younger Alpha's

room, Gunner h

the low growl of his inner wolf, a possessive, primal sound

Day family was his vassal. An insult to me was an

, filled with a burning curiosity. My coldness, my distance-it w

e received after my fall. His men had told him that as Case Reeve

Al

d, traumatized girl. But now, I could see the question turning over in hi

a hook, and it

my arm gently. "Come

rner, but directly toward t

anding with him, the two A

He gave a slight bow. "I've brought my sister to properly e

dn't refuse. I stood before the two

to Gunn

ind a subordinate gives to a commanding off

id, Alpha Vance. Your

empty. It was a transaction, a

rned to Ca

touched my lips. I let my eyes, the color of ice, warm

rst name was a deliberate choice. "I owe yo

s. I let the moment stretch, for one second, two, thre

's eyes before he masked it with his customary gentle

ange. He had noted the shift in my tone, the warmth in my eyes, the si

him. It was so potent, I could feel it pri

i

as a public declaration. A slap i

f trust and warmth, an expression he had never

s knuckles turn white. The stem of the glass looked fr

od. "If you'll excuse me," I m

leaving the Gala, leaving the whispers, leaving t

k back at Gun

gathering in his eyes. He was no longer j

certa

he was a man who never,