mell to anxiety, I

through the door, the energy o

n pleasant laughter and high-priced gossip. Champagne flutes clinked in the golden light

birthday party. It wa

d there foram

tered like she owned

at made every male take a second ogle, her s

g her arm around mine. "If one more dude undresses me

led a

magnet for catastroph

und the room sea

they fo

ike a punch

remembered - intimidati

rt of presence that commanded

rse, he was

sively around his sleeve. She was beautiful in that effortless way that made

coiled ball sett

t he'd be standing a corner, staring into a glass of whis

het

pped myself and

matter. N

ow, No

no officia

pped away from it. Instead of aligning with the Alpha, he built his

boardrooms rather

so because he wanted more,

ambition? Or w

tecting the pack before I got turned away.

om, it all w

flew into the business world a

ing from what I 

tlight

he hall, I could feel the w

lances. Wom

t exp

spotlight, and now here I was, thrust i

ly, basked in

illed. "Do you see this? We're

utral. "I'm sure that t

guys know they can't even try. But you? You're a mystery. "A be

d. "Can

u're officially the most int

d to di

ort, she did somet

murmured. "

how, tha

me over to the guys. "Allow me

as and t

suited men, all of whom subsequent

st-green eyes. He looked slick, like the kind of g

said, splitting his face with a dangerously

gaze sl

. looks even more

my chee

 up soulfully, rolling her eyes so h

"We all know you're only fl

choked

bas

arrass me," he said, mut

g so flirtable,

"Everyone, meet Naomi Car

ion was i

postures. W

d the urg

, and now, here in front of this gaggle of

rked at me, and his look was

ch a lovely little flower for a sister," he

n that moment, but a voice

careful what you cal

ing, cold and calm, f

e my brother climbing up ne

a tiger, you don't

lin

he fuck does t

lf? Because as far I know I'm pretty much the lea

tly, but there was a flicke

he said smoothly. "I just mean

ze was in

dden, the convers

was gr

xpecte

Layla was stolen away by her mat

lly cur

ct an escape plan, a

n said, approaching. "Wou

sita

o better options an

ulled me to the dance floor. "No need to

smi

Naomi

that, the even