I stumbled forward, my nose colliding with a hard chest. Pain shot through my face, tears instantly welling in my emerald eyes


    Looking up through my blurry vision, I saw Ethan Stone''s amber eyes watching me with that unreadable expression he''d mastered over years of being Alpha.


    "What are you doing here?" I asked, my words slurring from the wine Victoria had kept pushing on me. "1 thought you left with Victoria."


    Ethan''s jaw lightened visibly. "I sent her home."


    Confusion swept through me like wildfire. Why would he escort Victoria out only toe find me? Nothing


    about this made sense.


    "Well, good for you," I mumbled, taking an unsteady step backward. "Now you can leave me alone too."


    The memory of Victoria''s triumphant smirk burned in my mind. Her fingers clinging to Ethan''s arm. His hand on her waist. The casual way he''d agreed to take her home.


    "I''m leaving,” I announced, turning away and taking a wobbly step toward the garden exit.


    Before I could get three steps, Ethan''s strong hand wrapped around my wrist, yanking me back. The sudden movement made my head spin violently, nausea rising in my throat.


    "Let go!" I demanded, pushing against his broad chest with my free hand


    "You''re in no condition to go anywhere alone," he replied, his grip unyielding as iron.


    I looked around frantically, suddenly aware we were standing in in view. Anyone could walk by and see us


    together.


    "Aren''t you worried someone might see us?" I asked, bitterness dripping from every word. "You''ve never been keen on being seen with me in public before."


    His expression darkened instantly. "What are you talking about?"


    "Oh, please," I scoffed, my voice rising with each word. "You parade Victoria around like a trophy, but with me, you''ve always kept your distance in public. Don''t pretend otherwise!"


    Ethan''s amber eyes shed dangerously. Was it anger? Guilt? I couldn''t tell before the emotion disappeared.


    behind his mask again.


    "How much have you had to drink?" he asked, deliberately changing the subject.


    Iughed, a hollow sound even to my own ears. "Didn''t you see? Victoria kept insisting on toast after toast.


    She made sure my ss was never empty."


    "I wasn''t there for most of the dinner," he replied coldly.


    "Right," I snapped, feeling my temper re. "You only showed up for the grand finale to escort your precious Victoria home like a knight in shining armor!"