Chapter 154 The First Dance
Aubrey’s POV
When Mariana suddenly appeared, I didn’t say a word. Instead, I turned to Alpha Henry, curious to see how he would handle it.
His expression hardened instantly, his pupils narrowing into a dangerous slit under the light. “Something you need?”
The coldness in his voice was a sharp contrast to how he’d just spoken to me moments before.
The werewolves around us immediately picked up on the shift in the air, the low murmur of whispers spreading like ripples across water. Mariana clearly hadn’t expected him to greet her with such chilliness.
She nced at me, smothering the resentment in her eyes with a smile.
“Aubrey looks beautiful tonight. But Aubrey used to be Henry’s fiancée, so it wouldn’t be right for her to open the dance with him. What a pity. I was really looking forward to seeing them open together.”
“Looking forward to it?”
13
I arched a brow, then took Alpha Henry’s hand, my lips curving. “Well, since you’re <i>so </i>eager, I wouldn’t want to disappoint you. Alpha, shall we open the dance together?”
The center of the hall had already been cleared for the opening dance, waiting for the evening’s main figures. At my words, the surrounding werewolves began to cheer, closing in to form a circle around us.
Mariana’s expression souredpletely.
Flustered, she grabbed a scrawny, awkward–looking gamma and forced a smile. “Aubrey, you misheard. I just meant… you’re practically half a Miguel now, and with your past rtionship with Henry, it’s not really appropriate to dance with him. Why not let my cousin here dance with you instead?” She gave the reluctant gamma a little push.
I let out a quiet, derisiveugh, but before I could answer, Alpha Henry reacted more strongly than I did.
His sharp gaze cut toward the unfortunate gamma, and the crushing pressure of a top alpha filled the space in an instant. The poor man didn’t even make a sound before his legs buckled and he copsed to the floor, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Then Alpha Henry gave a cold snort, seized my hand, and strode onto the dance floor, dering for all to hear-
“In this world, I only dance with Aubrey.”
Mariana’s eyes widened, and she hurried after us. “Henry! You-”
Alpha Henry stopped mid–step, his dark brows drawing together.
“And who said you could call me that?”
His eyes narrowed, his voiceced with open disgust. “You think you’re worthy?”
Mariana went pale on the spot. Laughter rippled through the crowd, cutting into her like knives. From behind Alpha Henry, I tilted my head, smiling sweetly as I twisted the de a little deeper.
“Oh, and don’t call me Aubrey,” I said lightly. “We’re not close.”
A few people outrightughed. Mariana’s eyes reddened with fury, the faint glint of her canines showing as she teetered on the edge of losing control. But here, she didn’t dare transform and bite me.
So I ignored her and stepped forward with Alpha Henry, taking our ce for the opening dance.
And that was when I regretted it.
For tonight’s banquet, I’d picked up a few basic steps at thest minute. My partner was supposed to be a beta who would dance neatly and predictably. But now, my partner was Alpha Henry.
His palm settled firmly at my waist, the heat of his touch burning through the thin fabric, making my skin prickle. Around us, countless eyes – jealous, curious, searching – pierced into me, throwing my rhythm into chaos.
<i>“</i><i>Rx</i><i>,</i><i>” </i>E’s amused voice murmured in my head. <i>“</i><i>With </i><i>a </i><i>face </i><i>like </i><i>yours</i>, <i>they’ll </i><i>be </i><i>too </i><i>busy </i><i>staring </i><i>to </i><i>care </i><i>how </i><i>well </i><i>you </i><i>dance</i><i>.</i><i>” </i>
I ignored her, pressing my lips together and focusing on matching Alpha Henry’s
steps.
Strangely enough, I’d never seen him dance before, yet his movements were so effortlessly graceful it was as if he’d been born knowing how. Every turn carried amanding ease that couldn’t be resisted. Was this an alpha’s natural talent excel at anything?
“Focus.”
He looked down at me suddenly, smiling with gentle indulgence.
–
I blinked, momentarily caught in the vivid violet of his eyes. In that instant of distraction, my footnded squarely on his. Startled, I tried to step back, but my bnce faltered and I nearly fell.
An arm shot around my waist, pulling me securely into his embrace.
A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers.
“My god… the alpha didn’t push her away?!”
My face collided with his chest, and the crisp, cold scent unique to him filled my senses, tinged with the faintest trace of herbs. I could hear the beat of his heart through theyers of fabric – faster than usual.
to
Heat flooded my ears.
Above me, his voice rumbled low and teasing.
“Not getting up? How long do you n to stay in my arms?”
Even I couldn’t keep myposure entirely then myself.
—
my face warmed despite