50%


    Amber’s POV


    I slipped back into the auditorium just in time to see Alice stepping on stage to show off her project. She waved at me excitedly, and I grinned back at her. She’d been so excited for me to see the project.


    When Alice pulled the chain and turned on themp, the colors and paper cut-outs danced across the room. It was truly incredible. All I could feel was pride and awe that my little girl had made something this incredible.


    Alice truly deserved the world.


    The auctioneer took the stage and began the bidding. Roman bid double the asking price right off the bat. Not only would the proceeds go to helping the children at the orphanage, but Alice’s piece, in my opinion, was worth more than any amount of money could buy.


    I didn’t expect to hear another man’s voice follow Roman’s.


    “One thousand,” the voice said. I froze in my seat. It couldn’t be.


    I turned to see Julian sitting across the auditorium. Julian gazed at the stage, looking determined to win. His blue eyes piercing


    even from across the crowded room. My heart almost stopped.


    I nced over at him again, wondering what was driving him to bid so much on Alice’s piece. He couldn’t possibly know who she


    really was to him. To my knowledge, he’d never even met Alice before.


    I hadn’t tried to disguise myself at all today. I didn’t have a medical mask and tattoo stickers with me, and suddenly my face felt naked, as though it was indecent to show my chin in public. All I could do was hope that my golden hair would be enough to


    convince Julian that I wasn’t his ex-wife.


    “One hundred thousand,” Roman said, causing a wave of murmurs across the auditorium.


    “Five hundred thousand,” Julian countered.


    I didn’t know what to do. Of course, the exorbitant amounts of money that Roman and Julian were bidding would all go to a good cause, but they were causing a scene in the auditorium. They were both Alphas, as well; they weren’tcking funds in any sense.


    I simply sat and stared at Alice’smp, listening to the men raise their bids higher and higher.


    “One million,” Julian said.


    My heart twisted as gasps rippled through the crowd again. I turned to Roman, tugging on his sleeve to pull him away from the back-and-forthpetition.


    “What?” he said a bit gruffly, then smiled at me apologetically.


    “Stop bidding, Roman.”


    12:36 PM Tue 26 Aug


    “But Alice’s work” he started to protest.


    “He bid a million dors, Roman,” I said. “I think he deserves it. The money’s going to children, after all.”


    Roman crossed his arms as the auctioneer started wrapping up the bidding.


    ? 50%


    “Come on,” I said, pulling him up from his seat and out of the school as the auditorium broke out in awe-struck apuse at the


    disy.


    “Why would you do that?” I asked once we were out in front of the school. It was a lovely day, and the sun warmed my skin nicely


    after sitting for so long in the cold auditorium. “Don’t you know who that was?”


    “Sure I do,” Roman said casually. “That was your asshole ex-husband. Alpha Julian of Thorn Pack.”


    Despite Roman’s carefree performance, I knew that he was jealous of Julian in more ways than one. Julian was the Alpha of the


    biggest pack in the world, while Dawn Pack dwindled inparison. And, of course, Julian had been given ess to my heart,


    while I could only see Roman as a friend.


    “Yes. And I don’t want him to know that I’m back in Thorn Pack,” I said. “It’s hard enough hiding my identity when I treat Olivia.


    I don’t need you calling more attention to me in public, when I haven’t even had the chance to prepare myself!”


    “Let him find out you’re here,” Roman said, his voice full of swagger. “I’ll protect you.”


    I stopped in my tracks.


    “When have I ever asked for your protection?” I asked. “I don’t need you to protect me. I need you to listen to me. I still have to


    treat his… Luna. If he identifies me, he’ll think I’m trying to sabotage his life, just like he did five years ago.’


    “Then don’t treat her,” Roman said softly, his eyes urging me to agree. “Come back to my pack. I can take care of you.”


    I couldn’t believe him. This wasn’t about Roman at all. This wasn’t even about pack politics.


    This was about treating Alice, so she could live a good, normal life with a million more days like this.


    I rolled my eyes, turning to go back to the auditorium. Pain suddenly shot up from my wrist, as I was yanked to a halt.


    GET IT N


    12:36 PM Tue 26 Aug