The pack gathering buzzed with forced cheerfulness and underlying tension. Crystal glasses clinked, expensive perfume mingled with natural wolf scents, and I stood alone by the bar, nursing a champagne I had no intention of finishing.
Derek had barely acknowledged me since we arrived. Now he was across the room, leaning too close to a redhead from the marketing department, his hand resting on her lower back in a gesture that was unmistakably intimate.
"Selena Moretti," a slurred voice drawled behind me. "All alone?"
I turned to find Marcus Thornfield, one of the younger Alphas from a neighboring pack. His eyes were glassy, pupils dilated with alcohol and something darker—aggression.
"Excuse me?" I kept my voice polite but cool.
"I said," he stepped closer, invading my space, "you're all alone. Your Beta boyfriend seems busy." He gestured toward Derek with his drink, sloshing amber liquid onto the floor. "Why don't you come hang out with a real wolf?"
The stench of whiskey and entitlement rolled off him in waves. Before I could respond, his hand closed around my wrist, tight enough to bruise.
"I'm not interested," I said firmly, trying to pull away.
His grip tightened. "Don't be like that. Everyone knows you're just Derek's little trophy. Bet you've never been with a real Alpha."
I opened my mouth to respond, but a low voice cut through the ambient noise.
"I believe she asked you to let go."
Lucien materialized beside me, his presence suddenly filling the space. He wasn't touching Marcus, wasn't making any threatening moves, but the air around us seemed to thicken with his Alpha aura.
Marcus's eyes widened slightly as he registered Lucien's scent. "Blackwood," he muttered, his grip on my wrist loosening.
Lucien's arm slid around my waist, pulling me against his side in a gesture that was unmistakably possessive. "The lady isn't interested," he said, his voice deceptively soft. "I think you should move along."
It wasn't an Alpha command—not quite—but there was enough steel in his tone that Marcus took an involuntary step backward.
"Didn't mean any harm," he mumbled, backing away. "Just being friendly."
Lucien's arm remained around my waist as he turned to me, his dark eyes searching my face. "Are you alright?"
I nodded, surprised by how steady I felt with him beside me. Across the room, Derek was watching us, his jaw tight as he took in Lucien's protective stance.
---
"Did you see his face?" I laughed, the sound light and genuine as Lucien and I sat at a quiet corner table later that evening.
Lucien's lips curved into a rare full smile. "Priceless," he agreed. "You should have seen how quickly he backed down."
I took a sip of water, watching Derek over the rim of my glass. He was still talking to the redhead, but his attention kept drifting toward us.
"Here," Lucien said, leaning closer as if sharing a secret. "Let me show you something."
He pointed to a spot across the room where Derek stood with his back to us, now talking to a small group of executives.
"Watch his shoulders," Lucien murmured. "See how they're tensing? He's trying not to look this way, but he can't help it."
I studied Derek's posture, seeing the subtle signs of agitation Lucien had noticed. "He's jealous," I realized with surprise.
"Territorial," Lucien corrected. "There's a difference."
I glanced up at him, catching something in his eyes—a hint of satisfaction that made my pulse quicken. "And which are you?" I asked softly.
His gaze held mine for a moment too long before he answered. "Both."
---
The werewolf forums were ablaze with speculation by the time I checked them the next morning.
"SPOTTED: A certain Beta heir getting cozy with someone who isn't his fiancée."
The anonymous post was simple—just a heavily blurred photo from the video I'd taken at the Moon's Den. The image was grainy, but unmistakably showed Derek with his arms around Lana, their faces close together.
Comments were already flooding in:
"OMG is that Derek Vance? With Lana from accounting?"
"Thought he was engaged to that sweet girl from marketing..."
"Knew something was off about that relationship..."
I scrolled through the responses, a cold satisfaction spreading through me. This was just the beginning—a small taste of what was to come.
My phone buzzed with a text from Derek: "Gym. Now."
---
"What the hell is this?" Derek thrust his phone in my face as I walked into the gym.
The screen displayed the forum post, now with hundreds of comments and shares.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," I said, widening my eyes in confusion.
"Don't play dumb," he snapped, his voice rising enough that other pack members turned to stare. "This is exactly your kind of pathetic attention-seeking."
I let my lower lip tremble as I stared up at him. "Derek, why would I do something like that? I'm your fiancée."
"Because you're jealous and insecure," he hissed, grabbing my arm. "Admit it. You posted this crap to get back at me."
Tears welled in my eyes—real tears, but not for the reason he thought. They were tears of rage, carefully channeled into a performance of hurt innocence.
"I would never," I whispered, pulling away from him. "You're hurting me."
Around us, other gym members were openly staring now, their expressions shifting from curiosity to discomfort as Derek continued to glare at me.
From across the room, I caught Lucien's eye. He was working out in the corner, his gaze never leaving Derek as he watched the scene unfold. The ghost of a smile played at his lips as he observed Derek's public meltdown.
---
The nightclub pulsed with energy—strobe lights cutting through darkness, music vibrating through the floor beneath our feet. I'd dressed carefully tonight: a simple black dress that hugged my curves, hair loose around my shoulders.
Lucien looked devastating in dark jeans and a charcoal button-down that emphasized his broad shoulders. When he offered me his hand and led me toward the dance floor, I didn't hesitate.
"May I?" he asked formally, one hand settling at my waist.
I nodded, placing my hand on his shoulder as his other hand found mine.
We moved together as if we'd been dancing for years. His body was warm against mine, strong and sure as he guided us through the crowd. I could feel eyes on us—the Alpha and the Beta's fiancée, dancing too close, too intimately.
"I think we're being watched," I murmured against his ear.
"I'm counting on it," he replied, his breath warm against my neck.
I glanced toward the bar where Derek stood with Lana clinging to his arm. His face was a mask of barely controlled fury as he watched us.
"Is this what you wanted?" Lucien asked softly. "To make him jealous?"
I turned back to face him, studying his dark eyes. "Is that what you think this is?"
His hand tightened slightly at my waist. "Isn't it?"
Instead of answering, I let my body respond, pressing closer to him as the music slowed. My fingers traced patterns on his shoulder, and I felt his pulse quicken under my touch.
"Selena," he breathed, his voice rough with something that wasn't quite restraint.
I smiled up at him, aware of Derek's burning gaze from across the room. "Dance with me, Lucien," I whispered. "Let them watch."
As we moved together in the pulsing lights, I felt something shift between us—something that had nothing to do with Derek or revenge, and everything to do with the dangerous Alpha whose arms held me like I was precious rather than a pawn.
