I sensed her before she moved—Hayley, prowling like a wolf marking territory, her eyes sharp and envious. But then something caught my attention: a taller, darker presence slipping through the crowd. Elliot. My instincts flared as I watched him move with the quiet dominance of an Alpha claiming his territory. Hayley's gaze sharpened, her envy palpable as she set aside her wine glass and followed. She wanted to know why he was going after me, but she didn't understand the bond that pulsed between us, the raw connection of pack and mate instincts.
I had just stepped out of the hall when a chill ran down my spine. A low, commanding voice cut through the night air: "Stop there." I turned instinctively. Elliot emerged from the shadows like a predator in his element, the dim light tracing the sharp angles of his face. His gaze was icy, unyielding, fixed on me as though he could read every thought, every heartbeat. "Did you really say yes to Nigel's proposal?"
