My jaw drops. “What?”
“Raine,” Delilah hisses at me.
I’m sure she wants to kick my ass so badly right now. To her, I’m probably about two seconds away from getting us both kickedout for offending Aiden. She’d probably die if she ever finds out I’ve seen this man become undone the second his cock sinks into me.
“Dance with me,” he repeats, and then holds out a hand to me.
I can’t help but stare at it in abject shock.
What the hell is he doing?
Is this…is this his way of presenting me to the entire pack? Out in public like this with everyone else to see?
It would certainly make a bold statement, especially since he’s hardly made contact with anyone since this ball started—aside from that female I caught him with.
His hand motions for me to grab it, curling forward a few times. I lift mine slowly, sliding it into his and reveling in how warm his skin is.
Walking backward, he leads me out onto the dancefloor, a wide berth being created for us. I trip over my dress, my nerves already completely shot as what feels like the entire attention of the ball is drawn our way.
He chuckles lightly, catching me before I can fall flat on my ass. “Careful.”
“What are you doing?” I whisper to him, just as the quartet picks up another song.
“What do you mean?” He’s playful as he sways my body into his. His hand comes up to rest on my hip in a tight hold that feels close to a brand. “We’re dancing.”
“Aiden—” I’m spun around the dance floor in some kind of waltz that I can barely keep up with. This is probably not that complicated, but I’m so damn focused on everything else besides my own two feet that it feels like I have two left ones.
“Let me show you off.” His words have my body heating up. “I can’t claim you yet. Not until I talk to my elders. But I want my pack to recognize you and know who you are.”
My eyes shoot up to him again. “You were serious about that?”
“Of course I am. I meant what I said, Raine. What you saw was a complication that I’m trying to fix. It has nothing to do with you. My relationship with her was put in place a long time ago. Trust me, I don’t want it any more than you do.”
I’m spun again, but this time, under his arm. I twirl, my dress fanning out around me in a magnificent display. I feel so beautiful, for once in my life.
As much as Aidenisn’ttelling me, he is giving me enough hints to try to put the pieces together. As a newly risen alpha, it isn’t uncommon for arranged marriages to be suggested or put in place.
After all, an heir needs to be secured as quickly as possible in the severe case of a death happening.
Maybe that’s who that female was—a potential arranged match, or even a breeder.
Breeders are rare nowadays, though. With shifter numbers and pack birth rates being healthily maintained, the need forbreeders has all but died out. The last I heard, they haven’t been used since decades before I was even born.
“So, you’ll claim me?” I ask.
He nods. “When I sort things out here, I’ll come get you and claim you in front of your pack.”
Relief floods through me.
A plan. A promise.
Soon I won’t have to answer to Daniel anymore. I’ll be free from my pack and their humiliating torture of me.
Soon I’ll be here, back in Pollis lands, where no one will know me as the daughter of a disgraced beta. I’ll be able to make my own life. I won’t have to live in the shadows any longer.
“I wish I could kiss you,” I admit.
His eyes widen and then a smile crosses his face. “Come to my room tonight. I’ll be waiting there for you.”