Page 37 of Knocked Up By My Fated Alpha
As I slid in, his hand grazed mine. A spark shot through me, and I reflexively jerked away from the contact, stunned by how easily my body reacted to his. Alpha Damien’s entire frame went taut at my recoil, his jaw flexing as he shut the door behind me before circling to enter from the other side.
The limo glided forward silently and smoothly. I barely had time to adjust before Alpha Damien’s hand found my waist and tugged me so close that I almost fell into his lap. I jumped, meeting the golden gaze that had haunted more than a few of my dreams since our almost-moment that day in the elevator.
“What are you doing?” My voice had no business sounding so breathy.
“We are announcing our engagement, Raven.” Alpha Damien’s tone was calm, clipped, and very professional. “We’re supposed to lookmadly in love. How is that supposed to work when you flinch any time I move?”
My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I scrambled for an excuse.
“But we aren’t there yet.”
He didn’t bother replying. Rather, Alpha Damien held out his hand towards me with a silent, challenging stare. For a beat, I stared at him. Then, swallowing the panic clawing at my throat, I placed my hand in his, and his hand curled up around mine, causing a flurry of emotions to surge within me.
He tugged me closer, and sucking in a nervous breath, I let him. My senses blurred as I got caught up in his proximity, his scent of cedar and spice turning my head. Fuck, he smelled really good tonight. So intoxicating. My gaze dragged down his perfectly hooked nose to his lips, slightly parted as he spoke, but I was too gone to process a single word.
“...after we’ll close the event with a dance. Is that fine, Raven?”
With a blink, I came out of the trancelike state I’d fallen into. Shit. I’d missed everything he said.
“I—yes, it’s fine,” I said quickly, yanking my hand out of his grasp, turning to stare out the tinted windows like they held the secrets of the universe, my cheeks heated over with mortification. Silence bloomed heavy and awkward between us, and the ride couldn’t end fast enough.
Pictures hadn’t donethe Shadow Thorn Pack justice. From the expansive, well-maintained forested lands on the boundaries to the lush estate grounds that surrounded the main pack house, which was an architectural marvel of marble towers, glass, and polished stones, it was exquisite.
A welcome team bowed at the doors of the pack house as Alpha Damien escorted me through, his hand slipping possessively aroundmy waist. His touch seemed to sear my skin even through my dress, and I swallowed hard, forcing the anxiety I felt away.
We just had to sell this couple act well enough for this evening. I could do that. The gazes on me as we swept into the banquet hall seemed more curious than malicious, but feeling the gazes of hundreds of strangers on me wasn’t exactly comfortable.
The wolf with the buzz cut from the banquet, Sinclair, made his way to us, a terse expression on his face as he bowed to Alpha Damien and then me.
“I apologize, Alpha, but the council would like a word before your announcement.”
Alpha Damien’s countenance darkened, his eyes narrowing imperceptibly before his lips curved into a small, dry smile, and he nodded once before pulling me closer and dropping a kiss on my forehead.
“Don’t wander,” he whispered against my skin, and I shivered. “I’ll be right back.”
The moment Alpha Damien disappeared into the crowd, my breath returned to me, and naturally, the first thing I did was wander. Anxiety-induced nausea or just plain pregnancy-related nausea hit me, and I desperately sought out a space free of guests, only to stumble across a balcony that overlooked the Shadow Thorn Pack’s forest.
Cool air swept over my skin, instantly calming my nausea. I sucked in a breath of relief, only to stiffen as a very familiar scent hit me. Elias’s voice came from right behind me.
“You never did like crowds.”
Closing my eyes, I struggled to put a lid on my irritation. Why couldn’t I catch a break? Just one? Bidding the beautiful view goodbye, I spun on my heels to leave, but Elias stood in my way, stormy blue eyes fixed on me.
“I want to talk, Raven.”
“Too bad, I don’t want to talk to you,” I said, stepping around him, but Elias grabbed my arm, pulling me to a stop before I could go far, his lips at my ear.
“Was any of it real, or did you just use me to get to my uncle?” he asked, his voice tight with emotion.
Oh, the audacity of this man. But I didn’t intend to give him the pleasure of getting a rise out of me.
“I’m not doing this with you,” I intoned coolly, shrugging off his hold.
I made it a step away before Elias pushed me up against the stone wall, a growl leaving his lips.
“You aren’t leaving until I get an explanation for your actions!”
My control shattered, and I saw red.
