Page 46 of The Knotheads Next Door
How every unmated alpha in the room seems to be gravitating toward her.
I tell myself it's normal. She's new, she's attractive, and despite the blockers, her scent is... compelling. Of course people are drawn to her.
But when I see Bradley Peterson, son of the resort owner and notorious playboy, lean in close to whisper something in her ear, something hot and uncomfortable twists in my chest.
Jealousy. Unmistakable, unwelcome, and absolutely inappropriate.
I have no claim on Rowan. No right to feel possessive. This whole evening was supposed to be about providing her with a distraction, not adding to the complications of our situation.
And yet, when Bradley places his hand on the small of her back—exactly where mine had been earlier—I find myself moving across the room before I've made a conscious decision to do so.
"Rowan," I say, my voice carefully controlled as I reach them. "I believe the mayor was looking for us. Something about the silent auction."
Bradley's hand drops away, and Rowan turns to me with a mix of surprise and what might be relief.
"Of course," she says, offering Bradley a polite smile. "If you'll excuse me..."
"I'll find you later," Bradley promises, his gaze lingering on her in a way that makes my jaw clench. "We should continue our... conversation."
I place my hand at the small of Rowan's back again, this time with deliberate intent, guiding her away from Bradley and toward a quieter corner of the ballroom.
"Mayor Tillie isn't looking for us, is she?" Rowan asks once we're out of earshot.
"No," I admit. "But you looked like you could use a rescue."
"My hero," she says drily. "Though to be fair, Bradley was getting a bit... hands-on for someone I met ten minutes ago."
The casual way she says his name makes that uncomfortable feeling twist tighter in my chest. "He has a reputation for that." I say, more curtly than I intended.
Rowan gives me a curious look. "Are you... is everything okay? You seem tense."
I am tense. I'm tense because every protective instinct I possess is screaming at me to get her away from Bradley, away from the other alphas who keep looking at her with interest, away from anyone who isn't me or my pack.
Which is ridiculous, because this whole evening was my idea precisely because it was supposed to be free of alpha possessiveness. And here I am, being exactly the kind of territorial alpha I was trying to help her escape.
"I'm fine," I lie. "Just... professional concerns."
She doesn't look convinced, but she doesn't press the issue. Instead, she takes a sip of her champagne and surveys the room.
"This is actually kind of fun," she admits. "Once you get past the initial twenty questions about where you're from and why you moved to Vineyard Groves."
"What did you tell them?" I ask, curious about how she's navigating her complicated backstory.
She shrugs. "The edited version. Looking for a change of pace. Wanted a smaller town. Left out the part about family drama, identity crises, and mysterious biological changes."
"Probably wise," I say. "Though in this town, that might have made you even more popular."
She laughs, the sound warming something in my chest. "I've noticed Vineyard Groves has a thing for drama."
"It's our primary export, after wine and festival-themed merchandise."
Her smile deepens, reaching her eyes in a way that makes them crinkle at the corners. It's... charming. Distractingly so.
"Thank you," she says suddenly, her tone more serious. "For inviting me tonight. You were right—I needed the distraction."
"You're welcome," I reply, oddly touched by her gratitude. "You seem to be enjoying yourself."
"I am," she agrees. "It's nice to feel... normal, for a few hours. Like I'm just a regular person at a fancy party, not..." She trails off, her smile faltering slightly.
