Chapter Twenty-Three

Wynter

I might pay for this for the rest of my life, but it would be worth it. From the moment I stepped into the back seat of the limo I’d ordered from the car service; it had all felt like a dream. The driver closed the door behind me, and even our dirt drive did not detract from the smooth ride. But it wasn’t until I arrived at the door to the magnificent alpha house and stepped inside that the full import of the evening fell over me.

Everyone was dressed well, even if many were not wearing actual ball gowns. It was still a gathering of wolves who were going to be stripping down to run later on. But every unmated female and most of the single males looked pretty snazzy, and I was shocked to find that in my current outfit, I fit right in. Appearance-wise anyway. Because I had not a single clue what to do now that I was here.

None of those around me looked familiar, although my family had to be here somewhere. And I was ill-equipped for such a social situation, I backed toward the door. I had to go home before Stepmama saw me. If I left now, maybe I wouldn’t have to starve all week. And it was a shame because they had a huge buffet along one entire wall, and I hadn’t eaten all day.

“Wynter, my name is Smoke. I would be honored if you would share a dance with me.”

A nervous giggle destroyed any dignity I might have, but I was so grateful to dance one time before I left. Not that I knew how to. But I sure wanted to try. “I would love to.”

He looped an arm around me and guided me onto the dance floor and my knees wobbled. This Smoke was hot. As hot as Xerxes, and that was saying something.

The faintest rumble deep inside me had me thinking either my wolf still was in there, or it was just my empty stomach reacting when we came close to the buffet. But all too soon, he was handing me off to someone else, Titan, who said he was glad I was me and other puzzling things. Still, he seemed nice enough and his arms around me felt entirely too good. What was wrong with me that I was just reacting to everyone?

“I believe it’s my turn.” That voice, the one that went with the big strong body of Xerxes.

“Sure thing, alpha.” Titan handed me over. To his alpha. Was he the one whose pack this was? He must be a pack alpha if Titan addressed him that way. They were all alphas, quite obviously, but only one would be the official leader, and I could feel my stepsisters’ eyes burning into me the moment we began to dance.

“I’m glad you didn’t dye your hair,” he said, confusing me for a moment.

“Oh no. I don’t do that.” Hadn’t I said the dye was for someone else?

“I love your own color.”

“You’re getting me in trouble again,” I told him, leaning my cheek against his shoulder, and we danced around and around. I almost felt graceful in his arms.

“I think it’s becoming a habit.” He spoke low, intimate, and my heart was beating so hard, I was sure he had to feel it through my dress. “Why don’t you just come home with us and we’ll make our own trouble.”

“I don’t know what you mean, but my stepmama is looking at me, and she’s not looking happy.”

“You’re a grown adult. And I wasn’t joking.”

“You have to be. I’m nobody and nothing, and you’re a pack alpha. Why this whole party was set up to find your mate, wasn’t it? You’re the one.”

“Yes, and I did. But there are things you need to know before you can decide if you want to come here to stay.”

Everything he said sounded so good it couldn’t possibly be true, but I wanted to ride this beautiful night as far as I could, and details or facts were only going to ruin it. “Just dance with me, okay? This is a beautiful dream and I am going to have to remember it forever.”

“Wynter, look at me.” We’d stopped moving, but I didn’t know when, and the orchestra had gone on a break.

“I-I can’t.” I’d never been so mixed up. “You don’t understand. This isn’t how I usually am. It’s not even my dress. Or my shoes.” I held up a foot, and the light caught the silver sandal straps. “I have nothing of my own but the rags you saw me wearing in town. Tomorrow, I’ll be back to scrubbing floors and eating leftovers.”

“Please look at me?”

Unable to resist his request, I lifted my face just in time to have his lips crash into mine. We stood right in the middle of the empty dance floor, just the two of us, and the alpha was kissing me. I swooned, supported only by his arms around me.

“Wynter?” He spoke low, stroking my hair with one hand and still supporting me with his other arm. “I think you need to eat something. I’m going to get you a plate. Anything you don’t like?”

I shook my head and allowed him to lead me to a chair, one of a row lining the wall. “No. I like everything.” Starvation would do that to a person.

“You wait right here, all right? I’ll just be a minute.”

“Thank you. You’re being very sweet to me.”

He reached down and stroked my cheek with the back of his hand. “It’s no trouble at all.”

I watched him walk away toward the buffet, admiring the view. But then the very worst happened.

“Here she is,” Violet spoke, but she had Calla with her. “I don’t know how you got that dress. And my shoes!”

“Or how she even got here. You’d better not have stolen Mama’s car.”

“I didn’t.” And their presence was rapidly dissipating the rosy glow I’d been feeling since shortly after I arrived. I didn’t bother to remind her how I got hold of the dress in the hamper where it was close to being ruined. “But don’t worry. I’m not staying long.”

“Good because you are annoying my Xerxes.” Calla’s cheeks flamed, her finger poking at my chest. “He hasn’t even had time to dance with me, thanks to you.”

She couldn’t have been more ridiculous.

“You are so worthless,” Violet raged. “I bet he doesn’t know you can’t even shift.”

Those words flushed out the last of my happiness and I stood up, wanting only to escape before the people standing around watching cast me any more pitying looks. Their stares ate through me, and panic welled. I had to get out of there. My vision blurred as I pushed through the crowd surrounding the scene and ran for the door. Outside, I looked for the limo, but it was gone, and I had no way to call and tell the driver I was ready to go. But I couldn’t stay here, so I ran down the drive. I could barely see for the tears or breathe past the sobs, but this was supposed to be my one perfect night. It was over, and I was out of there.