Chapter 170
Chapter 170
Nolan POV
The ballroom of Frost Hollow’s great hall gleamed in the chandelier light.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling, their light reflecting off the ice- carved pillars that lined the walls. The gathered Alphas-some young and restless, others gray-haired and calculating-moved through the room like actors across a stage. Their laughter was polite. Their smiles were weapons.
I stood near the far wall, the silver crest of the Silver Fang Pack gleaming faintly against my dark suit. I hated these events-the pretense, the politics-but appearances mattered.
Especially now.
The summit for the throne selection had drawn nearly every Alpha within a thousand miles.
Each one of them vying, in their own way, for power, for influence, for the goddess’s favor.
I wasn’t here to compete. Not anymore.
The election was the last thing on my mind right now. It hardly seemed to matter anymore. The ambition to elevate myself and my pack beyond what we were was gone. All I could manage right now was to try to maintain
what I had.
I was here because I couldn’t afford not to be.
Across the room, I saw familiar faces-some that turned away when they noticed me, others that lingered just long enough to whisper. I’d gotten used to that. The once- favored heir of Silver Fang, now the disgraced husband whose wife had vanished to Moonstone.
I ignored the whispers the best I could, until one reached my ears anyway.
“-heard she’s been having visions p>
“They say the goddess speaks through her p>
“Maybe that’s why she left him p>
“Or maybe she just came to her senses p>
The laughter that followed was low but sharp.
My jaw tightened. I didn’t turn toward them. Didn’t need to. I knew the type-small men puffed up by rumor, eager to see a giant fall.
I took a slow sip of my drink instead, letting the burn of the whiskey steady me.
I’d promised myself I wouldn’t rise to it.
I owed it to Ellie and to Silver Fang not to fall apart. I had to be strong, to be cold and detached from all of this turmoil no matter how much it hurt.
So I stayed still. Controlled. Polite.
Even when Kieran Pine Ridge decided to make his entrance.
The other Alpha was impossible to miss. He strode into the room with that effortless confidence that made people
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turn and look without quite knowing why. His hair was a touch too long, his smile a touch too sharp, and his presence-like always-demanded space it didn’t need.
I watched him work the room, greeting allies, shaking hands, accepting the
occasional flirtatious glance. When Kieran’s gaze finally found me, his smile widened.
“Silver Fang,” he greeted, approaching with a glass of wine in hand. “Didn’t think I’d see you out of your fortress p>
“Kieran,” I said evenly. “You’re late p>
“I like to make an entrance p>
My mouth twitched. “You always did p>
Kieran chuckled, swirling his wine. “Still so serious. You should learn to enjoy
yourself. Events like these are all about appearances p>
“Then you must be having the time of your life p>
That earned a laugh-low, amused, but edged. “Careful. People might think we’re getting along p>
“I’ll try to contain my enthusiasm,” I said coldly.
For a moment, we stood there like that-two wolves circling without teeth. The silence stretched until Kieran leaned slightly closer, his voice dropping just enough that only I could hear.
“Moonstone suits her, you know p>
I didn’t move. “So I’ve heard p>
“She seems… happier p>
Still, I didn’t bite. “That’s good p>
Kieran’s brows lifted. “Good? That’s all p>
“I don’t need your version of pity, Pine Ridge p>
“Who said anything about pity?” Kieran’s smirk was lazy, but his eyes gleamed with something sharper. “You just surprise me, that’s all. The Nolan I knew wouldn’t have let her go so easily p>
“The Nolan you knew,” I said quietly, “never existed p>
For the first time, Kieran’s smile faltered. It was brief, but enough.
He recovered quickly, though, raising his glass. “To second chances, then. For both
of you p>
I inclined my head, but didn’t drink.
Kieran’s grin turned sly again. “You know, those boys are quite impressive. Cute, strong p>
And there it was. The taunt I’d been waiting for.
The air between us seemed to cool, the faintest ripple of tension spreading through the space. A few heads turned, sensing it.
I stepped closer-not enough to draw attention, but enough to make my presence inescapable. “If your idea of charm is circling what you can’t have, then by all means, enjoy your sport,” I said evenly. “But if you ever forget
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that she is under my family’s protection, even Pine Ridge won’t be far enough to
hide you p>
The words weren’t loud. They didn’t need to be.
Kieran’s smirk returned, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ah, there’s the Nolan I
remember p>
ć—Ą
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