Chapter 46
Chapter 46
I watched a young couple making moon-eyes at each other from across the room and covered my smile with my hand. Maybe some really would find real love tonight, and I would have had a hand in it.
Maybe someone else would get to be happy.
Anna and the kitchen staff had been working extra hours to get the feast ready for everyone and now the hall was filled with
delicious scents.
The Old Luna swept past with a smile and said, “Well done. Everything looks great!” Which was such a nice compliment that it made all the long hours of work feel worth it.
The dance floor was filling up as evening fell. I stood watching the dancers and admiring their graceful movements. Still, I felt very much alone. Always the unwanted guest, never the Gala attendee.
I resolved not to feel sorry for myself any longer. I would find some way to make the night feel worthwhile to myself, even if it was just snacking on the dessert table.
I turned around just in time to see Gideon enter through the double doors.
He was striking in a well-cut suit, his hair swept back. He looked like he belonged in a fashion magazine, not at a small-town gala. No one deserved to be that handsome.
His eyes fell on me and he began making his way through the crowd. I considered trying to dip into the crowd and disappear, but where would I go? So I just stood there and waited.
When he arrived in front of me, he stared down at me, his eyes sweeping from top to bottom.
I suddenly felt shy, and lowered my lashes to gaze at the floor.
After a long moment I shyly said, “Well, aren’t you going to say something p>
Gideon took a deep breath, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes gleamed in the darkness.
Instead, he held out his hand. After hesitating, I placed mine in his, and he whirled me onto the dance floor.
I hadn’t danced like this with anyone, but Gideon made it seem easy. His hand at my waist moved me effortlessly, and I only stepped on his toes once.
When the song ended, I was breathless but he twirled me back out again, and again.
Around the dance floor I saw people notice us, making way as we swirled past.
“You still haven’t said anything.” I murmured as the music slowed and the lights dimmed. We were swaying together slowly, and the whole night was starting to take on a dreamy, hazy quality.
Please don’t let this be a dream, I prayed. Not when it feels so perfect.
“You seem to have that effect on me tonight.” Gideon’s face tipped down towards mine. My heart fluttered in my chest.
I stared into his eyes. His pupils were deep pools of darkness in the shadows of the dance floor. His mouth was coming closer to
mine.
Without warning, Gideon’s eyes flashed yellow. Wolf’s eyes.
“Something is wrong.” He spoke, but the voice sounded strange, both his and not his.
“What?” I asked, panicked.
Gideon grabbed my hand and drew me off the dance floor. Where his hand closed around my wrist, his wolf’s claws were starting to emerge.
1/2
“Gideon, you’re scaring me.” I tried to pull back as he hauled me along, but his hand only tightened and he growled.
“I/We need to get out of here.” Again there was that double layering of voices, like two people were speaking at once. I realized with a start that I was hearing his wolf, speaking through him.
I stopped trying to fight and picked up my pace to match Gideon’s. Whatever was happening, I had to trust that he would protect
Us.
We rushed out the doors and into the night. The waxing gibbous moon stared down at us from low in the sky. In the moonlight, Gideon seemed to solidify, growing larger.
He shook himself, like one might shake off a chill. Then he turned to face me, wolf’s fangs starting to elongate.
His wolf was taking over!
Olivia Harris
Olivia Harris is an emerging author celebrated for her captivating romantic and steamy novels. With a talent for crafting deep emotional connections and fiery chemistry between her characters, Olivia’s stories offer readers an escape into worlds filled with passion, intrigue, and heart-stopping drama.