Chapter 7

Gwen's POV

"Do not pull away from me." His voice was very seductive right against my ear as his hand at my waist got tighter. I didn't even know I was trying to move away from him; I stopped moving, and then I let him guide me.

The music changed; it was slower now and much more sensual. It was the kind of music that wraps around you, whether you like it or not.

Xavier did not let me go after the announcement; instead, he took me to the dance floor as if it had already been planned. His firm, warm hand moved to the small of my back, which was exposed by the nature of my dress, and I could feel the full impact of his touch.

Our hands intertwined as I followed his lead. I copied every move and realized that the rhythm was easy. 

"What are you thinking?" he asked, looking at me. 

"Nothing you need to worry about," I replied. 

"That is not true," he added. I did not say anything because he was right; his thumb moved a little at my waist, and it caused heat to go up my spine. 

"You are stiff," he commented, and I admitted it.

“Let me fix it," he whispered as my chin was lifted by his fingers with his thumb slightly touching my lower lip. He raised my head gently. I breathed out slowly, letting myself loose. I stood up a little straighter. His eyes got darker as he smirked.

The way he looked at me was not casual; it was not polite; it was not subtle; it was focused. He was paying attention to me; it felt like he was not just dancing with me but studying me, memorizing me. 

He was making me react in ways I didn’t think were possible; heat was spreading all over me, and it was unapologetic. I did not like it.

"Keep your head high." His voice was calm and had a bit of command in it. 

"Not for them but for yourself, you stand here because you choose to, not because anyone allowed you to." My grip on his hand got a little tighter. 

"I do not care about anybody else right now; it's just you and me," I replied. 

"Good, my Luna will not shrink herself for anyone; you know who you are, and if anyone has a problem with that, then they will take it up with me." He stated with a firm tone.

Other couples started dancing around us, but it did not matter because I could still feel the change and the whispers about me being an omega, the beta’s wife, and now future Luna; it was too much for them to ignore for the few that knew my history.

I pushed all of it out of my mind and moved closer to him; he responded by pulling me a little closer like he was waiting for me to do that.

"Good," he said quietly. My cheek was near his jaw; I could feel the warmth of his skin, and I could hear his breathing change. 

"You smell good," he whispered; the way his voice was low made me shiver. 

"If we were not here..." The words were not completed because there was no need for that; my body reacted, and I swallowed. I wanted to believe I was steady and I was in control. 

"You should focus," I breathed, my voice softer. 

"I am focused," he growled lightly as his hand pressed a little harder on my back. 

"On you." Those words did not help at all because they made me stare into his eyes, and I got lost in them. 

The music slowed down more, and then it stopped. He didn’t let me go away, nor did I. 

"We are not done." He quickly added, and before I could say anything, he took me off the dance floor.

"Stay close to me." His voice was formal again; we were moving through the crowd. I did not ask questions; his hand was at the small of my back, guiding me. 

We stopped near a group of men, Alphas; the aura around them was obvious; you could tell without asking. The way they stood would naturally make people give them space.

 

"Gentlemen," Xavier called out. They turned, acknowledged him with respect, and then they looked at me.

"This is Gwendolyn, my fiancée." The word sounded different coming from him; he did not rush it, but you could feel the seriousness in his voice. They looked at me; they were assessing me, not dismissing me, not entirely. They did not know me. 

"A pleasure," one of them stated; his tone was measured. 

"You have made an impression already." 

"I intend to," I replied calmly; they seemed to approve for now. Xavier’s hand swirled a little on my back; it felt like electricity, then someone cleared their throat.

"Alpha," someone uttered urgently. When I turned a little, my eyes met with a man beside Xavier. He was composed and professional.

"I need to talk to you." His voice was low. Xavier’s face did not change, but when the assistant's eyes turned to me again, even though it was polite, there was unmistakable disapproval underneath.

"Excuse me." Xavier’s tone was polite; he looked at me briefly. 

“Don’t go anywhere." It was not a suggestion; it was a directive. Then he stepped away with his assistant, leaving the hall, and just like that he was gone.

The air changed a little, even though it was not a lot, but just enough to notice that without Xavier beside me, the room felt different, and people looked at me longer with their whispers sharper. 

I stood my ground, and then suddenly I felt a different kind of look, which was cold and familiar. I did not need to turn, but I did anyway, Cole. 

He was watching me from the edge of the room, and when no one important was paying attention to me, it became an opportunity for him to beckon me. 

“Come," he mouthed. I ignored him because that wasn’t worth my time. The expression I was faced with wasn't just anger or possessiveness but something much deeper and darker.

"Do not make a scene; follow me." His jaw tightened as he warned me with his gaze fixed on me; every instinct told me to say no and stand my ground.

This was not about pride but control, and that meant choosing your battles sometimes, and a scene from Cole would not be good for my image. 

I stepped forward slowly and carefully, and he held my hand as we moved through the crowd without drawing attention, and soon we were out of the ballroom and into the quieter halls of the pack house.

When we were far away from the ballroom and prying eyes of the public, I pulled my hand away and slapped him so hard it snapped his head to the side; it was louder and harder than I had expected. 

When the shock cleared from his face, it changed into something dangerous, and before I could react, he grabbed me hard and opened a door, then pushed me. I stumbled and caught myself before hitting the floor.

"Let go of me," I snapped while pushing against him, but my words were falling on deaf ears as always. The door slammed shut behind us, and his hand came to my throat. 

“What are you doing?" he demanded with a tone that was low and furious. 

"What are you doing with him?" My hands pushed against his wrist. 

"It is none of your business," I gasped as his grip got a little tighter. 

"Everything you do is my business," he yelled. 

"No, it stopped being your business the moment you walked away," I forced out, my voice strained.

"Whatever this is you have going on with my brother, I demand you end it now," he warned with darkened eyes.

“You do not get to tell me what to do." I almost laughed, and this reaction hit him so hard that I felt his hand loosen a little; the anger was still in the air, but at least I could breathe now.

"Do you think he will protect you? "Do you think he will not throw you away when he is done? Do you think you are worth anything?" he added, his voice sharper. 

"I think you are afraid," I chuckled, which made his face twist. 

"You do not know what you are getting into," he shouted.

"I know what I am doing," I spat at him, bracing myself as instinct kicked in because of the hand he raised, and then the door burst open.

The sound cut through everything; Cole just froze, and so did I. Xavier was standing in the doorway.

The energy in the room changed instantly with so much danger in the air that it could be cut with a knife.

Xavier’s gaze moved to me once, then it went to Cole’s hand, which was still raised, and then he looked at Cole’s face.

“You have one second to take your hand off her." His tone was cold and controlled, and this was a lot more frightening than if he were shouting.