Pride and Pretense

(Vivian's POV)

Sylvan stood there with an air of indifference that I'd grown accustomed to over the years. His declaration of being tired should have ended the evening, but the blonde she-wolf wasn't taking the hint.

"If you're tired, Sylvan," she purred, her perfectly manicured fingers trailing up his arm, "maybe I could accompany you downstairs to your hotel room? I promise to help you... relax."

Her suggestive tone left little to the imagination. I kept my expression carefully neutral, though Phoebe growled softly in my mind.

"Who is she?" I whispered to the Blood Moon member seated beside me, a burly wolf with a neatly trimmed beard.

He glanced at me sideways, clearly surprised I was speaking to him. "Jessica Lane. She's the star performer here at the Moonlight. Has quite the following."

"Star performer?" I echoed.

He nodded. "She sings most nights. Has this voice that can soothe even the most aggressive wolves. Some say it's almost like a gift."

Emma snorted beside me, loud enough for several heads to turn. "A gift? Please. I heard her last week and nearly gagged."

Jessica's enhanced hearing caught Emma's comment. Her attention snapped from Sylvan to us, blue eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Did you say something?" she asked Emma, her sweet voice suddenly sharp.

Emma smiled without warmth. "Just that your voice is... special. In the way that nails on a chalkboard are special."

I closed my eyes briefly. Leave it to Emma to escalate things.

Jessica untangled herself from Sylvan and took a step toward us. "And who exactly are you to judge?"

"Someone with functioning ears," Emma shot back.

The atmosphere in the room tensed immediately. Blood Moon members straightened, their senses picking up on the potential conflict. Lucas Hayes moved slightly closer to Sylvan, always the protector.

"Ladies," I interjected smoothly, placing a restraining hand on Emma's arm. "Let's all stay civil, shall we?"

Jessica's gaze shifted to me, assessing. "And you are?"

Before I could answer, she continued, turning back to Sylvan. "You should come to my show during the next full moon, Sylvan. I'm premiering a new song." She batted her eyelashes. "I'd love to have you in the audience."

Emma made an exaggerated gagging sound. "Oh my goddess, I think I'm going to be sick."

Jessica whirled back toward us. "What is your problem?"

"You are," Emma replied bluntly. "Throwing yourself at a mated wolf. Have you no shame?"

Jessica's eyes widened, darting between Sylvan and me as comprehension dawned. "Wait, are you..."

I stood slowly, drawing myself to my full height. "Emma, that's enough."

Emma opened her mouth to protest, but something in my expression made her snap it closed.

I turned to Jessica, keeping my voice even. "I apologize for my friend's behavior. She's had a few drinks."

Jessica didn't seem to hear me, her eyes still moving between Sylvan and me. "You're his mate? The missing mate everyone talks about?"

"Hardly missing," I replied calmly. "I've been right here the whole time."

Jessica recovered quickly, a calculating look replacing her surprise. "Well, isn't this interesting."

She stepped closer to Sylvan again, deliberately placing herself between us. "About my show, Sylvan. Should I reserve you a front-row seat?"

The challenge in her voice was clear. She was marking her territory, letting me know she wasn't backing down just because I'd appeared.

"Actually," I said, my voice sounding more confident than I felt, "I'd be happy to pass along your contact information to Sylvan if he's interested in attending."

Jessica raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "That's very... accommodating of you."

"I try to be helpful," I replied with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"I'd prefer to give him my number directly," Jessica countered, running her fingers through her silky blonde hair. "It's more personal that way."

Several Blood Moon members exchanged glances, clearly uncomfortable with the tension. Sylvan remained where he stood, watching our exchange with an inscrutable expression.

"I'd be happy to give you his number," I offered, pulling out my phone. "It would save time."

A collective intake of breath sounded around the room. Even Emma looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

Jessica's smile turned triumphant. "That would be fabulous."

I held out my hand for her phone. "Let me see your contacts."

Confused but eager, Jessica handed over her sleek smartphone. I opened her contacts and created a new entry, then handed it back.

"There. All set," I said pleasantly.

Jessica beamed, examining the contact I'd created. "Perfect! I'll text you right away, Sylvan."

Sylvan's expression darkened. "Vivian, what did you just do?"

I shrugged innocently. "Just being helpful."

"Actually," Sylvan said, his voice carrying a dangerous edge, "I was planning to remove Vivian from my contacts anyway."

He pulled out his own phone and made a show of scrolling through his contact list. His brow furrowed after a moment.

"Interesting," he muttered, continuing to scroll. "I can't seem to find your number, Vivian."

"Take your time," I replied smoothly. "I'm sure it's in there somewhere."

The situation had escalated into something almost comical. Sylvan pretended to search his phone while Jessica waited eagerly for a text that would never come. Blood Moon members watched in bewildered fascination, clearly unsure how to react to this strange interaction between their leader and his mate.

"Maybe check under 'W' for 'wife'?" Emma suggested helpfully, her earlier anger seemingly forgotten as she enjoyed Sylvan's discomfort.

Sylvan shot her a glare. "I think I know how my own phone works."

"Clearly not," Emma muttered.

Jessica, growing impatient, flicked her hair over her shoulder. "Why don't I just call you now? Then you'll have my number too."

"Excellent idea," I agreed, nodding encouragingly.

Jessica hit the call button on her phone. We all waited in silence. No phone rang.

She frowned, checking the number I'd entered. "That's strange. It says the number doesn't exist."

I covered my mouth in mock surprise. "Really? I was so sure that was his number."

Sylvan's lips twitched, almost forming what might have been a smile before he caught himself.

"Perhaps I made a mistake," I continued innocently. "Let me check my contacts."

I pulled out my phone again and made a show of scrolling through. "Oh, here it is. I must have transposed some digits."

Jessica practically snatched my phone, eagerly reading the number displayed. I'd actually pulled up Emma's contact information, but Jessica was too excited to notice.

"Got it!" she proclaimed triumphantly. She quickly entered the number into her own phone and hit call.

Emma's phone began ringing loudly. She pulled it out, glancing at the screen. "Unknown number," she announced to the room. "Should I answer it?"

Jessica's face flushed an angry red as understanding dawned. "You're playing games with me!"

"Am I?" I asked mildly. "I was just trying to help."

She turned to Sylvan, clearly embarrassed but determined. "I want your real number. What's so wrong with giving me your contact information? It's just for my show."

Sylvan's cold gaze swept over her. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees.

"What makes you think," he asked slowly, his voice dangerously soft, "that a common werewolf like you deserves the personal contact information of the alpha's son?"