Chapter 5: Man Watching Me

For the first time in a week, Azerbel was going to face the pack.

And Guerero.

She wasn't sure which frightened her more.

Luna Lorraine stood in front of her, holding up a beautiful dress.

"Try this one."

Azerbel looked at the dress, then at Lorraine.

"It'll look perfect on you." Lorraine smiled gently. "I chose this color because it matches your name."

Azerbel's chest tightened.

It wasn't the dress that hurt.

It was the woman holding it.

Lorraine had given Azerbel the warmth of a mother when she had never known what having one felt like.

That was why learning Lorraine had hidden the truth about Guerero for two months had hurt so much.

Azerbel still loved her.

But something between them had changed.

For a moment, Azerbel remembered the future she had once imagined.

Guerero beside her.

A family of their own.

Lorraine as the mother Azerbel had always wanted.

A place where she finally belonged.

That future was gone now.

"I don't think I should go tonight."

Lorraine lowered the dress.

"I know you're hurting. But hiding in this room won't make what happened disappear."

Azerbel looked away.

She knew that.

A week of hiding hadn't changed anything.

Guerero had still betrayed her.

Ruby was still pregnant.

And Azerbel was still his mate.

Staying in bed wouldn't erase any of it.

She reached for the dress.

"All right."

Lorraine's expression brightened slightly.

"I'll go."

Just for tonight.

Azerbel didn't know if she could smile.

She didn't know if she could pretend everything was fine.

But she refused to spend another night hiding because of Guerero.

*****

The hall was already crowded when Azerbel arrived with Skylar.

Tonight's celebration was supposed to mark the new peace between the werewolves and the lycans.

But peace looked strange after a war.

Not long ago, these same people had been enemies.

Their warriors had fought each other.

Some of those who had gone to battle had never returned.

Now werewolves and lycans stood together beneath the same roof, drinking and talking as if everyone could simply leave the past behind.

But Azerbel could see the tension.

Some guests watched the lycans with curiosity.

Others kept their distance.

The treaty might have ended the fighting.

It hadn't erased what happened.

Azerbel understood that better than she wanted to.

Skylar gently adjusted a strand of her hair.

"You look beautiful."

"Thank you."

Skylar studied her.

"You've been hiding for a week. Don't let him make you disappear."

Azerbel knew exactly who she meant.

"Guerero chose Ruby."

"That was his choice."

Skylar squeezed her hand.

"You don't have to carry the shame for what he did."

Azerbel looked away.

She wished it were that simple.

The worst part wasn't the humiliation.

It was that she still loved him.

Even after everything.

The mate bond hadn't disappeared simply because Guerero had betrayed her.

Azerbel hated that part of herself.

"Stay with me tonight," Skylar said. "There are enough people here that we don't have to go anywhere near them."

Azerbel nodded.

That sounded easy.

It wasn't.

Every time someone entered the hall, her eyes moved toward the door.

Whenever she heard a familiar voice, her body tensed.

Some small, foolish part of her still wondered if Guerero would come looking for her.

Then she saw Ruby.

Azerbel stopped.

Ruby stood among the guests, looking completely at ease.

Seeing her brought everything back.

The pregnancy.

Guerero's announcement.

His excuses.

I was lonely.

Azerbel's stomach turned.

She wasn't ready for this.

"Let's go outside."

Skylar didn't ask why.

She simply followed.

---

The garden was quieter.

Music from the hall became softer as Azerbel and Skylar moved farther away from the crowd.

Azerbel took a deep breath.

Finally, she could breathe again.

Lycans were gathered throughout the garden. Some stood in small groups talking while others watched the celebration with guarded expressions.

Skylar looked around.

"I've never seen so many lycans in one place."

A large lycan passed them.

Skylar lowered her voice.

"They're bigger than I expected."

Azerbel glanced at him.

Many of the lycans were taller and broader than the werewolves she knew. Even the women carried themselves with the confidence of experienced warriors.

There was something intimidating about having so many of them inside Hellfire territory.

A week ago, they had been enemies.

Now they were guests.

Azerbel wondered how long it would take before that stopped feeling strange.

"Azerbel."

She turned toward Skylar.

"What?"

"You disappeared again."

"I'm fine."

Skylar gave her a look that made it clear she didn't believe her.

Azerbel managed a small smile.

"I just need a little time alone."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Skylar hesitated before nodding.

"I'll be inside. Come find me if you need me."

"I will."

Azerbel watched her disappear into the crowd.

The moment Skylar was gone, Azerbel's smile faded.

She walked toward a small drinks stall at the edge of the garden.

It was almost empty.

Perfect.

No questions.

No pity.

No Guerero.

Azerbel sat and asked the older man behind the stall for something sweet.

He poured a bright red drink into a glass.

"Here you go."

"Thank you."

She took a sip.

Sweet.

Maybe too sweet.

But for a few seconds, concentrating on the taste was easier than thinking about her life.

Behind her, the celebration continued.

Music.

Laughter.

Voices.

Azerbel stared into her glass.

She only needed to survive one night.

Then she felt it.

Someone was watching her.

Azerbel slowly raised her head.

A man stood across the stall.

A lycan.

He wasn't speaking to anyone.

He wasn't holding a drink.

He wasn't watching the celebration.

His attention was completely on her.

Azerbel's fingers tightened around her glass.

She looked away.

Maybe she was imagining it.

After everything that had happened, perhaps she was simply too aware of people looking at her.

A few seconds passed.

She glanced back.

He was still watching.

Azerbel studied him more carefully.

He wasn't looking at her the way some strangers did when they found someone attractive.

There was no smile.

No obvious admiration.

His expression was difficult to read.

Almost as if he were studying her.

Azerbel's uneasiness grew.

Had they met before?

She was certain they hadn't.

She would have remembered him.

The man finally moved.

One step.

Then another.

Straight toward her.

Azerbel set down her glass.

Her body became alert.

She glanced toward the crowd.

There were plenty of people nearby if she needed help.

Still, she stood.

The lycan stopped only a few steps away.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

His eyes remained on hers.

Then he said one word.

"Azerbel."

She froze.

He knew her name.

Azerbel searched his face again.

Nothing.

She had never seen this man before.

"How do you know my name?"

The lycan didn't answer immediately.

And for the first time that night, Azerbel completely forgot to look for Guerero.