Chapter 7: In Between

Haliyah’s POV.

“Alpha Damon… is this lady with you?”

Damon glanced down at me. His gaze stayed on my face. I quietly crossed my fingers behind my back, hoping he would help me. Then, I felt his hand move. He casually covered my hand with his.

“Yes,” he said simply. “She’s my date.”

My heart nearly jumped out of my chest. Inside my head, I kept thanking the Moon Goddess and this stranger beside me.

The guards exchanged looks and immediately stepped aside. “Our apologies. Please enter.”

I almost released a huge sigh of relief, but I stopped myself just in time. Damon guided me forward, his arm still linked with mine.

Once we passed the doors and the music surrounded us, he leaned down and murmured near my ear, “So… my date?”

I couldn’t tell if he was teasing me or making fun of me. But honestly, I didn’t mind. I looked up at him and smiled.

“Thank you. You just saved my life,” I said sincerely.

The corner of his lips lifted. “Dangerous women always say that.”

“I’m not dangerous.”

He raised a brow. “Oh? Weren’t you? You ran from guards, grabbed a stranger, and lied without blinking.”

I scratched the back of my neck awkwardly. “Uh… fair point.”

The moment we stepped into the ballroom, the entire room fell into silence. I didn’t mean that in a poetic way. I meant it literally. All pairs of eyes were on us, staring in shock. Some even gasped openly. My heart thumped wildly in my chest that I was scared people might hear it if I breathed too loudly.

From across the room, I saw them. I caught a glimpse of Raven’s jaw tightening, his eyes narrowing as if he were staring daggers at the sight of me holding Damon’s arm. Beside him, Cassandra’s usual confident smile faltered for a split second. Her mouth hung slightly open, and I saw pure disbelief on her face. That alone gave me a thrill. The loud whispers from the crowd started immediately.

“Is that Alpha Damon?”

“No way! He’s with Luna Haliyah?”

I suddenly became very aware that I was still holding him. I could feel his tension underneath it, though he didn’t let it show. His expression stayed cool and unreadable.

“Miss, you can let go now,” he said politely.

Heat rushed to my cheeks. My heart raced when I realized how close we were standing and how intimate it probably looked to everyone watching. Our bodies were almost touching. I could even feel the warmth from him through our clothes.

I felt my cheeks heat up, my heart racing as I realized how our bodies were almost touching and how intimate it must have looked to everyone else. We were so close that I could feel the warmth from him through our clothes.

I forced myself to smile, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I’m afraid I can’t do that just yet,” I hesitated.

He frowned as he noticed my reluctance. He probably thought I was just another woman trying to cling to him. I needed something from him, but not for the reason he probably expected.

“You see… I need your help,” I whispered, careful not to draw more attention.

His jaw tightened imperceptibly, but he didn’t pull away. “With what? I don’t usually involve myself in the affairs of… women like you,” he said coolly, but there was an undercurrent I couldn’t quite place.

I looked straight into his eyes. “I’m not like the others,” I said firmly. “I have a reason.”

I drew in a breath. I could feel the overwhelming power coming from him. His aura was strong. He clearly had a very high rank. If anyone here knew where the Elder Council was… it would be him.

His eyes met mine again. I let my fingers rest against his arm, holding him just enough to make it look natural without overdoing it. For a moment, I thought he might say no and brush me off entirely. But then, he gave a small nod.

“Very well. Tell me what you need.”

He looked away after that, like he was holding something back. I didn’t know why, but I felt it. The strange pull between us.

“Thank you,” I murmured, making sure my voice carried enough sincerity to sound believable.

I bit the inside of my cheeks. This posture, the proximity… Anyone looking at us would definitely think we were a couple. My heart raced in ways I didn’t understand. Why did his presence make me feel so electric? Why did being near him make me feel so nervous? I pushed the thought away and tried to focus on what I needed to do.

I swallowed. “I… I need to know where the Elder Council is holding tonight’s meeting, Do you happen to know where—”

“Haliyah!”

The sound of my name cut me off. When I shifted my gaze, Raven was already heading in our direction. The crowd moved out of his way without him even asking. No one dared block his path. His furious eyes never left me— or Damon’s hand, which was still hovering too close to my waist.

He stopped directly in front of us and yanked me back roughly by the arm. I choked back a breath. The sudden force knocked the air out of my lungs.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” he barked. “Have you lost your mind?!”

I stumbled slightly but managed to hold my balance, trying not to falter. Damon’s arm stayed firm under mine, giving me just enough support as Raven’s grip threatened to pull me away completely. His expression returned to that calm indifference.

Before I could react, Raven forcibly grabbed my wrist. Pain shot up my arm where he held me. And all I could think about in that dizzy, spinning moment was how shocked I felt.