38

ALINA

“Come down for lunch,” Alexander said as he peeled his body away from mine.

I could only stare at him, mouth parted in disbelief, struggling to process what had just happened.

“Now, Alina.” The way my name rolled off his tongue, almost a growl made heat crawl down my spine.

Then, still watching me, he lifted the same fingers he’d just used on me and brought them into his mouth, sucking them in with unhurried confidence. My body reacted instantly, although I had no idea how. But he clearly noticed, and he liked what he saw, because that satisfied smirk pulled at his lips before he turned and walked out of the room, leaving me behind. Stunned, boneless and breathless.

Seriously. What just happened?

I was still frozen in place, trying to remember how to function like a normal human being, when the door swung open.

“Alina, are you okay? What happened? I saw the Alpha send Cassandra out!” Lisa’s words spilled out in a rush, fast and anxious.

I blinked at her, trying to catch up. My head just gave the tiniest shake while she stared at me with a strange mix of concern and awe. It was so like her that I almost laughed and maybe I would have, if I remembered how to.

“What did he say? Did Alexander say anything? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

At the last question, I turned to look at her. There was hesitation in her voice, a tiny flicker of doubt like she couldn’t quite believe she had to ask.

I cleared my throat, surprised that my voice actually worked when I opened my mouth.

“You don’t think he’s capable of hurting someone?” My tone came out steadier than expected, even though it sounded deeper than usual.

“Well… unless you’re a werewolf,” she joked with a nervous laugh.

She meant it as a tease, but it stirred a different kind of dread inside me. That old knot in my stomach tightened, not the pleasant kind Alexander made me feel, but the kind that crept up my spine when I used to hear Adrian’s voice nearby. The kind that always warned me something bad was about to happen.

I really hoped Alexander wouldn’t find out about that part of my past too soon. I needed time. A plan. Something in place in case everything fell apart.

“You have nothing to worry about,” Lisa said, trying to reassure me. “Out of all the rumors about the Alpha, I know one thing, he would never hurt a woman.”

But I wasn’t so sure. I’d seen the bodies. Women he’d executed without hesitation.

“And he has a soft spot for you.” I almost laughed at that, but her face was serious, so I kept mine still. “Anyway, I heard him say you’re joining them for lunch. If Cassandra’s going to be there, you have to look good.”

The uneasy feeling returned.

Cassandra had made it crystal clear she didn’t like me. She didn’t bother to hide her disdain. So why did Alexander insist I come?

“I don’t want to go,” I muttered with a groan.

Lisa gave me a sympathetic look, patting my back as she passed by to go into the closet.

“She’s usually cold to everyone. But hey, at least you can outshine her.”

I thought about the dress Cassandra had worn, elegant, tailored, flawless. She probably had designers at her beck and call. I couldn’t compare to that.

Even though I didn’t say it aloud, Lisa must have read my face when she stepped back out.

“Trust me,” she said with absolute conviction. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve seen. And she knows it. That’s why she acted the way she did.”

She shrugged, laying out a few dresses across the bed. “I’ve never seen her act like that with any of the Alpha’s other women.”

She disappeared into the closet again, pulling out heels now. “She sees you as competition. She wouldn’t even bother looking your way if you weren’t.”

She turned, hand on her hip, fixing me with a determined stare.

Lisa smiled, that big-sister kind of smile that made you feel safe and seen all at once.

“You’ll be fine. Just pretend she’s not there,” she said with a smirk. “I mean, if the Alpha’s the one keeping your attention, you probably won’t even notice her.”

My face burned. I couldn’t stop the blush that rushed up at the mere mention of Alexander, especially after what had just happened. I wondered if Cassandra had guessed. She wasn’t stupid.

“Come on,” Lisa clapped her hands. “Let’s get you ready to turn heads.”

She pushed me into the bathroom, and I took a long shower. When I came out, she had everything laid out on the vanity.

“Do you even know how to use all that?” I asked, eyeing the makeup like it was alien technology.

“Not like a professional, but I won’t make you look like a clown either.” My eyes widened at her, but she laughed. “I’m joking. You’re going to look amazing, I swear.”

She pulled me gently by the hand and had me sit in the vanity chair, turned away from the mirror.

“You’re already stunning,” she said, winking. “Nature did most of the work for us.”

She started with my hair, straightening it until it fell past my waist like a dark waterfall. I asked if she thought I should cut it, and she looked scandalized.

“Are you kidding? Your hair is gorgeous. Why would you want to chop it off?”

I didn’t really have an answer. I just thought shorter might be trendier.

“Do me a favor and don’t even think about it,” she said.

A few minutes later, she told me to put on the dress she’d picked out. I moved toward the bathroom to change, reaching for the gown. I wanted to sneak a peek in the mirror, but she blocked me.

“No peeking. You’ll see the full look when it’s done.” She left the room so I could change.

I sighed, stepping inside.

I slipped on the dress, lifting my hair out of the way. It clung to me in all the right places, but I ran into trouble at the zipper.

“Can you help with the back?” I called out, not wanting to walk out. The dress had no sleeves, and I wasn’t wearing a bra.

The door opened, and I let out a breath of relief, lifting my hair to expose the zipper.

“I think it’s a little tight. The zipper’s stuck.”

I didn’t turn, too focused on holding my hair up.

Then, warm fingers brushed down the length of my spine. My skin erupted in goosebumps. That wasn’t Lisa.

I tried to pivot, but a firm hand pressed gently against the back of my head, keeping me still.

The scent of hairspray and floral perfume clouded the air, but I knew. Or maybe I just didn’t want to admit it.

“It’s perfect,” came the growl behind me. That low, husky voice. “You’re perfect.”

Alexander’s lips touched my shoulder, then his hand moved from my hair, letting it fall in waves down my back.

He spun me around with one smooth motion, until I was facing him.

He’d changed clothes. His shirt clung to his chest, and his hair was slightly damp, like he’d just come out of the shower. It shimmered under the light, more silky and tousled than earlier.

“If you keep looking at me like that…” he murmured, voice thick, “I won’t be responsible for what I do next.”

He groaned as he took my hand and pulled me toward the door with surprising urgency.

I didn’t know exactly what all of that meant.

But I did know one thing, I wasn’t thinking about Cassandra anymore.

Lisa had been right. If Alexander had my attention, nothing else existed.