Chapter 16 – An Unseen Claim

                The dazzling lights of the catwalk burned bright, a brilliant stage where Anna Vega was meant to shine.

                But as her eyes, scanning the vast, anonymous crowd, unexpectedly met those of a masked man in a private balcony, Anna almost stumbled.

                 A jolt, sharp and unwelcome, shot through her.

                She did not recognize the eyes, but the intensity of emotion pouring from them sent a shiver of pure lust straight through her. It was an instant, overwhelming current that left her gasping for breath. Her body stiffened, fighting to control the violent reaction, desperate to keep her professional poise.

                But even as she tried to regain her balance, she felt a burning warmth spread between her legs, and she knew, with a shocking clarity, that a wet pool was forming there. She could even smell her own arousal, sharp and undeniable, mixing with the heavy perfume of the venue.

                To her utter dismay, Era, her wolf, jolted awake and surged forward. Era's presence in her mind had been quiet, almost muted, since Axel’s death. But now, she was shockingly alert, staring, almost licking her lips, at the unknown man.

                ‘Anna, these eyes are familiar, we know this man,’ Era whispered in awe, with a low purr in Anna's mind. ‘He is panty-dropping handsome. Perhaps we can have dinner with him after the show. I would certainly like to get to know his wolf much better.’

                The last part sounded teasing, laced with a playful growl, but Anna felt a cold shock at the words.

                Only with Axel, her fated mate, had her wolf ever had such fiercely horny thoughts. Only with him had she yearned so desperately to mate with his wolf. She and Axel had agreed to wait until after their official ceremony, planning to mark each other that very evening, at the unforgettable peak of their pleasure. His mated friends had given him that advice, promising it would be a truly amazing experience for both of them.

                And now, Era seemed to be completely healed from the brutal, abrupt separation from her wolf mate.

                “Hey! How did you suddenly start having such dirty thoughts? We were supposed to wait for our fated mate before giving in to our physical desires, remember? What happened to Axel? What happened to our grief?’ Anna snarled to her wolf.

                Era let out a regretful sigh, a sound that held a hint of amusement.

‘Look at your own reaction, Anna. Without even seeing the man up close, you crave him. Your body betrays you, dear Anna. It knows what it wants. It wants him.’

                After a teasing chuckle that lingered mockingly in Anna’s mind, Era retreated. But Anna could still hear the ghost of her wolf's taunting words, a disturbing whisper in the back of her mind.

                Experienced as she was, Anna quickly forced her body to respond.

                She regained her poise in an instant, pushing Era’s shocking words down deep. With elegant, self-assured steps, she continued her path across the wide stage, her signature dazzling smile glued firmly to her face.

                The guests went wild, roaring with approval. Cameras flashed like crazy, a blinding storm of light, and shouts of admiration came from every direction.

                “Damn! You either have it, or you don't. And she has a whole lot of it, she’s made for the catwalk,” sighed a world-famous singer, who was an steadfast fan of Anna. She had not missed a single performance, no matter what part of the world it was in.

                Anna showcased a total of four amazing evening gowns, each one more stunning than the last. All met with an enthusiastic welcome from the cheering audience. Online orders for the designs poured in, a steady stream that made Manager Andrew sigh with delight from the dressing rooms backstage. He had expected nothing less, he knew Anna was his best move, his brightest star.

                Afterwards, Anna burst into her dressing room utterly exhausted.

Margie, Jor, and Amy were already waiting. She dropped onto a comfortable chair, kicking off her heels with a relieved groan.

                “That was hectic again,” she sighed, “but so fulfilling.”

“Look!” Jor suddenly exclaimed, her eyes widened with surprise. She pointed to an enormous flower arrangement placed on a table next to the dresser. Several other, smaller bouquets sat nearby, but this one was huge, a towering display of white.

                Anna looked at it, her attention immediately caught by the sheer volume of blooms and something else, something she couldn’t place.

                She stood up slowly and walked towards it, a strange sense of familiarity swept over her. She gently took one of the large, white Lilies and closed her eyes, inhaling its exquisite scent. A wave of unexpected euphoria crept over her, a deep sense of peace that pushed away the fatigue. But then, her eyes snapped open.

                The scent!

                A cold dread began to creep up her spine.

                This could not be a coincidence, she knew it. The very specific scent… it was unique. She remembered it from Axel’s funeral, covering everything. She remembered it from the courtroom, clinging to one particular Alpha.

                With trembling hands, she picked up the small card tucked among the flowers and eagerly began to read.

                The elegant script was unfamiliar, yet the words sent a fresh wave of ice through her veins.

                ‘You were wonderful, as always. You are the most beautiful creation of the Moon Goddess and you are mine!’

                She stiffened completely, a strangled cry of surprise escaping her lips.

                Her heart hammered against her ribs. There was only one person who had ever dared to lay such an absolute, possessive claim on her. And because the note referred to the Moon Goddess, there was no doubt. This was a werewolf’s note, it could only be him.

                Atticus, the Alpha of Moon Howlers!

                “No! He’s in Canada, in the Council prison!” the woman whispered, completely distraught. Her eyes were wide with terror, and her lips parted to allow for her heavy, ragged breathing. The room, which had moments ago been a sanctuary, now felt suffocating.

                “What’s wrong, Anna? What happened?” Amy rushed to her friend, her face clouding with concern as she saw Anna's sudden pallor. She gently took the card from Anna’s shaking hand and quickly read the words.

                Amy frowned, then squeezed Anna’s arm.

                “You think it’s Atticus? No, that’s impossible. This must be a coincidence, Anna. Maybe it’s a secret admirer, a lone wolf just like you, living among humans. Someone who landed here by chance.”

                Slowly, Anna nodded, but she wasn't truly convinced.

                The tremor in her hands did not stop. She desperately wanted to push this terrifying suspicion away, to forget the drama of the past forever.

                But the scent she already had encountered in the hallways of Lunar Crest and now on the catwalk, seemed to mock her, a chilling reminder that some shadows refused to stay hidden.