C4

"You look beautiful, Nia," Callum said.

His eyes burned as his hands wrapped around my waist. I wore a sleeveless, V-neck red dress that fell down my body, softly hugging my curves. It revealed more skin than I was used to, but it fit this type of elite gathering hall. My hair was up in a fashionable bun that left my neck and shoulders exposed. Combined with red sandals and simple diamond studs, I looked like I belonged at the fancy Alpha Summit Lodge. Although, I didn't feel it.

He looked very handsome too. His suit fit him well, accentuating his slim body and making his light brown hair even lighter.

"You look very handsome," I murmured. I placed a soft kiss on his cheek, inhaling his scent. My body didn't shiver in lust at his smell nor his body pressed against mine. But he felt comforting and warm.

He nuzzled his cheek against mine. "Thank you for coming with me to the Silvermoon Pack Territory."

"Of course," I said. "It is a big night for you. Your first time being picked for the High Alpha Elder's top guard."

I knew it was important to him, and I was proud of him. His warrior rank had been on top of all the pack boards for the past two years. When he was approached over twelve months ago for the High Alpha's circle, Callum jumped at it. He was eager to get to the top, and I was happy for him. If only there would be fewer pack guards around.

"I know how much you hate the publicity and all eyes on us," he said. "Makes me love you even more."

I smiled softly at him. He was the first wolf to actually tell me he loved me. I loved him too; I just wasn't sure whether it was the same way he loved me.

But he knew me well. He took time to know my likes and dislikes, which made me grow fond of him and slowly fall for his charm. And he was absolutely right. I hated crowds and the spotlight, but I knew in order for our relationship to work, it was important that I supported him in his big moments. No matter how much I disliked being in the public eye.

The door buzzer sounded, and I gave him a peck on the cheek. "Let's go, my award-winning boyfriend."

"You don't know—"

I cut him off quickly. "Have faith."

Two hours later, we roamed the afterparty. Callum was taking pictures with his prize weapon, pretty much dazzling with his smile. His acceptance speech was beautiful but made me uncomfortable because everyone's eyes turned to me. He pointed me out to the entire room, gushing about my support, and it took all I had not to shrink back. Then afterwards, I had to smile through endless pack photos till I finally snuck away, leaving Callum to deal with the spotlight on his own.

There were only so many flashes I could handle. To say this wasn't my scene was putting it mildly. I was a Moon Healer Apprentice for the Moon Healers' Sanctuary, for Christ's sake, not a public celebrity wolf. I even hated being photographed. I asked myself at least a million times tonight what I was doing here. Crowds and spotlight were my two biggest dislikes. But I ground through it all.

Sipping on my drink, I enjoyed the fact that nobody was talking to me. Silence and solitude were my best friends sometimes. Leaning against the wall, I observed the scene in front of me. So many fake smiles, fake congratulations, gossiping, laughing, and happy crying. God knew some of these wolves had a lot of emotions.

There were faces I recognized from other packs, but the names escaped me. Every so often, someone would approach me and congratulate me and press a kiss on my cheek. At this point, I felt like I needed a damn shower. I hated familiarity with strangers.

My skin tingled with a familiar sensation that I hadn't felt in so long. I rubbed the back of my neck, trying to shake it off, but instead of easing, it became stronger. As if on a magnetic pull, I turned my head and that was when I spotted him.

Kairo Adeyemi.

My heartbeat paused, time stilled, and the only thing I was aware of was the towering man across the room with the pale blue eyes of glaciers. The eyes I dreamed about more nights than not. The eyes I have been trying to forget for the past five years.

Pain pierced through me, and my pulse resumed, thundering under my ribcage.

It couldn't be him. I closed my eyes for a brief second and opened them, hoping the image was a figment of my imagination. Or a nightmare.

Praying hard it was just a bad vision, I slowly opened my eyes. But no, it was Kairo. He stood there in the flesh, towering like a dark cloud over everyone else, his strong frame making the crowd part for him without any effort from him. Like a king among his subjects.

But he wasn't just a king. He was the devil disguised in an expensive, black suit. Brutal and ruthless under all that polished exterior. I swallowed hard, my eyes soaking him in. He held a glass of drink in his hand, but it was untouched. He didn't drink that weak stuff; he was a more hardcore, heavy liquor kind of guy. His strong, inked fingers wrapped about the delicate glass reminded me of what he could do to me. All he had to do was squeeze, and I'd shatter into a million pieces.

And despite it all, my stupid body hummed with electricity, and the blood rushed through my veins like liquid lava. My brain couldn't stand him, warned of his cruelty, but my body refused the message. Instead, my heart raced and the familiar ache spread through my body, reminding me he ripped the heart from my chest.

And I still want him. The piercing thought was not a good revelation. I swallowed hard, hardening myself. I would pretend I didn't know him.

Too late I realized he was headed this way. No, no, no, I begged silently. Please turn. Anywhere but here. I wasn't ready to see him nor talk to him. He knew it too; I knew it without a doubt.

He stopped a mere two feet from me, his familiar scent entering my lungs and the entire room was forgotten. I held my breath, my tingles turning into a full-blown blaze. I hadn't seen him in five years. It wasn't long enough. Five centuries wouldn't be long enough.

"Hello, Nia." His deep, accented voice went through me like electricity, making my insides melt.

I should tear my gaze away from him, walk away, do something. But all I seemed capable of doing was just staring at him, remembering those last words that pierced through me. That broke me!

My grip tightened around my own glass. This hold Kairo had over me was unhealthy on the most fundamental level; I knew it. And yet, it festered inside me, and at this point, I was sure it would be something that would die only when I took my last breath.

"Hey babe," Callum's voice startled me out of my stupor. He took my mouth into a soft kiss. "You disappeared on me." I swallowed hard, my whole body stiff, aware of Kairo's eyes on us. "You made friends?"

His eyes curiously darted to Kairo. Ugh, so much for pretending I didn't know him.

"No, this isn't a friend." It might be a small jab, but it was something nonetheless. "This is Kairo Adeyemi." His name on my lips felt strange, unusual. I hadn't spoken it since the night I gave him my virginity. "He's Zuri's oldest brother. Remember her, right?"

"Oh, yeah. Of course." Callum extended his hand, and for a second, I thought Kairo wouldn't take it. He let it linger in the air a second too long, but then he took it. "Nice to meet you, man."

I groaned inwardly. Kairo could be called many things, but "man" wasn't one of them. As tense and intimidating as Kairo was, Callum was the exact opposite. Too laid back and carefree! After my initial experience with the cruel man standing in front of me, it appealed to me more than ever.

Suddenly, I noticed a woman on Kairo's arm. I had been so captivated by him that I completely missed her by his side, but she was definitely his date. Her hand looped through his arm clearly indicated it so.