Chapter 6: Be My Woman Tonight

Irene’s Point of View

“I will speak with her first.”

Arnold’s voice was calm.

But firm.

“You can speak to her another time.”

I froze.

The way he said it… it sounded too natural. Too certain.

Like he had the right.

But he didn’t.

We just met.

Eugene’s jaw tightened.

Hard.

His eyes darkened as they locked on Arnold.

The air between them turned sharp.

“Alpha Arnold,” Eugene said.

His voice was controlled.

But I heard it,

the anger beneath it.

“What do you want with my mate?”

My chest dropped.

Mate.

He still called me that.

After everything.

The bond between us stirred again.

Painful. Heavy.

Pulling at me like it never broke.

I hated it.

Arnold didn’t answer right away.

Instead, he looked at me.

Slowly. Carefully.

Like I was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

His grip on my wrist stayed firm.

Warm. Unmoving.

I tried to pull away,

but stopped.

I didn’t even know why.

Maybe because Eugene was watching.

Because I could feel his anger.

His jealousy.

And for one brief moment…

it felt good.

“Your mate?” Arnold repeated.

His tone was softer now.

But his eyes stayed sharp.

“I thought your mate was the one carrying your child.”

Silence fell.

Heavy.

The words landed hard.

Too direct.

Too true.

Eugene’s face darkened.

“You don’t get to say that,” he snapped.

His voice dropped low.

Dangerous.

“Whether she is my mate or not, it’s none of your business who I talk to.”

His glare cut like a blade.

“Is that so?” Arnold said quietly.

One brow lifted.

Then he looked at me again.

Thinking.

Measuring.

Like he was waiting for something.

For me.

Then,

he shrugged.

“Fine.”

Just like that, he let go of my hand.

Stepped back.

Like he was done.

Like the choice was mine now.

My chest tightened.

The warmth of his touch disappeared too fast.

And suddenly…

I felt exposed.

Alone.

Now I had to say it.

Out loud.

Arnold’s companion stood quietly at the side.

Watching.

I caught the look in his eyes.

He knew.

Arnold wasn’t stepping back.

He was testing me.

Pushing me.

Waiting to see what I would choose.

“Irene…”

Eugene turned to me.

His voice softened again.

“Let’s talk somewhere.”

He smiled.

But it didn’t reach his eyes.

And somehow…

that made it worse.

Uncertain.

Like he already knew the answer.

“Come with me.”

Eugene stepped closer.

I stepped back.

Fast.

His hand reached out,

I pulled away.

Like his touch would burn me.

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

My voice came out firm.

Clear.

No hesitation.

Arnold’s lips twitched, like he almost smiled.

Eugene’s face darkened.

“Don’t do this here,” he said.

Lower now.

Tense.

Like he was holding something back.

But I didn’t move.

“I said, I don’t want to talk to you.”

Stronger this time.

Sharper.

Each word steady.

Final.

“Stay away from me.”

The words hung between us.

Cold. Heavy.

And this time…

I didn’t look away.

Eugene didn’t accept it.

Of course he didn’t.

Rejection, from me?

His jaw tightened.

Then he moved.

Fast.

Straight toward me.

Like he would force me to listen.

Arnold shifted beside me, ready.

But I moved first.

I reached out,

and grabbed Arnold’s hand.

My fingers wrapped around his wrist.

Hot.

Too hot.

His skin burned against mine.

I blinked.

Was it just him?

Or were all lycans like this?

No wonder they were feared.

“Let’s go,” I said.

My voice steadier now.

“Didn’t you say you wanted to talk to me?”

Arnold looked at me.

Surprised.

Just for a second.

Then something changed in his eyes.

“Of course,” he said.

Low. Calm.

Like he had already decided.

Behind me, I could feel it,

Eugene’s anger.

Rising.

Burning.

But I didn’t turn back.

I didn’t care.

“Where do you think you’re going?!”

His voice cracked through the air.

Loud. Furious.

He reached for me,

but Arnold moved first.

Fast.

One sharp motion,

he knocked Eugene’s hand away.

Clean. Effortless.

“Is this how you treat her?” Arnold said.

His tone was light.

Almost mocking.

“By forcing her?”

Eugene’s hand dropped.

For a second…

I saw it.

The pain.

The shock.

Then it was gone.

Quickly.

“I want to talk to my mate!” Eugene growled.

Low. Dangerous.

But I didn’t flinch.

Not this time.

“I don’t want to talk to you!”

My voice cut through everything.

Clear. Strong.

No fear.

No hesitation.

For the first time…

I meant it.

Fully. Completely.

I tightened my grip on Arnold’s hand and pulled him with me.

Away.

Out of the stall.

I didn’t look back.

Didn’t think about the drink.

Didn’t think about anything else.

Only one thing mattered,

getting away.

“Irene!”

Eugene called after me.

Again.

And again.

But I kept walking.

Faster.

The crowd swallowed his voice.

The noise drowned him out.

Good.

I didn’t want to hear him anymore.

Not tonight.

Not like this.

Not on his terms.

When I was sure he wasn’t following…

I stopped.

My hand slipped from Arnold’s.

Finally.

I let out a slow breath.

Heavy.

“Thank you,” I said quietly.

My voice softened again.

“And… I’m sorry.”

I looked down.

“I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”

The words felt small.

Weak.

Compared to everything that just happened.

“I hope this didn’t leave a bad impression… Alpha Arnold.”

My voice almost disappeared into the noise.

But I still looked up.

Just enough to see his face.

His reaction.

He was staring at me.

Still. Quiet. Focused.

Too focused.

It made me uneasy.

Why was he looking at me like that?

Like I was something he was trying to understand.

“I don’t know what you’re saying,” he said.

His voice was low.

Rough.

“Come.”

Before I could react,

his hand closed around mine again.

Firm. Unyielding.

I tried to pull back.

He didn’t let go.

“Let’s find somewhere quiet.”

And just like that,

he started walking.

Pulling me with him.

Through the crowd.

Through the noise.

Away from everything.

And for some reason…

I didn’t stop him.

I tried to pull my hand free again.

But it was useless.

His grip was too strong.

Too certain.

I had no chance.

The noise around us was loud.

Too loud.

I had to raise my voice just to speak.

But he didn’t slow down.

Didn’t even react.

Like nothing around him mattered,

except where he was taking me.

Not the crowd.

Not the voices.

Not even me.

He didn’t seem to notice anything.

I didn’t know where he was taking me.

But we were still inside the pack grounds.

So I told myself…

I was safe.

At least,

until he turned.

Into a quiet alley.

My steps stopped.

My eyes widened.

This place…

dark. Hidden.

Empty.

No one around.

A chill ran down my spine.

This wasn’t somewhere I should be.

Not alone.

Not with a man.

Not like this.

“Why are we here?” I asked.

I pulled my hand back.

Sharp.

This time,

he let go.

“We needed somewhere quiet,” Arnold said.

Calm. Simple.

Like nothing about this was strange.

He crossed his arms.

His eyes stayed on me.

Unmoving.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” I said.

Cold. Quick.

I glanced around again.

I knew this place.

But I never came here.

Not alone.

Not like this.

At my tone, his brow lifted slightly.

A small smile touched his lips.

“That’s not what you said earlier.”

His voice dropped.

Low. Teasing.

I frowned.

“You know I only said that to get away from him.”

My patience was thin.

Very thin.

He shrugged.

Easy.

“I don’t,” he said.

“I’m not good at reading between the lines.”

His tone sounded polite.

But I didn’t believe it.

Not for a second.

This man?

Not sharp?

Impossible.

He brought me here.

Alone.

On purpose.

“I think you misunderstood,” I said, forcing calm into my voice.

“I’m sorry for using you, but I really need to go.”

I turned slightly.

Ready to leave.

I didn’t want to stay here.

Didn’t want anyone to see us.

Not after everything.

Not with people already talking.

Especially now,

with Ruby.

But,

his hand caught mine again.

Firm.

Unbreakable.

“If you don’t want to talk,” Arnold said,

“then I will.”

My breath hitched.

His grip tightened just enough to remind me,

he could stop me anytime.

I felt it.

The power in him.

Dangerous.

Controlled.

“I’m Arnold,” he said.

His voice was smoother now.

“The Alpha of the lycan pack.”

I almost told him I already knew.

Of course I did.

But I stayed polite.

I had to.

“I’m Irene,” I said softly.

“Nice to meet you, Alpha Arnold.”

My voice stayed steady.

Carefully controlled.

Thanks to everything I learned,

from Luna Lorraine.

From all those lessons.

Even now…

I refused to look weak in front of him.

How to speak.

How to stand.

How to act.

Like a future Luna.

Like someone who belonged.

I worked so hard for that.

For this life.

For him.

For Eugene.

And now…

it all felt useless.

Like none of it mattered anymore.

“Alpha… if you’ll excuse me,” I said.

I tried again, steady but quiet.

“I want to go back.”

I just wanted to leave.

To hide.

To be alone.

But he didn’t let go.

Not even a little.

“Is this how you treat a guest?” he asked.

His tone was slow.

Relaxed.

Almost amused.

“I haven’t even finished talking.”

His smile widened.

Easy. Carefree.

Too carefree.

And that’s when I remembered.

Luna Lorraine’s lesson.

When someone looks relaxed,

they’re not.

They’re watching.

Testing.

Waiting.

I straightened a little.

My guard rose without me thinking.

“What do you want to say?” I asked.

Careful now.

“If it’s important, we can talk somewhere else.”

Anywhere but here.

Anywhere but this dark corner.

Arnold didn’t hesitate.

“Be my woman at the party.”

My breath stopped.

“What…?”

My heart skipped hard.

I stared at him, sure I had heard wrong.

But his eyes,

they didn’t change.

Steady.

Serious.

Certain.

And suddenly…

this night felt even more dangerous than before.