Chapter 5

You can do this.

My hands press into the bathroom counter as I fight to steady my breath. The bathrooms in the Werewolf Natural History Museum are beautifully decorated with light fixtures in the shape of every phase of the moon and forest-themed wallpaper that soothes my wolf.

Trying to calm my nerves, I look up into the mirror above the sink.

The gold dress that hugs my frame is stunning. I feel like I have to be flawless to deserve wearing it though. I’ve done my best tonight, digging into the depths of my bones to project confidence and elegance just like everyone else at the gala.

Though I doubt everyone else is also fighting the echoes of their father’s and ex-husband’s voices playing on repeat in their mind, telling them they’ll never be good enough.

Still, I feel like I’m pulling it off – or at least I did until I saw Aaron with Emma on his arm. Seeing them together, so close and intimate, pierced through the serenity I was fighting for, immediately reducing me to the role I’ve tried to leave behind: the dutiful housewife and invisible Omega who once admired Aaron from afar in college.

I close my eyes, searching for the resolve that propelled me out of the Moon House two months ago. I don’t really have any other option other than to shake off the emotions right now. I have to get back out to the gala.

I open my eyes, determined to start fresh, to finally move on. With a readying breath, I turn to leave the bathroom only to watch Aaron unexpectedly come through the door. Instinctively, I back up, watching as he locks the door behind him.

My heartrate ratchets up as his woodsy scent fills the small space of the bathroom. I had done an okay job ignoring it at the event so far, but in the enclosed room, it invades my every thought, reminding me how intoxicating our mate bond feels.

He’s still facing the door he just locked, and I’m afraid that if I see his beautiful eyes, I’ll lose control. I have to get out of here now.

“What do you want?” I ask warily, attempting to reach for the door handle and move this conversation into the public hallway.

Aaron catches my wrist in his grip, pinning me against the door in a heartbeat. His body looms over mine, his hot breath grazing my neck and making me shiver despite myself.

“Now that I know you’ve spent the past two months playing whore for another man,” his voice drips with disdain, “I can see I wasn’t that far off asking if you were unsatisfied the night you left me.”

His accusation burns in my chest as his fingers skate from my wrist up my bare arm. But his nose is tucked into my neck like he can’t get enough of my scent, saving me from the temptation of his eyes. “All those ugly lies you spewed about being disrespected and mistreated when all along, you were going behind my back with him.”

His cold fingers brush upward, teasing along my collarbone. “He’s the real reason you wanted a divorce, isn’t he?” He pulls his face away from my neck to make way for his ascending hand, and his eyes lock with mine.

I can see the fight in those emerald eyes. I’m exhilarated to see him struggling against my pheromones just as much as I’m struggling against his. Our breaths are equally labored, drawing in more of each other with every inhale, quickly getting drunk on our shared desire laced with a sprinkle of fury.

As expected, my resolve to reject him sputters out. His hand settles delicately around my neck, his thumb caressing my throat, and I wonder if he’s about to choke me in anger – or lust. I hate that the uncertainty sends a thrilling shiver of arousal up my spine.

Aaron’s body stills a breath away from mine. “When exactly did you get involved with Henry?” he demands.

I had become so enraptured by him and us that I’d already forgotten what he was accusing me of. His cutting words abruptly clear the fog of desire, pulling me out of our bond’s enchantment. A million responses fire through my brain as my anger returns, and I clamor to yell at him that it was never about Henry, that I’m not even involved with him now

But he doesn’t deserve the truth, and I have no intention of defending myself. Willing myself not to arch into him like our bond is still calling me to do, I hold my ground.

“You and I aren’t anything to each other anymore,” I retort heatedly, hoping I’m convincing both of us. “You have no right to interfere in my life. I owe you nothing.”

Before I can say another word, his hand on my throat slides up, gripping my jaw possessively as he cuts off any further protests with a fierce kiss. His mouth on mine is all-consuming, leaving me breathless, almost suffocating me with his woodsy scent. I can’t help but moan into the sensation of his soft lips lighting up the nerve endings in mine.

He has rarely kissed my lips since our mate bond became known. I always assumed it was because he didn’t deem an Omega worthy of such an intimate act. The explanation sure fit with the deeply ingrained attitude of the pure-blooded Kensington family.

But he’s kissing me now, and great Makah, he’s gorgeous.

Despite our history, despite the stab of pain at seeing Aaron at the gala with Emma, I didn’t miss how excellently his suit fits him tonight. Didn’t miss the sharpness of his cheekbones as if they’re offering up his green eyes to the gods. Despite his accusations, I can’t ignore the warmth of his chest pressing me into the door or the desperation in his fingertips as he clutches my face closer to his.

Even now, eyes closed as I lean into him, I can feel his striking beauty radiating off him like the sun, his arrogance and allure tearing at my heart. I allow myself this small pleasure, melting into the kiss, my hands crawling up his body as if they have a mind of their own, until my fingers wrap greedily around his lapels to pull him closer.

A low rumble of aching satisfaction vibrates between us, and I’m not sure if it’s coming from his wolf or mine.

Without breaking our kiss, his free hand slips the strap off my shoulder, a tender move I’ve felt from him a thousand and one times. But he’s never done it with this dress before.

He’s never even seen this dress before.

This dress that makes me feel like I don’t really deserve to wear it. Because Aaron never allowed me to attend an event where I could wear something so elegant.

Reality snaps me back, and I use my grip on his jacket to shove Aaron away.

I look in his heavenly eyes that have been my undoing on so many occasions, hoping to find his desire for me revealed in them. And it’s there – barely visible behind layers of anger, pride, and betrayal.

In that moment, I realize that faint glimmer of desire isn’t love. I realize it’s not respect.

I don’t even know what respect for me would look like on Aaron.

Smack.

It takes me a second to realize what happened. To register the forced angle of Aaron’s face, his eyes suddenly empty of every emotion I just saw to make way for shock. To recognize the tingle in my palm from where my hand landed sharply across his face.

To put together that little nobody, Omega me just slapped the Alpha Werewolf President.