11. Raine
11
Raine
The last night at the ball—a time I should be using to network and enjoy the last little bit of my freedom before having to return to my own packlands.
Instead, I’m standing here in a ball gown, feeling completely out of place among the rest of the shifters enjoying one last night of celebration.
My stomach hurts from how hard it’s been clenching ever since I set foot in here. Aiden has been moving around the ballroom, jumping from group to group to mingle. I don’t know if he simply doesn’t know that I’m here or is blatantly choosing to ignore me—either way, it hurts.
I try to not think about it and focus on the glass of wine in my hand that I’ve barely touched.
“I’m so sad we have to leave in the morning,” Delilah’s saying, swaying to the music from the quartet. “Do you think Alpha Aiden’s chosen anyone or has his sights set on someone? He’s been talking with almost everyone, so it’s hard to tell.”
My lips thin at her comments.
It’s not Delilah’s fault she’s upsetting me. It’s not like I was being very specific when I told her about my bonded mate. Hell, the last person she’d ever expect it to be is our king-to-be.
My eyes catch sight of Aiden again as he laughs at some joke, surrounded by a different group of females.
I wonder what happened to the one I caught him with.
I haven’t seen her since that night. Could she be hiding for some reason? He’d said that the situation was complicated—but without any kind of further explanation, and me going home less than twenty-four hours from now, I’m growing more antsy.
What’s going to happen when I do go home? Will Aiden let me? Or will he actually ask me to stay here with him and send a letter back to Daniel to tell him about our bond?
What happens if I do end up going back home—will he come after me to officially claim me in front of my pack?
Not going to lie, it would feel goddamn amazing if that were to happen. Not only would it be a slap in the face to my entire pack, who’ve gone out of their way to mistreat me since my father’s desertion, but Daniel would be beside himself with anger and have no outlet to use it on.
It’s so damn hard to tell what my future will hold with everything still so up in the goddamn air. What I wouldn’t give for Aiden to come over here and actually give me some fucking clarity.
Next to me, Delilah gasps, “Oh my gods…”
Glancing over at her, I notice her eyes are wide, her mouth slightly dropped in surprise.
“What?”
“H-He’s…oh shit. He’s coming over here.”
Blinking in confusion, I watch as she brushes both of her hands down her dress and fluffs up her hair in order to make it look full of volume. She then jabs me in the side, giving me a look to fix myself before her body goes ramrod straight and a wide grin is plastered on her face.
“Your Grace! How lovely of you to come say hello!”
Oh fuck.
“Hello to you both.” Aiden inclines his head slightly to us both, his eyes lingering on me for a long moment before focusing on my best friend again. “Have you both been enjoying the evening? I noticed neither of you have taken partners to dance with tonight.”
My entire body flushes. I can feel dozens of eyes staring at us, wondering why Pollis’s alpha has come over to chat with the two introverts in the corner.
Aiden looks divine in the deep navy suit he’s wearing, tailored to perfection. His broad shoulders hardly even make the seams pucker. His sand-colored hair is slicked back from his face, making him look more regal than I’m used to.
For the past few nights, I’ve been accustomed to his skin slick with sweat as he hovers over me, his face pinched in pleasure while he thrusts into me until we’re both weak.
The images have me averting my eyes immediately.
Of all times to be thinking like that…
“Raine?” Delilah prompts.
Instantly, I look over at her. “Huh?”
She gives me a strained smile, glancing back at Aiden before looking at me again. “He asked you a question.”
My cheeks grow hot. I clear my throat and force myself to look him in the eyes, feeling our mating bond tugging directly at my chest. It throbs, and the impulse to reach forward and bury my face in his chest just to soak up his warmth is almost overwhelming.
I hold back a whimper as my wolf lets out one of her own. “What?”
His smile grows a little, amused. “Dance with me.”
My jaw drops. “ What ?”
“Raine,” Delilah hisses at me.
I’m sure she wants to kick my ass so badly right now. To her, I’m probably about two seconds away from getting us both kicked out for offending Aiden. She’d probably die if she ever finds out I’ve seen this man become undone the second his cock sinks into me.
“Dance with me,” he repeats, and then holds out a hand to me.
I can’t help but stare at it in abject shock.
What the hell is he doing?
Is this…is this his way of presenting me to the entire pack? Out in public like this with everyone else to see?
It would certainly make a bold statement, especially since he’s hardly made contact with anyone since this ball started—aside from that female I caught him with.
His hand motions for me to grab it, curling forward a few times. I lift mine slowly, sliding it into his and reveling in how warm his skin is.
Walking backward, he leads me out onto the dancefloor, a wide berth being created for us. I trip over my dress, my nerves already completely shot as what feels like the entire attention of the ball is drawn our way.
He chuckles lightly, catching me before I can fall flat on my ass. “Careful.”
“What are you doing?” I whisper to him, just as the quartet picks up another song.
“What do you mean?” He’s playful as he sways my body into his. His hand comes up to rest on my hip in a tight hold that feels close to a brand. “We’re dancing.”
“Aiden—” I’m spun around the dance floor in some kind of waltz that I can barely keep up with. This is probably not that complicated, but I’m so damn focused on everything else besides my own two feet that it feels like I have two left ones.
“Let me show you off.” His words have my body heating up. “I can’t claim you yet. Not until I talk to my elders. But I want my pack to recognize you and know who you are.”
My eyes shoot up to him again. “You were serious about that?”
“Of course I am. I meant what I said, Raine. What you saw was a complication that I’m trying to fix. It has nothing to do with you. My relationship with her was put in place a long time ago. Trust me, I don’t want it any more than you do.”
I’m spun again, but this time, under his arm. I twirl, my dress fanning out around me in a magnificent display. I feel so beautiful, for once in my life.
As much as Aiden isn’t telling me, he is giving me enough hints to try to put the pieces together. As a newly risen alpha, it isn’t uncommon for arranged marriages to be suggested or put in place.
After all, an heir needs to be secured as quickly as possible in the severe case of a death happening.
Maybe that’s who that female was—a potential arranged match, or even a breeder.
Breeders are rare nowadays, though. With shifter numbers and pack birth rates being healthily maintained, the need for breeders has all but died out. The last I heard, they haven’t been used since decades before I was even born.
“So, you’ll claim me?” I ask.
He nods. “When I sort things out here, I’ll come get you and claim you in front of your pack.”
Relief floods through me.
A plan. A promise.
Soon I won’t have to answer to Daniel anymore. I’ll be free from my pack and their humiliating torture of me.
Soon I’ll be here, back in Pollis lands, where no one will know me as the daughter of a disgraced beta. I’ll be able to make my own life. I won’t have to live in the shadows any longer.
“I wish I could kiss you,” I admit.
His eyes widen and then a smile crosses his face. “Come to my room tonight. I’ll be waiting there for you.”