Chapter Three #2
For a moment, we stand frozen, locked in each other’s gaze. Her beauty, so striking from across the ballroom, is even more overwhelming here in the intimate space of the balcony.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize the balcony was occupied,” she says, breaking the silent, lingering tension between us.
Her voice is soft, yet it carries an undercurrent of confidence that sends a thrill through me.
As I struggle to find a response, she moves closer, her steps deliberate, each one more intoxicating than the last. She leans against the rail, gazing out at the night sky, her presence so commanding that it fills the small space around us.
Her movement is a quiet display of grace and audacity, a combination that stirs something primal within me.
Most people would have retreated upon discovering someone else already on the balcony, but not her.
Not Leila Kaye. There’s a boldness in her that defies convention and a fearless energy that draws me in even as it leaves me unsettled.
“It’s okay, we can share,” I finally manage to say. A brief silence hangs between us, but it’s not uncomfortable. I can see that she needs this quiet moment on the balcony as much as I do. For a while, we simply stand there, side by side, lost in our own thoughts, as we look out into the darkness.
“We’ve never spoken before,” I say softly, breaking the silence, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yeah, well, this isn’t exactly the best time to start,” she replies, her tone tinged with a hint of bitterness.
“No one’s in a hurry to talk to me these days.
” She tilts her head back slightly, letting out a short sigh.
“Except the press, they can’t seem to get enough of me right now.
You’re not with the press, are you, Henry?
” she adds, a sarcastic squint in her eyes that elicits a chuckle from me.
“No, I’m not,” I reply, still smiling. “And I can’t imagine Jasper O’Neil works for the press either. But you were speaking with him, so…” I tease.
She scoffs at the mention of Jasper O’Neil’s name. “I think I’d have preferred talking to the press. You know how O’Neil is, always rambling,” she says, rolling her eyes in exasperation.
“Believe me, I know. The guy never shuts up,” I agree, and we share a laugh at that, a genuine moment of levity that seems to lift some of the weight she’s been carrying. It’s a laugh I think she needed.
As our laughter fades, I find myself captivated by the way her smile lights up her face, a fleeting glimpse of the beauty she hides beneath the weight of her troubles.
It stirs a deep sympathy within me. The thought that someone so genuine and radiant could be so cruelly attacked by the media is almost unbearable.
“So,” I begin, my voice steady, “I’ve seen some of the things they’re writing about you. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah,” she replies, her expression growing somber. “I’m trying to get used to this new reality. Discovering I have a sister is great, and Cassie is amazing. But it’s taking some getting used to, being second best.”
“It’s not so bad, you know,” I say, catching the weight of her words.
“What?” she asks, her tone innocent, as if she’s genuinely curious.
“Being second best,” I reply, letting the words hang in the air.
She pauses, her eyes searching mine as if trying to understand. “Oh,” she says finally, giving me a look with a hint of a smile playing at her lips. “You would know.”
“Yes, I would,” I reply, meeting her gaze with a warm smile. I continue, “When I was a kid, everyone thought I was really powerful. Some even believed I was destined to be the most powerful Alpha. But then I met Ares and realized that wasn’t the case. And that’s okay.”
She takes in my words, her expression contemplative. “I grew up believing I was the best, so it will take some getting used to,” she admits, a hint of vulnerability in her voice. I nod, understanding the shift she’s grappling with.
We fall into a brief silence, the night air around us thick with unspoken thoughts.
Then, as if struck by a realization, she raises her brows and looks at me with curiosity.
“You must have been a really powerful kid if people thought you would become the most powerful Alpha,” she says, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studies me.
“We’ve never really spoken, and I haven’t seen or heard much about what you can do. ”
A teasing smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. “Would you like a demonstration?” I ask, half-joking, half-serious.
She holds my gaze for a moment. Then, with a subtle but unmistakable intensity, she responds, “Yes.”
With a deep breath, I begin to ease open my pores, allowing my pheromones to seep into the air between us. I watch her closely, noting the slight shift in her expression as she remains unguarded, perhaps underestimating the potency of what I’m capable of.
I watch her face, studying every detail as her reaction unfolds.
Slowly, her eyes widened, the initial calm giving way to something more primal as she begins to feel the effects of my pheromones.
Her eyes start to glisten, the moisture gathering at the corners betraying the sudden rush of sensations overtaking her.
In an instant, she releases her own pheromones, a reflexive attempt to shield herself from the overwhelming force of mine.
The panic in her response is unmistakable, and I raise my hand immediately, closing my pores and cutting off the flow. I hadn’t intended to push her so far, and seeing the strong effect I’ve had on her stirs a mix of regret and concern within me.
“I’m sorry. I should have warned you,” I say, my concern evident as I watch her recover from the sudden intensity of my pheromones.
“It’s okay,” she replies, her voice steady, though her eyes still betray a hint of surprise. “It’s my fault. I didn’t think you’d be that strong.”
A smirk tugs at the corners of my mouth. “So, you see, being second best isn’t so bad. We’re still very powerful,” I say with a playful edge.
“Evidently,” she replies, her tone reflective. “But how are you so strong and yet so quiet?” she asks, curiosity mingling with her astonishment.
I chuckle lightly. “I’m not really quiet. It’s just that Ares tends to command a lot of attention, and I’ve grown to enjoy it that way.”
She nods slowly, her gaze lingering on me, clearly still processing the strength of my pheromones.
“With how strong you are, if Cassie had always been number one, you might have been my first match instead of Ares,” she murmurs, a sort of realization in her voice.
Seeing her in this vulnerable state, her reaction stirring emotions within me sends my thoughts into a whirl.
“That’s correct,” I say, my tone direct. “It can still happen.”
She turns to me with wide eyes, and I smile.
“What? Have you found a replacement suitor after Ares?”
Blushing, she responds, “Well, the tabloids won’t shut up about it. No, I haven’t had any suitors since what happened with Ares.”
I seize the moment, my voice firm yet gentle. “Would you be interested if I asked for your hand?”
Her eyes widen, and her mouth slightly parts in shock at my blunt proposal. I see the surprise register on her face, recognizing how abrupt this must seem.
“You don’t have to give me an answer now,” I say, softening my tone. “Just think about it.” I offer her a warm smile before turning and walking away.
Ares is right. I want her.