Chapter 7
Chapter seven
Casual Observations and a Date
Demetrius
On Wednesdays, I enjoyed strolling into the studios and watching rehearsals, checking in on how the dancers were doing. Maybe I hadn’t really done this previously, but this season I would. I needed to step away from my desk anyway, and I might as well see how the corps rehearsals were going.
I made my way downstairs to the main studio where Steven was rehearsing the corps scene for our first production of the season, Moonlight Whispers.
It was a fun show, well-received by the audience last year, but the critics were meh.
Isaac had done his best choreographing it on our dancers, but it was no Romeo and Juliet.
I entered the studio and stood just past the door. I preferred to watch discreetly if possible, though my size and alpha energy made that nearly impossible. My eyes scanned the rows of corps dancers until they found Ivy, who was already staring at me.
As soon as our eyes connected, a faint blush rose in her cheeks as she lowered her gaze. I both loved that my presence had that reaction from her and hated that she felt uncomfortable around me. She turned her focus back to Steven while he talked through corrections for the group.
I tried to watch the other dancers as the group practiced a section together, but my eyes kept drifting back to Ivy.
She looked cute in her dark blue leotard; it really highlighted the green in her eyes.
Her hair was pulled back in a French twist today, very elegant, and her thigh-length, black ballet skirt accentuated her backside nicely.
I wondered if she'd accept a gift of a new leotard from me.
Was it too soon to buy her gifts? Courting alphas gifted their mates things all the time.
As she turned with the group, her position locked solidly in place, executing the pirouette with ease.
All four of us had been watching her all week, trying to figure out how talented she was and how much potential she had.
That had proven difficult—she grew more nervous the more we watched, which affected her execution.
Even through all of that, she looked like a very talented dancer, and I instinctively knew she’d be right for this journey with us.
“Don’t you have work to do?” Isaac whispered next to me, startling me with his sudden appearance.
I shot him a glare as I relaxed back into my lean against the wall. He stepped inside and leaned beside me.
“I am working. Need to make sure the company is working hard,” I replied. “Don’t you have a rehearsal to run?”
“Preston was griping about something, so I gave him a ten-minute break,” Isaac said. “We should be done reviewing all his solo pieces by tomorrow. Friday, I need to start working with the couples together.”
“Sounds like we’re right on track then,” I said, half paying attention to Isaac’s report. The corps was working on this one section where everyone lifted their leg to the side. Ivy’s leg was just a tad higher than the rest. She really did have a great facility for dance.
“I wonder how high her leg goes,” Isaac leaned closer to me, whispering. I glanced over to his gaze—it was glued on Ivy.
With a sigh, I closed my eyes, shaking my head. “You cannot say that shit to me here.”
Ivy finished the section, then glanced over at Isaac and me. Her blush deepened a little more, but she threw back her shoulders and continued onward.
I liked her energy. I liked a lot of things about her.
***
Isaac
Demetrius left me alone to continue admiring our girl.
He didn’t like that we made her nervous, but I didn’t care.
I wanted her to know I was watching—how hungry I was for her.
The others might play it coy, but I’d do no such thing.
I yearned for her body—and the chase. I wanted to see those green eyes light up in surprise when I came after her.
Stop, I reminded myself. Half the day still lay ahead, and I was already worked up. I’d never craved another this badly—they’d always been passing one-night stands. This was the power of the scent-match. It dragged every dark alpha impulse to the surface and made me face them.
Ivy glanced my way, one eyebrow raised, the corner of her mouth curving as if taunting me.
She was no longer blushing—that must’ve been for Demetrius.
Those looks of hers…I was rubbing my lips with my hand before I could even catch myself to stop, which earned another smirk from her.
Apparently, she was a natural-born omega temptress.
Did omegas instinctively know what attracted their mates?
At the front of the room, Steven clapped and dismissed the group for lunch.
All the corps dancers applauded politely as was customary and began making their way out of the studio, with Ivy trailing at the back.
As she passed me, she shot me a little smile, a lifted brow, and the briefest hint of her scent.
I was just about to follow discreetly behind when Nerissa entered the studio and waved to me.
“What’s up, Nerissa?” I asked, slightly annoyed at my pursuit being interrupted.
“I just want the gossip, that’s all,” Nerissa said, leaning in closer to me. I instinctively backed away, avoiding any female touches that weren’t from Ivy.
“And you came to me? I’m almost always the last to know,” I smirked.
“Adrienne said Lukas is hooking up with one of the new corps girls,” she said. “If anyone knew, wouldn’t it be one of his packmates?”
“Which girl?” I asked coolly, trying to figure out where this was going.
“Ivy. You saw them dancing together on Sunday, right?” Nerissa asked. “Pretty steamy if you ask me. He couldn’t keep his hands off her.”
“Lukas can barely keep his hands off me. He’s like that with everyone,” I replied. I didn’t want to lie, but I'd do it for Ivy.
“So you’re pleading the fifth,” she said, looking curiously at me.
“I’m saying I’m still the last to know anything around here,” I shrugged. Maybe I should just say I was dating Ivy. I’d rather the rumor be about me anyway. No, Ivy wouldn’t want that either. “Sorry, you’ll have to find your gossip somewhere else.”
With that, I left the studio, hopefully buying Ivy more time to adjust without the company knowing.
***
Lukas
Each day this week, the car ride home had grown more tense. All of us seemed to be finding moments in the studio with Ivy, and a little competition had developed between me, Isaac, and Preston over who got the most time.
I sat in the back seat, trying my best not to let my imagination run wild with Ivy as I flipped through different pictures on my camera. Of course, she was in half of them—at least I’d have plenty of dance shots when we finally went public.
“Lukas,” Isaac said, looking back at me with narrowed eyes from the front passenger’s seat. “Did you start a rumor that you and Ivy were dating?”
Stunned, I shook my head. “No, why would I? She wants this kept quiet.” I could see Dem’s eyes glancing at me through the rearview mirror as he drove.
“I heard that rumor too,” Preston said next to me. “It wasn’t Lukas, it was Adrienne.”
“Why the hell would she care about Ivy and me?” I asked.
“She caught me casually talking with her in the hallway yesterday, and immediately started asking Ivy about the two of you,” Preston said.
“I see, she wants you away from Ivy,” I said.
“Boy, will she be surprised when she learns of our scent-match.” I flipped through a few more pictures on my camera before a thought occurred to me.
“Actually, why don’t we lean into the rumor?
Say that Ivy and I are dating. It’d give all of us a bit more freedom in the building to get to know her better.
People would not be suspicious of you three hanging out with my girlfriend. ”
“No,” Preston quickly replied as Isaac glared at me through the rearview mirror.
“So is that a no because it’s a bad idea or no because it’s me dating her?” I frowned. Before Preston could reply, Dem silenced us.
“Enough with the competition,” he said, turning the car into our driveway. “We deny all rumors because Ivy doesn’t want us to reveal anything at the moment.”
We all grew silent as the car pulled up to a stop in the garage.
“We’ve almost everything we’ve ever wanted for this pack right here at our fingertips. Pull your heads out of your asses and follow Ivy’s lead,” Dem snapped, the frustration in his tone quite clear.
I sighed, slowly getting out of the car and shutting the door behind me. I didn’t even get to see her in the building much, except when I was taking pictures of her in class.
I hesitated before speaking up. “Can we invite her over for a barbecue this Saturday?” I asked. “It’s pretty apparent we all want more time with her. I barely see her at all.”
Isaac and Preston stood still, waiting for Dem’s reply. I’m sure they thought it was a good idea too, though, of course, they wouldn’t admit it.
Dem paused as he reached the garage door to the house. “That sounds like a great idea. I’ll ask her tomorrow when Isaac and I take her out.”
***
Ivy
By Thursday afternoon, I was eager for the last rehearsal of the day to end.
As soon as Steven dismissed us, I rushed to the women’s locker room, showered, and changed into a fun, red sundress, little butterflies dancing around my stomach the entire time.
I touched up my makeup, and in under thirty minutes, I was walking upstairs, still careful to avoid anyone in the building.
I gently knocked on Demetrius’s office door and listened carefully for his reply.
“Come in,” Demetrius called out.