Chapter 6
Opal
Someone pinch me. My wolf swooned.
Holy goddess, this was crazy.
Yes, most of the females in the room probably wanted to kill me, but I couldn’t focus on that right now. Because I’d caught their scents—both of their scents—the minute I’d stepped foot onto the red carpet.
I knew they were here. My mates. Somewhere in the crowd. This is what they’d said, that Omegas just knew. And I knew. I swear I did.
The spotlight had been too bright and I’d been trapped in it for a few agonizing minutes as Jay Renfro did his camera bit, but the moment I’d seen his eyes across the room, it was like every romance movie I’d ever seen on steroids.
We have to find him. That big, beastly male with the beautiful dark expression and kind, caring eyes.
In just a minute.
I breathed in deeply as I inhaled my other mate’s scent, scarcely believing this was real. He held out his hand, asking me to dance, and I took it.
My life had turned into a fairy tale.
His scent was spicy and tantalizing, something like pepper and smoke.
I resisted the urge to lick him just to see if he tasted as good as he smelled.
Not that there was much skin exposed. The designer suit he wore fit like a glove on his trim body.
There were muscles underneath, but he was leaner than a traditional Alpha build.
Still, he had that dominant aura and my body instinctually relaxed, feeling safe in his arms as he swept me across the dance floor like I was some sort of princess.
Told you it would all work out.
I smiled at my beast as I turned my face up, heart catching in my throat when I saw the devilish grin on his chiseled jaw and his light brown hair sweeping over his forehead.
He wasn’t much younger than the other male I’d pinned as my second mate.
About my age, so I’d put him at twenty-two, but he had a playfulness about him that made me feel lightheaded with possibility.
“It seems you have enemies,” he teased. There was a tension to his shoulders. An Alpha position. Even though I was in his arms, he was still paying attention to the room.
And damn if that didn’t make me melt. “It happens.” I shrugged.
His hazel eyes burned brighter with his wolf as he sniffed. “I wasn’t sure when I caught your scent, but you’re an Omega?”
He’s cute. I kept smiling as I nodded. He hadn’t said it like an insult or that I was a freak, and didn’t immediately drip with lust either. More like I was something precious, something to be awed over.
That healed a little piece of me.
“Guilty as charged.” I laughed, giddy and drunk on his scent as we glided along the floor. My feet barely touched the ground as I clung to his shoulder and warm hand, feeling our souls spark at the connection. “And you are?”
I didn’t even know his name.
Happens all the time. My wolf yipped, over the moon with excitement. And we don’t need his name to present.
Hush. I blushed, trying to ignore the image she sent of me bending over in this dress.
“You don’t know who I am?” His masculine tone rumbled in a teasing caress as I shook my head. Something like wonder lit up his handsome face as he leaned down to whisper, “You can call me whatever you like, but the rest of the world knows me by Dorian Bailey.”
His name sounded familiar, but I could barely think over the blood thrumming in my ears. Especially when he pulled our bodies flush against each other, turning to lead me across the floor. The action called to the submissive nature of my wolf. She was in heaven.
The moment was perfect.
Almost perfect.
I turned to look over my shoulder. A frown pulled at my lips. “Where is he?”
“Where is who?” Dorian spoke against the top of my head. His palm was a warm, protective shield on my lower back.
I stroked my thumb along the side of his hand, unconsciously soothing the jealous nature of the beast. “The big guy in the dark gray suit. He was just right there.”
“Atlas.” Dorian growled.
My eyes shot up, seeing the absolute hatred on his face as he spit the other male’s name like an insult.
“I’ll make sure he stays away from you,” Dorian said.
Um… no…
My brain was still trying to process this new information. There had to be some mistake. “The big guy in the gray suit,” I said again. “Dark hair. Brown eyes.”
Please. I can’t do this.
“Don’t concern yourself with that beast,” Dorian growled low in his chest. “Atlas Volk is a prick, but he can’t hurt you. I won’t allow it.”
“We’re all beasts,” I said.
He huffed. “Some of us need a muzzle more than others.”
“He can’t be that bad,” I pressed, feeling my stomach sink with every word.
Dorian stiffened before shaking his head. “I can’t talk about him. Not tonight. I won’t let him take this moment from me.”
“Oh,” was all I could say, even as I felt the fairy tale slipping through my fingers.
My wolf had gone silent, watching, and now she gave a soft whine. No H.E.A?
It doesn’t look like it. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I didn’t let them show, keeping a smile on my face for Dorian as he spun us around the ballroom.