" Huh?? " Autumn was on the verge of snapping but then her voice cut off.
Both of them froze at the same time...like something unseen had passed between them, like a drop in air pressure just before a storm and they both felt it.
Kieran’s head tilted slightly.
Autumn turned her head too...and there she was.
Standing there at the back door. Silent. Too still. Just watching.
Her pale white gown shimmered in the moonlight like spilled milk. Her eyes were wide...but not surprised. Not exactly.
There was something colder in them.
Autumn’s breath hitched as shame crawled over her skin like ivy taking over abandoned homes.
She yanked at her dress, her fingers fumbling to pull the buttons back into place.
The chill in the air suddenly started to burn. Her hands trembled slightly, and she cursed herself for it.
She wasn’t doing anything wrong.
But she felt like she had.
"I..." Her voice cracked, as she cleared it. "I was just out here... getting some fresh air. It was stifling inside."
Lyla did not answer.Nor acknowledge her remark. She didn’t even blink. She just kept staring.
Autumn’s pulse beat faster.
"I should be getting back..."
But her steps barely moved when another figure walked out of the shadows of the doorway.
Alpha Velor with a wide grin plastered on his face.
He stopped just a few paces away, his gaze leisurely sweeping over the three of them.
And then back to Autumn again.
"Well,well..." Velor drawled, clapping once. "A little moonlight rendezvous? How quaint."
Kieran’s jaw flexed visibly.
"I actually came to collect you, Alpha Kieran," Velor continued, his voice full of false cheer and camaraderie. "You and your lovely Luna, Kieran."
" I said I don’t dance, Velor! " Kieran’s glare could have melted a lesser mortal.
" And I heard! But they won’t listen to me! The entire gathering is waiting eagerly inside for the newly wed couples’ dance. You wouldn’t want to keep the crowd waiting, now, would you?"
Autumn’s spine stiffened. Her mouth went dry.
"What am I even doing here?" She didn’t belong... anywhere it seemed.
She burned, quietly. Inside out.
And when Lyla stepped forward and took Kieran’s hand gracefully...wordlessly...Autumn felt something crack inside her. Something that had already been fragile from the start.
"Let’s go," Lyla said softly, her fingers curled around Kieran’s wrist. Not possessive. Not pleading. Just...firm.
He stood there.Rigid!!
His eyes didn’t even flicker to Lyla.
They were glued to...correction, nailed...to Autumn.
Right to the back of her head as she turned away, willing herself not to crumble, not to look back.
Autumn took one step.Then another. "Just go.Get out of here without making another scene! Don’t look back."
"Where do you think you are going, sweetheart?" Velor’s voice coiled around her throat like a noose.
She flinched,visibly this time,as his fingers caught her arm.
Kieran’s growl behind them was also audible.
But Autumn did not dare look up. Her breath was stuck in her lungs.
Velor leaned closer. His lips barely brushed her ear as he whispered, "You still owe me a dance."
His hand drifted lower, down her back, almost casually.
Not because she was afraid. But because the sound of Kieran’s grumbling was getting louder... right behind her... almost lethal.
Velor’s fingers brushed the edge of her bodice.
Autumn tried to pull away, but his hold only tightened, just slightly. Not enough to hurt. Just enough to say...’you don’t get to run without my permission’.
"I believe this," he murmured, toying with the loose flap of her dress, "was coming undone."
Autumn’s breath came shallow.
No one moved. Not Lyla. Not Kieran. Not even the night.
With mocking leisure...too slow ( bordering on suffocation) Velor found the loose buttons she hadn’t managed to fix in her haste.
His fingers moved deliberately, one at a time, as he redid each clasp.
Autumn did not dare to breathe.
Velor smiled against her shoulder. "There we go. Wouldn’t want you running around half...undressed...would we?"
The heat of humiliation scorched her cheeks.Her hands were fists now. Every muscle in her body screamed.She could feel Kieran’s gaze slicing into Velor’s hand.
She could feel Kieran’s fury through her skin.
The energy in him had shifted completely...no longer restrained, no longer trembling with want.Maybe the Witchblend’s effect had already started to wither.
When Velor finally let go of her , Autumn stepped away instantly...like she had been released from chains... But he didn’t let go of her hand.
Her chest rose and fell in uneven waves.
She didn’t look at Kieran.Let alone Lyla.
She turned her face to the shadows, where no one could see the sting behind her eyes.
She heard Velor chuckle lightly. "Careful, Kieran. Your claws are showing."
Then she heard Kieran’s voice shaking with restraint.
Even Lyla stiffened beside him.
Autumn closed her eyes. But it was already too late. The damage was done.
Velor laughed again, unbothered. "Don’t be so dramatic, Kieran. It was just a button...besides...I have every right...Should I assume you were being bothered...somehow? " He dusted his hands with dramatic flair. " Now, now... why should I go around assuming things that don’t exist."
Then Lyla’s voice floated in, soft...almost brittle."Let’s go inside."
Lyla pulled, tugging on his arm.
Kieran finally turned... but his eyes never left Autumn.
"I...I think we are done here," Autumn finally whispered hoarsely, more to herself than anyone else.
She turned again, willing her feet to take her far, far away from this ridiculous situation.
"No! Wait! You promised me a dance, remember?"
Velor lifted their joined hands in the air and spun her half a step. "Oh! Come on now," he said smoothly. " I was rather looking forward to it. Besides... It’s a tradition in Bloodfangs. "
Before Autumn could say anything else, she was being pulled forward, teasingly and decided against any further protest... or resistance.
Kieran stood frozen behind them but then Autumn felt him stride forward...dragging Lyla alongside him ( though his grip on her hand looked more like an afterthought...utter reluctance) .
His eyes burned holes into the back of Velor’s head.
Autumn felt it...felt it in her spine.
Felt it in the way Velor’s smirk sharpened with every step that brought Kieran closer...but he did not slow down and kept tugging her firmly towards the glowing ballroom.
Finally when they reached the dance floor, Velor leaned in again...too close...his lips brushing her temple with maddening ease. "Let’s give them a show."
Autumn stumbled once but caught herself, and raised her chin.
Fine. Let them all see. Let the whispers begin.