The crowd gradually pulled back to form a perfect circle.
The music hadn’t started yet.
But the dancers were already in position.
Couples aligned side by side. Smiles plastered. Postures straight. Gowns fanned. Suits crisp.
Autumn stood still, her hand perched stiffly on Velor’s arm, her other hand locked in his grip.
She could feel the weight of every gaze in the room pressing against her spine...Or maybe she was imagining it.
Because there was definitely one gaze that burnt across the circle.
Kieran there stood with Lyla.Like something about his entire body refused to bend into the performance.
Because she couldn’t stop looking.
And Kieran?His eyes hadn’t left her... not for a single moment.
Even now, with Lyla’s soft hand resting in his, her slender arm looped delicately around his shoulder...he was miles away.
A soft violin. A slow melody.
Velor leaned close with his tone breezy. "Try not to look so terrified, darling. People might think I kidnapped you."
"I wish you had and locked me away...why am I even here? " she muttered under her breath.
"Did you just flirt with me?" he gasped theatrically, then dipped her low into the first sway, catching her a bit too closely.
Because the moment her feet moved in time with Velor’s, her eyes landed on Kieran again.
His palm pressed flat against the silk of Lyla’s back, careful. Too careful.
"Alpha," she said softly, touching his jaw, "look at me."
He didn’t.She stopped moving.
His gaze finally dropped to her...startled, like he had forgotten she was even there at all.
"Are you even here?" she nudged him gently.
Kieran exhaled. "I am trying."
"Try harder.People are watching."
He nodded once, but the moment he turned her in a slow, graceful pivot, his eyes flickered right back to Autumn.
Autumn turned with Velor, her dress catching the air like smoke.
She met Kieran’s gaze for a heartbeat.
Lyla caught it again. Her smile faltered.
He was watching all of it with an amused tilt to his mouth. "You two should really take up acting," he murmured. "You are awful at hiding things."
"Shut up and dance," Autumn said, sharper than intended.
He grinned. " But I must say what I notice.Kieran sure as hell can’t feel the bond between you two. Hell the loser has no idea about his pups. Never seen an Alpha so pathetic.And there is definitely no way he even recognises you, yet he is swooning... you have him wrapped around... "
" That’s not how things are Alpha! " She held Velor’s gaze. His smirk dropped. " Please! " She added.
Across the floor, Lyla’s voice was barely audible.
" Why are you so distracted tonight?"
Kieran did not answer.
The pause was too long.
And Lyla... just nodded to herself.
Autumn’s breath caught when she felt Velor’s hand drift a little lower on her back.
Not too improper. Just...too close.
His whole body went taut again, his jaw twitching as his steps turned more rigid.
"Well, I am thinking...if Kieran wants to lose his mind tonight...I might as well give him a proper reason to do it," Velor whispered, clearly enjoying the sparks.
Autumn and Kieran passed each other again in the circle.
Their fingertips brushed once...barely...not on purpose, not even full contact...just a fleeting whisper of skin.
But the jolt that passed through them both was volcanic.
Autumn’s chest heaved.
Kieran stumbled half a beat but Lyla caught him with a frown.
"What’s wrong with you?" she asked.
Autumn’s lashes fluttered as she forced herself to smile again. But her fingers trembled.
Her heart was no longer in her chest...it was somewhere else. Somewhere between those glances, those unsaid words, that unbearable heat.
"Your heart’s going to give out if you keep this up," Velor whispered again, this time quieter, his lips too close to Autumn’s ears.
"I can’t do this," Autumn admitted, finally, under her breath.
" I thought you didn’t want him anymore! Or did I get it wrong?" Velor turned her gently.
He looked into her eyes and for once,his smirk dropped.
Velor dipped his head to the nape of her neck... and kissed it... subtly... before pulling right back.
But before she could comprehend, the music shifted.
A sudden, fluid change of rhythm. Slower. Deeper.
The floor hummed with movement as everyone responded instantly...the males peeled away and drifted to the left.
It was time to switch partners...No questions. No refusals.
Velor dropped Autumn’s hand smoothly, already turning to accept a woman from the opposite side.
But Autumn was unprepared...even a little disoriented...and she stepped back a little too quickly.
The edge of the dance floor was slick with condensation from the drinks and lantern heat.
Her breath caught... but then she was ’caught.’
His scent slammed into her like a punch to the lungs... that same old fire...
Her hands gripped the lapels of his suit instinctively, eyes wide.
Velor turned, mid reach to catch her as well, only to find Kieran had already claimed the space where she once stood .
"Ah..my bad, dear...I am so sorry..." Velor began, almost casually.
But Kieran didn’t even glance at him.
He pulled her into him instead...Closer than Velor had dared. Closer than the music required.Wrapped her into himself.
The crowd shifted again, murmuring as couples locked into place.
There was only stillness.
Autumn stared up at him, breathless.
Kieran did not speak.
His eyes were devouring her.
Ravenous! Curious! Violently searching...
Her fingers clenched tighter on his jacket, as if to anchor herself, as if letting go meant falling again...but this time into something far, far more dangerous.
And then...The music began again.