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 sothing about his entire body refused to bend into the performance.
Autumn saw it.
Because she couldn’t stop looking.
And Kieran?His eyes hadn’t left her... not for a single mont.
Even now, with Lyla’s soft hand resting in his, her slender arm looped delicately around his shoulder...he was miles away.
The music started.
A soft violin. A slow lody.
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 away...why am I even here? " she muttered under her breath.
"Did you just flirt with ?" he gasped theatrically, then dipped her low into the first sway, catching her a bit too closely.
Autumn didn’t laugh.
Because the mont her feet moved in ti with Velor’s, her eyes landed on Kieran again.
He was dancing too.
His palm pressed flat against the silk of Lyla’s back, careful. Too careful.
And Lyla noticed.
"Alpha," she said softly, touching his jaw, "look at ."
He didn’t.She stopped moving.
"Kieran."
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 mont 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 t Kieran’s gaze for a heartbeat.
He looked away.
Then back again.
Lyla caught it again. Her smile faltered.
Autumn did too.
And Velor?
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.
Kieran saw it.
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.
Another turn.
Autumn and Kieran passed each other again in the circle.
Too close. Too far.
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.
"Nothing."
Autumn’s lashes fluttered as she forced herself to smile again. But her fingers trembled.
Her throat was dry.
Her heart was no longer in her chest...it was sowhere else. Sowhere 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 ti 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.
Autumn said nothing.
Velor dipped his head to the nape of her neck... and kissed it... subtly... before pulling right back.
She blinked.
But before she could comprehend, the music shifted.
A sudden, fluid change of rhythm. Slower. Deeper.
The floor humd with movent as everyone responded instantly...the males peeled away and drifted to the left.
It was ti 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.
Her heel slipped.
The edge of the dance floor was slick with condensation from the drinks and lantern heat.
She stumbled.
The world tilted.
Her breath caught... but then she was ’caught.’
Arms.Strong. Steady.
Familiar.
Kieran.
His scent slamd into her like a punch to the lungs... that sa 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 claid 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.
But for them?
There was only stillness.
Autumn stared up at him, breathless.
Kieran did not speak.
His eyes were devouring her.
Not gently.
Not sweetly.
Ravenous! Curious! Violently searching...
Her fingers clenched tighter on his jacket, as if to anchor herself, as if letting go ant falling again...but this ti into sothing far, far more dangerous.
And then...The music began again.
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