Excitement surges through me anyway, and I can't help squealing, "Oh my God, Alec! Do you know what this means? I never even got the chance to go to a ball before and now I actually can."

The annual ball is usually attended by werewolves who have shifted. When he was my alpha, I never got to attend because I had yet to shift, and after I became alpha, I also didn't attend because I was afraid to cross paths with Alec or anyone who might recognize me.

He shakes his head with mock dismay. "You do realize they're usually boring, right? More networking, politics, and stiff handshakes than actual fun."

“Still,” I say stubbornly, grinning, “This is THEE BALL we are talking about. There is no way I'm going to miss it, so it doesn't matter if it's usually boring. And—”

"—maybe this year will be different." His voice is quiet, but there's something weighted behind it. When I look at him, his eyes are on me, dark and searching. "That is, if you'll agree to go with me. As my mate."

The air leaves my lungs all at once. For a moment, I can't breathe. I can't think. The way he says it, it doesn't feel like an invitation. It feels more like a claim.

My heart slams against my ribs, and then I'm squealing again, unable to contain the rush inside me. "Are you serious?"

"Why would I ask if I wasn't?" he chuckles.

I stare at him for a while, searching his face, looking for anything that might hint he is just playing me. I find nothing.

Heavens, going to the ball with Alec, I don't even know how to feel. This was one of my many dreams and now that it's about to happen, it fills me with all kinds of emotions.

Taking a shaky breath, my voice comes out as a whisper. "Yes. I'll go with you.”

A grin spreads across his face, pride and amusement mingling there. "Can't believe I'll be taking my mate to the annual ball."

Warmth floods my chest. It's like he's just as surprised and excited as I am.

"Tell me more about it," I demand, my curiosity spilling over. "What's it like? What do people wear? How do the packs even decide who dances with who—"

And just like that, the tension eases. We fall into conversation, laughter mixing with details of past balls, and the road passes by unnoticed Without realizing it, we

pulling into the pack's territory. FindNovels

The car slows, gravel crunching beneath the tires. As we step out, the night air hits me, cool and sharp. Alec circles around to take my hand, lacing our fingers together, His warmth steadies me, but something else stirs in the air. FindNovels

A scent.

I stop mid-step, nose twitching. It's faint, familiar, and almost buried beneath the layers of pine and pack territory but i prickles something

deep inside me. Recognition teases the edges of my mind, but I can't place it. FindNovels

Alec leads us forward, stride purposeful, but the closer we walk, the stronger it gets. The unease inside me grows with every step, my chest tightening.

We round the corner and spot Micah standing in the glow of the porch light, his posture taut, his face drawn tight with unease.

"Micah," Alec calls, his voice cutting the air.

Micah turns quickly, his expression shifting. Relief flickers, but there's something else too hesitation. He steps forward. "Alec. You need to keep your cool."

Alec frowns, tension snapping through him. "What the hell does that mean? Just spit it out."

Micah hesitates, then steps aside.

My breath catches.

A woman steps forward, dark hair tumbling over her shoulders, her presence cutting through the night like a blade. The scent that had been clawing at the back

of my mind slams into me full force, unmistakable now.

Alec sucks in a sharp breath. My own gasp escapes before I can stop it.

Because standing there, alive and real, is Lola.