Chapter 41

Kayla

I was still riding the high of the morning’s fight when Nicholas approached me near the training grounds. Most of the spectators had already dispersed, a few lingering behind to chatter excitedly about Nora’s humiliation and my unexpected victory.

“Just so you know, we’re expected at a birthday banquet tonight,” he said, his voice low enough so that only I could hear. “A friend of mine, someone the guild keeps an eye on. We need to be seen there together. As a couple.”

I folded my arms across my chest, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, another public appearance? What a surprise. And which lucky friend is this?”

He shrugged one shoulder. “Her name is Brianna. She’s the daughter of an influential Beta. Trust me, it’s a good idea to show face and play our part. Just… be ready by eight.”

Sighing softly, I nodded. Going out under the pretense of being together was always stressful to say the least, but it was necessary if our arrangement was going to work out.

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving me slightly flustered and oddly relieved. I supposed I should have expected something like this; maintaining our ‘happy couple’ image in public was key to keeping the guild satisfied.

I headed back to the bedroom afterwards, peeling off my sweaty workout clothes and stepping into the shower. The hot water soothed my sore muscles, rinsing away the grime I’d accumulated on my skin during the spar.

Once I’d stood under the stream long enough for the hot water to nearly run out, I wrapped myself in a fluffy robe and padded across the room, considering my wardrobe options.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much; nothing that I wanted to wear tonight, anyway. I pulled out a few dresses, ranging from plain black satin to something red and devilishly sexy, but nothing seemed to appeal to me.

Suddenly, a knock at the door made me jump. “Kayla? It’s Emma and Jade,” Emma called through the wood.

“Oh. Come in,” I replied, smiling as they entered. Emma was holding a box in her hands, and Jade had a bag slung over her arm.

“Word on the grapevine says you’re attending a banquet tonight,” Jade teased, hanging the garment bag on the closet door. “We thought you might need some help picking out an outfit.”

I glanced at the bag and then at them. “You two just happen to have a fancy dress on hand?”

Emma wiggled her eyebrows. “We might have done a little shopping. You know, just in case.”

I laughed softly, shaking my head. “You two are unbelievable.”

With a flourish, Jade unzipped the bag to reveal a stunning emerald-green cocktail dress that matched my eyes perfectly. As she pulled it out, the fabric shimmered just ever so slightly under the overhead light.

My breath caught in my throat. “You got this for me?”

Emma grinned. “We may have noticed how Nicholas reacted the last time you wore this color. Besides, it suits you the best.”

I felt a blush creeping up my neck. “You didn’t have to do that. You know I don’t really… care about how he looks at me.”

“Are you sure about that?” Jade chuckled. “We saw how he was staring at you this morning before the spar. And you seemed to like it.”

“I didn’t even notice.”

Emma snorted. “Sure you didn’t.”

My cheeks burned. “Can we talk about something else, maybe?”

The girls exchanged amused glances, but let me change the subject. Emma set down the box she was holding and popped the top off, revealing a pair of strappy gold heels. Meanwhile, Jade moved toward my vanity and ordered me to sit, leaving absolutely no room for argument.

That morning, I allowed them to fuss over me, sitting patiently in front of my vanity mirror as Jade pinned my hair into a loose but elegant updo and Emma applied a hint of blush and a soft rose lipstick to my face.

As they worked, I couldn’t help but smile. The atmosphere in the room was surprisingly lighthearted, laughter and idle gossip filling the air. For a long time, I hadn’t had real female friends I could trust. The last one had been Vanessa, and look how that turned out.

But this felt different. Jade and Emma seemed to genuinely enjoy my company, and I enjoyed theirs. Looking back, the interactions between Vanessa and myself had always felt a little forced, although I didn’t notice it at the time.

This didn’t feel like that at all.

As Emma stepped back to admire her handiwork, Jade nudged me with her elbow. “So, what’s the deal with you and Nicholas anyway?”

My stomach flipped. “This again?”

“We’ve seen how you two interact,” Emma said. “Sparks practically fly whenever you two lock eyes.”

I rolled my eyes. “Sparks? Please. He’s a pain in my ass. A cocky, arrogant Alpha who thinks the world revolves around him.”

Jade shot me a knowing grin. “And yet you’re blushing right now.”

I pressed my lips together, trying to fight the heat creeping up my face. “I am not.”

“You so are,” Emma said, holding up a compact mirror so I could see the pink tinge in my cheeks—and it had nothing to do with the subtle blush she’d applied earlier.

Crossing my arms, I tried to maintain my dignity. “We’re just keeping up appearances. Nothing more.”

Jade shrugged. “If you say so.”

After that, they helped me step into the dress and adjust the straps. The boned bodice fit perfectly around my curves, hugging my waist before the skirt flared out gently at the hips. I examined my reflection in the mirror, surprised by how confident I felt.

Jade beamed. “You’re stunning.”

Emma took a quick snap with her camera, winking at me. “Wait until Nicholas sees this.”

I scowled playfully. “You two need to stop talking about him like he’s my boyfriend.”

They burst into laughter, and I couldn’t help but smile. Despite the teasing and the blushing, I was grateful for their friendship, their support, and their willingness to help me navigate this strange life I had somehow stumbled into.

Once I was finally ready, I slipped on the gold heels and picked out a small clutch that matched them perfectly. Emma adjusted one last stray curl, and then it was time to go. With one last glance in the mirror, I stepped out into the hallway.

But as I turned the corner, I collided with something solid.

Nicholas.

He was standing right outside my door, his hands in his pockets, as if waiting for me. Or even… watching me.

I stumbled back slightly, my eyes going wide. His gaze brazenly flicked over me, taking in the dress, the makeup, the careful updo. There was a moment—just a moment—when I saw what looked like genuine appreciation in his gaze.

“My, my. You look good enough to eat,” he said huskily, leaning close.

The spell was shattered, and whatever I’d been feeling before quickly turned into righteous anger.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and before I could stop myself, I smacked him firmly on the chest with my clutch. “Nicholas Reynolds, were you watching me get dressed?!” I ground out between smacks.

He laughed, raising his hands to defend himself against my onslaught. “Hey, hey, I wasn’t watching! I’m not that much of a creep!” he shouted.

I narrowed my eyes, advancing on him, still hitting him with my clutch as he backpedaled down the hall. “You were standing right outside my door, you pervert!”

“Just a coincidence, I assure you!”

“Likely story!”

Finally, I stopped beating him with my clutch. Nicholas was still laughing, and lowered his arms. But just for good measure, I raised my clutch one last time, making him flinch back and laugh even louder, before I shoved past him.

“You’re enjoying this way too much,” I called over my shoulder as I gripped the railing and began making my way down the stairs.

He fell into step beside me, a self-satisfied grin playing on his lips. “Trust me, I’m enjoying it just the right amount.”