Chapter 15

MIA

The look on Derek’s face was one of complete shock. I had never in my life seen an Alpha so utterly discombobulated.

“But…Mia…” he said, the name I’d left behind coming out of his mouth on a breathy hitch.

Despite the hammering of my heart and the vaguely nauseous feeling roiling in my gut, I looked at Derek with calculated, casual indifference.

“That’s not who I am anymore.”

Cassandra once again sidled up next to the Alpha, her body language possessive.

“It’s…Elena now, is it?” she asked, her tone hinting at accusation. Like I’d duped them all with malicious intent.

I nodded resolutely, not really trusting myself to speak.

“Well…You’re alive!” Cassandra bleated, pressing her hands to her chest, her voice sickly sweet. “That’s wonderful!” Beneath the surface of her words, I heard the sharp edge of possession, a silent declaration of territory.

She was reminding me—and everyone watching—that Derek was hers.

Derek took a step forward, his gaze locked onto me, raw emotion flickering in his eyes. But before he could get any closer, Mason smoothly stepped between us, his stance casual but unyielding.

“Ah ah. Manners,” he said. His face was wearing a smirk, but his tone was deadly.

Derek let out a low growl, and I reached out and grabbed Mason by the hand, hoping to distract him before he bared his own fangs.

Alphas, I thought, inwardly rolling my eyes.

Mason squeezed my hand, letting me know he’d gotten the message.

Derek’s eyes were still locked on mine, and I watched as they flared gold for a moment.

“Tsk, tsk,” Mason said, unable to help the patronizing tone. “In front of your date, Alpha Derek?”

Cassandra sucked in a harsh breath, mouth wide open, and that was all it seemed to take for Derek to return to his senses.

He looked down at my hand, still holding Mason’s in a death grip.

“And what’s your relationship with…Elena?” Derek said, his expression darkening.

Mason glanced at me, had the audacity to wink, and turned back to the other Alpha.

“She’s my date,” he said smoothly. “You may want to start focusing on your own,” Mason went on, pointing briefly at Cassandra who stood there, mouth gaping like a fish. “I don’t think she’s breathing.”

With that, Mason led me away, his grip tight.

I wanted to scold him for being such a smartass, but my pulse still thundered from Derek’s reaction. His voice. His presence.

The way he’d looked at me as if I were a ghost come back to haunt him.

“Elena?” Mason whispered, maneuvering us through the crowded venue. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know Derek would be attending, and I certainly didn’t know he’d bring a date. I swear he told us all he would be absent.”

“It’s okay.” I finally found my voice. “I’m fine,” I assured him.

He gave me a skeptical look.

The venue was crowded, the heavy scent of expensive perfumes and colognes mingling with the rich aroma of aged wine and fine leather. The Alpha Council meetings were always extravagant, but tonight’s gathering buzzed with even more tension than usual.

As the meeting began, I could feel Derek’s gaze searing into my back. I refused to turn around, but every nerve in my body was aware of him. I didn’t need to see him to know he was watching me.

The meeting was called to order, and the Council elder stood and addressed the room.

“The annual Alpha Ball is upon us,” he said. “As we all know, the ball is a time to mend fences. To strengthen alliances and build bridges between our kind. We are a strong people. We are a proud people. And while strength and pride can build us up, they can also tear us apart.”

The elder swept his eyes over the blended packs in attendance, letting his words sink in.

“Let us hope that this year’s Ball brings us the former, rather than the latter.” He clapped his hands, his tone changing from one of gravity to lightness. “It’s a grand event. And it requires a host pack!”

“The responsibility will likely fall to one of our most powerful packs this year,” the elder continued. “Both the Moonstone Pack and the Silverclaw Pack haven’t hosted the Alpha Ball for some time.”

Immediately, murmurs rippled through the room as eyes turned to Derek and Mason.

The Alphas exchanged sharp looks. Our two packs were generational rivals, and now, suddenly, there was a new element that threatened to tear us even further apart.

Me.

A silent battle waged between them, thickening the already strained air. It was the kind of tension that made the other Alphas shift uncomfortably in their seats.

“Perhaps Silverclaw would be honored to take on the responsibility,” Mason said smoothly, though his tone carried the faintest challenge.

Derek smirked, leaned back in his chair. “Moonstone has always been known for hosting grand events. It would be a shame to deny them the opportunity.”

The words were polite, but the subtext was clear. Neither wanted to concede power to the other, not even in something as trivial as hosting a ball.

An older Luna sighed, her voice carrying across the room. “Bickering like this at an Alpha Council meeting?” she said, making no effort to hide the fact that she thought it was both distasteful and disgraceful. “You’re acting like spoiled children while smaller packs suffer the consequences of your fued.”

Her mate, an experienced Alpha with graying temples, nodded in agreement. “Instead of fighting, why don’t you both host? The constant division between your packs is tearing the werewolf world apart. Lately, rogue groups have taken advantage of this rift, even causing the downfall of a small pack.” The Alphas and Lunas around him nodded their heads. “It’s time to set aside your rivalry.”

The elder’s eyes gleamed with interest at the suggestion. “An intriguing proposal. A joint effort would signal unity.”

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room. Mason tensed beside me, his distaste evident. But Derek’s expression was unreadable, his gaze flicking toward me just for a second before he spoke.

“If the Council believes it to be the best course of action…so be it.”

Mason exhaled slowly, clearly displeased but unable to refuse the decision. The vote was held, and despite the tension, the motion passed—by the slimmest of margins. Two volatile Alphas who disliked each other forced to work together? It was either brilliant…or reckless.

I gently touched Mason’s arm, grounding him. “It’s not the worst outcome,” I said, trying to be optimistic.

His jaw tightened, but he nodded. “We’ll see.”

Before I could say more, my phone vibrated. I glanced at the screen—Aiden.

My heart softened as I stepped away to answer. “Mommy, when are you coming home?” Aiden’s sweet voice made the weight in my chest ease slightly.

“Soon, sweetie. Did you eat dinner?”

“Uh-huh! Logan made spaghetti, but he put green stuff in the sauce.” Aiden’s voice dipped into a dramatic whisper, “I tried to pick it out, but he caught me.”

I laughed quietly. “Logan’s just looking out for you. Be good, okay? I’ll be home soon.”

“Okay! Love you, Mommy!”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

I hung up, exhaling slowly. Talking to Aiden always reminded me of what truly mattered. But as I turned to leave, my path was suddenly blocked.

Cassandra.

She looked angry, her arms crossed over her chest. “I may not know how you’re somehow still alive, but I do know what you’re doing here,” she said. “Though I’m surprised they let you in.”

I sighed.

“Excuse me,” I said, suddenly weary beyond measure. I tried to step past her. There was a staircase just beyond her that led to our assigned rooms. If I could just get by her…

But she stepped in front of me, blocking my path once again.

“This is the Alpha Council,” she said sharply. “It’s not a place for rogues.”

I wanted to say something nasty back to her, but I’d been raised to treat everyone with respect and decorum. I wouldn’t sink to her level.

Instead, I tried to step around her again.

This time, she reached out, quick as a snake, and grabbed my wrist, twisting it backwards.

I hissed in pain, and she yanked me closer to her so that she could whisper fiercely in my ear. “You’ll never get Derek back. Never!”

I looked at her coldly, her face only inches from mine. “I want nothing to do with Derek,” I said, my voice measured and calm. “Or you.”

The look that came over her face was one of fury, a manic impulse that she couldn’t tame.

She twisted the wrist she was still holding and shoved me, hard.

The edge of the staircase was right behind me.

The world tilted. I felt the moment my balance gave out, the pull of gravity as I stumbled backward—

But before I could fall, strong arms caught me by the waist.

A sharp breath escaped me as I found myself pressed against a solid chest. The scent that enveloped me was achingly familiar—cedarwood, leather, something dark and rich beneath it.

I knew who it was before I even looked up.

Derek.