Chapter 44 Who’s Playing Whom?

Eira placed her hand in Alpha Killian’s.

"You may."

Across the ballroom, Alpha Sebastian went still.

A moment earlier, he had been smiling at Serena. Now he was staring at Eira as if she had just set fire to his entire life.

He started toward her.

"Ow!"

Serena stumbled and grabbed his arm.

"I think I twisted my ankle."

Alpha Sebastian stopped at once. He helped her to a nearby chair and crouched to check her ankle.

Eira watched him fuss over Serena’s ankle.

Minutes earlier, he had dragged his own wife across a marble floor, left her bleeding in a hallway, and blamed her shoes.

The bar was not low. It was six feet underground.

A dry laugh escaped her.

Then Alpha Killian’s fingers closed around hers, and his other hand settled lightly at her waist.

"Is your heel going to be a problem?" he asked.

"It’s a blister, not a broken leg."

"That wasn’t a yes."

Eira looked up at him. "I’ll survive."

His hold remained careful. He did not pull her closer or assume she needed help. He simply waited for her to follow his lead.

Apparently, basic respect could feel impressive when someone had gone without it for long enough.

The music carried them into the waltz.

Eira matched Alpha Killian’s steps with ease. After the first turn, his eyebrows rose.

"You know how to dance."

"You sound shocked."

"I keep finding out you can do things no one bothered to mention."

"You’ve known me for less than a month."

"And yet the list keeps growing."

Alpha Killian guided her through another turn.

"Who taught you?"

"Professor Thorne. He refused to let me embarrass him at an awards dinner."

"A doctor, a researcher, and a trained dancer."

"He believed in being prepared."

Alpha Killian leaned slightly closer. "For everything?"

Eira met his eyes. "Everything except you, apparently."

A low laugh escaped him.

Several nearby guests glanced over. Alpha Sterling rarely laughed in public, especially while dancing with a woman most of them did not recognize.

The whispers began almost at once.

Who is she?

Isn’t that his assistant?

Since when does Killian Sterling dance?

Eira heard them but kept moving.

For once, she did not care what anyone thought.

--

Alpha Sebastian straightened after checking Serena’s ankle, but his attention had already moved elsewhere.

Eira was dancing with Alpha Killian.

She moved with quiet confidence, her hand resting on Alpha Killian’s shoulder as he guided her across the floor. She looked calm. Comfortable.

She looked like she belonged with him.

Alpha Sebastian’s jaw tightened.

For four years, Eira had been part of the background of his life. She handled his home, managed his Pack, and waited for him without complaint.

Now she was in the center of the ballroom, and another man was seeing everything Alpha Sebastian had ignored.

Serena followed his gaze.

"Sebastian? What are you staring at?"

"I’m watching the dance floor."

"No. You’re watching your wife."

His expression hardened, but he did not deny it.

The music slowed.

Alpha Killian raised their joined hands, and Eira turned beneath his arm. Her dress moved softly around her legs as she returned to him.

For one brief second, they stood closer than before.

Their eyes met.

The crowd faded into the background. Eira became aware of the warmth of his hand at her waist and the steady way he held her gaze.

Something shifted inside her chest.

She stepped back before she could examine it.

The final note faded.

Alpha Killian bowed. Eira answered with a graceful dip of her head.

Applause rose from the guests nearest the dance floor, then spread through the room.

Alpha Killian straightened but did not release her hand.

Eira glanced down at their joined fingers.

"Planning to keep that?"

"I was considering it."

"That sounds expensive."

"I can afford it."

She pulled her hand free, but the corner of her mouth lifted.

Across the room, Alpha Sebastian stood frozen.

Everyone around him was talking about the woman Alpha Sterling had chosen to dance with.

Who was she?

How long had they known each other?

Was she really only his assistant?

The attention Alpha Sebastian and Serena had enjoyed only minutes earlier had shifted completely to Eira and Alpha Killian.

Serena watched Alpha Sebastian’s rigid expression and felt her stomach drop.

This was not simple anger.

He was jealous.

--

Eira had barely sat down beside Lila when Alpha Sebastian walked over.

She looked past him toward Serena.

"Shouldn’t you be checking on your friend? That ankle looked serious."

Alpha Killian paused with his wineglass near his mouth. Lila hid a smile.

Alpha Sebastian ignored the jab.

"Why did you dance with Sterling?"

Eira raised an eyebrow. "Because he asked."

"That’s it?"

"Most invitations work that way."

His jaw tightened. "You knew everyone was watching."

"So did you when you danced with Serena."

"That was different."

"Of course it was." Eira lifted her water glass. "The rules always change when they apply to you."

Alpha Sebastian reached for her hand. "We need to talk."

She pulled away.

"No."

His face hardened. "Don’t make a scene."

"You came to my table. The scene is yours."

"This is between me and my wife."

Alpha Killian set down his glass.

"Then you picked a strange place to discuss it."

Alpha Sebastian forced a tight smile. "Alpha Sterling, stay out of my marriage."

Eira answered before Alpha Killian could.

"He doesn’t need to. I already told you no."

Alpha Sebastian’s phone buzzed. Serena’s name appeared on the screen.

Eira glanced at it.

"Your friend is waiting."

"I’ll explain everything later."

"Save it. I didn’t ask."

"We’ll talk at home."

"You keep saying that like you still get a vote."

Across the ballroom, Serena sat with one hand resting on her supposedly injured ankle.

"Sebastian," she called.

Alpha Sebastian looked between them, then turned and walked away.

Lila watched him go. "Wow. He really does come running every time she calls."

Eira took a sip of water. "Some patterns never change."

Alpha Killian leaned closer, one hand resting on the back of her chair.

"Miss Crawford."

She looked up.

His silver eyes held hers.

"Now that he’s gone, answer one question."

"What?"

"Did you dance with me because you wanted to?"

His gaze flicked toward Alpha Sebastian.

"Or were you just using me to get under his skin?"