One Night With The Rival Alpha

illiance of the Vance estate ballroom, casting sharp, blinding daggers into the corners where shadows tried to hide. Debra Vance s

worn three times before, was a small, crinkled photograph. The edges were soft from years of tou

nous, composed of expensive perfume, hairspr

a woman in emerald silk whispered

a martini. "Edward is lucky. It's good to see t

na

to her abdomen, willing the nausea to subside. It had been four years since the funeral. Four years since the pack had a "fema

oward the gr

glassy and unfocused, pupils dilated to unnatural black disks. He swayed slightly, a marionette waiting for a tug on the strings. He offered his arm to the wo

took

skin, the silk shimmering with every breath. She moved not like a bride, but like a conqueror claimin

e closing in. She needed air. She needed to not be here when they exchanged vow

s blocked

orms that strained against muscle. Not her fath

oice sounding brittle to her o

ove. They did

omewhere

froze. She didn't want to turn around, but the silence

approachability that didn't reach her eyes. Her eyes were predatory, scan

to stand tall, but she felt small. Insig

n your father's big day?" She reached out, her fingers brushing imaginary lint from Debra's shou

g," Debra lied.

bra's shoulder to her wrist. Her nails, manicured to sharp points, dug into th

to pull back, but M

. "Edward is happy today. If you ruin this, if you embarras

r father. Edward was laughing at something the Mayor said, clinkin

ainst her ribs. Look

g through a thick fog. He didn't see a daughter in distress; he saw nothing but the hallucinations the dr

osened her grip, but didn't let go

Ru

g. The ancient crest of her mother's maternal line was etched into the back. It was t

raw greed, ugly and naked, passed over he

guests to hear. "It's stunning, Debra. Truly. And valuable. The appraisa

to her neck, cover

sound. "As a symbol of our new bond. A loan. Just for

d. Her voice shook, but her eye

were watching. The tension in the a

rned into shards of ice. She leaned in, her

o her ear, her voice trembling with financial desperation. "I say what

hitting the wall. Th

e in pa

brother. He had the same predatory eyes, but where Marley was calculated, Colin was chao

ed, taking a sip of his drink. His gaze dropped t

just being in h

l," Marley said, straighte

eam, to curse them both, but

floor with a deafening shatter. Liquid spl

I am so

sy bun, was on her knees instantly, frantic

houted, jumping back. "Do y

focating circle. Marley glare

Debra with a look that promised pain. "Bring the necklace to the bridal suite in

for her. Colin gave Debra one last, lingering

l, her hand clutching the ruby so