Chapter 89

We arrived at the concert later than I had expected, but I had never experienced VIP access before and wasn’t quite sure what to anticipate. Instead of waiting in the long line that snaked around the building, we entered through a side door. Once inside, we ascended a set of stairs that led us to a balcony overlooking the stage.

The venue wasn’t a huge arena; it was a regular theater, which relieved me. Although I knew people would notice us and there would be some commotion, it was comforting to realize we weren’t surrounded by thousands of fans—just a few hundred on the floor below.

Still, as we settled into our seats in the balcony, a wave of nerves washed over me, and Alexander must have sensed my unease.

"You’ve been quiet tonight," he said, his voice low and observant.

"Am I?" I asked, trying to sound casual. "I'm sorry, I guess I’ve just been a little preoccupied."

"Is there anything in particular on your mind?" Alexander asked, his curiosity evident, though the expression on his face suggested he was more than a little concerned.

"I'm fine," I assured him. "I just can’t stop thinking about…"

"Your traitor," he finished for me, as I let my sentence trail off.

"That’s right," I replied with a slight sigh. "I can’t figure out the best way to draw them out. I have to identify who it is, but I don’t know how."

"Why don’t you ask your father for help?" Alexander suggested. "He’s the alpha; it’s his responsibility to deal with this. Yet you’re hiding the situation from him. I don’t understand why."

I stared at him, grappling for an explanation, but none came. Alexander was right; it was my father’s responsibility as alpha to confront the traitor in our midst. I couldn’t see a solid reason for not sharing my suspicions, especially considering David’s confession about poisoning me and Alexander’s discovery that my medication had been tampered with.

Still, I hesitated to approach my father. I worried he might not believe me or that it could endanger him further. David had already proven he would stop at nothing to get his way, and if he perceived my father as an obstacle, he would try to eliminate him. It felt safer to handle it myself, but I wasn't sure I could.

I could have voiced all of this, but the words stuck in my throat. I stared at Alexander, wide-eyed, my mouth slightly parted, as I struggled to speak.

Before I could find my voice, the sound of a loud guitar drowned out my thoughts. Instantly, I was on my feet, stepping to the balcony railing to look down at the band that had taken the stage.

It wasn’t the headlining group, but the opening act. They were loud and abrasive, and not very good, but I was grateful to them for interrupting the conversation.

I knew what Alexander wanted to ask next; he could tell I was hiding something, and he wanted to know what. On some level, I felt he deserved to know. After all, I had dragged him so deeply into this mess.

But I couldn’t tell him everything that had happened in my original timeline. I couldn’t reveal that this was my second chance. Even if he believed me, it wouldn’t change anything; it would only complicate the situation for him. So what was the point of saying it? No, it was better if I kept it to myself.

Alexander didn’t try to be heard over the blaring music; instead, he joined me by the railing, glancing down at the stage with obvious disinterest, likely due to how bad the music was. I did my best to pretend I was enjoying it, though I could sense he wasn’t convinced.

Fortunately, the opening act didn’t last long. Soon, the headlining band took the stage, and the atmosphere shifted.

The music wasn’t the type I usually listened to, but it was surprisingly catchy and upbeat. I found myself dancing along, easily losing myself in the rhythm.

After everything I’d been through in the past few weeks, it felt good to unwind, even if only for a while. Time seemed to slip by as I clapped and moved with the crowd's energy.

At one point, I noticed people in the crowd shouting and waving their arms up at us. I waved back, which drew cheers from them. It was the positive reaction we had wanted, so this date was a success.

Alexander didn’t join in, despite my attempts to coax him into dancing, but he watched me with a look of mild amusement. I couldn’t really picture him dancing, anyway. It wasn’t that he seemed too serious or stiff; rather, I realized I’d never truly seen him relax—not to the extent that dancing would require.

Still, the way he watched me, with a small smile tugging at his lips, made my heart flutter more than I cared to admit.

By the time the concert ended, I was nearly breathless, a ridiculous smile spread across my face that I couldn’t shake off. I hadn’t had that much fun in a long time, and it was only then that I realized just how much I’d needed to let loose.

“Well, that was certainly worth the price of admission,” Alexander joked. “I thought you said you’d never heard of this band before.”

“I haven’t,” I replied, still grinning. “I just think they’re really good.”

“It’s not the kind of music I’d usually go out of my way to listen to,” he admitted. “But I can see why you like it. Shall we get going? We don’t want to get caught in the after-show traffic, and it’s going to take a while for that crowd to file out through the front doors.”

“You sound like an old man,” I teased. “Wanting to leave early just to beat the traffic.”

“We’re not leaving early,” he argued with mock offense. “We stayed for the entire show, and now it’s time to go—unless you want a T-shirt or a keychain or something.”

He raised his eyebrows, clearly teasing, and I pretended to look thoughtful, making him laugh.

“No, I don’t need a souvenir,” I said, giggling. “I think you’re right. Let’s get going and avoid the crowd.”

Alexander led me through the hallways and back toward the side door where we had entered. A security guard was standing there, a troubled look on his face. I could feel—almost as much as see—Alexander’s body language shift. His shoulders stiffened, and a tenseness settled over him.

“What’s the problem?” he asked the guard, his voice calm but alert.

“Paparazzi,” the guard replied. “We’ve tried clearing them out, but they’re persistent. They’re waiting for you, Alpha Black.”

Alexander made a sound of frustration, then turned to me, concern flashing in his eyes. “We can try to find another exit to avoid them,” he offered. “Or we could just push our way through and leave this way, to avoid getting caught up by the crowd.”

“That’s fine with me,” I said. After all, avoiding the press seemed silly when the whole point of this outing was to be seen together.

Alexander nodded to the guard, who stepped away from the door. With a resolute look, he pushed the doors open, and we stepped out into the dark.

There was a moment of stillness before the paparazzi noticed us, and then a storm of flashing camera lights and a chorus of voices filled the night.

“Ms. Rowan! Ms. Rowan!” multiple voices called out.

Alexander put his arm around me protectively and began pushing his way forward, but that didn’t stop the reporters from following, shouting their questions.

“Miss Rowan, what do you think about the engagement?”

I frowned in confusion. Surely, they couldn’t be asking about my engagement—that was old news by now. But I couldn’t think of anyone else whose announcement would warrant this kind of attention.

Another voice cut through the din: “Miss Rowan, have you heard that David Lake and Amanda Gray are getting married?”

My heart froze. I could feel Alexander pulling me forward through the crush of paparazzi, but everything suddenly seemed distant and surreal. The world around me blurred as my mind struggled to accept what I had just heard.

David was marrying Amanda. How could he?