Chapter 6 A Choice Between Two Alphas

“I want you.”

Irene stared at Arnold, certain she had misunderstood him.

“You don’t even know me.”

“I know enough.”

A faint smile touched his lips, but Irene found nothing amusing about the situation.

Only a few minutes ago, she had used him to escape Eugene. Now the Lycan Alpha was asking her to attend the party as his woman.

“This isn’t funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

Arnold’s calm answer unsettled her even more.

Irene crossed her arms.

“Why would you choose me? You could ask any woman here to be your partner.”

“But I didn’t ask another woman.”

“That doesn’t answer my question.”

Arnold remained silent.

Irene studied him carefully.

He appeared relaxed, almost playful, but she could not forget who stood before her.

Arnold was the Alpha of the Lycan Pack.

He was also the son of the man Eugene had killed during the war.

There had to be a reason he had approached her.

Perhaps this was about Eugene.

Perhaps Arnold wanted revenge.

“What exactly do you want from me?” Irene asked.

His expression grew serious.

“I’m Arnold.”

“I already know that.”

“The Alpha of the Lycan Pack.”

“I know that too.”

“Good.”

His gaze moved slowly over her face.

“And you’re Irene.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard about you.”

Her stomach tightened.

“The rumors?”

Arnold nodded.

Irene looked away.

She had already heard enough about those rumors. People were calling her the rejected mate of Hellfire’s future Alpha even though Eugene had never officially rejected her.

She did not need a stranger reminding her of the humiliation.

“I don’t care what people say about me.”

“Maybe you should.”

Irene frowned.

“Why?”

“Because everyone is watching you tonight.”

His words made her glance toward the busy street.

Several people quickly looked away.

Arnold was right.

The pack had noticed her disappearance. They had seen the distance between her and Eugene. Now Ruby’s pregnancy was becoming known.

The whispers would only grow worse.

And after Irene had walked away from Eugene while holding the Lycan Alpha’s hand, everyone would have something new to discuss.

She glared at Arnold.

“You knew they were watching us.”

“Of course.”

“And you still held my hand?”

“You took mine first.”

Heat rose to Irene’s face.

“I only did that because I needed to get away from Eugene.”

“So you used me.”

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

“How did you mean it?”

Irene opened her mouth, but no answer came.

Arnold’s faint smile returned.

He was enjoying this.

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’re impossible.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

“I’m sure you have.”

For one brief moment, Irene almost forgot about the pain waiting inside her.

Then she remembered who Arnold was and why they were standing alone together.

“This is a bad idea.”

“Which part?”

“All of it.”

She gestured toward the celebration.

“People are already whispering about me and Eugene. If I walk into that party beside you, they’ll think something is happening between us.”

“Something is happening.”

Her breath caught.

“No, it isn’t.”

Arnold stepped closer.

“You agreed to come with me.”

“I never agreed. You told me what you wanted.”

“And you haven’t refused.”

Irene stared at him.

He was right, and that bothered her.

She should have rejected the idea immediately. Instead, she was still standing there, listening to him.

Maybe it was because she did not want to return to Eugene.

Maybe part of her wanted Eugene to see that she was no longer waiting helplessly for him.

But using Arnold to make Eugene jealous would only create another problem.

Arnold was not an ordinary warrior she could pull into a personal argument.

He was a Lycan Alpha.

Their packs had only recently stopped fighting. One careless misunderstanding could threaten the peace treaty.

Her wolf stirred uneasily beneath her skin, reacting to the Lycan standing so close. It was not the warm pull of a mate bond. It felt unfamiliar, dangerous, and impossible to ignore.

Irene hated that Arnold could affect her at all.

A week ago, she had believed Eugene was her future. Now, another man was offering her a place beside him while Eugene watched from the crowd.

But what would Arnold gain from it?

If this was revenge against Eugene, Irene refused to become his weapon.

And if it was not revenge, then Arnold’s interest in her was more frightening.

“I’m going home,” Irene said.

She turned to leave.

Arnold caught her hand.

“Wait.”

Irene stopped and looked down at his fingers around hers.

Then she lifted her gaze to his face.

“What?”

Arnold did not answer.

All trace of amusement had disappeared from his expression.

His eyes were unreadable as he held her hand between them, making Irene wonder whether his request had anything to do with the party at all.