Chapter 51

Elara

Mason’s eyes locked onto mine before I had a chance to slip away.

When he looked at me, I froze. The faint hum of conversation around me faded to a dull roar in the back of my mind, and every instinct screamed at me to turn around, to get away. But I couldn’t move. I felt as frozen as a deer in headlights.

As Mason began moving toward me, his expression was nothing short of thunderous. I’d seen that look of fury before—most recently when he had attacked me in my apartment.

The moment I saw that look, I knew that this was heading into dangerous territory. Only then did I finally begin to move.

I forced myself to breathe as best I could and keep my steps even so as not to cause a scene as I quickly turned away and slipped into the crowd, weaving between the other guests. I searched for Alaric’s broad shoulders amidst the crowd, but I couldn’t spot him.

I should have stayed with him, I thought bitterly as I hurried through the crowd.

But then again, if I hadn’t… then I might not have seen whatever was happening between Mason and Emily. That red powder was all too familiar; it looked like the same powder that had been on those earrings, which was also the same color as the strange drug that was injected into my arm last night.

Something about this was off. I had to find Alaric and warn him before it was too late.

But no matter how hard I looked, I couldn’t find him.

I glanced over my shoulder, hoping that I’d lost him. But Mason was still following me, his movements as predatory as a panther. He wasn’t far now, so I quickened my pace, muttering soft apologies as I brushed past strangers.

Somehow, I ended up in a quieter corridor, the lively buzz of the banquet fading behind me. The dim lighting cast long shadows against the marble floors, and I swallowed hard, realizing my mistake just a moment too late: it was a dead end.

“Going somewhere?”

I stiffened at the sound of Mason’s voice, gripping the fabric of my dress in my fists as I turned slowly to face him. “Get out of my way, Mason.”

He smiled. It wasn’t a kind smile.

“You should keep your nose out of other people’s business, bitch,” he hissed, closing the distance between us with two quick strides. Then, before I could react, his hand shot out, tangling in my hair and yanking hard. I stumbled toward him, gasping as a flash of hot pain lanced through my scalp and temporarily sent stars across my vision.

“Let go of me!” I hissed, clawing at his wrist, but he dragged me backward toward one of the empty storage rooms in the hallway. My heels scraped against the floor, my heart pounding in my ears as I twisted and fought to break free, but it was no use. Mason’s strength was too much for me.

The few guests who saw us, who heard me screaming, barely spared a glance. Some even smirked, entertained by the sight of an Omega being manhandled by a stronger wolf. It was Emily’s social engineering at work, no doubt. I’d been painted as nothing more than a nuisance.

“Alaric!” I screamed, but the sound was swallowed by the chatter and music drifting from the main hall.

Mason tugged harder. “Shut up, Elara. You’re making this more difficult than it needs to be.”

I lashed out, my nails digging into his arm, but he barely flinched. Desperation clawed at my chest, and as panic took hold, I did the only thing I could think of: I reached out through the bond.

“Alaric, help!”

The connection between us sparked to life like an electric current. Alaric’s presence flooded through me, the sensation of his heartbeat thrumming in tandem with mine. I thrust every ounce of fear and desperation I could muster into that moment of connection, and I prayed that he would come.

Mason must have sensed it, too, because his grip faltered for half a second. But it was enough.

I shoved backward, elbowing him hard in the ribs, and his hold loosened just as a low, guttural growl echoed from the far end of the corridor.

I didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

Alaric moved like a shadow, crossing the distance between us in seconds. His eyes glowed crimson beneath the dim lights, every muscle in his body coiled with lethal intent.

Mason dropped his hand from my hair immediately, stumbling back with his palms raised. “Alpha. I-I was just—”

Alaric didn’t let him finish. His hand shot out, gripping Mason by the collar and slamming him against the wall with a force that rattled the framed artwork nearby. The guests who had just been laughing at me suddenly fell silent, their smug smiles turning to looks of shock.

The sound of Mason’s pained grunt echoed down the hall as Alaric held him there, his teeth bared in a snarl.

“You think you can put your hands on my mate?” Alaric growled, his voice so low and dangerous it was almost unrecognizable. “I should tear you apart right here.”

Mason writhed painfully, but Alaric didn’t loosen his grip. As Mason shifted, struggling for air, something tumbled from his pocket—another small bag of red powder.

My breath hitched.

I bent down, snatching it up before Mason could react. The color was unmistakable now that I saw it up close.

“It’s the same powder,” I said, holding it up for Alaric to see. “The same powder that was on the earring. And I think it’s the same stuff that was used to drug me. He just gave a bag of it to Emily.”

Alaric’s eyes flashed like tiny supernovas. His grip tightened on Mason’s throat, and for a second, I thought he might crush his windpipe. I made no move to help, although my heart was pounding, my eyes pleading for Alaric not to kill him—if only so we could find out what was going on.

Finally, with another warning growl, Alaric released him with one last shove that sent Mason sprawling pathetically to the floor.

Security arrived just moments later, hauling Mason to his feet and dragging him away as he cursed under his breath. Alaric didn’t say a word, his chest still rising and falling heavily. But when he turned to me, the fire in his eyes had turned to something more pensive as he grabbed my shoulders and scanned me for injury.

“I’m fine,” I whispered, although the slight tremble in my voice betrayed me.

Without hesitation, Alaric took the bag from my hand and tucked it into his pocket. “I’ll have this tested,” he said quietly.

I nodded, unable to speak or even tear my eyes away from him.

“Let’s go,” he said curtly. And with that, he took a step closer, his hand brushing against the small of my back as he led me out of the corridor and back toward the banquet hall.

The grand hall was quiet by the time we returned. It seemed Mason’s exit had caught everyone’s attention, and now everyone was looking to us, no doubt waiting for some kind of explanation. Honestly, I just wanted to run home and bury my head underneath a pillow for the rest of eternity.

Alaric, however, seemed to have other plans.

He guided me straight toward the center of the room, his hand never leaving the small of my back. I swallowed hard as we passed through a parting sea of guests, every eye on us. He led me straight toward the stage the band had been playing on, then took my hand and guided me up the steps.

It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop as we turned to face the crowd. Somewhere through my haze, Alaric’s hand found my waist and pulled me flush against his side—right in front of everyone.

And then, without a word, he gently brushed my hair aside and exposed the mating mark on my neck for all to see.