Chapter 5

Camellia's POV His eyes glowed wolf-gold. "Try me," I hissed. "How fast can I shift here? Three seconds? Five?" He let go fast—knew I'd wreck his precious gathering. But he still glared at me viciously. However, Lionel was already passing by. His black-gloved finger brushed my back, and my dress zipper slid down an inch. "Feisty as ever," his whiskey-warm voice ghosted my ear. "Just like under the hotel sheets." My face went up in flames the second Lionel spoke. A jumble of emotions hit me—embarrassment, sure, but also this weird flicker of thrill. "Lionel." Esmond's greeting came out flat. I relaxed. He hadn't caught Lionel's whisper. Lionel gave a curt nod and kept walking. My eyes tracked him anyway. Every move he made had this magnetic pull, like my wolf was clawing at my ribs to get closer. Lyra vibrated inside me, obsessed with Lionel's scent. My pulse spiked, breath turned shallow, heat pooling between my thighs. "Why're you staring at Lionel?" "Not your business." I shrugged Esmond off. "You know I hate you eyeing other men. Besides, he's my uncle, technically." Esmond gritted out. Ever since we got together, he'd been possessive. I used to think it was romantic. Now? Pathetic. I shoved him hard, fingertips still warm from Lionel's lingering touch. "You hate me looking at guys? Cool. I hate you screwing other women. Yet here we are." Esmond's jaw twitched. "This is pack gathering. We'll handle this at home." "Then quit policing me," I shot back. Everyone knew why Esmond resented Lionel. He was a walking spotlight. When Alpha Drogo offered him the Ironclaw Pack, Lionel said no. He walked out to start his own company. Everyone called him arrogant. Everyone expected him to fail and come back to inherit Ironclaw Pack, but he succeeded. Five years later? His PioneerTech empire could buy six Dalton Groups. Now he ran a new pack, Starlight Pack. Yeah, Esmond's jealousy made sense. Lionel's golden hair caught moonlight near the altar. He kissed Luna Chelsea's hand, wolf-tooth necklace tapping his collarbone. That same hair I'd gripped that night now glinted like liquid gold. "Eyes front." Esmond dug fingers into my silk dress hard enough to bruise. "Remember your place." He dragged me toward Luna Chelsea. Moon moss crunched underfoot, glowing like fireflies. "Starlight Pack needs a Luna," Luna Chelsea said, her sable wrap slipping to reveal Lionel's exact shade of blond. "Once I find my true mate." Lionel crushed moss under his combat boot. His emerald eyes flicked to me. Lyra howled like fireworks were bursting under my skin. "Look at Esmond," Luna Chelsea pressed. "Successful company, gorgeous mate. You? Still single at your age." Lionel's gaze swept over us. "Can't argue with that." I stopped breathing. The dude had a rep for chaos—kick stray dogs when pissed, and drop truth bombs mid-gala. "Is that the point?" Luna Chelsea snapped. "I'm saying you shouldn't be obsessed with a true mate—rrue mates are rare. Your father and I weren't fated, yet look at us. Stability requires a Luna." "Maybe I'll find one tomorrow." "You're just trying to brush me off." Her nose wrinkled. "I've lined up daughters from LA's strongest packs. Betas, too." "Great. More packs to piss off by dawn." "You're impossible!" Lionel downed his whiskey, old scar peeking above his collar. "Heard Esmond hasn't sealed the mark yet." His voice wasn't loud, but it brought the surrounding conversations to an abrupt halt. "Hmm?" Chelsea's blue eyes suddenly locked onto my lower abdomen, the moonstone on her staff reflecting a cold glint. “Camellia, when do you plan to give the pack its pups?” Gasps rippled through the crowd. Esmond's arm turned to steel against my back. Spotlights burned into us from every direction. I could practically taste the curiosity dripping from their stares. I opened my mouth, but Esmond grabbed my hand first. "We're working on it, okay?" His voice went two octaves higher than necessary. He was trying to project confidence and control in front of everyone. "The kid thing is already in the plans." His shaky delivery completely ruined the "confident future Alpha" act. My fingers twitched to pull away, but his grip turned vise-tight. Fine. If he wanted to play dirty... I tilted my head just enough to expose the faded bite mark. "We're not true mates," my calm voice cut through the tension. "Never completed the bond. And lately? Our connection's been... glitchy." The crowd erupted like someone dropped a grenade in the punch bowl.