Chapter 14

Chapter 14

At this announcement, the younger she wolf dancers erupted in excited squeals and whispers.

"Oh my God, Alpha Lucas Thornwood is coming here?"

"I heard he hasn't attended a social event in months!"

"Do you think he's looking for new talent to sponsor?"

The company scattered to their dressing rooms, frantically touching up makeup and adjusting costumes, each hoping to catch the eye of The Thornwood Pack's most eligible widowed alpha.

Only Aria remained frozen in place, her mind racing with alarm.

Why would Lucas come backstage? Even during his most obsessive pursuit of her years ago, he had never once visited her behind the scenes-his beta had simply delivered roses or arranged town cars.

Her thoughts spiraled into darker territory. Was this somehow connected to the revenge plots he'd schemed with his friends? Had he somehow recognized her despite the mask? Was he planning some new humiliation as punishment for deceiving him with her false death?

Her fingernails dug painfully into her palms as fragmented memories of the ninety-eight "pranks” flashed through her mind.

"Aria," Margaret's concerned voice cut through her panic. "You've gone completely white."

“I just-” she managed, her usual composure crumbling.

excuses-some diplomatic nonsense

her voice. With a quick pivot, she headed for the stage door, not even pausing to remove

from beyond

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Chapter 14

thrilled you've joined us tonight. Your support of

part, Aria's heart

pressing herself

area.

the theatrical chaos. Female dancers in various stages of costume swarmed around him

danced the second

an honor

to show you

floral and vanilla notes that made him physically recoil. The artificial sweetness reminded him,

his eyes methodically scanning the space. Something-someone-had drawn him here, and it wasn't these

the perfume fog-the faintest trace of

onto a shadowed alcove where a

would be your principal dancer, wouldn't it?" he asked abruptly,

he redirected every eye in the room

stutter, then race wildly. The artistic director, realizing Aria hadn't managed to escape, shot her an apologetic glance before reluctantly

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Chapter 14

though her heart

methodically from her temple to her toes, lingering on specific details-the particular curve of her wrist, the precise length of her fingers, the slight asymmetry in her shoulders that he had once memorized

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