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.

look well at all. Perhaps you should return to the hotel before he arrives. I'll make your excuses-some diplomatic

nodded gratefully, not trusting her voice. With a quick pivot, she headed for the

footsteps echoed from beyond the

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Chapter 14

thrilled you've joined us tonight.

began to part, Aria's heart nearly stopped.

shadowed alcove used for quick costume changes, pressing herself

area.

dancers in various stages of costume swarmed around him like designer-perfumed moths

I danced the

an honor

show you around

made him physically recoil. The artificial sweetness reminded him, by stark contrast, of Aria's simple scent-just clean

space. Something-someone-had drawn him here, and it wasn't these eager young

he nodded mechanically at whatever the blonde in front of him was saying, a barely perceptible scent cut through the perfume fog-the faintest trace of jasmine and something uniquely familiar. His body recognized it before his mind could

sharpened, his gaze sweeping the room with renewed focus until locking onto a shadowed alcove where a figure in a

it?" he asked abruptly,

room toward the corner where Aria had tried

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

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Chapter 14

had instilled in her, though her heart hammered so violently she

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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