Chapter 0053

His outstretched hand hovered between us. I blinked at it, momentarily stunned. What game was Adrian playing now?

Swallowing my hesitation, I placed my hand in his. The entire Blackthorn Pack watched us. Refusing would cause a scene I couldn't afford.

His fingers closed around mine, warm and firm. In one smooth motion, he pulled me against him, his other hand settling at the small of my back. The music swelled as we began to move.

That's when I noticed it. The subtle silver embroidery along his collar and cuffs matched the shimmering threads in my dress perfectly. To any observer, we looked like a coordinated couple.

His gaze burned into me, lips curved in that infuriating smirk. The music would mask our words if we kept them low.

"What's this about?" I forced a smile for the watching crowd.

"Whatever do you mean, Evelyn?" His voice dripped with false innocence.

"This dance. Why me?"

"It's my birthday. I choose my partner." His fingers flexed against my back. "I chose you."

"Don't play dumb. Half the women here would kill for this dance. Why pick someone you didn't even recognize an hour ago?"

"Ah, but that's where you're wrong." His eyes darkened. "I didn't know Evelyn Sinclair stood before me. But I've always known of Evelyn Sinclair."

My smile faltered. "Semantics."

The intensity of his stare could have melted steel. "Evelyn Sinclair is the daughter of Ivy Sinclair. Ivy gave her life protecting my mother and me during an attack when I was six. I remember every second of that day."

My breath caught.

"Evelyn is also daughter to Grant Sinclair," he continued. "Grant saved my father's life in that same battle, though it cost him the use of his legs. My father brought in every specialist - wolf and human - to try healing his spine."

I hadn't known Alpha Alistair went to such lengths. My father never spoke of it.

"Every Thursday without fail, my father dines with Grant Sinclair." Adrian's voice dropped. "Since childhood, I've begged to join them. But Father insists that's his time with his friend. And since he ordered the pack to respect Grant's privacy..."

His jaw tightened. "So instead, every Thursday, I accompany my mother to Ivy Sinclair's memorial. We lay flowers. We give thanks."

Theron's presence shimmered in Adrian's darkened eyes. Even his wolf showed reverence speaking of my parents. I felt Selene stir within me, equally affected.

"I owe my family's survival to two of the greatest warriors this pack has ever known." His grip on my hand tightened. "I've searched for Evelyn Sinclair at every gathering, every event. For years."

The music swirled around us as he spun me gently.

"I needed to meet the woman destined to be my Guardian. The one who'll swear her life to protect me as Alpha." His breath warmed my ear. "More than that, I needed her to know me. To understand I'll be an Alpha worthy of that sacrifice. Someone she can be proud to serve."