Aveline fumbled to hit pause, another surge of nausea churning in her gut. She lurched over the sink and vomited, her stomach empty except for the sour burn of bile. Nothing but acid came up–she hadn’t managed more than a few bites all day. It made her skin crawl with pure revulsion.
Never in her wildest nightmares had Aveline imagined Lirael would send her an audio recording like *this*-audio of her and Jaxson having sex. What kind of sick person not only made something like that but sent it out on purpose?
Her wolf was howling inside her, completely unable to suppress its fury toward that bastard alpha.
Aveline stared at her reflection, pressing a hand to her chest. This wasn’t the reaction she’d imagined. No heart pounding, no crushing weight of emotion–just a vague nausea and a strange emptiness.
Somehow, she’d always suspected Jaxson could sink this low–nothing about him managed to shock her anymore. The only thing that truly grated on her was listening to that revolting recording. After a few steadying breaths, Aveline smoothed down her hair, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out of the villa.
Outside, under the soft glow of the entrance lights, Maren waited, her figure striking in a stunning evening gown.
As soon as Aveline climbed out of the taxi, Maren spotted her and waved with unrestrained enthusiasm. Dressed in a neat white blouse and faded jeans, Aveline looked more ready for a business meeting than a night out drinking.
Maren’s lips twitched with disapproval as she looped her arm through Aveline’s. “Aveline, what’s with this outfit?”
Aveline blinked and glanced at herself, genuinely puzzled. “Is there something wrong with what I’m wearing?”
She’d picked these clothes on purpose–clean lines, nothing flashy, just right for the occasion.
“We came out to have drinks, not sign contracts. You look like you’re about to pitch a business deal!”
Aveline exhaled, resigned. “Fine. Maren, can we just head inside?”
But Maren dug in her heels, tugging Aveline back. “Absolutely not. You’re already here, so you need to look the part. Otherwise, how do you expect Alpha Alistair to pay any attention to you?” She grinned, triumphant, and held up a garment bag. “Good thing I planned ahead. You’re changing–no arguments.”
Before Aveline could utter another word, Maren swept her straight into the restroom at Light Story. Chatting animatedly, Maren rummaged through her bag and produced a dark red slip dress, thrusting it into Aveline’s hands.
“Maren, is this honestly necessary?”
“Absolutely! Come on, try it. You’re gorgeous–let everyone see it for once!”
Left with no room to argue, Aveline ducked into a stall and reluctantly changed clothes. Stepping out in the new outfit, she felt like she’d borrowed someone else’s skin–uncomfortable and unsure.
“Maren, isn’t this dress a little… too daring?” She tugged self–consciously at the hem, certain the dress barely concealed anything front or back.
Maren surveyed her, beaming with approval. “It’s perfect–definitely not too short. You look absolutely gorgeous!”
With her striking curves, smooth skin, and a face made for trouble, Aveline belonged in a dress that broadcasted boldness, not hidden away in something dull. What she wore before? A style disaster begging for a makeover.
Scooping up Aveline’s discarded shirt and jeans, Maren crammed them into her bag and steered Aveline down the hall toward the private room.
“It’s Alpha Alistair’s childhood friend’s birthday tonight. Everyone’s here to unwind–so make sure you give Alpha Alistair something to look at.”
Unsure how to say she wasn’t there to impress Alistair, Aveline stayed quiet and trailed after Maren into the room.
Chapter 25
Light flooded the largest private room as the doors swing open, revealing a lively crowd of well over a hundred, clustered in animated groups.
The air buzzed with the vitality and confidence of the city’s young wolves.
Maren guided Aveline through the crowd, stopping before a tall man with gleaming gold rimmed glasses.
“Grady, meet Aveline–she was a few grades behind me back in school. And Aveline, this is my friend, Grady Martel.”
Aveline had never seen Grady before, but out of courtesy, she offered a gentle smile. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Martel.”
Grady, accustomed to people fawning over Alistair, pegged Aveline as just another face in the crowd, one of the many hoping for an introduction.
After all, there wasn’t a young she wolf alive who didn’t want to win Alpha Alistair’s favor.
But the moment he laid eyes on Aveline, Grady faltered. Her striking beauty caught him completely off guard.
He cleared his throat and casually grabbed a cocktail from the bar, lifting the glass in Aveline’s direction. “Ms. Russell, here’s a bit of advice–take your time. Plenty of people try to cozy up to Alistair, but he doesn’t make it easy for just anyone.”
Aveline could tell exactly what he was implying, but her only concern was settling the list situation as fast as possible. She offered a stiff nod, feeling her discomfort creeping into her expression.
After a few more polite exchanges, Maren hooked her arm around Aveline and guided her straight toward Alpha Alistair.
Among the mingled scents, several Gamma–level wolves carried obvious notes of deference. Aveline’s wolf urged her forward through the crowd–it had already caught that distinctive scent of cedar and ice belonging to Alpha Alistair, knowing their target was close.
A noisy crowd had gathered around him, and Maren had to nudge her way through before they finally made it to the sofa where Alistair lounged.
Raising her glass in greeting, Maren called out, “Alpha, what a shock running into you here! This is Aveline–she’s a colleague of mine at the institute. I think you two might’ve crossed paths before. She’s actually got some questions about a project and would really appreciate your insights.”
Maren gave her a light nudge before she could brace herself.
The nudge wasn’t forceful, but Aveline was already off–balance–she tripped forward and toppled straight toward Alistair.
She braced for impact, but the sting of a fall never came.
The next second. Aveline’s wolf howled with excitement in her consciousness.
Blinking in surprise, she realized she’d landed squarely in Alistair’s lap–and the position was far too intimate for comfort.
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