Chapter 97 Get 5
= Menu
Since I had no fear of making eye contact with anyone, my gaze remained fixed on the entrance of the hall. And there he was-the most anticipated Alpha-walking in with his usual confident stride.
"I have to admit, Alpha Kane isn''t just powerful when ites to leading his pack; he''s also got the looks to match," another Alphamented.
I tore my eyes away from Kane, rolling them internally.
"He only has the looks-the same damn looks that once stole my heart years ago. Other than that, he''s useless. At least I realized it in time and moved on.'' I sighed to myself.
Axel was watching me. "What?" I asked.
He just shook his head and looked away.
What was up with him all of a sudden? He had been fine just a moment ago.
I figured it was because he despised Kane, and seeing him had soured his mood. Honestly, who wouldn''t hate that man?
When I turned my attention back to the Alphas I had been speaking with, I noticed the fear in their eyes. And I knew exactly why. Kane,
There was no doubt they all wanted an alliance with the Nightfall Pack, but they were too intimidated to approach its head Alpha. By that, I meant they were terrified of Kane-his ruthless reputation, his cold- blooded nature.
Still, for all his power, Kane couldn''t deny his failures. I had stolen multiple business deals right out. from under him, shaking both him and hispany to the core.
A little whileter, Rachel came rushing toward me. She had been standing in a corner, nursing her drink, but as soon as Alpha Tate spoke to her, she hurried over.
"Boss, Alpha Tate wants to talk to you."
"Where is he?" I asked.
She pointed toward him. I spotted Alpha Tate chatting with a group of Alphas, all of them eager to butter him up in hopes of securing a business opportunity.
"Let''s go," Axel said beside me.
We made our way toward Alpha Tate, who was standing in another section of the hall. As we
approached, a scent drifted into my nose, hitting me with an almost electric force. I inhaled sharply. instinctively trying to steady my wolf.
That scent.
My so-called mate was nearby.
For a split second, I considered my options. When I returned to my pack, I needed to see Raven. If I told him everything about the mate bond, maybe-just maybe he''d have a solution.
"Alpha Tate."
017 16
< Chapter 97
Get 5>
I stopped in front of him, ignoring the presence of anyone else around us. Including Kane.
Menu
Memories of the past flickered through my mind-how Kane had tested his DNA against my daughter''s. Fate had been on my side that day, working a miracle through Nathan to keep the truth hidden. "CEO Selene, I was just looking for you," Alpha Tate greeted me.
I gave him a polite smile. "Have you met Alpha Kane?"
"No," I said coolly, refusing to even nce in Kane''s direction.
My response stunned the surrounding Alphas. After all, they had seen Kane at my brother Alpha
Magnus''s gathering. Some had even witnessed me standing with my family while Kane spoke with them.
So my answer didn''t quite add up in their eyes.
Axel remained silent. There was nothing for him to say.
Alpha Tate chuckled, though I had no idea why.
"Let me introduce you then," he said. "This is Alpha Kane, and Alpha, this is-"
"The lost princess of the Iron Crown Pack? Yeah, I know who she is."
I
Kane''s voice cut through the air, interrupting Alpha Tate.
Hearing those words, I finally turned to face him. Our eyes met, and I expected to see hostility in his gaze-the same venom he had always directed at me in the past.
But to my surprise, it wasn''t there.
Instead, he extended his hand toward me.
"Nice to see you again, Selene Hawthorne."
I nced at his outstretched hand, then back up at him, suspicion creeping through me. I didn''t trust his sudden politeness. But with so many Alphas around us, I had no choice-I had to shake his hand.
The moment our palms met, a jolt of electricity shot through me. My first instinct was to pull away, but his grip was firm. Too firm. I attempted to free my hand, but he held on, and no one else seemed to notice.
"I''ve heard quite a bit about you," Kane said smoothly
"In the past few months, you''ve managed to snatch up every single project I had my sights set on. I thought I''d be furious when I saw you again, but strangely enough, looking at you now...I think I can afford to let a few of them go to someone like
you."
I stared at him, momentarily caught off guard.
What the hell was he ying at? What kind of game was this?
But I wasn''t someone who backed down easily.
"Alpha Kane, nice to meet you too," I replied, my tone sharp with sarcasm. "But I think you admire me a little too much-seeing as you still haven''t let go of my hand."
His lips twitched slightly before he finally released me. "Of course I admire you. You''re an impressive woman.
I rolled my eyes. He wasn''t fooling me. His face remained unreadable, as if he felt no resentment 3.58
< Chapter 97
Пет 5
Menu
toward me at all-as if we were nothing more than strangers.
"Has he lost his memory?" I wondered. ''Honestly, that would be ideal."
Axel''s voice broke through my thoughts.
"Did Alpha Kane suddenly learn how to speak politely, or is he up to something?"
I turned to Axel. His eyes burned with hatred-a hatred I shared.
I reached for his hand, gripping it tightly to stop him from saying anything reckless. What if this was
exactly what Kane wanted? What if he was trying to provoke an argument, to stir up conflict in the middle of the conference?
Kane''s gaze flickered to where my hand rested on Axel''s before shifting back to Axel himself.
"If I have an agenda, I don''t bother hiding it," Kane said smoothly. "But I''d imagine a Beta as experienced
as you would understand the difference between providing assistance...and coveting what belongs to someone else."
(5-17 18: