Chapter 8
Freya's POV
Jasper Stone guided me into the VIP room, his hand pressing firmly against the small of my back. His touch sent an involuntary shiver up my spine.
"Welcome to my temporary territory," he said, gesturing around the lavish space where several wolves were already gathered. Some lounged on plush leather sofas while others stood attentively near a well-stocked bar. All eyes turned to us as we entered, their gazes lingering curiously on me.
I scanned the room, cataloging exits and potential threats. The VIP section was decorated in dark woods and rich fabrics, designed to showcase wealth and status. The scent of multiple wolves, alcohol, and underlying tension filled my nostrils.
"Get our guest a drink," Jasper commanded one of the servers. He leaned closer, his breath warm against my ear. "Relax, little wolf. You're under my protection tonight."
I opened my mouth to respond when a hard shove from behind sent me stumbling forward. My weakened reflexes—still recovering from years of suppression in the Wilds—failed me completely. I crashed against Alpha Stone's broad chest, my hands instinctively bracing against him to keep from falling.
"I'm sorry," I gasped, feeling the immediate heat from his body seep into my palms. My pulse quickened involuntarily. "Someone pushed me."
Jasper Stone's arms came around me, steadying but also trapping me against him. His scent invaded my nostrils, making my newly freed wolf stir with primal awareness. The VIP room of the Howling Moon Bar suddenly fell silent as everyone watched our interaction.
"No one pushed you," a female voice said from nearby. I turned to see one of the other servers, a young Omega with dyed red hair, looking at me with barely concealed hostility. "You just fell right into him."
I looked around the room, scanning the faces of the other wolves. Not a single one would meet my eyes. Whatever had happened, no one was going to back up my version of events.
"It's alright," Jasper said, his voice carrying a hint of amusement. His hand remained firmly on my lower back, fingers splaying possessively against the thin fabric of my uniform. "There's no need to be embarrassed. Many wolves find themselves drawn to an Alpha's presence. It's perfectly natural."
Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I felt a tingling sensation where his fingers pressed. After three years in exile, the proximity to an Alpha made my skin prickle with awareness. My wolf, so recently freed from suppression, paced restlessly within me, torn between caution and the instinctive pull toward power.
"I wasn't drawn to—" I began, but Jasper cut me off by tightening his grip on my waist, his thumb brushing against the bare skin where my shirt had ridden up.
He leaned down, his nose tracing along my hairline in an intimate gesture that made my spine stiffen and my breath catch. I could feel him drawing in my scent, analyzing it. His breath was warm against my ear, sending unwanted shivers down my spine.
"Interesting," he murmured, loud enough for those nearby to hear. "You smell so good, little wolf."
I remained perfectly still, aware that my heart was beating too fast, betraying my body's reaction. The room around us had taken on the hushed quality that always accompanied Alpha attention, everyone waiting to see what would happen next.
Just as Jasper's hand began to slide lower down my back, the door to the VIP room swung open.
"Alpha Grey of the Grey Moon Pack," announced the bar manager in a tone of almost comical formality.
My heart slammed against my ribs. My lungs seized. Every muscle in my body tensed at once, and I felt my pupils dilate with pure, animal fear. My wolf, who had been curiously responding to Jasper's touch, now cowered and whined within my mind.
In pure panic, I did the only thing I could think of—I pushed myself deeper into Jasper's embrace, turning my face against his shirt, desperately trying to mask my scent. My fingers clutched at his expensive clothes, nails digging in hard enough that I felt them beginning to sharpen with my distress.
I couldn't see him, but I felt Thorne's presence fill the room like a physical weight. Three years hadn't dimmed my awareness of him at all. If anything, my time in the Wilds had sharpened my senses, making me even more attuned to danger. My body remembered him—the specific cadence of his footsteps, the unique notes of his scent, the distinctive energy that only belonged to him.
"Well, this is unexpected," Jasper said, his voice rumbling against my ear where I pressed against his chest. "The Grey Moon Alpha himself, gracing us with his presence."
I felt Jasper's arm tighten around me possessively, his hand sliding up to cup the back of my neck in a gesture that was both protective and claiming. To my horror, I realized he'd misinterpreted my actions—he thought I was seeking his protection, maybe even displaying submission.
"Stone," Thorne's voice sliced through the air—cool, measured, with that underlying tone of authority that no other wolf could quite match. "I see you're enjoying the local... hospitality."
My wolf whined louder in the back of my mind, recognizing the voice of the Alpha who had sentenced us to exile. The sound of his voice triggered memories of the courtroom, of silver chains burning my wrists, of his cold eyes passing judgment. I forced myself to concentrate on suppressing my scent, drawing my energy inward, making myself as small and unnoticeable as possible.
"One must find entertainment where one can," Jasper replied, his hand moving to stroke my hair in a possessive gesture that sent uncomfortable tingles down my spine. "She's quite responsive. Would you like a turn with her?"