Chapter 180: in trouble
Chills danced up my spine and curled over the back of my neck when I saw her. Goosebumps prickled almost painfully along my flesh and my chest tightened, stuffing my ability to breathe.
Somewhere deep under my skin, my wolf stirred alert, restless, recognizing her presence before my human mind did.
Mira gripped my hand tight in the seat to my left. Her opposite hand to her chest and a silent gasp on her lips as the Swan Queen came into view. Mira was just as awed by Elena as everyone else in the theater.
Even Mira’s heartbeat quickened, and I could hear it clearly with the heightened senses I always tried to keep suppressed in public.
The fluid way she floated across the stage was otherworldly. Her powerful, lithe form moved in sync with the thrill of the orchestral music. It was astounding, watching her perform and bring the story to life with her body. Everything faded away and my vision tunneled on Elena. She was an angel from heaven and I was a sinner burning on the inside from her presence alone.
My wolf rumbled beneath my ribs, drawn to her light like it recognized something ancient and unspoken.
I leaned forward in my seat, holding my breath as I witnessed the agony and pain in the Odette's eyes when her heart breaks. Those expressive blue eyes were glimmering like diamonds and my hand curled into a fist against my thigh, with how desperately I wished to wipe the tears from her cheeks.
My claws threatened to push through my skin, reacting instinctively to her sorrow. I forced them back down. Not here. Not now.
Even if they were for the show, even if they weren't real, I believed them and I didn't enjoy seeing her cry.
"Those are the tears of Odette, the swan queen not Elena," I had to remind myself and take a steadying breath. But in the end when Odette dies, my heart spiked and I wanted to snatch her up from the stage.
The protective instinct hit with wolf-like ferocity, sharp and possessive, making my pulse pound against my spine.
Elena's passion and dedication to her art was astounding with the way she could sweep you off your feet and pull you into the story. When the ruby curtains swept across the stage and blocked, Elena from my sight, I wanted to growl and tear them down.
A low, barely audible rumble escaped my chest before I swallowed it back. Mira shot me a strange look.
"Well, she's definitely got talent", Antonio shrugged out when we were back outside the night sky. "Her dancing is sublime", Mira spoke too. "She is a prima ballerina for a reason that's clear. If someone pushed me down the stairs, you wouldn't catch me on my feet and moving like that only a few weeks after", Mira added.
"She is amazing", I agreed running my hand through my hair. "You guys go on to the after party while Elena gets ready at the house, then we will meet you at the restaurant", I suggested.
"Sounds good to me, I'm ready for a drink", Antonio wrapped his arm around Mira's arm and nodded in my direction. "See you there my boss",
Before Antonio could drag Mira back to their driver waiting at the curb, she put her hand on my arm and leaned in next to me. "Tell Elena, she did such a good job tonight".
"You can tell her yourself Mira when you see her", I spoke.
Mira smiled then pulled back and I watched her and Antonio get in their car. But I couldn't leave yet.
It would be a while before Elena leaves the theater. I knew that she had to meet with the important people behind the scenes to talk over the season and their success, then change out of their costumes. It was enough time for me to walk around the block, cigarette in hand while looking for the right shop.
Under the lights of the city, even so late in the night, I felt invigorated after seeing Elena's performance. Her light was better than any shot of espresso I could take, and my eagerness to see her was consuming me.
My wolf paced impatiently inside, wanting her scent, wanting her near, something I had no business wanting in the human world I pretended to belong to.
The myriad colors of the flower shop caught my attention as I sauntered down the sidewalk. Flicking my unfinished cigarette into the damp drain, I shook out some of my jittery nerves coursing through me.
A bell dinged overhead as I pushed the door open. The sweet scent of flowers hit me like a wall and the eyes of the young man watering flowers snapped up to me.
The smells were strong, too strong but tolerable. Anything was tolerable if it meant bringing something worthy to Elena.
"Oh! How can I help you?", He perked up, lowering the water can in order to give me his undivided attention.
"Yes, I need the largest, most expensive bouquet that a man can carry himself",
The young man nodded and let out a brief chuckle. "You either in love or in trouble",
His word "trouble" made me dead in my tracks, frozen like a stone but a wide smile split my mouth as my breath slipped out.
"Maybe it's both, kid. Let's see what you have",
~~
When I walked out with the largest bouquet I could carry, I didn't even care that I wasn't able to see the ground in front of my feet. This was very unlike of me to go this far with any woman I was with. To only be at her last show, but to go all out with flowers and meet my family for dinner. It was an unprecedented effort that only Elena deserved.
And my wolf approved too much.
I stood outside under the stars, listening to the ambient noise of the city passing around me.
Night always sharpened my senses; every heartbeat, every shifting scent brushed across my awareness like whispers.
It wasn't long that I waited until I heard the dancers leaving the back entrance of the theater. A few of them sent me side glances with the massive flower arrangement in my arms, but none of them were important.
After they all left, I looked around but I didn't see a sign of Elena. My chest constricted in those moments of waiting, wondering where she was. Everyone else left, and I was on the edge as the seconds ticked by. Until the door creaked open, and I saw a head of golden hair peek out.
"Elena",
Her head whipped up at the sound of my voice. Her eyes perked up, and she pushed the door open. Then she saw the flowers and slowed down.
"Andrey Volkov, wow these are amazing",
"They're are for you", I watched as she ran her fingers over the pink petals and pressed her face into the cluster of roses. The curve of her smile was beautiful as she accepted the flowers easily half her size.
My wolf exhaled in relief, quieting for the first time tonight.