Chapter 43 43.Dance
Tabitha’s POV
Arthur pulls me a little closer as we continue to turn across the floor, yet my gaze lingers stubbornly on Reed. He’s giving Evren a run for his money for sure. Those two also look hella compatible as a couple. I bet Alpha Emery will have a field day if he gets to wed his sons to the daughters of Stormblood and Deathclaw packs. My stomach twists when he glances at me mid-step and throws a wink my way, as if daring me to react. Heat prickles in my chest.
Jerk.
I grit my teeth and force myself to focus on Arthur instead. The orchestra swells and the tempo sharpens. Arthur adjusts smoothly and guides me into faster steps. His palm presses firm against my waist, and his lead feels like a current pulling me through the music. He draws me into spins
“Well, I’m just glad I haven’t murdered your feet yet.” I gasp when he until I’m dizzy, breathless, and clinging to the rhythm just to keep up. He’s so good at this!
“Well, I’m just glad I haven’t murdered your feet yet.” I gasp when he spins me out in a sudden flourish, our hands still linked, his arm stretching as if he’s unraveling me like a ribbon on a spool. Then, just as quickly, he reels me back in. My spine collides lightly against his chest, his arms folding around me, locking me in a cage of warmth and steady strength.
“That’s a shame. I was hoping you’d leave a mark somewhere.” His breath grazes the shell of my ear, enough to prickle heat along my skin. His fingers flex slightly where they’re locked over my ribs, as if testing how tightly he can hold me before I’d squirm.
Smiling, I tilt my head to the side, the tip of my nose barely grazing his chin. “Wow. You sure have a—”
“Way… make a way.” Reed slips in, flipping Elsie cleanly toward Arthur and slotting himself between us. His grin flashes as he pulls me into step. “Ah, you seem to be having some fun there, Beckett.” He spares Arthur a bored glance before his striking blue eyes dart back at me. “Now, it’s time for my turn.”
“What—” Arthur has barely any chance to react when Reed snatches me from Arthur’s arms and shoves Elsie to him as if they are just exchanging presents for Christmas. Then, the brute cracks a delighted smile before shooting the confused Arthur and Elsie a shameless wink.
“Let’s change partners.” Reed grins and takes me away.
Reed doesn’t wait for their reply. He just hauls me out of there and brings me to the other side of the dancefloor.
“What the hell was that?” I demand as Reed rests his palm on my waist and sways me across the dancefloor like he didn’t just snagged me away from my partner.
“What? Did you really think I’d let that bastard put his filthy paws on you the whole night?”
“You’re being ridiculous, we’re just dancing!” I fire back. But the flimsy drop of irritation on my tone doesn’t sound so convincing.
“Exactly. He wanted to dance, so I gave him a partner. Now, he should stop bugging you.” He sounds so proud of himself that I almost roll my eyes.
“And what about me, huh? What if I wanted to dance too?”
“Well…” I gasp when he pulls me closer to him. “I’m dancing with you right now, aren’t I? And I’m pretty sure I can entertain you better than him.”
I let our an incredulous laugh. Although I can’t fully appear entirely sarcastic when his face is barely few inches from mine.
“That’s all you really want, right? Some sort of entertainment. You wanted to have your time on the dancefloor, so you drag the first woman you saw to satisfy your craving for fun. And the moment you got bored, you came to me to try and stir up trouble. Because trouble is the ultimate fun for you.” Bitterness drips on my tongue before I can stop it. I’m not a werewolf with keen senses, but a part of me wonders if Elsie has left her sweet scent on Reed’s skin during their brief dance. That thought makes me nauseous. “You should’ve just stayed with her. I’m sure she can deal with your bullshits better.”
Instead of getting offended, Reed only chuckles. Amusement dances in his eyes as he stares at me. “Fuck. You look sexy when you’re jealous, princess.”
“W-What? I-I’m not…!” I avert my gaze and glance at the people around us. The last thing I want is for the guests to notice that I’m blushing hard right now.
Reed’s grin deepens as he catches the way my cheeks burn. His hand slips from my waist, fingers tilting my chin until I’m forced to meet those infuriating blue eyes.
“Look at you blushing. How cute.”
I swat at his hand and hiss under my breath, “Are you insane? We’re in the middle of a wedding reception! People are watching. They’ll get the wrong impression.”
Reed looks unfazed. He leans in just enough for his smile to graze the edge of a smirk. “And what impression is that? That I’m the only one brave enough to keep up with you? Or that you’re actually enjoying yourself with me more than you’ll admit?”
“Reed! Seriously…” My protest slips out in a breathless rush when he spins me under his arm, only to tug me back flush against him. His hand slides boldly lower on my back, guiding me into steps that skim the edge of propriety. We move in tighter circles, his lead forcing me closer until I can feel the steady thrum of his heartbeat pressed against mine.
“I only asked Elsie to dance so I’d have an excuse to get on the floor and steal you from Beckett,” he murmurs against my ear, his breath fanning my skin. “So quit pouting already. Unless you’re jealous.”
“I am not jealous,” I bite back, though the heat crawling up my neck makes the denial weak.
Just then, movement at the edge of the floor catches my eye. Evren steps onto the parquet with Melanie on his arm. He is wearing his usual icy expression. His gaze never flicks our way, not even for a second, he just blankly stares at his partner as they fill the dancefloor with graceful steps.
Reed’s chin tilts subtly toward them. “Poor dude.”
“What?” I turn my eyes back at Reed who is now affording his brother a look of pity.
“He’s putting on this whole show with Melanie because of the pressure he is receiving from our father and the pack elders from both our pack and the Stormblood pack,” he says in a hushed voice so that only I can hear.
“How can you say that he’s just putting on a show? Maybe he genuinely likes Melanie. She seems like a classy woman. They look good together.” I try to hide the jealousy in my tone, but I’m not sure if I’m doing it well.
Reed flicks his eyes at me, his lips curling in a knowing smile. “He plays the dutiful son role very well. Well, most my brothers do.”
“And you don’t?”
“I stopped giving any shits about what my father thinks years ago.” There is a distant look in his eyes as he says that, as if he is reminiscing something from the past. “Anyway, our father is backing Evren into a corner with this engagement bullshit. He wants to make sure that the alliance between the Crystal Ridge pack and Stormblood pack will remain ironclad. But don’t think for a second Evren’s going to go through with it. He’s already looking for a way out.”
I don’t know why he’s telling me this, so I say nothing. I let him guide me through the last steps of the dance. My gaze finds its way to Evren again and wonders if Reed’s words are true.