Chapter 72 DANCE

Chapter 72 DANCE
Caden's POV

I didn’t want to do it.

“Dance with the rogue,” Vivienne whispered beside me, her fingers tightening around my arm. “Show everyone she means nothing.”

I exhaled slowly, jaw tight, then stepped away before I could change my mind. The music swelled, the ballroom bright and suffocating, every eye already watching.

Aria sat at the lowest table, exactly where Vivienne had arranged it. Head high, shoulders stiff, pretending none of this touched her.

I stopped in front of her and held out my hand. “Dance with me.”

Her eyes flicked to mine, sharp, searching. “Is this another order?”

“Take the hand, Aria.”

A beat passed. Then she placed her hand in mine.

The moment our skin touched, something snapped awake.

Electric.

She sucked in a breath. I felt it too, a sharp pull under my ribs that made my grip tighten before I could stop it. I didn’t react.

“Let’s get this over with,” she muttered.

I didn’t answer. I just led her to the center of the floor.

The music slowed, couples shifting around us, but no one mattered. Not the whispers. Not the stares. Just her hand in mine, her body too close.

My hand settled on her waist.

Heat shot up my arm.

I clenched my jaw.

“Enjoying yourself?” she asked quietly, her voice edged with sarcasm.

“I hate this as much as you do,” I replied under my breath.

“Then why are we doing it?” She tilted her head slightly, eyes locked on mine. “You could’ve said no.”

“And confirm everything they already suspect?” I guided her into a turn, pulling her back in closer than necessary. “Not happening.”

Her lips pressed into a thin line. “So I’m a prop now. Good to know.”

I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. Because my wolf wasn’t focused on the crowd.

It was focused on her.

Too close. Too warm. Too real.

“Stop pulling me closer,” she snapped softly as my hand tightened again.

“I’m not—” I stopped mid-sentence because I was. I hadn’t even realized it.

Her body brushed mine again, and the contact sent another jolt through me. My breath hitched, barely noticeable, but enough.

Her eyes narrowed. “You feel that too.”

“Don’t,” I warned.

“Don’t what? Acknowledge what’s obvious?” she shot back. “Or does that break whatever story you’ve been telling yourself?”

My grip on her waist tightened. “Watch your mouth.”

“Or what?” she challenged, stepping closer instead of backing away. “You’ll punish me in front of everyone?”

My wolf surged, not in anger—something else. Something dangerous.

“Careful,” I said quietly. “You’re pushing me.”

“Good,” she whispered. “Maybe you’ll finally react like a real person.”

The music swelled again, forcing us into another turn. I spun her, then pulled her back, her body colliding with mine.

Too close.

Way too close.

Her breath caught.

Mine did too.

“Why are you shaking?” I asked before I could stop myself.

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

“It’s called being humiliated in front of an entire pack,” she snapped. “Try it sometime.”

“That’s not it.”

Her eyes flicked away for a second, then back. “You don’t know anything.”

I was about to respond when I felt it.

A sharp movement between us.

I froze.

Her breath hitched again, but this time it wasn’t controlled.

“He—” she stopped, pressing her lips together.

I swallowed hard. “That was the baby.”

She didn’t answer.

I felt it again. A small, firm kick against my stomach.

My entire body went rigid.

“He’s strong,” I said before I could think.

The words came out rough. Too rough.

Her eyes widened slightly, like she hadn’t expected me to say that.

For a second, everything else faded. The music. The people. The tension.

“Of course,” she muttered, pulling back slightly. “Why would that matter to you?”

“Aria—”

“Don’t,” she cut me off, shaking her head. “Don’t pretend now.”

The music was ending.

Too soon.

Or not soon enough.

I didn’t know anymore.

The final note rang out, and the room erupted into polite applause. I released her automatically, my hand lingering for a second too long before dropping.

She stepped back immediately, putting distance between us.

“Thanks for the dance, Alpha,” she said, her voice flat. “Very convincing.”

Then she turned and walked away.

Fast.

I stood there, hand still half-raised, watching her disappear through the crowd. My chest felt tight, like something had been ripped out without warning.

“Caden.”

I didn’t turn.

“Caden.”

I finally looked over. Vivienne stood a few feet away, her expression carefully controlled, but I could see the anger underneath.

“You were supposed to make a point,” she said quietly. “Not… whatever that was.”

“It was a dance,” I replied shortly.

Her eyes narrowed. “You held her like she mattered.”

“She doesn’t.”

The words came out automatically.

Empty.

Vivienne studied my face like she was trying to see through me. “Then act like it.”

I didn’t respond.

Across the room, Aria slipped out of sight, heading toward the hallway that led to the restrooms. My body reacted before my mind did, a pull dragging at me to follow.

I didn’t move.

“Stay,” Vivienne said softly, her hand brushing my arm.

I pulled away. “I’m not a dog.”

“Then stop acting like one,” she snapped under her breath, her composure cracking for a second. “You’re letting her get to you.”

“She’s not.”

“Really?” Vivienne leaned closer. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you forgot who you’re supposed to be tonight.”

I met her gaze, my patience thinning. “I didn’t forget anything.”

“Then remember this,” she said, her voice dropping. “She’s nothing. A mistake that should’ve been corrected months ago.”

My jaw clenched.

“Watch yourself,” I warned.

Vivienne blinked, surprised by the edge in my tone. Then she smiled again, softer this time. “I’m only reminding you what everyone else already knows.”

Before I could respond, another voice cut in.

“Caden.”

I turned.

My father stood there, watching me with that same calm, calculating look he always had.

“Walk with me,” he said.

It wasn’t a request.

I glanced once more in the direction Aria had gone, then followed him.

We moved away from the center of the ballroom, toward a quieter section near the tall windows. The noise faded slightly, replaced by a heavier kind of silence.

“You’re getting too attached,” Marcus said without preamble.

“I’m not attached. Everything was part of the act.”

“Don’t insult my intelligence.” His voice stayed calm, but there was steel underneath. “I trained you better than that.”

I crossed my arms. “Then you should know I don’t lose control that easily.”

“Exactly.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Which is why this concerns me.”

“It shouldn’t.”

“It does,” he said simply. “Because if you’re compromised, the entire pack is at risk.”

“I’m not compromised.”

“Then prove it.”

I didn’t answer.

His gaze sharpened. “End it.”

“With what?”

“With her,” he said, like it was obvious. “Tonight.”