Chapter Twenty Nine

KEAGAN'S POV ~

There she was.

A curse was on the tip of my tongue, but I held it back and stared. My breath slowed as the rest of the party faded away and Sylvia Reynolds was the only thing I could see in the center of my world.

Dressed in a sleeveless red gown that hugged her perfect curves, my fingers itched with the need to take them off her. Her nude lipstick made her lips appear fuller, causing my wolf to growl in desire. The slit in her gown revealed her flawless olive-toned thigh.

Damn! A pounding began in my temple. And, as usual, she had that perfect smile on her lips, waving to the numerous cameras snapping photos of her. Her steps were elegant, her aura so powerful that she commanded the attention of everyone in the large banquet hall. Strangely, it made me uncomfortable—perhaps even jealous.

But for what reason?

Fuck! I was slowly getting demented.

My feet moved on their own, carrying me towards her, but I halted when I saw her pathetic agent approaching and pulling her protectively to his side, shielding her from the paparazzi while her guards helped keep them at bay.

My jaw clenched so tightly it was a wonder that I didn't break a tooth.

"Hello, Miss Reynolds," I said, my expression irritated.

Sylvia, who had been smiling, slowly turned to face me. Her pretty smile vanished, and I couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and possessiveness course through my veins like molten lava. My eyes narrowed, fixating on her tense expression as if daring her to explain the sudden disappearance of that radiant smile. Why did she always look at me like she despised me?

"Mr. Halls, it's a pleasure to see you," she said, not hugging or kissing my cheek as she did with other familiar guests who had come up to her. A nerve ticked in my jaw and a low growl rumbled at the back of my throat. I took a step closer wondering if she thought she could just shut down and shut me out every single time. Did she not know that I would stop at nothing to uncover her truth?

"Please, step over here, Miss Reynolds. Let me steal you away for a few seconds," I said, my teeth clenched. As I reached for her waist to lead her away, she tensed at my touch, making my heart clench.

"You don't seem to like me very much, Miss Reynolds," I faked a suave smile, pulling out a chair for her like a gentleman—which I was not—and watching her sit.

Her lips pursed and she gave me an icy, flat look. "Why should I like you, Mr. Halls? Firstly, you're just a business partner, and secondly, you're married. Unless you're nothing but a cheating man whore?" she asked, tilting her head before stopping a waiter to take a wine-filled flute. "It won't be an alien notion to male Alphas like yourself."

I leaned toward her, a dangerous glint in my eyes. A dark pleasure ran through me when I heard her heart skip a beat, and I internally grinned. Well, well, little Ms. Sylvia wasn't as unaffected by my proximity as she pretended "Do you think I'm a man whore? What about your agent who's been staring at you lecherously ever since you sat here with me?" I asked, and her head snapped toward her agent.

Her eyes widened momentarily as she realized it was true.

The asshole hadn't taken his eyes off her, and fuck, I wanted to tear him from limb to limb for daring to drool over...Sylvia, like she was a piece of meat. My hand clenched into a fist, my nails digging into my palm as I fought the urge to pounce on him.

The sound of shattering glass broke into my dark haze, and I looked down to see the remains of my whiskey glass scattered on the floor. I hadn't even realized I was holding it, let alone squeezing it so hard that it had shattered in my hand. The pain was a welcome distraction from the rage coursing through my veins. I sucked in a deep breath and made sure my eyes met with the dumbass agent. He gulped hard and hastily looked away as I slowly uncurled my fingers, the shards of glass falling like tiny daggers to the floor. The message had been clear: Back off or face the consequences.

When Sylvia turned back to me, her eyes narrowed on the cut on my hand and she arched a brow. I only leveled a look at her in response and slowly her lips curled.

She leaned in closer from her chair, blowing air onto my lips. "Then it seems you're both in the same boat. Go find something else to sink your cock into," she winked before raising her glass for me to clink mine with hers.

Glaring softly, I picked up another glass from the passing waiter with my bloodied hand and clinked her glass.

"Cheers." Her lips parted in a mocking smile as she sipped her wine.

The drink was bland in my mouth, probably because every nerve in my body was attuned to her every move.

Suddenly she stood up from her seat and I watched with increasing rage as she retreated again into her agent's waiting arms.

I hated the burning sensation in my chest at the sight of her closeness to that fool and the vulnerability she only showed to him. It made me want to find out more, to understand why she seemed so broken beneath the facade of happiness and luxury in her life story. I gulped down the last of my drink, forcing my eyes away from her with great difficulty as she sat with her agent, her gaze fixed on the stage where the host had begun to speak.

A few moments passed, and an artist came to sing for the senator. It was now time to toast the senator's safe arrival, and we all stood to join in the celebration.

After a few minutes of the senator's speech, it was time to dance. My gaze immediately sought out Sylvia, who stood beside her agent, engaging with a group of smiling guests. I was about to approach her and ask for a dance when a figure appeared before me.

My wife?!

What the hell was she doing here?