Chapter 76

Chapter 76
Isolde

Elissa disappeared and returned moments later with a velvet box. "These will be perfect." She opened it to reveal a pair of emerald earrings that caught the light beautifully.

"Elissa, I can't—"

"They're just on loan," she said with a wink. "Consider it part of the pack's resources. Tonight is about making an impression, remember?"

As she helped me put them on, she leaned closer and lowered her voice. "One thing to remember about wolves—we're very sensitive to scents. The perfume you usually wear is lovely for humans, but..."

"Too strong?" I guessed, remembering her reaction in the department store yesterday.

"Just a bit overwhelming," she confirmed. "I brought something that might work better." She produced a small crystal vial. "It's a blend of moonflower and cedar. Very subtle. It won't mask your natural scent—which, trust me, Dorian would hate—but it will complement it."

The liquid she dabbed at my wrists and neck had a light, ethereal quality. It reminded me of forest nights and clean mountain air.

"Perfect," she declared, stepping back to admire her work. "Now, into the dress. We don't want to keep the boys waiting too long. I heard them talking about your stepfather's background check earlier, and it sounded interesting."

My ears perked up at that. "Background check?"

Elissa looked momentarily guilty. "I probably wasn't supposed to mention that. But yes, Aiden had some of his contacts look into Robert Beck's connections. Something about Memorial Hospital and deeper ties than appeared on the surface." She shrugged. "You should ask Dorian about it."

As I slipped into the dress, my mind raced with possibilities. What could Robert be hiding? And how did it connect to my birth parents?

Elissa helped zip me up, and I turned to face the mirror again. The transformation was startling. The woman looking back at me seemed confident, elegant—worthy of standing beside an Alpha heir.

"They won't know what hit them," Elissa said proudly.

We made our way to the living room where Dorian and Aiden were deep in conversation, their voices low. They fell silent as we entered, both men rising to their feet.

Dorian wore a perfectly tailored black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist. His amber eyes widened slightly as they took me in, a flash of something primal and possessive crossing his features before he regained his composure.

"You look..." he began, then seemed to struggle for words.

"Stunning," Aiden finished for him, his steel-gray eyes appreciative but respectful.

Dorian shot him a brief glance before returning his attention to me. He crossed the room in a few strides and took my hand, raising it to his lips. "You're more beautiful than I imagined," he murmured against my skin, sending shivers up my arm.

Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the rest of the world faded away. There was something in his gaze that went beyond our contract, beyond duty or appearance—something warm and genuine that made my heart skip.

"Thank you," I whispered, suddenly breathless. "You clean up pretty well yourself."

His lips curved into that half-smile I found increasingly difficult to resist. "Shall we?"

The elevator ride to the parking garage was silent, filled with a strange tension. Elissa's cheerful voice finally broke it as we approached the sleek black car.

"So," she said, sliding into the back seat, "who's ready to watch a bunch of humans pretend they're not intimidated by us while secretly dying to know who we are?"

"Elissa," Aiden warned, though his tone was indulgent.

"What? It's true! Human social events are basically just territory displays without the honest growling." She turned to me with a mischievous grin. "Did you know that at most formal human gatherings, at least thirty percent of the conversation is complete fiction? People claiming connections they don't have, exaggerating their achievements..."

As she continued her amusing analysis of human social behavior, I felt the knot in my stomach begin to loosen. Dorian's hand found mine across the center console, his thumb tracing small circles on my palm.

Through the car windows, the luxurious hotel where the party was being held came into view, its marble columns and crystal chandeliers visible even from outside. Valets in uniform stood ready at the entrance, and well-dressed guests streamed through the grand doors.

My hand tightened involuntarily around Dorian's.

"We don't have to do this," he said quietly, so only I could hear. "Say the word, and we'll leave."

I took a deep breath and shook my head. "No. I want answers about my parents. And..." I met his gaze steadily. "I'm tired of running from my past. Besides, I have you with me now."

Something flickered in his eyes—surprise, perhaps, or pleasure. He lifted my hand and pressed another kiss to my knuckles, just above where the wolf ring gleamed in the fading light.

"Yes," he said simply. "You do have me. And you only need to be yourself, Isolde. We're in this together."

As the car pulled up to the entrance and Aiden handed the keys to a valet, I took another steadying breath. Dorian came around to open my door, offering his arm as I stepped out.

"Ready?" he asked.

I slipped my arm through his, feeling the solid strength of him beside me. "Ready."

Together, we walked up the marble steps and into the glittering light of the ballroom, the wolf ring warm against my skin like a silent promise of protection.