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“I’m holding you to your promise.” I caught his hand in mine and laced our fingers together.

The roughness of them scraped against my soft skin. I could pretend his strength was mine.

Walden pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “You’ve nothing to worry about.”

Walden was a liar.

I brushed a wrinkle out of my pink slip dress and laid my napkin over my lap. I needn’t have worried about picking out the perfect outfit, because after my initial introduction, everyone looked right through me. Including Walden, though he kept my hand anchored on his lap, all while talking animatedly with the vice president of the Baylark Foundation.

Mr. Nife was a short, stout man with a handlebar mustache and a lingering scent of wax. My fragile hope shattered asthe excitement banked in Mr. Nife’s gaze flickered out like the battery on my laptop when I needed power the most.

I’d been tongue-tied throughout the stream of introductions.

It was happening all over again. The only one who didn’t notice was Walden. Lloyd, Pan, and Ajax were all seated at the other end of the table and I was glad they weren’t witnesses to my failed attempt at socializing.

“I sent a personal email to the prince. I’ll let you know if he bothers to RSVP,” Walden snorted.

Somehow, he made it sound elegant.

My hands sweated profusely, but my anxiety wouldn’t let me release Walden. The long table glowed with the flicker of tea lights, but I couldn’t meet anyone in the eye. I let my gaze drift to the open kitchen and focused on the chefs working their magic. Sifted through my thoughts to find something interesting to say to the woman on my opposite side.

Think, Tully. Gods, my brain is like a loaf of bread. Dense as fuck.

My harried thoughts were interrupted as another woman swapped seats with my table-mate. Toni Syme had introduced herself earlier. She was the human delegate, appointed after the HLA rebels attacked Starhaven. It was her job to facilitate the relationship between Designated and humans.

I hadn’t spoken with many humans before. She unnerved me.

Young yet ambitious, she was in her early thirties. She leaned over me and tapped a long nail on Walden’s suit.

“Walden, I need to pick your brain. Your foundation is thriving if what I’ve heard about the gala is true. Yet you still find time to date? Tell me your secret to juggling it all.” She let out a playful laugh, rich like bold wine. She continued to lean across, not sparing a flicker of attention to me.

“No secrets, Toni, late nights and spreadsheets mostly. Plus, never underestimate the power of a vicious PA. Somebody has to help me keep my calendar clean.”

Miss Syme’s eyes twinkled, and I wriggled my seat back, suffocated by her presence. A whiff of perfume seared my nostrils, chemical irritation. It didn’t seem to bother Walden.

“Please, you’re too modest. Didn’t you spearhead the Dignity Initiative for struggling Designated? Plus, I saw the data, projected growth by twenty percent this year, right? If I had half your ambition.” Toni whistled.

Walden laughed softly. “You’ve been doing your research. But it’s hardly just me. Baylark Pack is a team.”

“Sure, sure. Didn’t anyone ever teach you to take a compliment?” Toni’s teeth poked out as she widened her smile. “Spare a thought for me on Tuesday. I had to book a red eye because there was a mix-up in my department. Sometimes I envy your hierarchy. The take-charge attitude you alphas have. I wish I could bottle it up. It’s lacking in my colleagues.”

I untangled my damp hand from Walden’s to sip my wine. I’d been careful not to overindulge, knowing the flare of confidence was only internal and all everyone else would see was a silly, drunk fool.

Everybody in this room recognized how good Walden was at his job. People admired and respected him. As they should, he was impressive. All I could do was sit there as Toni commanded his attention, flattered and bantered with so much ease it made my stomach toss.

Suddenly I was twelve again, in Walden’s office, while he asked me not to touch anything, because I was a child. I knotted my hands together, lest I made the same mistake.

“It’s true, some Designations have strengths that come more naturally to them, but I wouldn’t say all alphas are like me. I have high expectations for myself.”

“And he’s modest too?” Toni continued, her cleavage dipped as she leaned in further.

My scent sharpened, and Walden gave me a sharp look. She was flirting with him so openly and he let her. Toni didn’t notice his nose twitching, or the way his fingers inched toward mine.

“I hear rumors you’re thinking about throwing your name in for mayor?”

Ice gripped my intestines. That would mean even more eyes on me.

“It’s always been an ambition of mine.”