Page 11 of Howling Love (Hunter’s Moon Ritual #1)

It was all I could offer as we were served our first course of dinner, my attention turning to the rest of the room.

To the strong display of flags and crests, the luxurious material that coated each guest, and the way the crystal chandeliers reflected the candlelight.

To the warm scent of delicious food and the band playing soft music.

It felt like…well, not exactly a dream, but not my real life.

I had never, even before the raid, experienced beauty like this.

I may have been caged, trapped in Alpha Ivan’s prison, but that meant I appreciated what lay outside of those bars even more.

Two courses later, between Marek continuously trying to touch me as he spoke to others and the weight of Alpha Ivan’s presence, I began to feel lightheaded. It didn’t help that I’d yet to see Ravik. I wasn’t even sure he was here.

No. That wasn’t true. I may not have been able to see him, but I could feel him.

Realizing I was going to pass out if I didn’t get some fresh air, I slowly pushed my chair back. Instantly, Alpha Ivan caught my wrist. I spoke softly, trying to excuse myself. “I need to use the bathroom.”

His lip curled as he addressed Clint. “Go. Make sure she doesn’t get herself into trouble.” At least it wasn’t Marek.

Luckily, the room was crowded enough that Clint couldn’t talk to me, let alone stand next to me, as I made my way toward the attendant at the front of the hall.

They directed me toward the bathroom, and I let out a breath of relief once I was safely inside.

The room was huge, with four smaller rooms attached that I knew were actual bathrooms, while this main space had couches and served as a powder room.

I selected the door on the furthest side of the room, locking myself inside. Still facing the door, I wilted under the relief of being alone. My forehead pressed against the cold surface as I closed my eyes, inhaling the sterile scent of the bathroom mixed with lavender candles.

The peaceful moment lulled my anxiety just enough that I began to feel more stable, less lightheaded. I knew why I felt this way: the expectations weighing on me were too much. If I didn’t get this right—if I messed this up in Alpha Ivan’s eyes—there would be hell to pay.

Maybe I could escape. Just climb out a window and run away. I could feel a cool breeze coming from somewhere, but it wasn’t until the scent of smoke tickled my nose that I turned to look around…

And stopped dead in my tracks.

A man sat on the windowsill, watching me.

A storm surged through my veins, and I felt as if I’d been punched in the chest. My knees felt weak, and the breath whooshed out of me as the man’s magic coasted against my skin in greeting.

His power tasted different from Ravik’s but was equally as strong as his scent wrapped around me: gunpowder and sandalwood.

“What…” I stumbled over my words, moving back as my heart rapidly beat in my ears, unable to slow. “How…how did you get there?”

The man was large—nearly Ravik’s height—and made of lean, cut muscles that I could see underneath the black shirt that molded to his chest and arms. In fact, he was covered in black, and though the clothes were simple, I could tell they were expensive.

Everything about the man screamed wealth and luxury, down to the gold-lined grayscale tattoos that wrapped down his arms and peeked over the collar of his shirt.

I caught imagery of the sun but quickly moved my eyes up to his face, which was completely blank—devoid of expression.

“Through the door, much like yourself.” His voice was rough and gravelly, and I swallowed nervously. His emerald gaze didn’t miss the motion, and his eyes darkened. He clearly didn’t like how I was acting; I just didn’t understand why. Or, more importantly, why he was here .

“Why are you in here?”

For a moment, the man said nothing, languidly moving his left arm out the window and dropping his cigarette.

I hadn’t even realized he’d been smoking, too absorbed in his presence alone.

As he moved his gaze back to me, I couldn’t help but notice that he seemed to be trying to tone down his energy, softening it.

Was that for me? I tightened my hands at my sides, wondering why he was trying to appear less terrifying when he was so extremely intimidating. Even if his black, shoulder- length hair looked extremely soft—my fingers itching to run through it.

I had to stop. Just because I was attracted to someone didn’t mean I should have such an extreme reaction. This was insanity.

“Do you often sit in the girls’ bathroom?

” I demanded, picking my chin up and forcing myself to ask the questions I needed answers to.

I wouldn’t flee. Every moment I was near Alpha Ivan was spent cowering.

I wouldn’t do that right now. My wolf let out a silent rumble of agreement, moving through my chest with a determined stride, trying to show just how dangerous we could be.

Considering the man’s wolf was nowhere to be found, I knew we weren’t intimidating him in the least.

“No, I don’t, Gracie.”

“How do you know my name?”

“It’s my job to keep an eye on everyone and everything.” He stood slowly, straightening his spine, and in a second flat he was in my space, backing me up against the door.

The air seemed to buzz around me, and my eyes grew heavy as he put his arms on either side of me, never touching me. Simply looking me over.

“I don’t understand?—”

The man dipped his head, brushing his lips across my cheek. The action, the barest touch, had my knees nearly breaking as I reached out to grip onto him. A pained noise came from his throat as he steadied me and stepped back. As far away as he could from me, back by the window.

What…what had just happened? My heart hurt at his distance, my hands gripping the door as I tried to slow my breathing.

I watched as he eased himself through the bathroom window onto a ledge above a moat-like channel I had noticed circling the building upon arrival.

Even on the main floor, the drop was enough to make my stomach twist. Panic slammed into my chest as he swung himself down, disappearing from view.

When I ran over to the window and looked down, I saw no sign of him.

Who was that?

Clint’s voice suddenly echoed in the room. “Gracie. Out, now.”

Nodding, I hurried from the room and allowed him to walk me back into the ballroom, still in a daze. It hadn’t felt as though I’d been in there for long at all, but when I saw that dinner was over and everyone was moving around, I understood Clint’s annoyance with me.

Alpha Ivan stood as we approached, his eyes narrowing on me.

“Sorry.”

“Quiet. Let’s go.”

I walked next to him as he led me onto the floor, no doubt to meet Waylon. But as we approached, my steps hesitated until I came to a stop.

My hearing went out, dancing with the noise of my own heartbeat, as my vision narrowed in on the two of them at the far side of the room…watching me. Ravik and the other man. Both from the Ironsun Pack. Why hadn’t he said anything?

Alpha Ivan’s hand locked around the back of my neck, ripping my attention away from the two men as I was pushed toward Alpha Waylon. How was I supposed to talk to a man that didn’t hold my interest when there were two who did only feet away? My wolf howled in my ears at my forced redirection.

Alpha Ivan’s grip reminded me how : my life was on the line.