Page 19 of My Alpha Stepbrother's Dirty Secret 2

I shook my head without thinking, biting my lip hard to stop the next wave of tears from bursting out.

He sighed."Didn't think so.Don't say you are."

"I'm fine," I lied, voice low and cracked."It's just...I needed some air."

He didn't look convinced."You're drenched.and shaking.That's not just air."

I looked away."I'm fine."

There was a pause before he offered his name."Darion.alpha Darion of the GrayMoon Pack."

That made me glance back at him.

He gave a half-smile."You're Liana.The one Killian Wolfe marked.I saw you walk in with him."

My heart squeezed, hearing that name again.

Darion followed my gaze, and when he saw Cynthia watching us from across the ballroom like a hawk, his jaw tightened a little."Come on.Let's get you out of here."

I hesitated.I didn't know him.But I didn't want to stay here either.

"Thank you," I mumbled.

Without another word, he walked me out, keeping a respectful distance but close enough that I felt oddly safe.

He brought his car around, a sleek, pitch-black beast, and opened the door for me.I got in.

The silence in the car wasn't awkward.It felt...necessary.Like he understood that sometimes, talking was too much.

after a while, he pulled into a boutique.Very expensive-looking.

"Why are we here?"I asked, confused.

He glanced at me."Your dress is soaked.You look like you need something dry.and something that'll make you feel human again."

"I don't want anything expensive," I said quickly.

"You're not buying it," he replied calmly."Come on."

Inside, a woman approached immediately."alpha Darion, welcome."

"Give her whatever she wants," he said simply.

I followed the woman but stopped her before she could lead me to anything too sparkly.

"Something simple.Just...jeans or something.I'm not in the mood for glamour."

She nodded and brought me to a section that felt more like me, comfortable, plain, real.

I changed into jeans and a soft black top.When I stepped out, Darion looked up.

"You look more like yourself now."

I smiled faintly."Thanks."

He paid, and we were back in the car in minutes.

"Where to?"he asked.