Kamrynn’s POV
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the hem of my dress for the fourth time. It was simple but elegant, a navy-blue piece that hugged my figure without drawing too much attention. My hair was pulled back in a loose bun, and I had applied just enough makeup to look presentable for the party. Not that I cared about appearances tonight-my focus was entirely on my plan.
Taking a deep breath, I left my room and headed for the hall where the celebration was already underway. The soft hum of music and chatter reached my ears as I approached. When I entered, the room was brimming with life.
The decorations were tasteful, with soft golden lights illuminating the room, casting a warm glow on the polished wooden floors. Guests milled about with drinks in hand, laughter echoing as they shared stories. Near the center of the room, Thalia stood arm-in-arm with Kyven, their smiles wide as Pack members congratulated them.
I bit the inside of my cheek, forcing my gaze away. I scanned the crowd quickly, looking for the real target of tonight’s mission. It didn’t take long to find him. Alpha Draven was seated in a shadowy corner, one leg crossed over the other, his expression blank as he watched the festivities with apparent disinterest.
Perfect, I thought.
Just then, the door to the hall opened, and Amara entered with a tray of drinks. My heart leaped at the sight. This was the opportunity I needed. Without hesitation, I strode toward her, intercepting her path.
“Amara,” I said quickly, blocking her way.
She blinked at me, startled. “Kamrynn? What are you-”
“Wait,” I interrupted, pointing to her cheek. “You’ve got something on your face.”
Her eyes widened in alarm, and she nearly dropped the tray as she reached up to touch her cheek. “What? Where?”
“Just…there,” I said vaguely, gesturing toward the bathroom. “You should take a look before anyone else notices.”
“Oh, goddess,” she muttered, turning toward the bathroom. “Thanks, Kamrynn!”
As she disappeared, I grabbed the tray and turned toward Alpha Draven. My pulse quickened as I maneuvered through the crowd, careful not to spill a single glass.
But just as I was halfway there, a figure stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
“Kamrynn,” Kyven said, his tone dripping with disapproval. He reached for a glass of wine from the tray, his sharp eyes narrowing. “What are you doing here?”
Not now, Kyven. Of all the times, you pick this moment to start a fight?
I forced a polite smile, my fingers tightening around the edge of the tray. “Just doing my job, Kyven. I’m not here for trouble.”
He scoffed, his expression hardening. “You don’t deserve to be here after what you did to Thalia.”
My jaw clenched, but I bit back the sarcastic remark on the tip of my tongue. “Trust me, if I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here either.”
Kyven frowned. “You don’t have to be the villain in this story, Kamrynn. You could make things right. Apologize to Thalia, and we can move forward. We can still be friends.”
I laughed bitterly, unable to hide the sarcasm in my tone. “That’s rich coming from someone who didn’t even let me explain my side of the story.”
He bristled, but before he could respond, I cut him off. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, you’re in the way of me doing my job.”
His eyes flashed with anger, and his voice dropped to a warning tone. “Don’t pull anything tonight, Kamrynn. If you do, you’ll have me to deal with.”
Without waiting for a response, he stormed off, leaving me fuming.
“Focus, Kamrynn,” Aryna’s voice echoed in my mind, steadying me.
I took a deep breath and continued toward Alpha Draven. When I reached him, he was staring off into the distance, lost in thought. Clearing my throat, I placed the tray on the table in front of him.
His eyes snapped to me, and for a brief moment, surprise crossed his face, like he was amazed to see me alive and well. It was subtle, but I caught it-the faint flicker of shock, quickly masked by his usual stoic expression.
“You can move along,” he said flatly. “I’m not thirsty.”
Ignoring his dismissal, I picked up a glass of wine and placed it in front of him. Leaning in slightly, I lowered my voice to a whisper.
“You really didn’t think you got rid of me, did you?” I said, my tone cold and deliberate. “Your pathetic attempt to kill me only made me uncover the truth, Alpha. You have till the end of the day to call off this sham of a mating ceremony and return to your Pack, or else…”
I paused, letting the threat hang in the air before finishing. “Let’s just say your reputation won’t be the only thing you’ll be losing. Time is fast running out, Alpha. Tick tock, tick tock…”
Straightening up, I smiled sweetly and turned on my heel, walking away without looking back. My heart hammered in my chest, but I kept my head high, relishing the thought of his cold expression burning into my back.
As I neared the exit, Amara returned, looking relieved. “False alarm,” she said, laughing. “There was nothing on my face after all.”
“Glad to hear it,” I replied, handing her the tray.
“Thanks for covering for me,” she said, flashing me a grateful smile before heading back into the crowd.
I wasted no time leaving the party. My job was done, and I didn’t plan on lingering any longer than necessary. The hallways were quiet as I made my way back to my room, but just as I reached the corridor, a hand clamped over my mouth, and an arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me back with startling force.
Panic surged through me as I fought against the strong grip holding me. The hand over my mouth muffled my cries, and the arm around my waist tightened like a steel vice. My instincts kicked in, and I slammed my elbow into the man’s side, earning a sharp grunt of pain but the grip didn’t loosen.
“Let me go!” I tried to yell, but the words came out garbled against the hand covering my mouth.
Desperation fueled me. I twisted my torso sharply, using my enhanced strength to break free of the hold. My feet hit the ground running, but I only managed a few steps before a searing pain exploded at the back of my head.
The blow sent me crashing to the floor. The world spun, my vision flickering like a broken reel of film.
I groaned, clutching my head as nausea rolled through me. The buzzing in my ears drowned out everything else, and darkness threatened to claim me.
“No,” I whispered hoarsely, forcing my eyes open.
Strong hands grabbed me again, lifting me off the ground like I weighed nothing. My head lolled to the side, and my vision wavered as the sound of a door creaking open cut through the haze.
I tried to stay alert, to memorize the path or the sound of my captor’s footsteps, but everything was too loud, too disjointed. The door shut behind us with a resounding finality. I was dropped onto the floor, the impact rattling my already aching body.
‘Move,’ I told myself. ‘Get up. Fight.’
But my limbs wouldn’t cooperate. All I could do was press my hands to my throbbing head, trying to steady the spinning world around me. My breaths came in shallow pants as I blinked rapidly, willing my vision to clear.
When the haze finally lifted, the first thing I saw was a pair of polished black shoes, the leather gleaming in the dim light. My gaze trailed upwards, taking in tailored slacks and a pristine white shirt with rolled-up sleeves, revealing muscular forearms.
The man sat with casual confidence, his posture relaxed as he crossed one leg over the other. His features were sharp and symmetrical, his square jaw dusted with a hint of stubble.
His jet-black hair was slicked back neatly, and his piercing gray eyes gleamed with a dangerous intellect. For a moment, his face looked almost serene, but the smug smile curling his lips and the predator-like glint in his gaze betrayed the truth.
Alpha Draven.
He watched me with a detached amusement, as if I were some curiosity he’d stumbled upon.
“Well,” he drawled, his deep voice smooth as silk. “Look who finally decided to join me.”
His words sent a chill down my spine.
I tried to push myself up, but my arms trembled under my weight. “What do you want?” I croaked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Alpha Draven leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. His eyes locked onto mine, unblinking.
“I believe the better question,” he said slowly, his smile widening, “is what do you want, Kamrynn?” I swallowed hard, my body trembling as I met his piercing gaze.