When I looked at the time and saw the numerals glowing—9:00 PM—I knew I had to go. I had to bring the dress back before the store closed. I smiled politely at John as I turned to him.
"Excuse me." I'm going to leave now.
"Let me take you home," he said, his voice low and overly eager.
I shook my head because I didn't want to deal with the extra stress that came with him. "It's fine," I said, already turning away, but I ran right into someone.
A stinging shock rushed through me, and then a voice full of hate came through. "Are you blind?"
The female in front of me smelled like perfume and attitude. I took a step back, shocked, and said sorry without thinking. "I'm sorry."
She laughed, and a nasty smile curled her lips. "You think saying sorry makes everything better? After you step on me? "Get down and clean my shoes."
I froze, and my blood boiled under my skin. People looked at her because her voice was so loud. My wolf woke up and got angry at the shame.
"I didn't step on your feet," I answered softly, not giving in to her antics.
She yelled, "Oh, now you're calling me a liar?" "Because of you, my feet hurt!"
I felt sick when I realized she had done it on purpose to block my route and make a scene. A plan. Another sad attempt to put someone lower on the social ladder than her.
"I don't have time for this," I muttered, my jaw tight. "Please go. I have to go.
She sneered and made her move, reaching for my dress with her hand.
The sound of satin ripping was so loud that it sounded like a slap.
Gasp. Glares. Laughing.
Cool air on my exposed shoulder made my breath catch. I reached for the ripped cloth to protect my bare skin. My heart raced and pounded against my ribs, and panic spread through my whole body.
John tried to grab his blazer, but someone else was already there with a stronger hand.
Soft, costly, and achingly familiar fabric draped over my shoulders.
There he was when I turned my head.
Elliot.
I got a dry mouth. When our eyes met, everything else faded away for a moment: the socialites, the gossip, and the shredded dress.
But I couldn't let that gentleness get to me. Not from him.
My throat got tight. I pulled on the lapel of the blazer like it was choking me. I said, "Take your blazer back," and I wouldn't let my thankfulness change my tone.
Because Elliot's kindness came with strings. And I was done being stuck.
Elliot muttered, "Stop messing around," his voice sharp and low, sending a warning through the air.
But I wasn't scared of him. Not right now. Not after all that.
I pulled on my arm to get it out of his grip, but his hand kept clamped around my wrist like a steel band. My heart thudded with anger. My wolf moved under my skin and showed her teeth in defiance.
Hayley stood to the side, staring at me like I had taken something that belonged to her. Maybe I had, at least in her eyes. She had seen it. Elliot didn't think twice about taking off his blazer and putting it over me like I was something valuable he needed to protect.
Elliot said, "Hayley, I'll pick you up later," without even glancing at her. Then he pulled me toward the door, pulling me across the ballroom floor while I fought him off.
"Let me go!" I growled and twisted my wrist in his hands.
But he didn't.
I heard Hayley's voice break behind us, full with anger. "Elliot..."
I didn't need to turn around to see that she was jealous. She was a strong woman from a well-bred pack, but here he was, walking out with me like I was the only one in the world.
I eventually got the blazer off my shoulders. The smooth fabric fell off, and the chilly air touched my bare skin. I gasped when I saw how badly torn the gown was. My maroon bra was now completely visible through the ripped silk.
I felt like I was naked. Weak. And worst of all, it was seen.
Elliot's eyes descended to me, and they transformed. They became keen and menacing. Something basic shone behind his black eyes. I could feel how hard he was holding back when he tightened his jaw.
His voice was harsh and strained. "Are you really going to walk out like that?"
I looked him in the eye. "So what if I am? I could leave here with nothing on if I wanted to. "Mind your own business."
I didn't know why I was pushing him. Maybe I wanted to feel like I was in charge. I might have wanted to make him feel the same kind of confusion that he caused in me.
He took a step closer and loomed over me. "Anastasia, you're a mother." Do you really want your son to see you like this?
The words hurt more than they should have. Not because he was right, but because he understood just where to dig. I showed my teeth. "Don't get my son involved in this."
His nostrils flared, and for a moment, I thought I could see the shadow of his wolf pushing through his skin. He said, "You drive me crazy." "Just listen this time."
The elevator rang.
He moved again without quickly, putting the blazer back over my shoulders immediately as the doors opened.
Three men who seemed like they were from another country were standing just outside, talking, and all of them stopped to look. One of them blinked too slowly, and their eyes moved over me in a way that made my skin crawl.
This time I didn't fight Elliot. I clutched the blazer shut and walked out of the building as if the walls were closing in on me. My heart was beating and my throat was tight.
A cab was just leaving the curb after dropping someone off. I ran for it without thinking. As soon as I went in, I slammed the door behind me and yelled my address.
I could see Elliot still standing there through the window. Watching.
This time he didn't follow me.
But I could still smell him on the linen that was wrapped around me. I still feel the weight of his gaze on my spine, like a hot press.
And in the middle of all that pandemonium, one thing kept going through my mind: I wrecked a dress that was worth more than a house. Seven numbers. Goddess, how was I expected to pay that back?
I put my hands over my face.
Damn it.