Rejected, Then Given a Chance

Ryan's hand at my waist burned through the fabric of my midnight blue gown. Every nerve ending in my body seemed to awaken at his touch, betraying the indifference I'd worked so hard to project. The music swelled around us as he guided me across the dance floor with practiced ease, his movements fluid and confident—so different from the uncertain Beta who had rejected me five years ago.

"You look beautiful tonight, Victoria," he murmured, his voice low enough that only I could hear.

I kept my expression neutral, though Selene paced restlessly within me. "I'm surprised you noticed, given how busy you've been building alliances."

"Is that what this is about?" His grip tightened slightly. "The territory proposal?"

"This isn't about anything," I replied coolly. "We're merely fulfilling social obligations."

Ryan's jaw clenched, a muscle ticking beneath his skin. "Five years, and that's all you have to say to me?"

"What would you prefer?" I asked, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper as we turned. "That I thank you for the valuable life lesson? For teaching me that fated mates are just another Moon Goddess fairy tale?"

His eyes darkened, pupils dilating as his Alpha aura pulsed around us. "You have no idea what happened—"

"I was there, remember?" I cut him off, my nails digging slightly into his shoulder. "Front row seat to my own rejection."

The music ended, and I stepped back immediately, breaking contact. Around us, pack members pretended not to stare, but I could feel their curious gazes, sense their whispers.

"Victoria—" Ryan reached for my arm.

"Beta Sterling," I corrected him sharply. "That's my title, Alpha Matthews. I suggest you use it."

Something flashed in his eyes—pain, frustration, perhaps both. "We need to talk. Privately."

"We have nothing to discuss." I turned away, making my way toward the refreshment table where Marcus stood watching our exchange with undisguised interest.

"Everything okay?" Marcus asked, offering me a crystal glass filled with deep burgundy liquid.

"Perfectly fine," I lied, accepting the wolfsbane wine gratefully. The potent drink burned pleasantly down my throat, immediately dulling the ache in my chest where Selene continued to whine for her mate.

Marcus refilled my glass with a knowing smile. "Wolfsbane wine—strongest in the territory. It helps with... difficult encounters."

I took another long sip, grateful for the warmth spreading through my limbs. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone paying attention," he replied, his eyes kind. "And I've been paying attention to you all evening, Victoria Sterling."

Three glasses later, the grand hall had taken on a pleasant, hazy quality. The crystal chandeliers fractured the moonlight into thousands of dancing prisms, and the constant hum of pack politics seemed far away. Even Selene had quieted, lulled by the wolfsbane's potent effect.

"You should slow down," Marcus cautioned gently as I reached for a fourth glass. "Wolfsbane affects even the strongest wolves."

"I'm perfectly capable of knowing my limits," I insisted, though my words came out slightly softer than intended, my usual sharp edges blunted by the wine.

Across the room, I caught Ryan watching me, his expression unreadable. When our eyes met, he didn't look away. The intensity of his gaze sent an unwelcome shiver down my spine.

"Excuse me," I murmured to Marcus. "I need some air."

I made my way toward the terrace doors, my steps less precise than usual. The room tilted slightly, and I realized too late that the wolfsbane had affected me more than I'd anticipated. My foot caught on the hem of my gown, and I stumbled forward, bracing for impact—

Strong arms caught me before I could fall, the familiar scent of pine and midnight rain enveloping me. My body recognized him before my mind could protest, instinctively leaning into his embrace.

"I've got you," Ryan murmured against my hair, his arms steady around my waist as he guided me away from the curious onlookers. "Let's get you some air."

Selene surged forward at his touch, breaking through my weakened defenses with a joyful howl that echoed through my mind: *Mate*.

And in that moment, with the wolfsbane wine flowing through my veins and Ryan's arms around me, I couldn't remember why I was supposed to push him away.