Deak buttoned the cufflinks on his wrists. It had been a long time since he had put on a tux. Looking in the mirror, he smirked at himself. He still looked good.

The bathroom door opened, and Vita walked out in a stunning black floor-length dress that flowed from her hips. She leaned over to insert an earring in her ear and looked over at Deak facing the mirror. Her mouth dropped as she stared at him. Her heart swelled with love and at the same time felt a pang of heartache. Would she have to reject him to save him? Was their love more than just a mating bond?

“See something you like?” Deak asked as he eyed her through the mirror.

Vita closed her mouth and narrowed her eyes at Deak. “We need to head downstairs if we don’t want to be late,” Vita told him. She picked up her purse and headed for the door.

Deak reached out and grabbed her, spinning her into his arms. “You look absolutely ravishing,” he purred at her.

Vita couldn’t control the shiver that followed after hearing the huskiness in Deak’s tone. Vita tried to pull away from him, but his grip only got tighter as she pushed against him.

“You’re not still mad at me, are you?” Deak asked.

Vita huffed; yes, a part of her was upset with him for waking her out of her trance. Merida had mentioned something about an ancient curse that was used to reject mates. Vita hoped there would be something in the book that could help them. She didn’t want to reject Deak, but if it would save Deak from carrying the curse for the rest of his life, she would do it.

“Maybe,” she answered.

Deak gently glided his fingers down Vita’s open back. The sting of touching her skin burned against his fingers; as much as it burned, he welcomed the pain to touch her. “Can’t you forgive me so we can have an unforgettable evening,” he begged.

Vita’s eyes rolled into the back of her head as she enjoyed feeling Deak’s fingers on her skin. “Let’s see how well you behave and see where the night takes us,” she countered with a smirk.

Deak released a growl from his chest, pulled Vita close, and kissed her.

***

A string orchestra played as they entered the ballroom for the Masquerade; as they walked in, they were handed a mask to hide their identity. “What’s the ball in honor of?” Gretchen asked the attendant as she was given her mask.

“It’s in celebration of our beautiful city. It allows us all to come out from the shadows and live.” the attendant responded.

“What’s with the masks?” Colson questioned as he took his mask from the woman.

The woman smiled seductively and batted her eyes, “To live a little dangerously and be anonymous.”

Gretchen wrapped her arm around Colson’s and gave him a gentle tug.

Colson smirked as he could feel the frustration running through his mate. He leaned into Gretchen and whispered, “Are you jealous?”

Gretchen scoffed. Jealous? What did she have to be jealous of? A beautiful woman flirting with her man and telling him the night is about living dangerously? Seriously?

“Not even close,” she said as she slid away from him and entered the room.

Colson shook his head; he knew tonight he needed to play his cards right, or it would be a dangerous game.

***

Logan walked around the outskirts of the room as he watched the woman he loved from the opposite side. Madeline looked radiant in the gown she was wearing. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He took a sip from his drink as he kept an eye on the gorgeous woman. It took all he had not to walk across the room, pull her into his arms, and kiss her.

His timing needed to be just right, and then he would make his move.

***

Esha walked through the ball, admiring her work. She was impressed by how quickly she pulled this together. Everything had fallen into place perfectly. She continued to look around the room, searching for the one thing she needed.

“Are you looking for someone?” a dark, husky voice whispered to her.

Esha smiled as she turned and looked at the handsome man standing before her. Jasper was wearing a very fitting suit that sat snugly against his chest. “I think I’ve found everything I need.”

Jasper grabbed two glasses off the tray that was passing by them. He handed a glass to Esha and kept one for himself.

“And what’s this for?” Esha asked.

Jasper tapped his glass against hers and said, “A toast for pulling off a glamourous event.” Jasper took a sip from his glass, not taking his eyes off Esha.

Esha blushed. She had known Jasper for years and had a crush on the man since they were kids. Jasper never paid any attention to her until recently, after she made her deal. Esha knew deep down the only reason Jasper was only interested in her was because of her beauty.

“Let’s dance and enjoy the night,” he told her as he took her into his arms and glided her across the floor. Esha sighed as she held Jasper close and laid her head against his chest. She wished this night could last forever but knew all good things come to an end.

***

Tabitha walked through the crowd, her destination in line sight; she could spot her mate in a group from anywhere, even in a room filled with people dressed in similar attire and wearing masks. Marco looked delicious in his suit, and she wanted to eat him up.

Marco turned, and his eyes widened when they landed on his mate. Tabitha looked divine in the dress she was wearing. The dress clung to his mate and left no imagination to the eye. His chest rumbled as a growl escaped him. As angry and hurt as he was at his mate, he still loved her.

Tabitha approached him, grabbed his drink from his hand, and took a sip.

“Is there something that you want?” Marco asked with a lifted brow.

Tabitha nodded her head, never letting her eyes shift from Marco’s.

“And what’s that?” he challenged.

“You, I only want you.”

Marco snarled as he wrapped his hands around the back of Tabitha’s neck and pulled her close, pressing his lips against hers with force.

Tabitha’s heart raced as the adrenaline rushed through her. She placed her hands under Marco’s coat and dragged her nails down his back. She was tearing his shirt and ripping her nails into his skin.

Marco pulled back and winced from the pain. He grabbed Tabitha by the hair and threatened, “Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

Tabitha’s wolf was skirting on the surface, and her eyes turned to gold in front of him, “Oh, I plan to play this out until the end,” she replied.