Vita stared at the hand in front of her and then looked up at its owner.

Emil stood there with a sickening grin, waiting to accept Vita’s hand. Reluctantly Vita placed her hand in Emil’s and started to stand.

Deak growled loudly as he stood up and glared at Emil. “She’s mine.”

Emil smirked. “I promise to take good care of her while she’s with me.”

“No.”

Vita laid her hand on Deak’s chest. “It’s one dance; I’ll be right back,” she assured him.

Emil guided Vita away from Deak and out to the dance floor.

Deak followed them to the floor; he stood with the crowd surrounding it and watched them start dancing. The song was a slow waltz; Deak gritted his teeth as he glared at Emil touching his mate.

“You dance beautifully,” Emil complimented.

“I have a good teacher,” she said and tilted her head in the direction where Deak was standing, waiting for her.

“Must be hard to be mated to a wolf, not just any wolf, a Lycan; their tempers can be dangerous,” Emil pointed out.

Vita shrugged. “I haven’t had any problems. Deak and I are good for each other.”

Emil nodded. “I can see that. But has he told you everything about himself?” he challenged.

Vita didn’t allow the question of doubt to go through her. Their relationship was still new. There were still plenty of things they didn’t know about each other. “I’m sure he’ll tell me when he’s ready,” she retorted.

Deak stood there and watched as Vita passed by him. He could pick up bits and pieces of their conversation. His eyes widened when he heard Emil’s last question. His heart raced as he contemplated his next move. Deak stepped onto the wooden floor and tapped Emil on the shoulder. “I’ll take back my mate, now.”

“The song is not over, old friend. I’ll give her back when I’m done with her,” Emil goaded.

Deak’s eyes narrowed at the innuendo. “I’ll take her, now,” he demanded.

“Deak, let us just finish the dance, and I’ll return to you,” Vita promised.

“Yes, I paid good money to spend some time with this lovely girl and plan to get my money’s worth,” Emil taunted.

Deak couldn’t control his temper any longer; he pulled his arm back and thrust his fist toward Emil’s face.

Emil’s face turned in the direction of the punch when he turned back; a tiny amount of blood was on his lip. He licked his wound as his eyes shifted to red at the taste of blood but quickly returned to their normal color.

Two men came up behind Deak and grabbed him. “You’ll have to leave now.”

Emil smiled in enjoyment.

Vita didn’t know how to react. Deak was letting his anger get the best of him, but Emil was testing Deak’s temper.

“You are both behaving like I’m some possession for you to fight over. I can make my own decisions,” she told them. Vita turned and walked away from both of them.

***

Colson ran his fingers up and down Gretchen’s back as they swayed to the music. Gretchen was enjoying every minute of the night. The venue was beautifully decorated, the lighting was dim, and the music was enchanting; what more could a girl want for a romantic evening? “This evening has been wonderful.”

Colson smiled as he clung closer to his mate. He was feeling the same way about the evening. “I’m glad to be here to share this night with you,” he told her. “You look breathtaking tonight, and I can’t pull myself away from you for even a minute,” he confessed. “You’ve bewitched me, and I never want to let you go.”

Gretchen’s eyes fluttered as her stomach did somersaults, taking in every word Colson told her. She was falling hard and quick for the Alpha. Everything he was telling her was what she wanted to hear from him; it assured her that he had genuine feelings for her. She moved her hands to Colson’s back as she pressed against his chest. She could feel his hands moving up her back and into her hair when she felt her head pulled back. Gretchen looked into Colson’s eyes and became scared. He was looking at her with a hunger she had never seen from him before.

“I want to make you mine, forever,” he growled into her ear.

Gretchen tried to rein in her fear and take control of her emotions. How could everything change so quickly? In a flash of a moment, she went from wanting this man in front of her to fearing for her life to escape him.

“Colson, please, you’re scaring me,” she confided.

Colson froze as he heard the fear radiating from Gretchen’s voice. He didn’t understand what suddenly changed. He admitted that he wanted her to be his forever. Wasn’t that what she wanted?

A commotion broke out on the other side of the room, that made the room stand still. The music had stopped as a scream vibrated through the room. A menacing growl and hiss followed after it.

Colson caught a whiff that shifted him into protection mode. Someone was dead, and the smell of blood was in the air.

Vampires started to hiss, and their fangs grew as the aroma hit them. Wolves began to shift to fend off the vampires. Something wasn’t right.

Colson yanked Gretchen behind him as he pushed past the other guests trying to find an exit. His wolf was clawing to the surface, wanting to take control. He needed to find the closet exit to get out of this room.

“Ow, Colson, you’re hurting me. I can take care of myself. I don’t need you pulling me around like some lost sheep,” Gretchen complained behind him.

Colson was tempted to turn around and snap back at the little witch, but he held his tongue and pushed past the mass of people, making it out into one of the side hallways. He released Gretchen’s wrist and gave her some distance.

Gretchen pulled back and turned away from Colson. She started walking away, putting a distance between him. What was she thinking? How could she believe this relationship could work with a wolf, and not just any wolf, an Alpha?

“Gretchen, where are you going?” Colson yelled out.

“Away from you,” she yelled back.

The lights flickered as she continued down the hallway, pushing past people moving in the opposite direction. She needed to find her Uncle Zachary. He would protect her and keep that wolf away.

Colson growled out as he continued to chase after Gretchen, wanting to keep her close to him. She was still his mate, even if she was a whiny, annoying spell castor. Gretchen was his, and he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Colson pulled the mask off to keep a closer eye on his mate and shook his head. A green mist faded from his eyes, and his thoughts became clearer.

It was a spell.

Colson looked up, and his heart raced. He could no longer see Gretchen moving through the crowd. He needed to find her and fix the damage this spell had caused.