Alpha Nathan Pov.

She glanced around the store with wide eyes, clearly intimidated by the opulent surroundings and the millions of dollars worth of jewelry glittering under the carefully positioned spotlights.

"This place is way too fancy for someone like me," she whispered, taking a small step back toward the door. "Maybe we should just go back and get my shoes instead."

I gently pushed her forward, my hands on her shoulders guiding her deeper into the store despite her reluctance. "Nonsense," I murmured against her ear. "You deserve all this and so much more."

Once we were properly inside, I raised my hand to catch the attention of one of the sales associates who was arranging a display of emerald earrings.

"Excuse me," I called out politely but with the natural authority that came with my position as Alpha, "we could use some assistance over here, please."

The man immediately looked up and hurried over to us, a professional smile plastered on his face.

"Yes, sir, absolutely anything for you," the associate responded eagerly, his gaze immediately shifting from me to Isabella.

His eyes widened slightly as he took in her appearance, and I noticed how his gaze lingered just a bit too long on her face, then traveled down to appreciate the way the white dress hugged her curves.

Something in his expression changed--a flicker of appreciation, maybe even desire--and it instantly made my blood boil.

I could practically feel my wolf stirring beneath my skin, angry and possessive at the way this stranger was openly admiring what belonged to me and me alone.

The man continued staring at Isabella as if I weren't even present, and I felt my hands instinctively curling into fists at my sides.

The salesman didn't take his eyes away from Isabella for even a second, which immediately tensed me up to an almost dangerous degree.

Maybe it was because in that dress she truly did look like royalty--a princess or queen who commanded attention wherever she went.

Or perhaps it was simply because she was undeniably gorgeous, with a natural beauty that few women could match.

Either way, both possibilities made jealousy flare up inside me like a wildfire, threatening to consume my usual self-control. "She's mine," my wolf growled internally, "and no one else gets to look at her that way."

I had to physically restrain myself from grabbing the man by his expensive silk tie and throwing him across the room.

I deliberately coughed loudly to grab his attention, forcing him to acknowledge my presence. When he finally turned his gaze reluctantly toward me, I pointed directly at my eyes with two fingers, then pointed back at his.

"Talk to me and watch my eyes only. Got that?" I said firmly, my voice carrying an unmistakable warning that made the associate swallow nervously.

There was no mistaking the threat behind my words, Alpha or not. "My girlfriend needs a necklace, and you're going to help us find the perfect one without ogling her the entire time. Understand?"

The man nodded immediately, his eyes now carefully fixed on mine. He knew exactly what I was talking about--he'd crossed a line, and I was making it very clear that there would be consequences if he did it again.

To my surprise, Isabella suddenly shifted to hide partially behind my back, her fingers clutching nervously at my suit jacket.

"I look ugly," she whispered so quietly that only my enhanced werewolf hearing could catch it. "He saw my odd eye colors. Let's just get out of here, Nathan. Please."

There was genuine distress in her voice, and it broke my heart to realize she thought the man had been staring because of her heterochromia--her different colored eyes that I found so captivating and unique.

She had been teased and bullied about them her entire life, and the insecurity ran deep, even though to me they were one of her most beautiful features.

I couldn't bear to hear her speak about herself that way. I immediately turned around and gently cupped her face between my hands, tilting her head up so she had no choice but to look directly at me.

"Listen to me very carefully, Isabella," I said with absolute confidence, my thumbs gently stroking her cheeks. "You look absolutely gorgeous--more beautiful than any woman I've ever seen in my entire life.

Those eyes of yours are a gift, not a flaw. They're what make you special, what make you uniquely you." I paused, making sure my words were sinking in, then continued with complete honesty.

"And unfortunately, that man wasn't looking at you because of your odd eye color at all, but because you--" I stopped mid-sentence and turned my head to glare at the sales associate, who immediately averted his gaze and pretended to be extremely interested in rearranging some items in a nearby display case.

I turned back to Isabella and admitted the truth with an annoyed tone that I couldn't quite hide, "Because you look sexy as hell in that dress, and he couldn't keep his eyes off you."

I frowned deeply, my jaw clenching with barely suppressed jealousy. "And I can't really blame him for noticing, but I sure as hell can blame him for staring that way."

I shook my head, still irritated by the entire situation. I wanted her to feel beautiful and special, not uncomfortable or objectified. "I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable. We can go somewhere else if you prefer."

To my surprise, Isabella giggled immediately, her eyes lighting up with amusement. "Oh my god, Nathan! Are you actually jealous right now?"

She covered her mouth with her hand, but couldn't quite hide her smile. "And why do you seem so angry about someone else finding me attractive? Isn't that something you should be proud of instead? That the woman on your arm is turning heads?"

She reached up to smooth the crease between my eyebrows with her finger. "You're actually pouting, you know that? It's kind of adorable."

I rubbed my chin thoughtfully, feeling "jealous as fuck" as she so eloquently put it, though I tried to maintain some dignity.

"You're absolutely right, I am angry and jealous," I admitted with a sigh. "I need to figure out how to hide your face and your eyes and your body from everyone else at this party, but how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

I started to zone out, genuinely contemplating whether there was some way I could keep her beauty all to myself without seeming completely possessive and ridiculous. "Maybe a full-length cloak? Or would that be too medieval? Perhaps some kind of--"

She nudged my shoulder playfully, bringing me back to reality. "Hey, Earth to Nathan! Are you actually being serious right now?" She rolled her eyes at my expression.

"And anyway, why are we even here in this jewelry store? We need to hurry up, remember? You have an important party to host tonight, and all these important pack leaders are waiting for you. We can't be late!"

She was right, of course. Time was ticking, and we still had so much to do before the evening's festivities began. As much as I wanted to spend hours shopping with her, my responsibilities were calling.

I reluctantly tore my eyes away from her and began scanning the glass cases surrounding us, searching for something specific.

After a moment, my gaze landed on exactly what I'd been hoping to find--a truly spectacular diamond necklace that would perfectly complement both her dress and her natural beauty.

"Excuse me," I called to the sales associate, who approached cautiously this time, keeping his eyes firmly on me. "Could you please show us that necklace right there?"

I pointed to the stunning piece that had caught my attention--a magnificent creation featuring a cascade of brilliant-cut diamonds arranged in a delicate pattern that would drape beautifully across her collarbone.

Isabella gasped audibly when she saw what I was pointing at, her eyes widening in complete astonishment.

"Oh my god, Nathan! Why in the world would you want to look at something like that? Who is that even for?" she asked in complete bewilderment, though something in her expression told me she already suspected my intentions.

Her hands fluttered nervously at her sides, as if she were physically restraining herself from reaching out to touch the beautiful piece of jewelry that the associate was now carefully removing from the display.

I couldn't help but smirk teasingly at her reaction, enjoying the mixture of surprise and longing in her expression.

"I'm buying this exquisite necklace for my real mate, of course. The most beautiful, extraordinary woman I've ever known. Do you happen to know her?"

I raised an eyebrow questioningly, watching as various emotions flitted across her expressive face. "She's about your height, has the most incredible eyes--one blue and one green--and she makes my heart stop every time she smiles. Sound familiar to you at all?"

She rolled her eyes dramatically and crossed her arms over her chest, her expression suddenly serious and determined.

"No, absolutely not, Nathan. I completely refuse to accept something like that. There's no way." Her voice was firm and unwavering, leaving no room for argument or negotiation.

It was clear she had made up her mind instantly, without even needing to think twice about it. "That's far too extravagant and unnecessary, and you know it."

I narrowed my eyes in genuine confusion, completely taken aback by her adamant refusal. This wasn't the reaction I had been expecting at all.

"But why would you refuse it? You absolutely should accept all my gifts, Isabella--especially ones that I've chosen specifically with you in mind. Don't you like it?"

I gestured toward the necklace that the associate was now holding in a velvet-lined tray for her inspection. "I thought it would be perfect for tonight's event. You deserve beautiful things."

She sighed deeply and leaned forward to examine the necklace more closely, perhaps reconsidering her position. But suddenly, she jumped backward as if she'd been shocked, her face draining of color as she spotted the small price tag attached to the piece.

Her reaction was so dramatic that for a moment I was concerned she might actually faint. "Oh my god, Nathan!" she stammered, her voice rising several octaves in disbelief.

"That necklace costs TWO MILLION DOLLARS! Are you completely insane? Why on earth would you spend that kind of money on something I'd be terrified to even wear? What if I lost it? What if it got stolen? What if the clasp broke and it fell off without me noticing? There's absolutely no way!"