#Chapter 20: The Dance

ELENA The moment Derek and I stepped onto the gleaming, polished dance floor, I hesitated. I wasn’t sure if it was the tension between us or the sheer arrogance on his face that made my pulse spike. "Is Elena too afraid to dance with me?" His voice was low, an unmistakable challenge in it. I should have said no. I should have turned away, left him standing there, but then my eyes flicked to Logan across the room. He looked tense, his body angled as if ready to intervene. The last thing I needed was Logan charging in like some protective savior when I could handle myself just fine. So I made my decision. "Afraid?" I scoffed, slipping my hand into Derek’s. "Not a chance." His lips curled into something smug, and before I could overthink it, he was leading me to the middle of the dance floor. The platform gleamed under the moonlight, its circular design echoing the moon that made us what we were, and the sacred bond of the packs. White and gold floral arrangements lined the