Chapter 12

Claire's POV Theo's grip on Nicole's wrist didn't loosen as they stared at each other, the air between them crackling with Alpha energy. The entire restaurant had fallen silent, human patrons shifting uncomfortably in their seats while the werewolves present lowered their eyes instinctively. Nicole recovered quickly, her expression morphing from shock to a sickly-sweet smile. "Alpha Theo," she purred, voice dripping with fake charm. "What a pleasant surprise." Theo's face remained impassive, cold as winter stone. "Ms. Montgomery," he replied, his voice deceptively calm. "Would you care to explain what's happening here?" Nicole extracted her wrist from his grip with a delicate twist, smoothing her designer dress as if nothing had happened. "Just a little misunderstanding between girls," she offered with a tinkling laugh. "Claire here was saying some rather unkind things about Adrian and me, and I'm afraid things got a bit heated." Theo's gaze swept over my wine-soaked form, taking in my