Chapter 16

Victoria The tension in the boutique was palpable as Leo stood beside me, his presence commanding immediate respect—and fear. I watched as the manager's expression shifted from arrogant dismissal to wide-eyed terror. The transformation was almost comical. "What seems to be the problem here?" Leo asked, his voice deceptively soft. His hand rested possessively on my lower back, warm and steady. The manager quickly recovered from his shock, straightening his suit jacket as he attempted to regain control of the situation. "Alpha Moretti, sir, this... woman was causing a disturbance in our establishment. She was deliberately antagonizing my mate and threatening our business." I bit my lip to stifle a laugh, choosing to remain silent as the manager continued spinning his tale. "She demanded special treatment and became aggressive when my mate simply suggested a more appropriate size for her frame." He gestured toward me with barely concealed disdain. "When we politely suggested she might be