Chapter 23

Elena’s POV Alpha Eric didn’t have to speak to command the room. The moment he stepped inside, the air shifted. Conversations broke apart. Heads turned. Women leaned closer, drawn to him like gravity had changed direction. I stood frozen and unable to move. “Oh my god… Alpha Eric is here,” someone whispered near me. “I didn’t know he attends balls like this,” another she-wolf gasped. “My gosh, he’s so handsome,” a third sighed. Then his eyes found me. He stopped walking. My heart slammed painfully against my ribs. I couldn’t tell if what I felt was fear or something dangerously close to excitement. My mind betrayed me, dragging up his cold voice from the night before when he pinnned me to the wall, “This won’t work. Your involvement… your feelings… none of it matters. The contract ends here.” I swallowed. Then he started walking toward me. “Oh my god, he’s coming this way,” a woman beside me squealed. “No, he’s definitely here to ask me for a dance,” her friend gushed. But he didn’t lo