Chapter 120

Chapter 120
Nolan POV
The cocktail hour was in full swing, the clink of crystal and the low hum of conversation filling the palace’s great hall. Lanterns of cut glass reflected light onto the polished floors, throwing fractured colors across the crowd of alphas and lunas weaving in and out of little circles of conversation.
I wasn’t paying attention to any of it.
My eyes followed Ellie as she moved through the party. I hadn’t wanted to let her leave my side, but I couldn’t justify following her like a lost puppy all night either.
She was standing with Alaric near the far side of the hall, her posture graceful, her expression politely engaged as he spoke.
Cassian hovered nearby, ever watchful, though keeping his distance. The moonlight silk of Ellie’s dress caught the light with every small movement, and the sight of her surrounded by men who looked at her too long set my wolf pacing restlessly in my chest.
I told myself it was caution. Nothing more. After everything that had happened, after the attack, after Felicity- after the secrets-I couldn’t afford not to watch her.
But the truth was, I couldn’t look away even if I tried.
“You’re going to burn a hole through her if you keep staring like that.”
I turned sharply. Lance stood at my elbow, sipping his drink, a faintly mocking smile tugging at his mouth.
“I’m keeping
an eye on her,” I said flatly.
“You mean glaring at anyone who dares step within five feet of her?” His tone was maddeningly casual, but his eyes were sharp. “That’s not caution, brother. That’s possessiveness.”
I exhaled slowly, fighting the urge to snap at him. “Given what’s happened, I have every right to be cautious.”
“There’s a difference between cautious and controlling.” Lance tipped his head toward Ellie, who laughed softly at something Alaric said. The sound drifted across the room, tightening something deep in my chest. “You don’t trust anyone around her. Not Cassian. Not me. You’re acting like she belongs to you.”
“She is my mate,” I said through clenched teeth.
“Your mate?” Lance’s voice dropped, his jaw tightening. “Don’t pretend like that suddenly means something to you now. You rejected her. You treated her like a burden until she had no choice but to run. You don’t get to pull out the goddess card when it suits you.”
The sting of his words landed harder than I cared to admit. My wolf growled, restless and angry, but I forced my voice steady. “I don’t owe you an explanation for my actions. I’m watching her because I need to. That’s it.”
“No,” Lance said quietly, leaning closer so no one else could overhear. “You’re watching her because you’re in love with her, whether you want to admit it or not. And after everything you put her through, you don’t have the right.”
My throat went tight. Love. That word again, the one I’d spent so long denying, so long burying under duty and anger and the bitterness I carried for the goddess.
It didn’t matter what I felt. What mattered was control. And I couldn’t let Lance see how close he was to the truth.
So I smirked instead, a sharp, callous edge to it that even I hated the taste of. “Love?” I shook my head. “You’re giving me too much credit. My only interest in Ellie is physical.”
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Chapter 120
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The words landed between us like a slap. Lance’s eyes widened, then hardened, fury blazing there.
“You’re unbelievable,” he hissed. “After everything she’s been through, after everything you’ve done-you think you can reduce her to that? To a body? No wonder she left you.”
I opened my mouth, but the sound of movement behind me made the blood drain from my face.
Kieran.
He stood only a few paces away, speaking with another alpha but angled close enough that he could have heard.
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