The Alpha King is unavailable 57
| stumbled forward, my nose colliding with a hard chest. Pain shot through my face, tears instantly welling in my
emerald eyes
Looking up through my blurry vision, | saw Ethan Stone's amber eyes watchingwith that unreadable
expression he'd mastered over years of being Alpha.
"What are you doing here?" | asked, my words slurring from the wine Victoria had kept pushing on me. "1
thought you left with Victoria."
Ethan's jaw lightened visibly. "I sent her home."
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Confusion swept throughlike wildfire. Why would he escort Victoria out only to cfind me? Nothing
about this made sense.
"Well, good for you," | mumbled, taking an unsteady step backward. "Now you can leavealone too."
The memory of Victoria's triumphant smirk burned in my mind. Her fingers clinging to Ethan's arm. His hand on
her waist. The casual way he'd agreed to take her home.
"I'm leaving,” | announced, turning away and taking a wobbly step toward the garden exit.
Before | could get three steps, Ethan's strong hand wrapped around my wrist, yankingback. The sudden
movement made my head spin violently, nausea rising in my throat.
"Let go!" | demanded, pushing against his broad chest with my free hand
"You're in no condition to go anywhere alone," he replied, his grip unyielding as iron.
| looked around frantically, suddenly aware we were standing in plain view. Anyone could walk by and see us
together.
"Aren't you worried someone might see us?" | asked, bitterness dripping from every word. "You've never been
keen on being seen within public before."
His expression darkened instantly. "What are you talking about?"
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"Oh, please," | scoffed, my voice rising with each word. "You parade Victoria around like a trophy, but with me,
you've always kept your distance in public. Don't pretend otherwise!"
Ethan's amber eyes flashed dangerously. Was it anger? Guilt? | couldn't tell before the emotion disappeared.
behind his mask again.
"How much have you had to drink?" he asked, deliberately changing the subject.
| laughed, a hollow sound even to my own ears. "Didn't you see? Victoria kept insisting on toast after toast.
She made sure my glass was never empty."
"lI wasn't there for most of the dinner," he replied coldly.
"Right," | snapped, feeling my temper flare. "You only showed up for the grand finale to escort your precious
Victoria hlike a knight in shining armor!"