Chapter 7 A Dangerous Game

IRENE'S POINT OF VIEW

My neck was starting to hurt from looking up at Arnold.

He was too tall.

And we were standing too close.

His presence was overwhelming.

So was his scent.

Warm.

Rich.

Dangerous.

Everything about him was dominant.

Just like him.

“Be my woman at the party,” he repeated.

He said it as casually as if he were talking about the weather.

I stared at him.

“Are you crazy?”

“Do you even know who I am?”

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Not because I thought I was important.

But because I knew he had heard the rumors.

More importantly...

he knew I was Eugene's mate.

So why was he asking me?

“I know exactly who you are,” Arnold said.

“You're the future luna of Hellfire.”

He tilted his head.

“Or should I say... you were?”

“I've heard the rumors.”

“People love to gossip.”

The words hurt.

But at least he was honest.

He wasn't pretending.

This festival existed to celebrate peace.

The first gathering of werewolves and lycans after the war.

There was no way Arnold didn't have an agenda.

Especially when he knew exactly who I was.

“In that case,” I said quietly, “I have to refuse.”

“Whatever plan you have won't work.”

“If you want to make Eugene angry, ask another woman.”

I swallowed.

“The one carrying his child would be a better choice.”

The words hurt.

More than I wanted to admit.

Arnold shook his head.

“I don't think Eugene cares about that woman nearly as much as he cares about you.”

My eyes snapped to his.

Anger burned inside me.

I hated that he said it.

I hated that a small part of me wanted to believe him.

“He wouldn't approach you in public if he was afraid of upsetting her,” Arnold continued.

“Not unless you mattered more.”

I frowned.

I couldn't understand him.

What did he want?

Why was he saying these things?

“What do you want from me?” I asked.

Arnold shrugged.

Then grinned.

Like everything was amusing to him.

“I'm going to help you get revenge.”

“I never said I wanted revenge.”

I answered too quickly.

His grin widened.

He rolled his eyes.

And somehow...

that annoyed me even more.

He was reading me too easily.

Luna Lorraine once told me:

Never show your emotions to your opponent.

Being a luna wasn't easy.

People thought it was.

They saw the title.

The respect.

The power.

They didn't see the endless lessons.

The sleepless nights.

The pressure.

Always be alert.

Always think ahead.

Always read between the lines.

I learned everything Luna Lorraine taught me.

I worked harder than anyone.

I prepared my whole life for that role.

And now...

all of it felt useless.

Destroyed by my mate's betrayal.

“I know you want revenge,” Arnold said.

His voice was certain.

I tried pulling my wrist away again.

Impossible.

His grip was too strong.

If I kept struggling, I was afraid he'd accidentally break me.

“I don't,” I muttered.

But the words didn't sound convincing.

Not even to me.

“At this point,” Arnold said, “you have nothing to lose.”

“Come with me.”

“To the party.”

I stared at him.

He was still trying to convince me.

Was he always this stubborn?

“Are you afraid of what your pack will think?”

He leaned closer.

“Or are you more worried about hurting the man who abandoned you?”

My chest tightened.

Because the answer was both.

It was absolutely both.

“Don't try to turn me against my own pack,” I snapped.

My voice came out sharper than I intended.

“It won't work.”

Arnold looked at me for a few seconds.

Then...

he laughed.

A low, amused laugh.

Like he had just caught me lying.

This time, I pulled harder.

I wanted my hand back.

I wanted distance.

But Arnold suddenly stepped closer.

Before I could react, he turned me around.

My back hit the wall.

I gasped.

He planted one hand beside my head.

Then the other.

Trapping me.

Not touching me.

Just...

surrounding me.

“What are you doing?!” I shouted.

My voice shook.

All my anger disappeared.

So did my sadness.

For the first time since meeting him...

I was truly scared.

The Lycan Alpha didn't seem normal right now.

He was staring at me.

Not at my face.

Not at my eyes.

At something deeper.

Like he was trying to remember something.

“I know it's you...” he murmured.

His voice was so low I barely heard it.

“What?”

He didn't answer.

“Move!”

I pushed against his chest.

Nothing.

It was like pushing a mountain.

“Get away from me!”

“I'll scream!”

“You're already screaming,” Arnold said.

His voice was calm.

Almost amused.

That annoyed me.

And scared me even more.

Something inside me snapped.

Before I could think—

I shifted.

My claws shot out.

Slash!

I swiped at him.

Arnold's eyes widened.

Blood splashed across his cheek.

A few drops hit the ground.

Others stained the collar of his shirt.

For a moment...

both of us froze.

I stared at him.

At the blood.

At the cuts across his face.

My wolf disappeared instantly.

I shifted back.

Oh no.

Oh no.

What had I done?

I had attacked him.

Not just anyone.

The Lycan Alpha.

Panic rushed through me.

What if this caused trouble between the packs?

What if people thought I attacked him on purpose?

What if—

I couldn't breathe.

I stood there.

Frozen.

Watching.

The cuts slowly closed.

The blood stopped flowing.

A minute later...

his skin was perfect again.

Only the bloodstains remained.

I swallowed hard.

“I-I didn't mean to—”

“I know.”

Arnold cut me off.

His voice was deeper now.

Darker.

He wiped the blood from his cheek with his thumb.

Then looked at it.

And smiled.

“I didn't know you were this feisty, little wolf.”

A chill ran down my spine.

Wait.

Why was he smiling?

Shouldn't he be angry?

Shouldn't he punish me?

I took a step back.

Arnold took one forward.

My heart jumped into my throat.

And the smile on his face only grew wider.

Like he had finally found...

exactly what he was looking for.