Chapter 7 Claiming Every Eye

Stephanie's POV

The final note of the music faded, and Karon released my hand with the kind of polished grace that made the crowd erupt into thunderous applause. Every eye in the ballroom was on us, their admiration as palpable as the lingering heat of his touch.

I kept a poised smile on my lips, inclining my head politely to acknowledge the praise.

"Mr. Thorn, your dancing is simply breathtaking!" an elderly lady gushed, her eyes shining with adoration.

"Yes, and Miss Valerius is truly fortunate to share the floor with you!" another gentleman chimed in, his tone laced with envy.

More guests drifted toward us, eager to exchange words with the legendary Alpha King. The women's gazes brimmed with longing, while the men's eyes held a mix of respect and strategic flattery.

Karon's brow creased ever so slightly. He didn't enjoy being put on display like this. Without making it obvious, he shifted closer to me, his presence a quiet shield.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Karon's voice rolled through the room, low yet commanding enough to silence the chatter. "Tonight's true star is Miss Valerius. Let us give her the attention she deserves."

He stepped back, deliberately ceding the spotlight. But as he moved away, his fingers brushed lightly across the bare skin of my hand. The fleeting contact sent a rush of heat through me, my wolf straining against its leash, aching for his Mark.

The room seemed to hold its breath. An Alpha King stepping aside for a girl fresh out of university—it was unheard of.

In an instant, the crowd closed in around me, their smiles bright and eager.

"Miss Valerius, you look absolutely stunning tonight!"

"I hear you'll be taking over the family business? We're all looking forward to it!"

I met each compliment with effortless grace. "Thank you. The Valerius Pack needs fresh energy, and I intend to honor my father's trust."

As I spoke, I felt a steady, burning gaze on me. I turned, finding Karon across the room, a glass of red wine in hand. His eyes locked on mine, unwavering. When our gazes met, he lifted his glass in a subtle toast—an elegant, masculine gesture that made my pulse skip.

But then I felt another stare—hotter, heavier.

Bennett. His eyes held a storm of emotions I couldn't quite name. Something about that look tugged at a memory I couldn't place, so I pushed it aside and returned to the conversations.

One by one, guests came to speak with me—some seeking alliances, others fishing for favor. I handled them all with polished confidence, revealing a side of myself few expected. Whispers spread through the room: the spoiled, reckless girl from the rumors was nowhere to be seen.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Bennett's expression darkening. Perhaps he had expected me to remain the adoring little shadow at his heel. Now, seeing me command the room without him, surrounded by admiration, the imbalance must have been unbearable.

"Stephanie." His voice came from behind me.

I turned to find him standing there, his trademark smile back in place, his eyes glinting with something sharper. "Can we talk in private?"

The surrounding guests melted away, leaving us in a small pocket of space.

Typical of males — the more of a challenge I was, the more they burned for me. Treat them too well, and they only took me for granted.

I met his gaze coolly. "If you have something to say, you can say it here."

His brows drew together, clearly not expecting that answer. He stepped closer, using his height to try and close me in.

"You're different tonight," he said, his voice low, almost coaxing.

The familiar scent of his cologne wrapped around me—a scent that once, as Sophia, I had craved. Now, it only stirred a faint disgust.

"Mr. Lightwood," I said evenly, holding his eyes without flinching, "if this isn't business, I have other guests to attend to."

As I spoke, my fingers brushed the Moon Goddess pendant resting against my skin. The champagne silk of my gown hugged my frame, the deep V neckline framing the curve of my collarbone. The subtle movement made the fabric shift, drawing his eyes downward—slowly tracing from my throat to the slight rise and fall of my chest.

Bennett had seen women far more provocatively dressed—Clara, for one—but in that moment, he stared like a man who had forgotten himself. When he realized where his gaze had wandered, a faint flush crept up his neck.

His breathing quickened. He reached out, fingers stretching toward my wrist. "Stephanie, we need to talk."

Before he could touch me, another presence cut between us.

Karon.

I hadn't even seen him approach, but now his long fingers were wrapped firmly around Bennett's wrist, his dark eyes locked on Bennett's with a cold, unblinking warning.

"Mr. Lightwood," Karon said, his voice a low growl edged with danger. "Miss Valerius was perfectly clear."

At the same time, his other hand slid to the small of my back, the heat of his palm seeping through the thin silk and drawing me instinctively closer. My wolf, agitated by Bennett's intrusion, settled under Karon's touch, leaning into the quiet dominance he exuded.

From the outside, it must have looked intimate—possessive.

Bennett froze, his hand suspended in the air. His expression twisted, humiliation flashing in his eyes. Being stopped so publicly by the Alpha King was a blow few men could endure. But he didn't dare challenge Karon. The Thorn Pack's power dwarfed the Blackwood Pack's.

"Of course," Bennett said at last, forcing a smile as he released the tension in his arm.

His eyes, however, lingered on Karon's hand at my waist. "I only wanted to congratulate Stephanie on her performance tonight."