Chapter Fifteen: Fire Within (Derek's POV)

The hall was filled with wolves, pack members, and guests, but none of it mattered. None of it. My focus had been razor-sharp all night. From the moment I entered the party Alpha Moore had thrown in my honor, I knew this was going to be more than just a welcome. This was a test—a game of dominance.

I was here for one reason only: her. Ella.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted her as soon as she walked in, and it was as though the air had been knocked out of my lungs. My heart slammed against my chest, and for a second, I couldn’t breathe. The world around me blurred, the voices, the music, the clinking of glasses—all of it faded into the background.

She entered the hall like a vision, stealing the attention of every male wolf in the room. My chest tightened. I hated the way they looked at her, the way their gazes followed her every step. I had to fight back the possessive growl threatening to spill out.

She wore a stunning midnight blue dress that hugged every curve of her body, and