The empty hallway

Keira POV

The world stopped when his lips touched mine. I was no longer Keira Gray of the Spring Moon. Neither was I wife and mate to Alpha Liam. I was no one but a woman ready to be claimed by a powerful lycan beast. Not even his taunts could bring me back to my senses as his fangs caressed my lips.

My body was at his command. Before I knew it, I was sandwiched between him and the wall as his tongue tangled with mine.

Then he began to slow down, his lips freeing mine. Only then did my senses slowly return.

What the hell was I doing? Letting another Alpha kiss me in my own home? At my wedding anniversary. I was appalled with myself as I pushed him off of me. His brow creased, and his eyes narrowed as he murmured thoughtfully,

"Something's wrong with your wolf."

"Get out," I barked breathlessly. "This is an assault. You would love a war, won't you? Get out!"

The fact that he just spoke my secret out loud was not as threatening as what he just made me do. Apart from pack elders and Liam, who were sworn to secrecy, no one knew of my sleeping wolf.

I refused to dignify Nox's words by commenting on it, so I repeated,

"Get out."

"Something's wrong, Kei-"

"How dare you touch me? Get out!"

He balled both fists on his sides, tightening his lips as if holding back on speaking, but he didn't move. His expression grew stoic and hard to read.

He probably didn't care if someone saw us. Maybe his plan was to get caught with me like this. If that was the case, then I was right. He really wanted war. To conquer and take the Spring Moon.

"You don't care, do you? I'm the one who's married and not you!"

"I'm not trying to get you into trouble..." he trailed off with a deep frown. As if he was only just realized something.

I turned away from him, unsure what to do with myself or where to go.

I was supposed to be looking for Liam. We were supposed to be addressing the g-string problem. Instead, I was here getting cozy in another man's arms? What right did I have now to question Liam about what fell out of his pocket?

"If you don't return to the party, I'll call out for the warriors."

"Or you could let your wolf force me out by herself," he suggested.

His face was so serious now that I didn't know if he was mocking me, but one thing was clear now. He knew my secret. I was alarmed but pretended like what he just said had no consequence.

I began to head back into the party but stopped because he was at my heels. What would someone think if they saw us go back inside together. I never would've worried about that if not for the fact that I let him kiss me. My heart raced with guilt.

"I know all about you," I pointed a warning finger at him. "I know you're a conquerer. A land thief! If you think you can steal my pack by sowing discord in my home, you have another think coming."

"I don't need to sow discord in your home to get what I want, Keira. Tell me, has Liam explained where the panties came from?"

Fates, he saw that? I was appalled. Someone else must have. Oh, Goddess.

Then came a sound. Footsteps. I turned around sharply and began heading towards the direction of the main house where the sound was coming from.

"Look, we should sit down and talk, alright," he said in a softer tone. "I'm not trying to conquer the Spring Moon. I kissed you be-"

"That's enough from you, Alpha Nox!" I barked under my breath. "Leave me the hell alone."

Liam appeared at the end of the hall right then. He was straightening his suit jacket but stopped at the sight of us. My heart jolted to my throat. I felt like he would know I'd cheated on him by merely looking at me.

"Hey babe, what's going on? Is everything okay?" He hastened towards me, eyes moving from me to the lycan behind me.

"I... I was looking for you. Where did you go?"

"I had to take a phone call," he replied. "And then deal with an urgent message."

This was the part where I complained that work was prohibited today, but he went on speaking. Whether he worked or not felt irrelevant now.

"Alpha Nox, why are you here?" He asked.

I tried to keep my breathing even, not daring to look at the source of my trouble. If I did, maybe Liam would know something was up with the both of us.

"I was hoping to discuss business with the Luna," he replied confidently. "But it appears she's not in the mood." His voice didn't even shake.

"I see." Liam remarked.

Then I noticed a thin drop of liquid sliding down his neck as if he'd just taken a quick shower and didn't dry himself properly.

"My Keira wouldn't be in the mood to talk business today, Alpha Nox," he said, at the same time, moving close to place a hand around my waist.

Nox's eyes followed the movement, his face going blank.

Then Liam leaned over in an attempt to drop a kiss on my lips. I moved away. Not because of our unresolved issues. There was a stranger here whom I should be putting up appearances for.

Liam's face hardened at my reaction. Then his nose flared. I quickly began to speak,

"Alpha Nox, why don't you get back to the party. We'll talk business another day."

He didn't move. "Please," I added.

As he turned away, I did the same in the opposite direction. Liam followed behind me silently till we were close to my uncle's quarters. Then he asked,

"What's that all over you?"

"What's what?" I returned without looking at him.

"You reek of another male, Keira! What the fûck!"