Chapter 2 : Passing Glances

*Valeria*

Deep blue, like the color of the night sky, before the light completely fades from view, pierced into me. I couldn't take my eyes away as I watched the blue slowly fade into an even deeper black.

Declan cleared his throat beside me and I felt as if a cold bucket of water had been thrown upon me as I was ripped back to reality. I could feel a slight blush creeping up onto my cheeks as I pulled my gaze off of the Lycan's eyes…but other than that I kept my composure.

I sat up even straighter.

Even though I had taken my gaze off of his, I could tell that the dark male in the middle had not taken his from me. My eyes moved forward as the group of elite Lycans continued towards Declan and me.

This time I made sure to look at any but the man in the middle…despite how much my body begged me to.

My breathing was turning erratic, so I tried to control that as well. What was happening to me?

"King Dominic," Declan stated, rising beside me and causing me to follow suit. "What a pleasure. Welcome to my pack."

I knew Declan well enough to hear the emphasis that he put on the word 'my', not to mention the coolness that his tone never carried. He, like all the other werewolves in this room, resented the Lycans and what they stood for. He wasn't any happier to have this impromptu visit as I was planning a last minute party.

I tried to keep that in mind when the sound of the man's voice hit my ears, sending shivers down my spine to match his gaze.

"Alpha Declan," the middle male said, his voice deep with a hint of something else. "And…"

My eyes glanced up. King Dominic was still staring at me, his eyes nearly black, pulling me into their depths. Any sense of time or space just seemed to disappear as I fell in. I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could Declan intervened on my behalf.

"This is my wife, Valeria," Declan said slowly, and out of the corner of my eye I could see him glancing between us. Yet I still couldn't look away…not when he had snared me in his gaze again. This time it was his hand possessively grabbing my own that broke my focus from the King in front of me. "She is my Luna."

For the first time in the conversation, King Dominic's eyes flicked to Declan, his nose slightly flaring, but he said nothing. Instead, his eyes swiveled back to me.

And my eyes hadn't left him this time. I knew I should look away, but I just couldn't.

"Thank you for the welcoming party," he said, his voice as tight as my muscles. "Everything looks great. My court and I would like to enjoy the festivities before delving into business."

"Very well," Declan said with a slight bow.

However, King Dominic didn't move. He continued to stare at me until I gave a slight bow of my own, Declan's hand squeezing mine tightly before he turned away to join the party.

As soon as his back was turned I took a large breath, still trying to calm down my racing heart.

I looked at Declan to see him staring at me in confusion, but instead of saying anything, he turned and began conversing with his Beta, low enough that I was unable to hear with my human ears. Maybe he hadn't noticed the tension as much as I thought? Though that seemed unlikely since it felt like it was solidifying the air in front of us.

My nerves were back in full force now that the Lycans before me were gone and I felt a weird sensation over my body, as if I could feel his eyes on me.

What the hell? Why wouldn't he stop looking at me? And why couldn't I stop looking at him? …And why did it make me feel giddy? Did I like it?

My brain felt like jello.

As if in confirmation of my senses, Declan had spun his head back around as if he could sense the attention as well.

"The King is looking at you again," Declan stated.

"Is he?" I asked, even though I was fully aware. I didn't look to confirm his statement, worried I would be sucked back into the cruel, ruthless King's eyes.

Because that's what he was. I had to keep reminding myself of that. Hell, if the stories were true he killed his own mate.

"Hm, I wonder why," Declan said, speaking more to himself than me. "He can't be interested in you."

I flinched, "And why not?"

"Oh, I'm sorry babe. I wasn't saying that you aren't great, because you are, but I mean come on," Declan said with a smile. "He's the Lycan King, and you're a human."

Despite trying to save himself, he seemed to have dug himself a bigger hole. With my nerves already fried I felt my emotions spike at the words I would usually brush off.

"And what if he does like me?" I asked.

"Well, it's not like I can say anything," Declan said saltily. "But again, I wouldn't worry about that babe. I told him you were mine. Mates are law."

Mine. Like I was his property or something…not his equal.

"Okay," I said, trying to not take his words so personally. "I am going to make my rounds."

Declan let go of my hand, and with a glance behind me, he gave me a quick kiss before turning back to his Beta once more. I knew better than to interfere, even if it was obvious that he was trying to mark his territory; his property.

Trying to distract myself from the burning eyes in the back of my head, I moved around the party. Greeting all of the pack members and thanking all of the volunteers and workers that were helping with the event was almost distracting enough to take my mind off the attention I was still getting.

Almost.

The champagne helped too, though.

Before I knew it, the party was coming to a close and I was saying more and more goodbyes. Seeing the members leaving and laughing together made my heart warm. The pack was my favorite part of being Luna.

I grabbed another glass of champagne from a passing tray. My head was already fuzzy, but it was the only thing taking the edge off the pull that kept begging me to go towards that dark figure that I seemed to feel around me at all times.

I downed the glass.

Declan and I had found our way back to our seats, letting our feet have a break from the long night. I continued to watch and wave at everyone around us, completely ignoring the tall figures that were taking up one corner.

The Lycans would be staying with us at the pack house tonight, making my stomach twist even more. Yet, it was expected of the Alpha to host them and it would be a huge insult to not allow them to stay, so I would suck it up.

Rosie walked by, helping the team clean up so they wouldn't have as much to do in the morning. She really was always willing to help. Another thing I loved about her.

"Maybe we should send Melissa and Rosie out of the pack house," I suggested to Declan as we sat.

"What? Why?" Declan asked with a frown.

"Well, Melissa is eighteen now, I think it would be good for them to get out and have their own lives as well," I said with a smile. "I feel like they are always with us, and waiting on us. Makes me feel a little guilty, don't you think?"

"I don't agree at all," Declan said slowly. "I think they like it here. I would think this is as much their home as it is ours. Sending Rosie and Melissa away-"

"What?" A voice suddenly interrupted from behind us. "You want to send us away?"

Melissa stood there by the window with a look of pure distress on her face.

"Oh no! Not like that!" I said quickly. "I just thought that maybe, you know, now that you are both adults you might want to explore life. Maybe go to college or travel, or maybe even-"

"No, I don't want that, I want to stay here," Melissa said, vigorously shaking her head. "I want to stay in the pack house and be your maid. You and Declan saved me after all, I owe you my life."

"Technically, Valeria is the one that saved you guys, not me," Declan said in a soft voice. "Please do not get upset though, we will never send you away against your will."

Declan's hand came up to rest on the girl's shoulder and I suddenly got a sick feeling deep in my stomach.

I stood up suddenly and gave some quick excuse about being needed somewhere else before I moved away from the two. I needed fresh air, and fast. Or bed. The champagne suddenly didn't seem like such a great idea.

I walked out onto the small veranda, breathing in deeply as I tried to push Rosie's suspicions from my mind.

Voices carried out one of the open windows loud and clear, and I focused on the sound, using it as a distraction. I was so in my head that it took me a moment to realize that I didn't recognize the voices that I was hearing and that they were discussing the pack.

"Did you see how awful their border defenses were when we arrived as well?" One of the voices was sneering. "It is clear that they either don't prioritize it or are incapable of manning such a force."

"I snuck in earlier today and I would put money on the latter," another lighter voice said. "Their training is abysmal! The turnout was awful, and I swear they were doing exercises we learned while we were still in diapers."

Laughs ensued and I felt my blood starting to boil.

Because I realized who the voices belonged to now. And I realized that the Lycans truly were as proud and conceited, not to mention annoying, as the rumors had said. In fact, in just that one condescending conversation I realized why the werewolves resented them.

"Our training and border defense is the best in the surrounding packs," I grumbled to myself lowly. "I'd like to see those spoiled court pricks get their hands dirty like my people. They wouldn't last a day away from their castles."

"Is that so?" A deep voice purred from behind me, making me spin around quickly.

King Dominic stood in front of me.

I felt my heart stop.