His Delicate Love

12

The night of the ball had arrived, and excitement buzzed through the grand hall. The pack was alive with laughter, music, and the sounds of people dancing, swaying in time to the rhythm. Conversations flowed as the pack members mingled, their faces lit with joy as they reveled in the festivities.

Killian stood among the higher ranks, his Alpha, Alaric, at his side, and Jane—his supposed date for the evening—on the other. Jane, a fierce and striking redhead, was everything a high-ranking wolf might want in a mate. Her sharp features, curvaceous figure, and confident demeanor drew plenty of attention. But for Killian, every second of this night felt like a prison. Jane's arm was interlocked with his, her touch unsettling him in ways he couldn't explain. He hated it, hated how wrong it felt, hated that he was standing there with someone who wasn't... *Annie.*

*What if Annie sees this?* The thought wormed its way into his mind, and no matter how hard he tried to shake it, it kept coming back. *What if she gets the wrong idea?* He could feel his chest tighten, and a storm of conflicting emotions brewed within him. He clenched his jaw, trying to bury the thoughts.

"Are you alright, dear?" Jane's voice pulled him from his spiraling thoughts, and he turned to look at her, forcing a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Yep. Perfect," Killian muttered, his voice stiff.

Jane, oblivious to the turmoil inside him, began chatting about something—the details of which Killian barely registered. He was nodding, feigning interest, when suddenly, a familiar scent hit him like a punch to the gut. The soft, sweet scent of innocence and warmth. *Annie.*

His body reacted before his mind could catch up. He ignored the scent at first, forcing himself to stay focused on Jane's words, but the pull was too strong. His gaze snapped to her—Annie—across the room. And the sight of her made his breath catch in his throat.

Annie stood there in her dress, a stunning creation that flowed perfectly around her. The bodice hugged her delicate frame, while the bottom of the dress cascaded in soft, flowing fabric, giving her a graceful, ethereal appearance. Her innocence still shone through, but there was something more tonight—a quiet confidence, a subtle allure that drew every eye in the room to her. But it was Killian's gaze that lingered the longest, his eyes sweeping up and down her body, a heat rising in him that he couldn't ignore. *She's beautiful... too beautiful.*

Lust flickered in his eyes, and for a moment, he allowed himself to feel the raw pull between them, the unspoken connection he had tried so hard to bury. But then his heart dropped into his stomach as Will appeared beside Annie, looping his arm with hers.

*Will?* Rage surged through him like a wildfire, consuming his earlier thoughts. *Fucking Will?* His mind screamed with jealousy as he watched them together, his fists clenching by his sides. Annie had broken their unspoken rule—she had chosen someone else, allowed someone else to be close to her. And it wasn't just anyone. It was *Will.*

Killian's anger boiled over, a low growl rumbling in his chest, so faint that only Jane, standing next to him, noticed.

"Killian?" Jane asked, caught off guard by the sudden change in his demeanor. Her voice was concerned, but Killian barely registered it, his gaze still locked on Annie and Will. He could barely think straight, consumed by a possessive fury he had never expected to feel. *She was mine.*

"Sorry," Killian muttered, his voice strained as he tried to control the rising storm inside him. "I need fresh air."

Without waiting for Jane's response, Killian tore himself away from the hall, his body rigid with tension as he pushed through the crowd. His breath was shallow, his pulse racing as he made his way outside, desperate to regain control over the emotions that had been clawing at him since the moment he laid eyes on Annie.