The nerve of that guy!

I grabbed another champagne glass as I marched through the ballroom, and took a sip. The bubbles did nothing to soothe my pricked nerves. Part of me didn’t want to give him the five minutes. Hell, part of me wanted to call Gabriel right this second and unleash him on that bastard. After everything his people had pulled… Not only had they staged a coup in their own pack, but they’d also attempted to take over ours. Jackoff’s presence here was both unforgivable and ballsy, considering only four days had passed since the main event.

“Lucy!”

I spun around at the sound of my name. Two pack members barreled toward me with matching shit-eating grins.

“I didn’t think you were coming,” Bailey commented. “If I’d known…”

“Gabriel thought it best Reagan sat this one out,” I said.

Her partner in crime, Evelyn, nudged my shoulder. “Probably for the best. Besides, now the three of us can get our drink on and buy ourselves a delicious treat for the night!”

She didn’t mean chocolate.

I followed her gaze and perused the line-up. Tuxes as far as the eye could see, but not a single one of them caught my interest. Not like he had. Grimacing, I chugged back my second glass. I had a feeling I was going to need it tonight.

“So!” Bailey grabbed my arm and dragged me closer. “Is it true?”

“What?”

She rolled her dramatically colored eyes. “Don’t “what” me, girl. Is it true?”

I lifted a brow. “I’m going to need more to go on than that.”

“Jerrik.” She moaned and sank against me, playfully biting her fist. “That man…what I wouldn’t do to him.”

“Well, he’s Reagan’s, so I’d be careful about any wayward thoughts you send his way. She might kill you.”

Bailey chuckled, even though I wasn’t kidding. “But is it true?”

I sighed and sent a searching glance around the room. I definitely needed more alcohol for this.

“Rumor has it he’s the assassin hired to kill her.”

I couldn’t help it—I froze.

“Oh, my God,” Evelyn whispered. “So, it is true. He’s the shadow wolf?”

Shit. Shit. Triple shit. Gabriel had made his stance on this very clear. He’d agreed to Jerrik joining the pack as Reagan’s mate so long as no one ever learned he was the shadow wolf—the name of his former assassin identity. He’d agreed, promising that part of him was good and dead, never to rise again. Anything to be with Reagan. Made a girl swoon, just thinking about it.

“Jerrik is just Jerrik,” I lied. “I’m not sure who’s spreading that story, but you know Gabriel would never let the shadow wolf into the pack.”

Evelyn and Bailey studied me with identically pursed lips. After a few moments, they sighed and stepped back.

“Knew it couldn’t be true. Damn it. What a tale that would have made.”

I rolled my eyes. These two were the living, breathing embodiment of gossip. Little hens trapped in the bodies of wolves. Nobody’s secrets were safe with them, and the entire pack knew it.

“Well, well…” Evelyn cocked a hip and stared behind me, lustful eyes gleaming. “And whoever might you be?”

I turned. At the sight of Mr. Europe, my fingers tightened around my empty champagne glass. “What the hell are you still doing here?”

Evelyn and Bailey shot me matching wide-eyed stares.

I pushed into his personal space. “Didn’t I tell you to get the hell out?”

Amusement flashed across his face. He gazed down at me, long lashes framing his dark eyes. “You did. But I decided to stay.”

I barely restrained a shiver. That voice of his, and the scent of his cologne… They awoke something within me—something that had been asleep for what felt like ages. My wolf, I realized as she shook herself out and stretched. She stalked forward in the dark recesses of my mind, her golden eyes trained on the man standing in front of me. Damn beast never bothered to concern herself with anything other than a brief run now and then. But for him, she made an effort.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding,” he stated.

“No, there hasn’t. Your pack isn’t welcome here, and neither are you. There’s the door. Don’t make me ask you again.”

“Technically, you haven’t asked me once yet.” He threw me a cocky grin, and my damn knees trembled. “By the way, I’m not with the European pack.”

I clenched my jaw and batted back the little lust bunnies hopping around in my chest. Now wasn’t the time. “Your accent says otherwise.”

He leaned forward and murmured, “My accent is Norwegian. But I’m not, nor have I ever, been a part of the European pack. Or any pack, for that matter.”

I couldn’t focus on his words, not with my traitorous heart beating at a million miles a minute.

“I’m what you Americans call a lone wolf.”

“And I’m just supposed to believe that?” I whispered, shivering.

He lifted a hand and toyed with a single curl dangling near my cheek, his rough knuckles brushing against my cheek. “I can only give you my word, elskan mín.”

“My name is Lucy,” I breathed. “Not…whatever you just called me.” Though I had to admit, I loved the sound of his language rolling off his lips.

“Lucy,” he repeated as he studied my face. “A lovely name for a lovely woman.”

I cleared my throat and stepped back, putting space between us. “Are you here as a bachelor then?”

Bemusement tugged on his mouth. “I’m flattered. But no.”

“So, if you aren’t here as a bachelor, and you’re not part of the European pack…” I let my sentence dangle with the hope that he’d answer my unspoken question. What other reason could there be for his presence? Unless…understanding dawned. “Are you here to bid on one of the bachelors?”

Surprise widened his dark eyes, and he choked back a laugh. “Uh, no. While I’m sure they’re fine men, they’re not the one I’m interested in.”

Heat spread through my cheeks.

“Um. We’ll just…be elsewhere,” Bailey said. “Like, over there. Yeah, over there works.”

“What?” Evelyn asked.

“Come on, dummy.” Bailey grabbed Evelyn’s arm and wrenched her toward the bar.

The blush spread down the back of my neck. Within five minutes, the entire pack would hear about this. Those two women were the absolute worse sort. Gossip was like air to them.

“So.” I shot him another look, my tongue suddenly heavy in my mouth.

This was ridiculous. I wasn’t the sort who gummed up in front of a man. I was the sort who took initiative, who dragged them out onto the dance floor for a good time, who used them, then ditched them the next morning. Yet, here I stood, nervously fiddling with my glass, my mouth drier than the desert. All because Mr. Europe was hotter than hell itself.

I cleared my throat and tried again. “What are you here for then?”

His brows furrowed. “I came to see someone. But they didn’t show.”

A woman someone? I wanted to ask. Except, the words died in my throat. “And you’re really not part of the European pack?”

“No.” He chuckled, the expression lighting up his face. I loved the sound of it, deep but gentle, as though he laughed a lot. “In fact, I only arrived in America this afternoon.”

My lips parted. “Wow. You even managed to score a sweet tux, too. Impressive.”

He bowed his head. “I aim to please.”

“Did you come to America to meet this friend of yours?”

“I did. Guess that won’t be happening tonight, though.”

“And this friend…” Just ask! “A female friend?”

His smile broadened, flashing a pair of dimples. “No. Just an old friend. But he’s not here, and you are. So, I call that a win.”

I ducked my head, the bunnies in my stomach launching into full-blown butterflies. Damn it, stop playing coy! Reagan often called me a man-eater. Time to put up or shut up.

“Well then.” I handed my empty glass to the next server who strode by and grabbed two fresh drinks, handing him one. “If you’re not from the European pack, then I offer you my sincerest apology for the way I spoke to you earlier.”

“That so?” His mouth ticked upward. “I’m honored. I get the impression you don’t apologize often.”

“I’m not often wrong,” I said with a playful wink.

“Ah, beauty and brains, then?” Before I could respond, he plowed onward. “I take it you’re here to bid on one of these fine gentlemen tonight?”

“Yup.” Not that I wanted to anymore. The only devilishly handsome werewolf I wanted to play with was the one standing in front of me. “You sure you’re not supposed to be up there?”

“Do you want me to be?”

Most definitely. I’d bid every last cent on him. Problem was, from the many hungry glances sliding his way, I wasn’t the only one interested. And I wasn’t known for sharing. After a moment’s consideration, I shook my head. “No, you don’t belong up there.”

He clutched at his chest. “You wound me, madam!”

“It’s for your protection, and everyone else’s too. I wouldn’t want to have to kill everyone who bid on you just to get what I want.”

He stepped closer, his scent overwhelming my senses. “I’m intrigued. What is it you want?”

“You tell me,” I murmured, my voice taking on a husky note.

His fingers brushed against mine, teasing, taunting…playing the game. I gave a slow blink and lifted my gaze to his, my mouth curling into a sensuous smile.

“I know what I want,” he said.

“Do tell.”

Without warning, he cupped the back of my head and brushed his lips against mine. Slowly at first, tasting what I had to offer. Teasing me with the promise of something more. I’d expected him to ravish my mouth, but instead, he took the time to seduce me. Heat spread through my body, and my damn knees buckled. His touch feathered against my bare back, eliciting a shiver unlike anything I’d ever experienced. My whole body attuned to his, and he’d done little more than offer a chaste brush of our lips.

We parted, my chest heaving beneath my dress. His gaze dipped to my plunging neckline, his eyes sparkling at the sight of my flushed skin.

“I have a room upstairs,” he rasped.

Hallelujah. Because we sure as hell wouldn’t make it back to my place.

“Only if you’re interested.”

I laughed. “You damn well know I’m interested.”

“Now?”

Screw the auction. Gabriel had sent me to smooth over the press, and to donate money to a good cause. Neither of which I’d done. But I’d already won the night as far as I was concerned, without spending a single cent. I could easily donate the money without bidding.

I licked my lips, excitement dancing in my stomach. “Now,” I murmured. “Right fucking now.”

He flashed me a grin. “A woman after my own heart.”

Grabbing my hand, he pulled me through the hotel toward the elevators. I spared a backward glance, only to find Bailey and Evelyn watching from the bar, their expressions a mixture of awe and envy. Bailey had the gall to give me two thumbs up before lifting her phone and pointing to the screen. I knew what that meant. In a few minutes, everyone would know I hooked up with—

I cocked my head and pulled him to a stop. “I don’t even know your name.”

The corners of his mouth tugged upward. “It’s Leif. Leif Erikson.”