Chapter 32Â
GemmaÂ
The dress that Zina picked for me to wear is nothing like what I usually choose.Â
I generally like to dress in subdued, cool tones and not show offÂ
too much.Â
This dress is as red as blood, clings to my body, and is low cut enough in the front and back to be dangerous.Â
With my waves of red hair in nearly the same color cascading down my shoulders and over my back, I look breathtaking.Â
Maybe that sounds arrogant, but just for tonight, I allow it for myself. I feel breathtaking.Â
After three years of feeling invisible, of being invisible in the world my father and Cassian both kept from me, I’m so ready to turn heads.Â
I carefully choose my jewelry and makeup, and before long, we’re ready to go.Â
“Jace is coming, too,” Zina says as we ride the elevator down. “He’s meeting us outside.”Â
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Chapter 32Â
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We walk out of the building and sure enough, there’s Jace. I canÂ
tell it’s him even from behind because of his height. He’s almostÂ
as tall as Cassian.Â
Then Jace turns, and my jaw drops.Â
He isn’t wearing his huge glasses that make his eyes as big as tennis balls. His hair isn’t greasy and gross, either. It’s neat andÂ
styled.Â
It’s like the man from my college days was some kind of ugly duckling and I just found out he’s been a swan this whole time.Â
Well–groomed and without his glasses taking up his entire face, Jace is hot.Â
yes are His lips are expressive and quirk in an easy smile. Hi long–lashed and a gorgeous shade of mossy gold. His bone structure is phenomenal, and in his well–tailored suit, I can see that he’s way more fit than I would have guessed.Â
I can’t believe this man has been hiding under all that for all theseÂ
years.Â
Zina elbows me right in the ribs, and I realize I’m staring.Â
“Jace!” I say, trying to recover my composure. “You look…reallyÂ
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Chapter 32Â
nice.”Â
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He gives me a small nod. In true Jace fashion, he doesn’t speak.Â
Zina, however, giggles wildly and hooks an arm through his, then mine. “We are going to take the criminal underworld by storm. Let’s go!”Â
**Â
CassianÂ
I move through the banquet with Reyna on my arm. Between us, we have hundreds of contacts. Tonight is the night we reaffirm those bonds and strengthen our alliances.Â
s even make Some of the bosses who are also Alphas of wolf pa agreements to run with each other as wolves, which is a sign ofÂ
trust.Â
There isn’t anyone here I trust enough for that.Â
People still arrive as the evening goes on, and I keep one eye on the door, so I know who’s here.Â
At first, I don’t recognize my wife. I just see a stunning woman inÂ
a short dress with a neckline so low it practically shows her belly button.Â
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Chapter 32Â
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Zephyr surges up, almost as if he wants to take over, and that plus the sight of this woman almost knock me off my feet.Â
She is so fucking beautiful. So perfect. I have to have her…Â
Then she throws her head back and laughs at something the short woman by her side says. That woman I do recognizeÂ
instantly.Â
Zina.Â
Which means the redhead…Â
I grip my champagne flute so hard in my hand that it shatters. Glass cuts into my palm. I don’t care.Â
Gemma.Â
Zephyr howls in possessive triumph, because every man here is staring at her.Â
They want her, but she’s mine.Â
The need to be by her side, to let every man here know who this bombshell belongs to, rocks me to my core.Â
I’ve never seen her dressed like this. Usually, the clothes sheÂ
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Chapter 32Â
wears are subdued and elegant, or else completely casual.Â
In this dress, with red lips and smokey eyes, she’s sensualityÂ
incarnate.Â
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Before I realize what I’m doing, I stride over and yank her awayÂ
from her friends.Â
“What are you doing here?” I snarl.Â
She jerks her hands from mine. “I think your date is over there, Alpha Blackwell.”Â
She thrusts a pointing finger toward where Reyna must be. I don’t even turn my head.Â
“I don’t like your dress,” I growl.Â
I do, Zephyr says.Â
“Change it,” I finish.Â
Rage fills Gemma’s eyes, and it’s like I can see the angry goddess of the storm in her all over again.Â
“You really have the fucking audacity today, don’t you, Cassian?” she hisses. “You don’t get to tell me what to wear. Not now, or ever again.”Â
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Chapter 32Â
*16 min leftÂ
Suddenly, Gemma is pulled away from me, and the big wolf she’s been walking around with is between me and her.Â
I straighten and find myself eye to eye with him. It’s rare thatÂ
another male wolf matches my size, and I wonder what pack he’sÂ
from.Â
His scent is unfamiliar, and I can tell he’s no Alpha.Â
I dismiss him and look behind him, where Gemma is standing and looking surprised.Â
“Gemma,” I say, “Get this pup out of my way, or everything we agreed on last night will be off the table.” I look at the other wolf again and say, “And things will get very, very messy.”Â
BÂ
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