Chapter 66
Lorik leaned forward and kissed on my hair..
His unexpected kiss on the top of my head caught me off guard. The tenderness in his gesture softened the tension between us, and as I looked up, his eyes met mine with a fondness that made my heart skip a beat.
“Supporting you is part of my duty as an Alpha,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm against the unease I’d been carrying.
He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer. “You look beautiful today,” he said softly.
I felt a blush creep up my checks, a shyness overtaking me as his words sank in. I had spent hours getting ready for this competition, and his compliment only heightened my self–consciousness.
My gown was a vision of elegance, the fabric cascading around me like liquid silver. The bodice was intricately embroidered with delicate patterns of vines and flowers, each stitch shimmering under the lights. A soft, off–the–shoulder design revealed just enough skin to be alluring without being overt and the long, flowing skirt moved gracefully with every step I took.
I had chosen to wear my hair in loose waves, with a few strands pinned back to keep it away from my face, and a pair of simple diamond earrings completed the look.
Still, despite all the effort I had put into my appearance, I felt a bit uneasy. “I thought you were still – angry with me,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Lorik’s grip on me tightened slightly, his expression turning serious. “More than wanting a child, I want you to stay by my side forever,” he said, his tone firm. “Don’t ever leave without a word like that again, and don’t ever refuse my calls or messages.”
His eyes darkened, a flicker of something intense passing through them. “Someone filmed you with Maurice yesterday, and it’s driving me crazy with jealousy.”
I stiffened, recalling the moment from the previous night. There had been a flicker of movement in the shadows, a sense of being watched that I had dismissed at the time.
I had no idea it would cause such turmoil in Lorik. The thought of telling him about Maurice’s Confession made my stomach churn. I could only imagine the chaos that would ensue if Lorik knew Maurice had openly declared his feelings for me. I feared he might storm onto the stage, interrupting the entire competition to challenge Maurice to a duel.
After I Let Go My Alpha, He Knelt in Regret
36.8%
apte
shook my head quickly, trying to calm the storm brewing in Lorik’s mind. “We didn’t have what you think we had,” I assured him, choosing my words carefully,
Lorik leaned in, his nose brushing against my neck as he inhaled deeply. The action was both possessive and comforting, his wolf side seeking reassurance that I was still his, and his alone.
He held me so tightly that I could feel the hot temperature of his body. Just then, the announcement echoed through the room.
‘And now for our sixth contestant, Shirley Winter, who will be performing a suite written by piano virtuoso Ethan Winter himself: “Time Marks‘.
My heart leaped in my chest. It was my turn. The culmination of months of preparation had come
own to this moment.
Lorik’s kiss on my cheek, a brief but lingering touch, brought a sudden warmth to my cold fingertips, easing some of the nervousness that had been gnawing at me.
“Good luck,” he whispered against my ear, and I gave him a grateful smile before stepping away.
As I walked onto the stage, the murmur of the audience rose to a crescendo. The buzz was palpable, a ripple of excitement that spread through the room as soon as my name was announced. Ethan Winter’s daughter–everyone knew who I was now, and their eyes bore into me, waiting to see if I would live up to the legacy of my father.
I paused at the center of the stage, giving the audience a graceful bow, acknowledging their presence with a quiet nod. My heart raced as I approached the grand piano, the instrument that had been both my refuge and my challenge for so many years.
I ran my fingers lightly over the keys, ensuring everything was in place before signaling to the judges that I was ready to begin.
The room fell into a hushed silence, the anticipation thick in the air as the judges settled into their seats, prepared to score my performance. I took a deep breath, letting the stillness seep into me calming my nerves.
A staff member approached, ready to turn the pages of my sheet music as I played. Everything was in order, or so I thought. As the first page was turned, my hands froze over the keys, and I felt a chill run down my spine.
Ỉ stared at the words, my breath catching in my throat. The shock of it all left me momentarily paralyzed. I looked up at the staff member, hoping for some explanation, but he avoided my gaze, his face a mask of indifference. Panic surged through me as the enormity of the situation settled in.
27.00%
stead of the familiar notes of “Time Marks‘, my eyes met a blank sheet of paper, save for a single And scrawled in the middle. The words hit me like a physical blow, my mind struggling to process what I was seeing. It said:
Shirley is a bitch.
pstead of the familiar notes of “Time Marks‘, my eyes met a blank sheet of paper, save for a single ne scrawled in the middle. The words hit me like a physical blow, my mind struggling to process hat I was seeing. It said:
Shirley is a bitch.
apte
