The Lycan Kingpin's Captive: A Baby For The Beast novel Chapter 28

A blood-red dress with a neckline that shows off a modest cleavage, a thigh-high slit, flats, and my hair curled in an updo. I never thought I would ever look this elegant, I don’t even recognize the woman looking back at me.

We traveled to my father’s territory a day ago, with Nikolaos keeping to his promise. I haven’t seen him at all this entire week, but I know he was around the pack house. His scent was all over, but I never saw him.

It was the most frustrating week of my life because I really wanted to speak with him after the way we left things. He’s even got us sleeping in different hotel rooms so we don’t run into one another.

We’re supposed to appear happy and in love tonight; how will we pull that off if we’re both trying not to let the other in? I’m not that good of a liar, no matter what he thinks.

There’s a knock on my door and Josef pops his head in. “The Alpha is waiting outside for you, Miss Mia,” he says.

I nod and grab my handbag while ignoring how gorgeous this engagement ring looks on my finger. Then I follow Josef out to where Nikolaos is waiting right outside his hotel room door.

Sucking in a breath, the wind is knocked out of me when I see him. He always looks so good wearing a suit, and right now he looks absolutely dashing. Black suit, bow tie, hair slicked back, and smelling divine; I don’t think I’ll struggle with pretending I’m in love with him at all.

His eyes widen slightly when he sees me, but his expression remains stoic as he takes my hand and draws it to his lips. A jolt of excitement shoots right through me when he kisses my hand, and the way his eyes briefly shimmer crimson, I know he felt it too.

“Beautiful Mia,” he says, then he holds out his arm for me to take. I slide my hand into the crook of his arm, loving the feel of his bicep as I hold it. Being so close to him is intoxicating, I can hear my heart beating so loudly in my ears.

“You’re asking for trouble allowing your desire to seep into your scent, little rabbit,” he grumbles but doesn’t look at me. “Do you want to be the cause of a few deaths tonight?”

“I think I’ll already be the cause,” I say without thinking, and he turns to me with a frown etched on his brow.

“I told you I’ll keep you safe. The second Giovanni announces our engagement, we’re leaving,” he growls. “No one will touch you, Mia.”

“Not even you,” I murmur and nearly kick myself.

Casting a furtive glance at him, I see that his jaw is clenched tight; as if he’s stopping himself from saying something he shouldn’t. Well, at least one of us has that under control.

We get to the car and he holds the door open for me, but before I get in, his arm shoots out to block me from entering. Every synapse fizzles with him being so close to me, and when I peer up at him, I notice that his Alpha crimson eyes are back.

“Don’t do this, Mia,” he begs, shaking his head. “You know why we can’t be more than this; I’ll only hurt you.”

I draw my hand to his face and caress his stubbled cheek. “Then quit looking at me like you’re stopping yourself from kissing me,” I say, watching as his eyes close at my touch. “It doesn’t make things easier.”

He sighs, then takes my hand and kisses the inside of my wrist. “I want to do more than just kiss you-”

“But you can’t,” I repeat his words and pull my hand from his grasp, pursing my lips. “Because you think you’ll hurt me more than Mikhail or my father has.”

“Stop being a brat, Mia,” he says, then removes his arm from the door. “I’m doing this to fucking protect you, you know that!”

“How are you protecting me by distancing yourself from me? Isn’t the safest place right by your side?!” I exclaim as surprise slips into his crimson eyes and he shakes his head.

“That is not what this is about and you know it. Now get in the fucking car so we can leave this place behind.”

I huff and get in the car without looking at him, knowing that this evening won’t get any better from here on. He’s supposed to be my strength tonight, but how can he be when we’re trying to push our feelings down?

We don’t speak on the drive over and the silence cuts right to the bone. I know he thinks he’s protecting me, but from what? His past? His demons? The reason he hates being touched? Wouldn’t it be easier to share all that with me so I’m aware of it?

I suppose I’ll never know.

The banquet address has been changed from the mansion hall to a rented-out fancy hotel. Nikolaos’ scent and demeanor change from pissed off to powerful Alpha the second we get out of the car. I must admit that the change terrified me, it reminded me of the first time I met him.

But this is the image he needs to project tonight; this is Alpha Nikolaos, the beast.