Page 22 of The Alpha's Lunar Crown

The sound of music echoes throughout the ballroom, which is filled with laughter and clinking glasses.

Damon's hand holds my waist as we move to the rhythm of the music. His grip is firm, guiding me on the dance floor, and his hot breath brushes against my ear. His cologne is manly and fills my nose as I rest on his arm.

Unlike other people who come in and out of my life, Damon's presence feels comforting, like I can trust him to stay.And yet, despite the comfort I feel, there is something missing. A part of me feels out of place, like I am pretending to be happy, forcing happiness on myself, and I don't like it.

When the conference came to a conclusion, I wasted no time in booking the next flight to Phoenix, and even after that, I made a conscious effort to reduce every interaction with him to quick texts and emails and blocking all of his attempts to see me.I've told myself it's because I can't stand him, and his presence makes me nauseous, but now I am in what is supposed to be my favorite annual event with the man I should be in love with, yet I cannot bring myself to be present and enjoy the night. Maybe it is the expensive lifestyle I see at this ball or the fact that the attention of the guest is on me in a way I am not sure I deserve, but I still can't shake off the feeling that something is wrong. I've felt like this since the first day I ran into Lucien at the restaurant, like I'm at the edge of a cliff and have no idea what could happen in the next minute.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck rise up. It's that feeling, the one I know too well. It is one of the signals I get before he graces me with his presence. Lucien is here.

"You're distracted," Damon mutters.

I shake my head, forcing a laugh. "I'm fine."

Damon studies me, but he doesn't press further to question me. Instead, he pulls me closer, fingers tightening around my waist, the heat of his body seeping through my dress. I should feel safe in his arms, but I don't.

I can feel his eyes all over my body, but I don't turn around, and my heartbeat hastens.

Keeping my gaze locked on Damon, I hope silently that my body stays relaxed. I have to pretend that I don't feel him watching me.

Just then, a hand grabs my wrist, clenching tightly. My whole body jerks, a gasp slipping from my lips.

Damon stops moving as his hold on my waist tightens.

"Let her go." His voice is low and dangerous.

Lucien doesn't say anything. His gaze scans my body, and suddenly, it feels like the ballroom blurs away. The music becomes low, and the voices from the crowd become silent. It is just him and me against the world.

"I need to talk to you," he replies, not sparing Damon as much as a glance.Damon's arm around me grows tight as he tugs me closer to him, trying to pull me out of Lucien's hold. "I said, let her go.""And I suggest you stay out of this. If the lady wants my hands off her, I'm certain she can speak for herself." Lucien's eyes do not leave mine, and I can spot a little audience gathering around us.

"Lady? Damon scoffs. "If this is how you treat women you consider ladies, I wouldn't want to see how you treat the ones you have no regard for." His eyes harden in a way I've never seen before. "Clearly, no one gave you a lesson about respect, but if you don't let go of her this instant, I'll be glad to teach you a thing or two."

The air in the ballroom shifts as the men engage in an intense stare-down, neither of them backing down. Lucien's blue orbs swirl with rage, while Damon's drip with pure animosity. The energy between them is as fragile as a bomb, and I have no doubt it'll take less than a breath from the other to cause full-blown mayhem.I don't know about Damon's fighting abilities. He's always sweet around me, but I've seen Lucien fight, and I know just how ruthless he can be. I'm not sure I want to be responsible for the damage they'll cause.

I open my mouth in an attempt to dissipate the tension, but Lucien beats me to it, his voice dripping with venom. "I don't take lightly to threats. This will be your last warning to stop sniffing around my woman."

"I am not your woman." I waste no time in clarifying, but Lucien merely continues like I didn't say a word."You'll walk out of here, go play hero somewhere else, and never show your ugly face around here."

"Or else what?" Damon takes a step forward. "What could a weakling whose only way of getting attention from a woman is to force himself on her do to me?"

"Both of you, stop this madness," I whisper yell, unable to raise my head to meet the questioning looks from the audience. "What has gotten into you?"My question is directed at Damon. Lucien, I know, does not give two shits about an audience, but Damon, he is always calm and collected, and watching him let Lucien bring out this side of him is a bit disappointing.His gaze softens, and so does his hold around me. "I'm sorry about that. How about we call this a night and leave? I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"You're not leaving with him, Rora." Lucien's words drop with a tone of finality, and I have no doubt he'll see it to the end.Damon takes a deep breath. "Aurora, you don't have to go with him—"

"It's fine, Damon. I can handle myself."

"You don't have to let him have his way all the time. He relies on your peace-loving nature and hatred for negative attention to keep forcing his way into your life."

I shut my eyes, drawing in a deep breath to steady me. Damon is right. Lucien has been intentionally putting me in difficult situations, but he doesn't know Lucien like I do. His words are not empty threats and promises. He will not back down till I leave this ballroom with him, and I know this organization well enough to understand that if I mess this up so badly, I'll not be invited to subsequent dinners. My client list will take a hit.

I lift a hand, stopping him. "It's fine." I grab the hem of my flowing dress.

Damon stiffens. "Aurora." He takes my hands in his again.

"I said it's fine," I repeat, my voice steady.

My words are sharp, commanding, and louder than I intend. Damon's hand loosens around mine, his fingers clenching into a fist, but he doesn't argue any further.He steps back with a tight-lipped smile visible on his face, bowing lightly. "Of course, Lucien is that guy," his voice laced with anger, ears flaring up.I wish I could explain further, but the situation doesn't offer room for that. Plus, I know Lucien. He won't stop until I give in, and I'm not in the mood to become the hot topic of the finance industry.Lucien doesn't wait for Damon to leave before his hand reaches for my waist, pulling me closer to him. This time, he isn't asking. His action is the ultimate tool he has.

My breath gets stuck in my throat, and I pull away before my body can take control of me. "What are you doing?" I make no attempt to hide the fury in my voice. He can't keep forcing his way into my life and putting me in difficult situations."You know exactly what I'm doing, Aurora," Lucien growls, his voice low and raspy. He pulls me, and I basically run beside him toward the corner of the ballroom. The crowd parts like the sea for us."Lucien," I snap, my pulse hastening. "Stop. I'm not doing this. Not tonight. Not with you."

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