Page 1 of Falling for My Shifter Defender

Chapter 1

Eli

These damn formal events are going to be the death of me.

I tug at my collar for the hundredth time, feeling like I'm being slowly strangled by Italian silk. The ballroom of the Blackwell estate glitters with more wealth than I've ever seen in one place—crystal chandeliers throwing rainbow prisms across marble floors, candlelight dancing on polished surfaces, the air thick with perfume and power.

And tension. Always tension when this many alphas gather in one place.

I snag a whiskey from a passing server and take a long drink, scanning the crowd.

I spot Adrian near the balcony, surveying his kingdom with that characteristic intensity. The hunter attack is still fresh in everyone's minds—a reminder that danger lurks beyond these walls. But tonight isn't about fear. It's about showing strength.

I make my way through the crowd, nodding at familiar faces. Theo stands near the entrance, deep in conversation with Sawyer—no doubt discussing security protocols. Lucien D'Arcy lounges by the bar, swirling a glass of blood-infused wine with elegant fingers, watching the room with detached amusement.

Adrian doesn't turn as I approach, but his posture shifts slightly—a silent acknowledgment.

"I'll never get used to this," I mutter, adjusting my collar again. The wolf inside me chafes at the confinement, the formality, the pretense.

Adrian arches a brow, still watching the crowd. "Used to what?"

"This," I gesture broadly at the spectacle before us. "Dancing, small talk, pretending we're civilized creatures."

A hint of a smirk touches Adrian's lips. "You're the one who insisted on attending."

I shrug, taking another sip of my drink. "Had to see it for myself. You, of all people, hosting a damn gala." I can't resist needling him a little. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you're starting to enjoy this whole community-building thing."

Adrian doesn't respond, but I know him well enough to read the subtle shift in his expression. The lone wolf is learning to run with a pack again.

"You're not a lone wolf anymore, you know," I say, voicing the thought.

Before Adrian can respond, something catches my attention—a flicker of movement near one of the grand columns at the edge of the ballroom. My senses sharpen, focusing on the disturbance.

A child. A small girl with wide eyes, peeking out from behind the pillar.

Something in my chest tightens. Children don't belong at an event like this—too many predators, too many politics.

"Were kids invited to this thing?" I ask, already moving toward her.

"No," Adrian replies, his tone wary.

I sigh, already stepping away. "I'll take care of it."

"Eli." Adrian's voice stops me. "Everything alright?"

I pause, glancing back. Something stirs in my chest—an inexplicable pull toward the child, a protective instinct that feels both foreign and familiar.

"Always is," I say, flashing my trademark grin to mask the strange feeling. "Go find your mate, Adrian. Some of us have more important things to deal with than fancy parties."

I move through the crowd with purpose, keeping my eyes on the little girl. She doesn't run when she sees me approaching—just watches with curious eyes that seem too knowing for her age.

As I draw closer, a scent hits me—wild, earthy, threaded with something softer. Something that makes my wolf stir with sudden interest.

What the hell?

I crouch down a few feet away from her, making myself smaller, less threatening. "Hey there," I say softly. "You're not supposed to be in here."

The girl tilts her head, studying me with unnerving intensity. She can't be more than six or seven, with a delicate face and bright, intelligent eyes.

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