Daryn noticed that the color of her eyes changed. There was a yellow in the center of the green. He could feel her anger mixed her arousal. Her skin tingled under his touch. She wanted to shift. And he wanted to shift too along with her and take her to the forests and mindlessly fuck her. He brought his fangs closer to her bare neck that glittered with the reflection of stones in her silver earrings. She enticed him like a siren. Like a mate would?

He brought his face near her neck, closed his eyes and took in all the smell he could to remember forever. His lips curled to bare his fangs. This was purely crazy. His wolf wanted to jump out. Years of control, was about to go down the drain when suddenly he sensed her fear. How could he mark her when she was so afraid of him? His wolf wanted to protect her.

​​

How could he mark her here? In the midst of his own engagement? His trance broke.

The way he pulled her close to him to support her and prevent her from falling, it aroused Dawn. Her panties became wet and her nipples were taut against her bra. When he looked down at her face, she found the color of his eyes changing slightly, which confused her. She was angered with her arousal, with the person who hated neotides, who had planned all this just to insult Azura. She growled.

His trance broke.

Suppressing her feelings for him, she said, "Mr. Daryn Silver, I didn't know that you were such a disdainful person."

Daryn jerked his head up to look at her face, which was laced with bitterness.

Dawn bared her teeth and said, "In order to disrespect Azura Fraziers, you used me. Your animosity with him is so deep that you would use anyone to get to him? I don't even know you and yet you utilized my presence to disrespect him. What has he done to you? What have I done to you?" she spat.

Daryn stared at her as she spilt anger. He opened his mouth but closed it when she continued, "Wait, I don't want to listen about your rivalry with Azura, but what you did to him today in the party simply doesn't suit your stature Mr. Daryn Silver. And what you did to me, was downright disgusting!"

His jaw clenched. Leaving her hands, Daryn opened his tie and suit and unbuttoned his shirt. He threw them aside and again held her hands. He was dying to shift, pin this wild cat and claim her. The music started. He swirled her as if she was his toy and then picked her up. Slowly, he slid her down his body and then dipped her with a sway. His face was only a few inches closer to her when he said, "Who cares? I know you want me. I knew that the way you looked at me, the first time. So don't pretend. There are thousands like you who want to have me and if given a chance, marry me. I have had restraint orders against so many like you. You want to beg me to marry you. All this is just an act, a cover up of your hidden emotions for me." Saying that he picked her up immediately and took her twirling across the room before coming to the center. As soon as they were in the center, he thrust her to his left and pushed her away from him. Just before she fell, he held her hand and pulled her with a jerk. Dawn knew the step. She jumped and settled on his left thigh, kneeling. He held her waist tightly.

She was aghast at what he thought of her. She didn't find the time to retort while he was twirling and swirling her. But now, she had. In a hoarse voice she said, "Even if you were the last man on this earth, I wouldn't marry you! And don't worry about the restraint order – this is the last you will ever see me."

Daryn's lips flattened on his teeth. How dare she reject him? How dare she speak for Azura? The way she spewed venom, he wanted to throw her on the floor and fuck her senseless. His cock twitched again and heat flushed through his body. He was sweating. He lowered her and made her stand in front of him.

The music soared through the hall. The tempo increased taking the two of them with its crescendo.

He held her waist and then picked her again above his head. He made her glide against his body to make her feel his hardness and then slide her in between his legs while holding her hands tightly. Deftly, Dawn glided between his legs. When she was up again, he said, "What do you know about Azura? Is he that close to you? And yes you are right, I wanted to show him down."

Once again he set her in a series of twirls as if punishing her for not remembering him at all, for affecting his mind to the point that he wanted to mate with her, and for standing up for Azura.

Gayle watched them standing in the doorway. From afar they looked like flowers in waltz. They twirled together with so much intensity—strong, elegant and vibrant. He smiled and walked out.

Dawn kept up with the act but after some time she felt like throwing up. She came to a complete stop and wavered a little. Daryn caught her before she would lose her balance. She was breathless and panting just like him. When she regained her breath after what seemed like eternity, she found her face resting on his sweat-drenched shirt that was clinging to his broad chest, in his muscular arms that seem to envelop her completely, wrapped in his overwhelming musky smell.

"I wish to leave," her voice was breathy. She didn't want to meet this man ever in her life. "I hope I never see you again," she whispered and forced herself out of his arms. She strutted.

Azura came running to her and held her steadily on her shoulders. He looked at Daryn with revulsion and scoffed, "Just to get back to me, you used Dawn. She has nothing common in between us. I am not going to let this slide." Then he looked at Dawn. Kissing her head, he said, "Let's go."

Daryn growled. His fists closed as he watched the two leave the event.

Maya, Pia and Caleb watched Daryn dancing with Dawn. They were shocked. He didn't leave her for almost an hour. Guests had started coming into the hall again slowly and to Maya's humiliation, they saw the entire dance. She trembled in fury and shame. They still had to exchange rings. Dawn Wyatt was her new enemy. She would never allow a neotide to mess with her.

In order to mitigate the situation, Pia clapped her hands and walked to Daryn. She spoke loudly, "That was a fine way to humiliate the neotide." She laughed mockingly. It was just a way of telling the purebloods as to what he was onto. When they realized what Daryn was up to, they sneered and laughed.

Not even bothering to react to them, Daryn left the venue. Maya followed him.

---

Dawn was shaking with anger in the car. She stopped herself from crying. She didn't say a word throughout the journey. When the car stopped in front of her house, it was already 1AM. Before Azura could step out to open the door for her, she had jumped out and was running to her house. She opened the door, banged it shut, ran to the backyard and jumped off the fence. Where was her dragon?

Quetz.

I am here.

She shifted.