Chapter 137
SOPHIA’S POV
The Riverside Hotel was exactly what I’d expected. The place was all glass and marble and expensive lighting designed to showcase wealth.
I showed George’s invitation to the doorman, who took one look at it and let me in.
Inside, the cocktail party was in full swing. The grand ballroom glittered with chandeliers, and wolves in expensive evening wear talked with champagne flutes in hand.
Classical music played from somewhere.
I stood out immediately. While everyone else wore cocktail dresses and tuxedos, I was in my work clothes. I was dressed professionally but I was underdressed for this crowd. I could feel eyes turning toward me, scanning me from head to toe, calculating my worth.
My wolf bristled at the judgment, but I ignored them. I wasn’t here to impress these people. I was here for Dahlia.
I scanned the room, searching for Damien’s sister among the elegant wolves. It took several minutes of weaving through conversations and dodging servers with trays of champagne before I spotted her.
Dahlia sat alone in a corner of the ballroom. She’d pulled her chair up to a small table filled with appetizers. She looked unhappy as she ate.
She looked beautiful as always. Her dark hair was styled in a lovely updo. Her emerald dress was clearly designer. Her makeup was flawless.
But she also looked… lonely. She looked isolated, like she’d come to this party out of obligation.
I recognized that feeling all too well.
As I started to make my way toward her, I noticed something that made my wolf go on alert.
A man was approaching Dahlia from behind. He was short and stocky, with eyes that kept looking around the room as if checking to make sure no one was watching him. His wolf’s energy felt wrong.
He moved in a stealthy way. I caught his hand reaching out toward Dahlia’s shoulder.
Instinct took over.
I rushed forward and slapped his hand away.
“Don’t touch her,” I said.
Dahlia jumped up from her chair, her eyes wide with shock. The man stumbled backward. His face flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and anger.
“What the hell-” he started.
“Back off,” I growled, myself between him and Dahlia. “Now p>
The man’s eyes flashed gold as his wolf rose to the surface. “Who do you think you are? I was just going to p>
“I saw exactly what you were going to do.” My wolf met his challenge without flinching. “And I’m telling you to leave. Before I make a scene that ruins whatever reputation you’re trying to maintain here p>
For a moment, I thought he might actually challenge me. His hands clenched into fists, and his wolf’s presence pushed against mine.
But then he noticed the people around us starting to pay attention. The conversations near us had stopped and several wolves were watching our confrontation with interest.
The man’s face reddened further, but he stepped back.
“Crazy bitch,” he muttered under his breath before turning and walking away quickly.
I watched him go, making sure he actually left before I turned to Dahlia.
She was staring at me with a shocked expression.
“Sophia?” she said. “What are you doing here p>
“George sent me,” I said. My heart still raced from the confrontation. “He’s worried about you, asked me to check in p>
“George sent you?” Dahlia’s expression shifted to annoyance. “Of course he did. Because I can’t possibly take care of myself p>
“That man was about to touch you without your permission,” I pointed out. “George’s concern seems justified p>
Dahlia glanced in the direction the man had gone, and I saw a flash of fear cross her face before she hid it. “I was handling it p>
“By sitting alone in a corner hoping he’d leave you alone? That’s not handling it, Dahlia. That’s just hoping for the best p>
Dahlia narrowed her eyes at me. “I’m fine p>
“Are you?” I studied her carefully. “Because you don’t look fine. You look miserable p>
“Thanks,” Dahlia said sarcastically. “That’s exactly what every woman wants to hear p>
“I don’t mean your appearance. You look beautiful. I mean I gestured around us. “You’re at a party full of people, and you’re sitting alone in a corner. That doesn’t seem fine to me p>
Dahlia’s jaw tightened. For a moment, I thought she might tell me to leave.
Before I could say something, the creepy man from earlier reappeared at the edge of my vision. He was standing near the bar, watching us with an expression that made my skin crawl.
“Let’s talk outside,” I said, catching Dahlia’s arm. “That man is still watching you, and I don’t trust him not to try something again p>
Dahlia followed my gaze and went pale. “You’re right. Let’s go p>
We made our way through the crowd toward the back of the ballroom. French doors led out to a terrace and garden area that was empty.
I turned to her.
Now, it was time to talk.