My Pianist Goddess, My Female Alpha

Ch. 3 - A Stranger Behind the Curtain

THORNE’S POV

Most people would say the Velvet Eclipse was elegant and full of class, with superior service. But walking into the darkened den, I felt like it was anything but. It smelled like perfume and booze, even though they were a far cry from the booze I’d smell at my favorite watering hole, Biscuits. Biscuits was a dive bar, but it was comfortable. The Velvet Eclipse was upscaled but lacked soul. No, I wouldn’t want to spend too much time in the Velvet Eclipse. But I’d do what I needed to with an investment.

Latched onto my arm, Aurelia tugged me forward softly. “I think Marek is around here somewhere. He said he’d be waiting for us in the VIP section, but I don’t know where that is.”

I nodded. “I’m sure he’ll find us. Did you want a drink?”

She looked up at me, her eyes flashing with affection. Aurelia was beautiful; there was no doubt about that. With large blue eyes, long flowing brunette hair, and pale skin that had never seen a blemish, she was utter perfection. I thought back to when we were just teens and she had blonde hair. I missed her being blonde, but she said it made her identity too obvious, and she needed to stay under the radar. Who was I to question someone running for their life? No, brunette was fine as long as I had her by my side. I’d do anything for her.

Just the mere thought of the past had me tugging at the collar of my shirt uncomfortably, a tick Aurelia had never seemed to notice, not even now as she read me off her drink order. I dipped my head and made my way to the bar.

Signaling the barkeep, I placed my order and stood there, waiting. It only took the barkeep a few moments to whip up Aurelia’s fancy drink and then my drink on draft. I was surprised they had beer, but I guess you couldn’t call yourself a club without it.

Drinks in hand, I turned back to where I’d left my fiancée to see she was talking to another man. The man was as tall as me with blonde hair, but built much the same. I watched her for a moment, a bubble of jealousy rising in my chest. I swiftly closed the distance between us, coming up on them with a low growl in my throat. The man, whom I now recognized, took a step back from Auriela and held up his hands. “Calm down, man. I was telling Aury here about the club.”

I grunted as I shoved Aurelia’s drink into her hand. “Here you go, babe.”

She smiled sweetly at me as she slipped her arm through mine protectively. I felt a sense of relief at the contact. She knew me so well. I smiled down at her. “So, Marek, this is the place you want us to invest in?”

Marek Caelan straightened up, no longer bowing down to the energy I put off as an Alpha to the Shadowfang pack. “Yes. Isn’t it great?”

Aurelia’s eyes twinkled as she squeezed my arm. “It’s beautiful. And the music is charming.”

I had noticed they had what sounded like a live pianist here when we entered. I had worried that it would set Aurelia on edge, knowing she could no longer play and refused to in private because the memory was too painful. I rubbed her arm sympathetically, hoping it wouldn’t be a night of tears tonight. It was hard to watch her cry. But I’d be there for her; there was no doubt about that.

Marek preened under Aurelia’s compliments. “Thank you, Aury. We have a live pianist here playing during the day. We’d love to have her at night, but her shift preference is daytime. So we make do during the night scene.”

“It’s lovely,” she responded, gripping my arm a little more tightly.

I looked down at her hand, where the large diamond ring was nestled on one finger and then on another, the small, simple silver band I had given to her so many years ago. She never took it off, a fact that made me proud. “You know the packs would not be happy if I were to invest in your club. You’re in a neutral zone, Marek.”

Marek’s eyes gleamed. “Unless I have investments from both nearby packs.”

“You’re saying I’m not the only Alpha you’re wooing?”

I was astonished at his cleverness in playing both sides, but I also felt insulted. If I partnered with an establishment, it was to be involved and not just a money backer. I only invested in businesses that I could keep a close eye on. If there were another pack, my direct involvement would not be expected or welcomed. Unless I invested enough to outbid the other pack, which was probably Gildenthorn, a pack I had no connection to. But then the question of the neutral territory…

Marek must have sensed me mulling all this over, as I’d grown quiet. “You know, Gildenthorn has already made an offer and…”

I cut him off. “I want to outbid them. And take both portions available for investing.”

His eyes sparkled. “And we can go to the council and get the approval tomorrow. I’ve already arranged a meeting.”

I had played right into his hands. Damn it. But something about the Velvet Eclipse, as high-class as it pretended to be, seemed to settle in my bones that I belonged there. Maybe it was the piano music that I realized now had stopped and been replaced with recorded music. The pianist must be on a break. I looked around, wondering where they were stationed and if I could get a look at the face of such beautiful music.

“If you like the music, you should come see my band. The pianist here is part of it and plays the keyboard. We’re called the Silver Stars. It’s rock music.”

“Who is your pianist?”

“Nova Lyric. You won’t see her because she insists on being behind the scenes.”

When movement near the curtains at the back of the club moved, my eyes trailed there, and I froze in place. The blue eyes staring at me were full of wonder and amazement. And suddenly, a burst of emotion stabbed through my chest as my wolf came to life. Varek screamed inside. “Mate! Mate! Mate!”

I felt the zing of attraction and pull towards her, and for a moment, forgot the love of my life on my arm. Aurelia didn’t seem to notice, as she was talking to Marek. But Marek’s eyes narrowed on me as I took a step forward, toward the blue-eyed beauty. He looked back over his shoulder, seeing who I was staring at. “That’s Nova,” he said suspiciously.

I couldn’t breathe. The pull of the mate bond is so intense. I wanted to run to her, touch her, claim her. Tell her that she was mine and I’d never leave her side. But reality came crashing down as Aurelia tugged on my arm. “I think we’ve seen enough, honey. Let’s go.”

Nova’s eyes fell on Aurelia, then quickly back to mine. She glared and spun around, hurrying back behind the curtain, and she was gone. The bond was still very alive, though, and had put me in a position I’d never thought I’d be. I closed my eyes for a moment before turning back to focus on Aurelia, the love of my life. She hadn’t noticed anything. I was safe.

But looking back at Marek, he had. I guess Aurelia was too trusting to think that I’d be oogling another woman right in front of her. Marek knew, though. He knew how stunning Nova was. But he didn’t know what had just happened. “You’re right, my love.”

I shook Marek’s hand, my palm sweaty. He gripped my hand tightly and pulled me closer to him so he could whisper in my ear. “Leave her alone.”

And with that, he released me, a new smile plastered on his face as he bid us farewell and turned to head towards where I’d seen Nova disappear: Nova Lyric, my mate. I wondered if that was her real name.

Not that I should be wondering anything about her since I was engaged to another woman, a woman who I’d love for the past 10 years, even when we hadn’t seen each other for several of those years before she resurfaced with her new identity to claim me.

The ring had proven to me that she was who she said she was, as I hadn’t recognized her at first with her dark hair. I knew it was her, though. I felt it then, I feel it now. Auriela was Lyra Oriswyn. And the ring on her finger proved that.