The Rejected Luna: Claimed by the Cold CEO Alpha

Chapter 4: The Alpha's Regret

The music was loud. The wine was expensive. And my heart was about to explode.

Victor's hand was on the small of my back. Possessive. Warm.

"Head up," he murmured. "You're not the rejected girl anymore. You're my Luna."

I nodded. But my eyes kept going back to him.

Damian.

He was standing across the room. His jaw was clenched. The woman with him - Selene - was laughing at something he said. But his eyes weren't on her. They were on me.

On Victor's hand on my back.

"Don't look at him," Victor warned. "You're with me now."

"I know," I whispered.

We moved through the crowd. Everyone was staring. Whispering.

"Is that Victor Kane?"

"Who is the girl with him?"

"That's the Blackwood reject..."

Victor heard it all. He just smiled wider and pulled me closer.

Then Damian was in front of us.

"Victor," he said. Cold. "Didn't know you were in the market for damaged goods."

The room went silent.

Victor didn't flinch. "Damian. Didn't know you were in the market for someone else's trash."

Selene gasped.

I felt my face burn. But I didn't look down.

Damian's eyes flicked to me. For one second, I saw something. Regret? Pain?

Then it was gone. "You made a mistake, Luna," he said to me. "You'll come crawling back."

I laughed. It surprised even me. "I don't crawl anymore, Damian. I walk. On the arm of a better man."

Victor's thumb brushed my back. Pride.

Damian's wolf flashed in his eyes for a second. "We'll see about that."

He walked away. Selene followed, glaring at me.

The moment he was gone, my legs shook.

"Good," Victor said quietly. "That’s how you do it."

"Was that okay?" I asked.

Victor turned me to face him. His cold eyes were softer now. Just a little.

"Perfect," he said. "Now smile for the cameras."

The flashes went off. Victor Kane and his new Luna.

Tomorrow every paper would have our picture.

And Damian would see it.

As we drove home, Victor poured me a drink. "You did well tonight."

"Thank you," I said.

He studied me. "Why did you do it? The comeback line."

I shrugged. "Because he was right. He broke me. But you... you picked up the pieces."

Victor went quiet.

"Don't get ideas, Luna," he said finally. "Clause 8."

I nodded. "Business only."

But as I lay in that big bed alone that night, I couldn't stop thinking about the way Victor looked at me when I stood up to Damian.

Like maybe I was worth something after all.

And like maybe this contract was going to be the most dangerous thing I've ever signed.