Chapter 162

Hayley’s POV:

Madeline quickly shifted into her usual act of an inexperienced, sheltered young lady. If I hadn’t almost fallen for one of her tricks before, I might have believed her innocent demeanor.

“I’m sure the event you’ve planned will be delightful. I’m already looking forward to it,” I replied, matching her tone of polite enthusiasm.

The three of us boarded the cruise ship, with Madeline leading us straight to the banquet hall. The ship was massive, capable of accommodating around 500 guests. It featured entertainment facilities, a banquet hall, dining areas, and guest rooms, offering everything one might need. You could easily spend ten days or even two weeks here without feeling bored.

“Philip is over there. Let’s go greet him,” Madeline suggested. As guests, it was only proper to pay our respects to the host, so Benjamin and I followed her without objection.

Despite being 60 years old, Philip showed no signs of aging. He exuded confidence and vitality, looking as though he were barely in his forties. As a high-ranking Beta and a former Alpha’s second-in-command, Philip carried himself with an impressive aura of authority. Even Benjamin, an Alpha himself, showed him respect. Stepping forward, he greeted him, “Mr. Kilmer.”

A broad smile lit up Philip’s face when he saw Benjamin. “Alpha, you’ve come! It’s been far too long. You’ve grown even more mature and composed.” Philip nodded politely at me before turning his attention back to Benjamin.

“Thank you, Mr. Kilmer,” Benjamin replied.

Philip’s gaze held both reverence for Benjamin’s status as an Alpha and a paternal fondness for someone younger. “You’re thriving, and that’s excellent. Under your leadership, the Midnight Pack and Southwell Group are flourishing. I have high hopes for you!” he praised sincerely.

“You must visit us more often when you have time. You and Madeline grew up together—young people like you will always find common ground.”

Benjamin responded politely, “Of course.”

After exchanging a few more words, Benjamin and I made our way into the banquet hall. The hall buzzed with activity, filled with people mingling and chatting. The lively atmosphere felt a bit overwhelming to me.

I released Benjamin’s arm and quietly said, “If you have people to meet, go ahead. I’ll step out to the deck and enjoy the sea breeze.”

I waved him off reassuringly and turned toward the other side of the ship.

Standing alone on the deck, I watched as nightfall blanketed the sky. The stars sparkled brilliantly, making the night sky breathtakingly beautiful. The deck was relatively quiet, with only a few people scattered in small groups, chatting and enjoying the breeze. I leaned against the railing, letting the cool sea air wash over me. It was peaceful.

Suddenly, someone tapped me on the shoulder, startling me. I turned around, surprised. “Jeremy? What are you doing here?”

Jeremy looked at me, his eyes filled with unmistakable emotion. He smiled and explained, “Honestly, I’m not usually interested in events like this. But my family thought it was time for me to start building my network, so they brought me along.”

“Just when I was about to write the evening off as boring, I spotted you in the hall. That was a surprise. When I saw you heading out to the deck, I decided to follow.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but he quickly added, “Actually, I have my inner wolf, Aldric, to thank for this. He led me right to you.”

His words caught me off guard. “Your inner wolf can pick up my scent?”