I clenched my fists after hearing him. I wanted to kill him right then and there.

"How dare he think such a thing?"

Just as I was about to strike him, someone grabbed my fist.

"Alpha, I was looking for you," Patric said.

"Not you again," I glared. Did he follow me everywhere? How did he always manage to stop me?

"I am your beta. I know how to take care of my Alpha," he said in a hushed tone, turning to Beta Eric. "Hello, Beta Eric."

They shook hands professionally. I continued glaring at Patric as he dismissed Eric.

"How dare you interfere?" I demanded.

"Interfere? You almost killed him! Do you think he'd survive your claws?"

I looked away, shifting my gaze to Eric, who was talking to Natalia.

"How could she choose someone like him?"

"Then who should she choose? You?" Patric laughed at my expression.

"You're not afraid of me, are you?" I asked.

"I know you'll never hurt those close to you."

"You're overconfident. Didn't you see how I intimidated someone last night? You don't want to be next."

He remained unconcerned, which infuriated me. He ignored my warning completely. Everyone was afraid of me except him.

Later, at the party, I nursed a drink at the bar, my eyes constantly drawn to Natalia. Every time someone approached her, she offered a bright smile. I wondered where that smile was when she spoke to me. She consistently ignored me, as if I were her enemy.

I saw her talking to Alpha Wade. He caught my eye, smiled, and waved. I nodded in return. He spoke to one of his men, who approached me.

"Alpha Adrian, Alpha Wade requests your presence."

I looked at Natalia, still with Alpha Wade. I stood, wine glass in hand, and walked toward them.

"Alpha Wade," I greeted him. My attention immediately shifted to the woman beside him. She was stunningly beautiful.

But Alpha Wade interrupted, saying, "Natalia, my dear, where are you going? Won't you congratulate Alpha Adrian?"

His words shocked me. Although Alpha Wade was younger than Natalia's father, her respect for him was palpable. I recalled that he had a daughter, Tyra.

"Congratulations, Alpha Adrian," Natalia said, barely looking at me. I felt a strange unease. Why was she avoiding my gaze? Was it because of the court case, the murder rumors? "I I left one of my gloves in the restroom" she stammered, her voice barely audible.

"Natalia, my saying goes with anyone alone. But I didn't get my answers from your face." We turned away.

We all heard a soft gasp and a young lady’s voice.

"Alpha Wade," she said, her voice trembling slightly. "It's me. Bass's daughter." She pointed at her head, and then at her swing set.

"Let me introduce you to some influential people. This is Natalia Hansely. She could be your mentor. It’s remarkable what she’s accomplished at her age."

Natalia smiled as Alpha Wade's daughter, Tyra, shook her hand.

"And this is someone you know. You must have heard of him. This is Alpha Adrian."

Tyra turned, shocked. "You!"

I didn't understand her reaction. "May I ask if I know you?"

"How could you forget me? We bumped into each other today, remember?"

I realized she was the girl I'd bumped into earlier.

I glanced at Natalia, who was watching me. I smirked. "Ah, yes. You're that beautiful girl."

Tyra blushed. Was this what her friends told her? That she was young and the most beautiful girl in her pack? But in my eyes, the woman behind her was far more captivating.

As I complimented Tyra, I noticed Natalia's apparent disinterest.

"She's my only daughter, but she mostly stays with her uncle, Seth. He wants her to work with him in the pack's business," Alpha Wade explained.

Tyra suddenly bowed. "I'm new to this. I heard you'll be helping our pack. I hope you'll look after me as well."

My eyebrows shot up. Had I complimented her excessively? Why was she acting this way?

Natalia murmured, "Excuse me," to Alpha Wade and moved away.

Why wasn't she bothered by my actions? I strode toward her, grabbing her wrist. She was startled.

"What are you doing?"

I didn't answer, pulling her along. I didn't know where I was going, but I needed to talk to her. A sense of desperation consumed me.

"Adrian, what's wrong?" she whispered, trying to avoid attracting attention.

I led her a few blocks away, to a secluded corner. Pressing her against a wall, I asked, "Why are you acting like you don't care?"

Please note that some sections of the original text were nonsensical or contained typos that could not be logically corrected. I have omitted or adjusted those parts for clarity.