Julius had made a mistake.
Coming back into the ballroom and acting like everything was normal was a lie he couldn't maintain.
He was an Alpha, used to being the most powerful presence in any room.
His pheromones usually forced others to step aside, but tonight, they were failing him.
Harrison was still here, and his scent was wrapping around Julius like a cage.
Julius could feel him without even looking—a scent of cedar and cold rain that made his instincts tremble.
"Are you listening?" Helen's voice pulled him back.
"Yes," Julius said quickly, his voice tight.
Helen looked at him with worry. As a Beta, she couldn't feel the crushing weight of the pheromones in the air.
"You've been distant all night," she noted softly.
"I'm just tired," Julius replied, his jaw clenched.
—
He was an Alpha—he wasn't supposed to feel hunted in front of his own fiancée.
"Excuse me," Julius added, reaching for a glass of wine to steady his hands.
But before he could grab it, a hand closed over his own.
The grip was firm and ignored Julius's authority completely.
"Drinking won't help."
Harrison's voice was right behind him, low and deep.
"Let go," Julius hissed, trying to use his Alpha command.
But Harrison didn't flinch. He didn't take orders.
"You're shaking," Harrison murmured, his chest pressing against Julius's back.
"I'm not," Julius snapped, though the heat from Harrison's body was making his head spin.
Harrison's thumb brushed slowly over Julius's knuckles. "You are."
Julius's chest tightened. "Stop touching me. People are looking."
"Let them look," Harrison whispered. "I want them to see who you really react to."
Julius turned sharply, trying to reclaim his space, but Harrison was like a wall of muscle.
Harrison's eyes moved to the engagement ring on Julius's finger.
"Don't go back to her," Harrison whispered, his voice turning dark and possessive.
"What?" Julius asked, his heart hammering.
"Your fiancée," Harrison said. He made the word sound like a mistake.
"She is my future," Julius replied, trying to find his strength.
"She is a Beta," Harrison countered, his eyes locking onto Julius's. "She can't even feel your pheromones."
Silence stretched between them, thick with the scent of Harrison's dominance.
Harrison's hand moved to Julius's jaw, holding him firmly.
He forced the Alpha to face him fully.
"I don't share," Harrison whispered.
Julius's heart slammed against his ribs. "You don't own me."
"Not yet."
The certainty in Harrison's voice sent a chill through Julius's body.
"Stop this," Julius said, his voice losing its power.
Harrison didn't step back. His pheromones were flooding Julius's senses now.
"You don't stop reacting," Harrison murmured. "Your body is already choosing me."
Julius wanted to deny it, but his blood was boiling in response to Harrison's touch.
A faint, victorious smile touched Harrison's lips. "You see?"
Julius pushed him back, desperate for air. "I'm not yours."
The silence was heavy.
Then Harrison's voice came, calm and steady. "You will be."
And for the first time, the Alpha Julius realized he was no longer the one in charge.