CHAPTER 82: TRIED SEDUCING ME

Leia stepped off the dance floor with flushed cheeks and a bright smile playing on her lips. She made her way to the bar counter where Kieran sat with a glass of vodka in his hand. The colorful lights of the club danced across his face as he looked at her, returning her smile with one of his own.

"This," Leia said, sliding onto the stool beside him, slightly out of breath, "this is what fun actually feels like!"

Kieran chuckled as she placed her elbows on the counter and signaled for a cocktail. Taking a slow sip of the drink, Leia leaned in a little closer and whispered near his ear, "But it’s kind of strange... no one here seems to recognize you."

Kieran took another sip of his vodka, his eyes scanning the crowd lazily. "Not everyone from our pack comes to this place," he said, keeping his voice low. "This club’s open to the public. You’ll find people from every pack here. It’s neutral territory."

Leia nodded slowly, her curiosity piqued. "Still, you’re an alpha. I thought someone would easily recognize you."

"Maybe the ones who do know me just aren’t here tonight," Kieran said, placing his glass back on the counter with a soft clink. "I don’t recognize any familiar faces either."

Leia reached into her pocket and pulled out a hair tie, quickly gathering her hair and tying it into a loose ponytail, her soft curls still framing her temples. "That could be the case," she murmured, glancing down at her phone. Her brows twitched when she saw that Lucien had viewed it, but didn’t reply.

"You sent him a photo," Kieran guessed, a teasing lilt in his voice.

Leia gave a dramatic sigh. "Yeah. I wanted to annoy him. Looks like he’s resisting the bait."

Just then, the music shifted, upbeat rhythms gave way to a jazz melody. The lights dimmed, casting a cozy, intimate glow over the dance floor.

Kieran extended his hand toward her, a charming smile tugging at his lips. "Would you like to dance with me?"

Leia raised an eyebrow playfully, then placed her hand gently in his. "Sure."

They left the seats and made their way to the dance floor, where other couples had already begun moving in rhythm with the slower music. As Kieran drew her closer, Leia felt the change in mood.

His hands rested gently on her waist as her arms circled around his neck.

Then, with a soft smile, Leia pulled back slightly, just enough to create a graceful arm’s length of space between them. Her fingers slid under his arm in a smooth motion, while his hand instinctively followed the movement, gliding over hers.

He caught her hand gently and twirled her once under the soft glow of the lights, pulling her back gently into his embrace as his hands found her waist again.

Leia’s fingers curled slightly against his shirt as their eyes met. Her breath caught in her throat. Something unfamiliar stirred in her chest. At first, she thought it was nerves from being so close, from dancing in a way that left her vulnerable. But it wasn’t that. It was something else.

Her gaze lingered, and her heart gave her the answer she had been trying to ignore.

She was beginning to fall for him too.

’No! How can I start having feelings for each of them?’ Leia’s thoughts spiraled, her heartbeat drumming in her ears louder than the music around her.

"What happened?" Kieran’s soft voice broke through, his gaze searching her face with concern.

"Huh? Nothing," Leia quickly replied. "Don’t you feel hot?"

"No," he said simply, still watching her.

"I danced too much earlier. Maybe that’s why," she added with a faint, strained smile. "Give me a moment."

Kieran nodded with a hum, stepping back to give her space without question.

Leia turned and walked briskly to the bar, her mind swirling.

’I wasn’t supposed to have feelings for them. This isn’t what I planned...’

She reached for her glass and drank it down quickly, only to wince as the sharp burn of vodka hit her throat.

She found it was the vodka, which Kieran was drinking earlier. She set the glass down with a clink and steadied herself on the edge of the counter, silently cursing her spiraling thoughts.

From the dance floor, Kieran watched her closely, his brows subtly furrowed. Concern tugged at him as he stepped down.

Leia turned around abruptly, pressing her hand to her forehead, her head still spinning a little from the sudden shot of vodka. She didn’t see it coming, she bumped straight into someone.

"Oh, I’m sorry!" she blurted, looking up quickly.

"You!?"

Her eyes widened. Lucien stood before her and a smug expression plastered across his face. Right next to him was Ronan, who gave her a casual nod.

"You two came!" Kieran’s voice rang out behind her, sounding genuinely surprised, and perhaps slightly wary.

Lucien arched an eyebrow. "Because someone tried seducing me."

Leia gaped. "What? I never did that! If you think that I sent you the photo—ahhh!"

Before she could finish defending herself, Lucien grabbed her wrist and, without warning, pulled her toward the dance floor.

"Lucien!" she exclaimed, stumbling after him. "Let go—what are you—"

But he didn’t. With a confident grip, Lucien led her into a slow rhythm, placing one hand firmly on her waist and holding her other hand up.

Kieran instinctively stepped forward, his protective instincts flaring. But Ronan stopped him, placing a calm hand on his arm.

"Let him be," Ronan said quietly.

"But he’s treating her—" Kieran’s protest died in his throat as he looked at them again.

Lucien had begun dancing with Leia, leading her into a graceful swirl that pulled her closer than she expected. The way he looked at her was so intense that it made her feel that he would burn her with his gaze simply.

Around them, a few people started to whisper, some glancing more than once. Kieran could already sense it, if anyone recognized who they were, this would be the talk of the town by morning.

"Let me go. Why are you forcing a dance on me?" Leia muttered.

"Just enjoy the dance. I may kiss you in front of everyone," Lucien murmured, his eyes lingering on her lips.