The announcer banged his staff against the stone steps and cleared his throat, gaining the people's attention in the ballroom. "Alpha Nicodemus Anagnos and Luna Analina Anagnos of the Itıá Pack," he yelled, and they walked down the steps to join the people of the "ball."

"Why are we going last?" I asked, and Anothony shrugged his shoulders while we moved forward and took residence in the spot where Nike and Analina stood before.

All eyes were on us while we waited to be announced. Whispers sprung up from around them, and I knew that they were wondering the same thing I was, for it was normal for the Alpha and Luna of the pack to be announced last, including the visiting Alphas were first.

His eyes were on me; I could feel them from where I was at. He was still a face amongst millions, moving in and out of view so that I couldn't see him, but I could feel his gaze.

The announcer cleared his throat again, and I stopped searching for him, knowing that he would appear near me soon. "Late Alpha Anthony Anagnos of the Itıá Pack and A-" He stopped talking when I cleared my throat sharply and turned towards me. His eyes widened in fear, and he gulped at my hard gaze. "Beta Alexandra DeLamont of the Yara Pack."

We started to walk down the steps while Anthony chuckled. "Did you have to scare him?" he asked, to the other snickers of our group. He clutched my hand tighter, knowing that I would have escaped by now.

"He was about to call me "Alpha," and I am not the Alpha," I replied. I pursed my lips and flicked my eyes across the faces again while I made my way down, looking for him.

"Technically..."

"Don't you start," I warned one of my brothers, and he snickered. I spotted one of the twins who looked at me with good humor in his eyes.

"Good to see you still kicking, Lele," the twin, Patrick, said. "You look as stunning as ever."

I rolled my eyes but didn't reply when I let go of Anthony's arm as soon as we made it to the bottom of the steps and started to make my way...

"Mingle," my adopted father said, stopping me from making my way to the shadows to watch everyone from them. There was a warning in his tone, and I knew that if he could, then he would order me.

I cringed, the thought of ignoring his order strong on my mind. My whole body grew tense, and I closed my eyes and flared my nostrils before I let out a soft huff. "Fine," I said, disgruntled before I opened my eyes and started to walk towards the food tables. "But just know that I don't like."

The king chuckled. "I know," he said. "But you will get used to it."

I set my jaw but didn't reply, for I would never get used to this. I will never get used to the eyes on me, watching my every move while I made my way to get something to eat.

But the main thing that I will never get used to was his eyes on me, ignoring everyone else but me.

***

My hand gripped my drink tightly, and a fake smile was plastered on my face while I listened to a group of older women talk, sounding like a flock of hens, cackling about Goddess knows what and sending the others in a flurry of either agreement and disagreement.

"Have you seen Alpha and Luna, Dear?" one woman asked, putting her hand on my arm before she removed it when I grew tense. "They are so beautiful together, don't you think?"

I shrugged my shoulder but didn't reply.

"What about Alpha Levithan's new side chick?" another woman asked. She turned her nose up in disgust. "That boy could do so much better than that."

"I know," another older woman said. "Did you see the way that she was dressed? Who does she think she is? She looks like a slut in that black dress. Anyone with a black dress like that is a slut."

My grip tightened around my glass, and I set my jaw. Anger coursed through my body while she glanced at me, sensing the anger coming off of me in waves.

Her face grew pale while she turned to look at me fully, and she looked me up and down to see that I was also wearing a little black dress, not much better than hers. "Umm..." She cleared throat and submitted, but that did nothing to stop my anger. "Except for you, Beta," she stuttered. Again, she cleared her throat and shifted on her feet. "Please, forgive me." Her voice grew softer while the tension mounted between us, the other ladies submitting as well.

"It's fine," I replied tersely through gritted teeth. "Excuse me." I turned around and saw Levi behind me, staring at me with those deep blue eyes of his filled with different emotions that I couldn't decipher. "Yes, Alpha?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. "May I help you?"

He cleared his throat and held out his hand. "May I have this dance?" he asked when a slow song started to play.

I looked at his hand and then looked at his face, not taking his hand. My body grew tense, for I had no idea what game he was playing, not knowing why he wanted to have a dance with me here where others could see us. "I am drinking something," I replied coldly.

Levi scowled and took the drink from my hand and placed it on a tray that Corey carried past us, leaving me with my jaw unhinged. "There," he said, taking my hand in his. His touch was warm, and I felt these small sparks going past us as if it was the bond strengthening, even with the spell he was under.

Something flashed through his eyes, and I had a feeling that he felt those sparks too. However, he didn't comment on it while he gently pulled me to the dance floor. "Now, you aren't drinking something."

I closed my mouth and set my jaw with my nostrils flaring, but I let him lead me to the dance floor, even though he had the audacity to take the glass from my hands.

"Is he going to end up on the floor?" Corey asked, chuckling.

"I am not planning on it, but I want to have him end up there," I replied, setting my jaw. I could feel Mindy's gaze on me and turned to look at her.

There was a scowl on her face while she watched us go onto the dance floor and start to dance, and it deepened once she caught sight of me looking at her with a Cheshire grin on my face.

His hot breath hit my ear, and the hair on the back of my neck stood at attention while he leaned closer to me. "You are going to get killed if you keep looking at her like that," he said, his voice soft.

I turned my head to the side and noticed that he was closer than I thought he would be while he was controlled.

His warm body heat emitted from his entire body, and his scent filled my nose. He didn't look at me while we danced, his gaze always over my shoulder as if he watched it and made sure that I stayed safe.

I chuckled and turned away from him, scanning the crowds and keeping tabs on everyone gathered. "It takes a lot to kill me, Alpha," I replied. "Even he knows that."

Levi snorted, and I had a feeling that he rolled his eyes. "You don't know what they can do. They can kill you in your sleep."

"It's a good thing that I don't normally sleep; isn't it, Alpha?" I cocked my head and looked at him to see that he was staring at me with a frown on his face.

Worry filled his eyes, but he stayed silent while he studied me, at least the part that he could see. When I met his eyes, he looked away and tightened his grip on my back.

"But, they don't know what I can do either." I looked over his shoulder, took my hand out of his, and draped my arms across his shoulders until both of my hands were behind his neck.

Instantly, Levi placed his other behind my back and pulled me slightly closer to him. "They can figure it out," he pointed out.

"Hmmm," I replied. "As I said before, I would like to see them try." I moved a piece of his hair between my fingers, enjoying the softness of it. "I have met many people before, Alpha," I said. "I have learned many things."

"Oooh, I know where you are going with this!" Corey exclaimed. "Wait, let me get close to see this!"

Levi tensed his shoulders under my arms but relaxed. "Oh?" he asked, and I nodded. He shifted his gaze to the side of my head. "Like what?"

"Like how to make a male or female bend to my will," I replied. I moved closer to him in his arms, the space between us growing ever smaller. I exude confidence and prowess with a twinge of being sultry. I knew how to be a seductress, knew how to get something using the body that the Goddess gave me.

Again, Levi tensed underneath my arms. They both realized that I was dangerous under certain circumstances, even when my life was in danger. "Oh?" he asked, his voice shaking. He cleared his throat. "Who taught you that?"

"A certain female who was known to be very seductive and could bend a man's will with the tip of her pinkie," I said. I leaned my head closer to his head until my lips were near his ear. "A female that you never wish to meet," I hissed, pressing the rings to the base of his neck.

Levi flinched from what I had said but didn't pull away. His heart pounded loudly in his chest, and he gulped. "Who?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"The Viper," I hissed before I nipped at his ear, making sure not to draw blood... yet. I knew that I would get shit for doing that, but I didn't care because he still hadn't moved from my grasp.

Levi tensed and took a shuddering breath before he cleared his throat. "Does he know who you have met?" he asked.

I chuckled. "I don't think he wants to know. There are some... dangerous people in this world, Alpha. More dangerous than the people that you serve." I leaned closer to his ear, my cheek against the side of his head, making sure that no one else, besides my group, could hear what I had to say.

"I am sure that the Viper is not that dangerous."

I chuckled. "But you have never met her, so how do you know?"

He stayed silent, and I had a feeling that he set his jaw. His heart still pounded in his chest, and I had a feeling that he understood a word that people used to describe me: dangerous.

And I was dangerous. I was someone that people respected and feared, even without being the Viper. I was someone that loved playing cat and mouse and would do it if it meant I could get what I wanted.

The rings on my fingers vibrated, and I knew that they had collected enough blood, so I removed them from his skin.

"Think about it," I whispered, playing with the ends of his hair. "What do you know about me? There is more to me than just my good looks and my... family background. Let's see if your group can get it out of me." I licked the side of his head, following the path of his ear. "I don't think they can." I pulled away after I whispered that harshly in his ear and bowed before leaving the shocked male on the dance floor.

My whole body was tense, and my heart pounded in my chest while blood rushed through my body. I was breathing heavily, the urge to get Levi in a room by himself, and show him a few things that I had learned as the Viper strong.

However, I kept walking towards the entrance, flexing my fingers, and not looking back, knowing that his gaze was on me.

"I have the blood. I am done for tonight," I said. "Tell Nike that he should be careful with his gift and that I hate him."

"Will do," Anthony said.

"I'll collect the rings tomorrow, Love," Corey said. "Or at least one of them."

I didn't reply but stepped outside. I still felt hot and heavy, but I knew that I would be able to handle it. I had done it before and will do it again, no matter what the cost.

But damn, didn't he taste good, and I want more of it, more of him and not just simple lick across his ear. I wanted something else, something to soothe the beast inside of me.

Damn, I hate these black dresses. Damn.