|| Alaric’s POV ||
She disappeared from my life only to come back as a storm. I heard she was going to this Gala. I didn't believe it, until I saw it with my own eyes, until I saw her walking into that gala, and my heart sank. There she was, radiant in her navy blue gown, her light brown hair cascading in soft curls around her shoulders, her face hidden behind that exquisite mask. She looked like a vision, a dream I had long since given up on. But the sight of her searching for a mate, her eyes scanning the room, her scent mingling with the air, felt like a dagger to my chest. Wasn't I enough for her? Had I meant nothing? I was abandoned by her as well, the only woman I would ever love. The thought of losing her, of her finding someone else, made my world tilt on its axis. If I lost her,
