His eyes widened. “Wow, that’s crazy. He’s like… super famous.”
“Yeah,” I said, “but like you, I don’t need anything from him. I never expected to land at a ball like this. I don’t even know how I got an invitation.”
“Me neither. Mine showed up one day, totally unexpectedly. I had to save for weeks to get this used tux. It’s amazing, though, isn’t it? I’m gonna dance with every alpha that asks.”
I laughed, appreciating his enthusiasm. “I don’t know if I’ll be doing that. Either way, I can enjoy the music and the food and how pretty it is.”
He looked around at the dazzling lights. “Itispretty. Pretty expensive. Everything on the table could probably pay for myapartment for an entire year. Is your dance card full already? I saw plenty of alphas approaching you when you walked in.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m not sure I’ll be dancing much. I have two left feet. Maybe after I’ve had dinner and a drink or two.” Not that I would indulge much at all while I was here. I was here by myself essentially, and I didn’t trust the world enough to let loose. I hadn’t been able to snag an invitation for my closest friend, Preston. His name might’ve sounded prestigious, but he was in the same boat that I was—illegitimate son of a wealthy shifter. Left alone to our devices and scrambling to survive most of the time. We had each other though, and we had our baking business. Someday it would take off.
A scent hit my nostrils, making the whole world stop. I turned to find out what it was. A sweet but smoky scent that reminded me of holidays, like vanilla with a hint of winter. I wanted to shift to my scales and bathe in that scent.
Could it be that my mate was truly here?
I knew people found their mates at these events, but never in a million years did I think I’d find mine.
“Are you all right, Nym?” Thomas asked.
“Yeah… just… I think…”
Thomas gripped my forearm. “Your mate?” he whispered, leaning closer to me.
“I think so.”
“Oh my goddess! That is so exciting. Where is he?”
“I don’t know.” I stood. It was probably rude to be looking around the room, sniffing like a wild animal, but I didn’t care. I needed to find the source of that scent.
That was when I saw him.
He stood on the edge of the dance floor, across the room. But it was him. My dragon roared beneath the surface, and scales erupted on my arms, hidden by the long sleeves of my jacket.
His eyes met mine, and I knew.
Mate.
I’d found my mate.
Chapter 3
Dain
It all seemed like nonsense to me. The extravagant decoration, the gold-foiled invitations, the overdressed crowd—it was all just a little extra for a simple wolf like me. I never expected to come here and find anything meaningful. The best I could hope for was a good meal and potentially sharing a bed with an omega who hadn’t found their mate. We could be Mr. Right for the night rather than Mr. Right for a lifetime.
But then I scented him.
Rosemary, sage, and a hint of orange. Something about the scent of orange had always been my favorite, so much so that my shampoo always had a hint of orange in it. Now I knew why. My eyes caught his from across the room, and everything else fell away. The music, the laughter, the clinking of plates and glasses as people settled in—none of it mattered. All I saw was him.
He was a dragon.
How I knew that without properly scenting him up close, I wasn’t sure. I knew it in my heart. My wolf howled within me to get closer. My mate wore a simple black tuxedo that must’ve been borrowed or bought secondhand, because it wasn’t tailored to fit him. His curly waves were styled neatly. His eyes were a deep blue, and they were wide as he stared at me, like he was just as shocked as I was to have this connection.
My wolf howled again, insistent that I get closer.
Mine,he screamed,Mate. Mine.
My mate stood up straighter as I started walking toward him. We met somewhere in the middle.
