‘Who did this?’ he growled. ‘Who dared to put their hands on you in this way?’
‘It’s nothing,’ she said, dismissively. ‘It looks worse than it is.’
‘Tell me who did this, Mallory.’ Every word vibrated with fury.
She released an exasperated sigh. ‘Just an old man with a bee in his bonnet. It’s been dealt with.’
Alexander shook his head. ‘I won’t allow this.’
Whoa. ‘Back up,’ she said sternly. Whatever lusty, romantic atmosphere had existed between them had evaporated. She had no idea what was happening now but she knew she didn’t like it. ‘It’s nothing to do with you.’
He glared. ‘It’s everything to do with me!’
‘No, it’s not. And I told you it’s been dealt with so put a stop to all this alpha growliness.’
‘No. Somebody hurt you. Now I’m going to hurt them.’
Mallory rolled her eyes. ‘For fuck’s sake, Alex. We’ve been through this already. I can look after myself.’
‘You might know a few self-defence moves, Mallory, but you’re still just a squib.’
She folded her arms and stepped back. ‘Just a squib?’ she asked icily.
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ he snapped. ‘What I meant was that you don’t have magic and…’
‘I know exactly what you meant.’
She’d been weak. Maybe he fancied her a bit – she knew he enjoyed a chase and maybe he’d decided to chase her – but Alexander MacTire didn’t wantjust a squib. Not really.
‘Mallory.’ He ground out her name but she was already walking away.
‘I’m going back inside,’ she said. ‘There are plenty more blonde werewolves with power and strength and magic in there for you to speak to.’
‘Wait!’
She didn’t stop and she didn’t turn around.
The remaininghour or so of the Wolf Ball was very uncomfortable. Mallory had felt the sting of failure before,especially in her early years as a broker, but it had never been so closely coupled with the pain of humiliation. She’d failed to find Alexander MacTire a First Mate and she could hardly sidle up to him and suggest that he should chat up another woman, not after she’d kissed him like that.
She squirmed and twitched and castigated herself over and over again. Every time she glanced in Alexander’s direction, her cheeks burned. Eventually she couldn’t take it anymore. When a tuxedoed werewolf alpha from yet another pack appeared in front of Alexander for a power chat, Mallory leaned in to Isadora. ‘I’m not feeling very well,’ she said. ‘I’m going to head home. Can you tell Alexander that I’ve left?’
Isadora took one look at her face, frowned, gave a long sniff and stood up. ‘I can do better than that,’ she said. ‘Sean,’ she told her companion, ‘tell Alex that I’m taking Mallory home.’
The younger werewolf looked suddenly terrified. ‘What?’
‘Just do it. He won’t hurt you.’ She paused. ‘Heprobablywon’t hurt you.’ She glanced at Mallory then returned her attention to her date. ‘Don’t tell him until we’ve left the room.’
‘You don’t need to help me,’ Mallory began.
‘Do you have transport?’ Isadora asked.
‘No, but…’
‘Well then.’
Mallory pulled back her shoulders. ‘Just because I’m a squib doesn’t mean I can’t get myself home.’
‘It’s not because you’re a squib, it’s because you’re a person.’ Isadora put her arm around Mallory’s shoulders. ‘I’m sorry,’ she said more quietly. ‘I can see he’s broken your heart just like he broke mine.’
