CLAIMED BY MY ENEMY ALPHA

The ballroom was too bright, too loud to be perfect.

Katya stood at the edge of the crowd, her fingers gripping the silver fabric of her gown. The gown hugged her waist so tight she could barely breathe. She told herself it was the gown. Not the nerves twisting in her stomach like snakes.

Around her, couples spun across the polished floor. Laughter echoed off the high ceilings. Ice sculptures shaped like wolves glittered under the crystal chandeliers, slowly melting in the warmth of too many bodies pressed together. The air smelled like pine branches and expensive wine, mixed with something else, something wild that human guests would never notice.

Hundreds of them, dressed in silk and diamonds, pretending to be civilized.

Katya scanned the crowd again, searching for one face. Aleksei. Her fiance. The man who was supposed to mark her tonight in front of everyone.

But he wasn't here.

Her heart hammered against her ribs. She smoothed her hands down the front of her dress, trying to calm down. The fabric was cold and slippery under her palms. Everything felt wrong. The dress,the room,The way people kept glancing at her and whispering behind their champagne glasses.

She'd been standing here for twenty minutes, alone, while everyone else was dancing and celebrating.

Where was he?

"There you are."

Katya turned. Her younger sister, Svetlana, glided toward her through the crowd. Svetlana looked perfect, as always. Her dark hair was pinned up with diamond clips, and her red dress clung to her curves like it was painted on. She carried two glasses of champagne, bubbles rising in golden streams.

"You look like you're about to pass out," Svetlana said, stopping in front of her. She held out one of the glasses. "Here. Drink this."

Katya shook her head. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine. You're pale as a ghost." Svetlana pushed the glass into her hand. "Liquid courage. You'll need it."

Katya stared down at the champagne. The bubbles popped softly against the rim. "I don't need courage. I just need Aleksei to show up."

"He'll show up." Svetlana's voice was sharp. "He always does, doesn't he? You've had him wrapped around your finger since we were kids."

Katya looked up, surprised by the bitterness in her sister's tone. "Lana-"

"Must be nice," Svetlana continued, her smile not reaching her eyes. "Having everything handed to you. The perfect match. The perfect life. Meanwhile, the rest of us just get to watch."

Katya's throat tightened. "I didn't ask for this. You know that."

"Doesn't matter, does it?" Svetlana lifted her own glass in a mock toast. "Tonight is your big night. The whole pack's watching. Don't mess it up."

Before Katya could respond, Svetlana turned and disappeared back into the crowd, her red dress flashing like blood between the dancers.

Katya stood there, holding the champagne, feeling more alone than ever.

She lifted the glass to her lips and drank.

The champagne was cold and sweet, with a bitter aftertaste she didn't