“That can be done tonight. Today, you’re a driver” Alexander’s slight smile was razor-sharp. “And make sure you stop by the jeweler. Pick up that thing we talked about.”

    Jeweler? That thing they talked about? I couldn’t help but wonder what the errand was, and why it made Gabriel’s jaw tighten further, but before I could ask, Alexander was already on his way out.

    Twenty minutester, I was sitting in the back seat of Gabriel’s car with Lilith beside me,

    1

    watching the Beta’s increasingly sour expression in the rearview mirror as I directed him to the shopping district.

    “The boutique district first,” I told him cheerfully. “I want to see what they have at Evangeline’s.”

    Gabriel’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. “That’s the most expensive shop in the territory.”

    “I know.” I smiled sweetly at his reflection. “Alexander said not to worry about cost.”

    Lilith was trying not tough, I could tell. She’d been delighted when I’d asked her toe along, especially after I’d exined Gabriel’s new role for the day. There was nothing Lilith enjoyed more than watching someone get theireuppance, particrly when that someone had spent months treating me like an inconvenience.

    We spent the next two hours hitting every high-end boutique in the district. I tried on dozens of dresses, rejecting most of them for various reasons-too tight, too loose, wrong color, unttering cut. Gabriel trailed behind us sullenly the entire time, clearly hoping I’d just pick something and be done with it.

    But I was enjoying myself too much to rush. Every time Gabriel made a snidement about price or suggested we move along, I found another dress to consider. When he pointed out that I’d already looked at “perfectly adequate options,” I reminded him that Alexander had specifically told me to get something I really liked.

    We were walking past the window of a small, exclusive boutique called Seraphina’s when I stopped dead in my tracks.

    The dress in the window was stunning. Midnight blue silk that seemed to shimmer between navy and ck depending on how the light hit it the neckline was an elegant sweetheart shape, the thin off-shoulder straps delicately bealed with pearls.

    It was the exact kind of dress I wanted.

    “Oh my,” Lilith breathed beside me. “E, that’s gorgeous.”

    “It’s perfect,” I said, and I meant it. Just looking at it made me feel more confident.

    “The price tag probably has more zeros than your phone number,” Gabriel muttered behind olli/li/ol

    I ignored him and headed for the door. “Let’s go try it on.”

    Within minutes, I was standing in a fitting room, sliding into the most beautiful dress I’d ever worn. The silk felt like liquid against my skin, and when I looked in the mirror, I let out an audible gasp.

    I looked… regal. Powerful. Like someone who belonged on the arm of a future Alpha King.

    And the mark on my neck… It was on full disy. As if the dress had simply been made to show it off.

    pay,

    I immediately decided to purchase the dress, and when I went up to the counter to the number on the receipt made Gabriel’s eye twitch. But I ignored him and swiped Alexander’s car without hesitation.

    “One more stop,” I announced as we loaded the garment bag into the car. “The jeweler.”

    Gabriel went very still. “That’s not necessary. I can handle that errandter.”

    “Alexander asked you to stop there today.” I slid into the back seat.

    “I’m perfectly capable of running a simple errand without supervision—”

    “I’m sure you are. But since we’re out anyway, we might as well take care of it now.’

    Gabriel nched. “But-”

    “Goddess, Gabriel, it’s just an errand.” My nostrils red, and without even meaning to, a shimmer of authority slipped into my voice. “Tell me what you’re supposed to pick up.”

    The Beta’s shoulders tensed, eyes widening into saucers as my Luna Voice washed over him. The authority had be second nature to me now that my wolf had returned, and even the smallest ounce of power was irresistible to Gabriel.

    Finally, he sighed, head drooping. “It was your locket. The one that got broken at the auction.”