CHAPTER 44 Battlefield

　　~ RIG ~

　　‘Don’t hate me, Rig, please, don’t hate me. He was going to—’

　　I was so stunned, and so angry, it took me a second to pry my head out of Natalie’s grip. But before I could even curse, before I’d even properly straightened, my father’s voice boomed from the dancefloor.

　　“It’s about time you two stopped playing games!”

　　I sucked in a breath and told myself I had to loosen my grip on Natalie’s arms, not break them, as the crowd around us roared.

　　Whoops and hollers rang through the ballroom and over the applause as all of the gathered wolves turned their attention to me and Natalie because my father—my fucking father!—had swung an arm wide towards us, smiling wide.

　　“My son, everyone. Never one to let his father take a moment in the spotlight!”

　　More laughter and cheers, more applause.

　　I gaped at Natalie, who clung to my arm now like she was afraid I’d run from her.

　　‘Please, Rig, my father said I had to prove—’