Stella, her shop assistant, had stood and gazed at him; her eyes shifted to Sadie shortly thereafter, and she frowned directly at the girl. Had distinctly identified her from her prior visit to the store with Luca.
He snapped at her, “Where is Brianna Layla?” His irritation was evident, a consequence of the way he had been treated throughout the day, an experience he was unaccustomed to. Individuals complied with his directives, did not refuse his requests, and certainly did not evade or deceive him.
Stella had closed her mouth, yet her eyes betrayed her as they briefly darted to the loft area of the store. He had not overlooked it and, contrary to her objections, had proceeded to the location and forcefully opened the door to enter.
She observed Brianna Layla pivot from the dress she was crafting and gaze directly at him; she noted the complete widening of her brown eyes as she fixed her stare on him, witnessing genuine anguish manifest within those eyes as he maintained eye contact. Observed her entire physique respond to his presence in the room. She became immobile, her heart rate escalated significantly, and she abruptly ceased to breathe, as if she had forgotten how to do so, while gazing at him.
Witnessed her creamy complexion turn pale before his eyes; as Sadie entered the adjacent room, her visage became entirely ashen, her once-vibrant brown eyes dulled, losing their lustre and golden hue, rendering them insipid. Her heartbeat raced uncontrollably, and he observed her break into a sheen of sweat, accompanied by a pained expression on her face.
Ryder was perplexed by her response; he detected no scent in the room, and his Beta was correct—she emitted no odour whatsoever. Her response to him exacerbated his anger. What could possibly cause this woman to experience pain merely by observing him? That was what he observed.
The breath she finally drew into her lungs appeared to require considerable effort. She stepped away from him and shook her head slowly, as if to convey, ‘No, you cannot be here.’ Why would she react to him in such a manner?
He did not remember having met her previously; there was no justification for such a reaction towards him. Although he appeared angry and irritated, that should evoke fear in her, not inflict pain. “You will create the dress that Sadie desires,” he asserted, and he would not accept a refusal. He permitted his tone to convey his message, suggesting that she would comply with his directives.
Observed the obstinate woman shake her head once more, defying him and his request. He fixed his gaze upon her; no one dared to oppose him, and he was determined to prevent this woman from initiating a trend. He advanced fully towards her, determined not to depart until Sadie acquired her dress.
Brianna Layla retreated a full step as he advanced, indicating her desire to maintain distance from him. Her eyes transformed into a brilliant white, resembling those of a wolf; the unusual hue was both striking and beautiful. She gazed directly at them, only to have her beast growl ominously and threateningly at him. He was more than slightly astonished when he recognised that this woman was a wolf. White wolfen eyes are likely exceedingly rare. Sadie grasped his arm, and he noticed her eyes fixate on the manner in which she clutched him, but then they vanished. He heard her softly utter his name, and in an instant, the woman before him disappeared at full wolfen speed. Disappeared through an interconnecting door, which he now observed had closed behind her with a loud bang. He heard her escape the building entirely, exiting through another door and descending a flight of stairs, seemingly to distance herself from him.
Perceived his wolf Aiden exhale in his mind, perplexed by her response to them as well.
“Ryder, she harboured fear towards you.” Layla exhaled and gestured with her head.
“No, she wasn’t,” he replied. Ryder did not believe that Brianna Layla harboured any fear of him whatsoever. He detected no fear in this room; to him, fear possessed a distinct aroma reminiscent of astringent herbs.
“However, I could perceive her heart racing and the manner in which she fled.”
“Unfazed, Sadie.” It was agony. Her gaze upon me induced her physical discomfort; he had perceived it, and prior to her exodus from the room—and indeed the entire building—he had sensed it emanating from her and her wolf in palpable waves. Ryder observed Sadie’s hand resting on his arm; Brianna and her wolf had also directed their gaze there, emanating additional anguish from both Brianna and her wolf. Another situation was occurring.
Ryder approached and opened the door to the adjacent office, proceeded to the balcony, and observed the stairs descending and extending away. He surveyed the vicinity but could not locate her; she had vanished, having departed too swiftly. Scowled and proceeded to escort Sadie back to the hotel.
He was perplexed by the recent events in the room, yet something was resonating within his mind. He suspected that few wolves possessed white eyes like hers, and there was something about them that intrigued him.
Ryder would need to return alone, as the presence of Sadie had significantly exacerbated the woman’s distress. He passed her assistant, who appeared concerned, likely having overheard the boss’s abrupt departure, which had not been discreet. He averted his gaze from her and exited the store, escorting Sadie with him. He placed her in the waiting car a few parking spaces away and entered himself.
