The Millennium Wolves novel Chapter 1

Sienna

, “I thought you said it was an emergency,” I said, shooting daggers at my mother.

“What and spoil the surprise? I was just showing Mr. Norwood some of your baby photos. Wasn‘t she adorable?”

“Yes, even then, you could tell she‘d grow up to be a strong, beautiful woman,” he replie d, casting his mesmerizing, gold–streaked green eyes in my direction. “This tea is delicious, Mrs. Mercer.”

“Please, call me, Melissa,” she replied with a giggle.

I wanted to throw up. My own mother was more smitten with my partner than I was.

I bet she thought that I would mate with Aiden by the end of the Season, but I‘d looked into his eyes plenty of times now, and the recogniti on had never occurred.

He was just using me, after all.

“How was Uptown?” he asked, flashing a devilishly handsome grin.

Why did he care? Did he know about Jocelyn?

“It was okay,” I replied, trying not to let his looks get the best of me.

It didn‘t help that his shirt gripped every inch of his broad chest and bulging arms or that his jeans fit snugly around his powerful, defined legs.

From his roguish smile, I could tell that he knew I was fighting to keep my Haze from flar ing up

“I

don‘t think I‘ve seen you with your hair up before. It suits you, especially with that mark you have.”

I had completely forgotten that I‘d pulled my hair into a loose ponytail when I got to the g allery. Frizzy, windswept strands were everywhere. Dried sweat clung to my temples.

I looked messy and hideous, and he knew it. And of course the arrogant bastard would admire his own handiwork.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, not caring for formalities. I think that after this afternoon it was pointless to try and act civil.

“I‘m a man on a mission,” he said, amused. “I want to learn more about you and your fa mily. I realized this afternoon that we hardly know each other.”

Of course we don‘t. You marked me out of nowhere.

Still, this change in tact made me think that Jocelyn had relayed my message that he‘d better shape up. That was fast, I thought.

I folded my arms and gave him an annoyed look. “And what would that ‘task‘ be?”

With wide eyes, I watched as he rose and took my hand. “Sienna, would you care to join me for dinner this evening?”

The asshole was wooing me, and dammit, it was working

So polite all of a sudden. Probably on account of my mom‘s presence. She looked like s he could‘ve died right there and gone to heaven.

My cheeks flushed, and my heart beat so loudly he probably heard it. I was charmed. D eeply charmed. Maybe Jocelyn was right about him.

Maybe Aiden Norwood deserved a chance.

“I‘m not dressed for the occasion,” I said, trying to protest.

“Neither am I,” he said, grinning. “We‘ll take care of that. Shall we?”

Maybe we shall, I thought. But I made him wait for it. I wasn‘t about to give in that easily. Finally, I nodded my head.

“Yes,” I replied. Then, thinking I better hedge my bets, “This time.”

Aiden laughed and shook his head, amused by my continued restraint. Without another word, he ushered me outside into his car and we were off.

I knew I wasn‘t supposed to let the Alpha catch me. But, so far he‘d been polite, calm, g entleman–like even. Why run when no one was chasing you?

The drive was quiet and quick. Aiden pulled up to a boutique, and we went inside.

I was still on guard, but finding it easier every second to be around him.

The saleswoman flashed an infatuated smile. “What can I help you with, Mr. Norwood?” she chirped. The two of us locked eyes, and her smile immediately shifted to a glower.

I guess someone wanted Mr. Norwood to herself.

Twenty minutes ago I would have let her have him, but I felt strangely possessive for a s econd. Before I could stop myself, my lip curled into a snarl.

The saleswoman quickly looked away. I blinked. What was wrong with me? The alpha w asn‘t worth getting worked up over. Get a grip, Sienna!

“Will you help me find something?” I asked her, trying to send a peace offering.

She nodded curtly and led me to a row of beautiful silky pieces.

I chose a navy dress and went to the changing room. The dress was skin– tight, highlighting all my assets and complementing my ivory skin.

The saleswoman pushed a pair of white pumps under the curtain. They fit perfectly. I let down my hair and ran my fingers through it until everything was tamed.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror before stepping out. I looked damn good.

Aiden‘s eyes couldn‘t seem to move away. His heated stare scanned my body from head to toe, lingering on my hips and chest for a second too long second too long

“You look...breathtaking,” he said, eyes glinting

My Haze, thank God, was under control for once. Not that I can understand why. We‘d n ever shared such a one–on–one moment like this before.

It should have been blazing. But instead, I found myself blushing and looking away. It w asn‘t hot. It was just weirdly...nice. Almost cute.

That was when I noticed that Aiden had also changed.

He wore fitted blue slacks that left little to the imagination and a collared white shirt tailored to perfection. The man was devastatingly handsome.

After he paid for the dress and heels, we were back in the car, driving toward downtown

.

We parked in front of the hottest restaurant in the city, and after opening my door, he le d me inside with one hand on the small of my back.