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Giselle: Sloane Glass
Albrecht: Asher West
Hilarion: Dion Reynolds
Myrtha: Claire Hart
My heart stilled in my chest. Did he do this? Did he push us together? Logic immediately stepped in and told me no. Ian would have been working on this for months now. The only way to put things in place for a rapid fire season like the one we were doing was for everything to be prepared in advance. Though I didn’t think anyone in the company appreciated how long they waited to tell us about the changes.
Dion, Claire, and I were often paired together. It was why we were so close. Our heights and our styles worked well together. And once upon a time… Asher’s and mine had too.
“Are you going to be okay?” Dion asked quietly.
Taking a shaky breath in, I nodded. “It’s not like I’d be able to avoid him the whole season.”
“Why would you want to?”
The question wasn’t sarcastic. Dion understood. He was scent-sympathetic with his Alphas and knew what it felt like. And besides that, he was right. I didn’t want to avoid Ash, or the rest of his pack.
But that didn’t erase my shame or fear.
“Have you ever done something you knew was right at the time, and even though you wished you could take it back, it’s been too long, and you just have to live with it?”
“Lo, whatever the hell it is, that man does not care. The way he practically broke his neck trying to get out of the studio and follow you? I’ve never seen anyone so desperate.”
I shook my head. “I didn’t know he was coming. I’m not ready for it. It’s been five years, Dion. If I’m scent-sympathetic with the two of them, chances are I’m with the rest of the pack too, and I’m not fucking ready. I’m terrified.”
Dion’s eyes grew firm, and he took my face in his hands. “Do you know why you’re a principal?”
“What?”
“A principal dancer. Do you know why?”
Raising an eyebrow, I let my sarcasm drip. “Because I’ve been here a while and that’s the way ballet companies work?”
He laughed, but didn’t let me go. “There are people still in the corps who have been here longer than you, Lo. It’s notonlybecause of talent. It’s because you’re relentless.”
“Relentless?” My jaw dropped.
“That’s right. You don’t back away from anything until you get it, no matter if that means putting in extra hours at home or bribing Jerry to let you in here so you can dance. You don’t back down from a challenge, and youneverfucking give up.”
I swallowed. “Thank you. But I don’t get why it’s relevant.”
“Because this is the first time I’ve seen you remotely scared of anything, and I would know that ofallthe things we have to deal with, especially in our line of work, this is nothing to be scared of. And if any one of them thinks about doing anything to hurt you, I have three very devoted Alphas who will kick their asses and make sure the two of us get some hits in too.”
A laugh bubbled up out of me, though my tears started to reappear. “I appreciate that.”
He pulled me into a hug. “It’s going to be fine.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so.” Releasing me, he tapped me lightly on the nose. “See you tomorrow. Anddon’twallow.”
Rolling my eyes, I backed away toward the door. “No promises.”
Finally turning my phone back on, I ignored the texts flowing in from Craig and opened my thread with Petra.
SLOANE
