Returned by Samantha Stone

Author:Samantha Stone [Stone, Samantha]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

GENTLE hands shook Leila awake by her shoulders. As soon as she pried her eyes open, the strobe lights of her alarm flashed impatiently, demanding for her to wake up. Normally it was enough to get her up in the mornings, but it wasn’t always effective. Sometimes, sleeping without hearing had its pitfalls—like loud alarm clocks having virtually no effect on her. So she’d set her alarm to simply flash, so it wouldn’t disturb her nearly nocturnal roommates.

Luckily, Alex woke her before the alarm went off for too long. If she got ready now, she’d have plenty of time to get to rehearsal. Fear and embarrassment rose, but she shoved the feelings down. This company took a chance on her, and she didn’t want anyone to regret that. Despite the questions yesterday’s disappearance would bring, not to mention the kidnapping she’d endured, she couldn’t let it get in the way of her performance. She wouldn’t let it.

It was an effort not to imagine how the other dancers would react to her abrupt exit from rehearsal yesterday. If she could dance without hearing, she’d have left her implants turned off so she couldn’t hear the whispers.

Game face, Newman.

Allowing herself one last moment to enjoy the circle of Alex’s arms, she pulled away to take out the clothes Wish had brought for her. In ten minutes, she was ready to go—her hair in an immovable knot on the top of her head, and her softest rehearsal gear acting as armor.

When they arrived at the dance studio, having taken Alex’s previously beige car, which was now black with tinted windows, Raphael and Mary waited for them. The Alpha’s arm was curled tightly around his wife’s shoulders.

“It’s a closed set,” Leila said apologetically. It was rare that outsiders intruded in their rehearsals, and then it was much earlier in the process. So close to their performance date, there was no way Derik would allow anyone to watch them practice.

Raphael opened his mouth, but Mary stopped him with a paint-stained hand around his biceps.

“Sebastian decided Full Moon wants to donate to the arts—enough that your dress rehearsal will be at the brewery,” she said, smiling.

“Where we can ensure your safety, and that of all the other dancers,” Raphael added.

So every werewolf in a hundred-mile radius will be there. Leila hid her grin as best she could, but the gleam in Alex’s eyes told her that she concealed nothing from him. It also told her he was in on this plan. Maybe he’d done more than just shower before going to bed last night.

Generous to a fault, Leila didn’t doubt Sebastian donated enough to keep Derik happy for weeks.

“Are you going to speak with them, or sign?” Mary asked curiously. Yesterday, she’d accepted Leila’s newfound voice without comment. Leila should have known that wouldn’t last.

Mary also posed a great question. If Leila let herself slip, she’d not only hurt whoever she was talking to but likely everyone else in the room. At the same time, her lack of speech made communication difficult with everyone except Ursula.

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