Chapter 92

Elise’s POV

It got harder day by day to hide the urge to touch Hayden and be close to him. I felt like a crush-stricken pup who had just realized the presence of an alpha who had been with me all this time. And now it was far too clear to ignore. I wondered if he had noticed too, if he had seen the times I looked away when our gazes met.

It got harder each time our eyes locked from across the room or from where he stood with his friends, laughing at a joke Brady made. I watched as his eyes crinkled from the joke, and an unconscious smile spread on my face too.

Jax called his attention back to the field as I stood with the ladies under the gazebo. I felt a soft tap on my shoulder from Jenna, Brady’s mate. We were under one of the tents, with the other serving beverages and drinks while we watched.

According to their tradition, there was a day for young pups and males to participate. She-wolves were allowed to join, yes, but more of the mated females enj