A Night of Deception

As the evening wore on, I found myself growing more and more exhausted from the constant smiling and pretending. Ryder seemed to sense my fatigue and steered me towards a quiet corner of the room, where we could take a brief respite from the crowds. I let out a sigh of relief as he released my hand, and for a moment, I thought I saw a glimmer of concern in his eyes. But before I could grasp it, his gaze flicked across the room, and his expression changed in an instant. His eyes narrowed, and his jaw clenched, and I followed his gaze to see a woman with long, curly blonde hair and piercing green eyes walking towards us. She was stunning, and I could sense the confident air about her, the way she owned the room with every step. Ryder's hand instinctively went to my waist, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer to his side. I felt a pang of unease, wondering who this woman was and why Ryder was reacting this way. As she approached, I could see the calculating glint in her eyes, and I sensed that she was sizing me up. "Ryder, darling," she purred, her voice husky and seductive. "I see you're still keeping your little mate on a leash." Ryder's face remained impassive, but I could feel the tension in his body, the way his muscles stiffened. "Lillian," he said curtly, his tone dismissive. Lillian's eyes flicked to me, and I could sense her curiosity, her interest in getting to know me better. "And this is...?" she asked, her gaze lingering on me. "This is Rowena, my fated mate," Ryder said, his voice firm. Lillian's smile grew wider, and she extended a manicured hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Rowena. I've heard so much about you." I took her hand, feeling a jolt of surprise at the firm handshake. There was something about Lillian that didn't feel right, something that put me on edge. As we stood there, Ryder's hand still on my waist, I sensed that Lillian was more than just a passing acquaintance. There was a familiarity between them, a comfort that only came from sharing secrets and intimacy. I felt a pang of jealousy, a spark of possessiveness that I hadn't felt in a long time. It was as if my wolf was stirring, sensing that this woman was a threat to our bond. But as I looked at Ryder, I saw the guilt written all over his face, the tension in his body a dead giveaway. And in that moment, I knew that Lillian was more than just a friend, more than just a colleague. She was his mistress.