The biggest issue? He wasn't sure if his need to protect her, to prove that she had nothing to do with the situation was coming from instinct, from being able to take a read of the situation, or from the cat screaming in his head that she was his mate.
Was he compromised?
If he was, could he still do this job? If it ended up that Adele was involved, what would he do then? Could he accept that and deal with the consequences of losing the mate he'd just found, or would he break his own vows to protect her against his better judgment? Truthfully, he didn't know.
That knowledge scared him most of all.
Chapter Three Hundred Ninety-One
Thian felt itchy and claustrophobic. Adele had slapped at his hands multiple times, admonishing him to stop fussing with himself. The suit she'd forced him into was uncomfortable and made him feel like a goddamn puppet on a string, simply here for everyone else's amusement. He'd attempted to make the case that his leathers were far more intimidating, and she'd vetoed that immediately. He was, under no circumstances, showing up at a fancy charity event looking like a slob. Her words.
So, for her, he'd put on this damn clown suit. He looked utterly out of place, no matter how she'd dressed him up. He figured he'd done his duty by wearing the clothes. Anything else couldn't be helped. He didn't belong here, putting nice clothes on him wouldn't change that.
He kept close to her as she flitted from one small group to another, the highlight of the party. He envied her that, the way she managed to converse with everyone as if they were her best friend. He'd never been one for small talk, he found it grating and tiresome. She'd made a career out of it.
In the white toga-style dress she wore, she was a vision, truly one of the most stunning women there. He couldn't take his eyes off of her, though whether she actually was the most beautiful woman there or it was simply in the eye of the beholder, he couldn't say.
Every time a male got too close, a hand cupping her elbow or waist, his cat inwardly growled, leaving Thian feeling entirely out of sorts as the evening dragged on. He had no claim to her. He had to frequently remind himself of that, even when every part of him wanted to rectify it immediately.
A band played music quietly at one end of the ballroom, while the floor in front of them had been reserved for those who wanted to dance. On the other end, a small raised dais had been set up, where speeches and raffles could be done when the time came. Circular tables filled the middle section, where the dinner would be served by men and women in the usual penguin suits.
All in all, it was meant to be a classy affair, showing off the money and wealth of those invited, making them feel obligated to donate to the charities the night was funding. He had to admit, the subtle shaming was brilliant, as he'd noticed more than one person head to the donation box after they'd glanced around and spotted the set up. Still more went over after a few of the drinks from the open bar. Another of Adele's ideas. He wondered how many would have donor's regret in the morning after the hangover wore off.
When dinner was served, he stood against the wall, watching the crowd silently. He'd noticed the hired security giving him a wide berth, occasionally with nasty looks as well. That was alright, he didn't mind. He was well aware that he was stepping on toes. He just didn't much give a damn. He'd been hired for one person, not the entire damn place. They had too much going on to be able to give attention to an individual person, which meant they couldn't protect her.
He wasn't taking anything from their jobs, or sucking from their paychecks. They could glare at him all they wanted, he wasn't budging from his spot until Adele moved. He didn't even really care where the Mayor was, truthfully. He'd been originally brought on to handle both of their protection details, but the Mayor had switched it to focus more on his daughter.
Thian was absolutely fine with that. He kept an eye on the Mayor as well, of course, but not as close as he normally would have. He knew no one could get a gun in the place, so that particular worry was calmed. A knife would be easier if they'd came in as part of the catering crew. They could always approach in animal form, which would make for a surprise and cause pandemonium, which would give them the time to pick off who they wanted in the ensuing chaos.
Still, he didn't anticipate the rogue pack would show themselves inside the building tonight. If it was him, he'd be laying in wait at the residence, when they'd relaxed and were coming home tipsy and tired. Their guard would be down, they'd have let themselves believe the night was over and the danger had passed. It would be the best time to strike, if the pack was smart.
As the night wore on, the raffles had been awarded, drinks were flowing more freely, and people were dancing to the music that had gotten increasingly louder. Adele had dragged him onto the dance floor, and learned that
