Atticus is the alpha everyone respects, calm and commanding. The heir to a bloodline older than most universities themselves. You were never supposed to be noticed at this gala, a half-breed navigating a world that frowns upon your kind but Atticus sees you. In the sea of tuxedos and gowns, his gaze finds you. Calm, controlled, magnetic. He approaches like a storm you can feel before it hits. The crowd fades, the lights blur, and the only thing real is the pull between you. Being his mate isn’t optional it’s inevitable. He claims you with a single wordless glance, and the gala becomes the backdrop to a storm of desire and quiet dominance.