Chapter 76
Lila’s POV
There was a part of me that was hoping that Enzo wouldn’t show up. Emily and Kate were especially
happy to meet him when I told them he agreed to come.
We spent most of the morning setting up the gallery for the show. The caterers arrived just in time to
set up their stations for food and drinks and per request, Brody arrived with his guitar.
After talking with Brody over time, I discovered that he was huge into music and that it was a passion of
his. I heard him playing in the student lounge and I knew he would be perfect entertainment for the art
show.
“Where should I set up?” He asked, holding up his red velvet guitar case.
“I’ll show you,” I said, walking toward a secluded area where a few paintings were set up. “You can set
up your station however you want,” I told him with a kind smile.
“Hey, Lila! Can you help me place napkins around the tables?” Cassidy-Ann asked from across the room.
I nodded to her and went to grab the napkins in the back room. As I was in the backroom, rummaging
through supplies, I could hear more people entering the gallery and gasping at all the fine art that was
set up perfectly for their viewing.
It was only a small event with a few tables for eating, so I didn’t need that many napkins. I grabbed a
handful and started to make my way out of the backroom when I felt his presence.
Val perked up right away, wiggling with excitement. My heart was beating quickly as I pressed my hand
against the door. It was like I could feel his presence as if he was in the same room as me.
I pushed open the door and went to place the napkins on the table.
“Lila, when you are done come here for a moment. I’d like you to meet some people,” Cassidy-Ann
called over to me.
I nodded my head once, trying to bring it back to the present moment. I had to try to get Enzo out of
my mind. It was hard though, knowing he was approaching.
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The feeling of his presence grew stronger; this was a completely new feeling for me. I finished placing
the napkins on the table and joined her with a group of others who were all wearing fancy clothing.
“Lila, I wanted to introduce you to Leroy Klein, the founding leader of the International School of Art for
Shifters.”
I almost gasped, staring up at the man that could make it possible to pursue my dreams. The
International School of Art for Shifters was on the other side of the planet basically, in Monstro, the
second largest town that occupies a bunch of packs just like Elysium. Of course, Elysium is the biggest
town in the world and occupies the most packs.
But Monstro was always a town that I’ve read about in books and magazines, and I’ve always dreamt of
visiting. I’ve heard it’s the most beautiful town to ever exist. Not to mention the weather was always
gorgeous there and almost everybody lived on the beach.
The International School of Art for Shifters is one of the best and biggest colleges. It was always ranked
the number one academy in the world. Only the best artists, including Cassidy-Ann, attended that
school.
“I’ve heard a lot of great things about you, Lila. I’m hoping we will get a chance to talk later on?” Leroy
Klein asked.
I couldn’t believe he was standing in front of me right now. I’ve never even imagined that I would get a
chance to meet him.
“Yes, sir. I would like that very much,” I said to him, trying to remain confident.
“I was just showing him some of your work,” Cassidy-Ann further explained. “He’s quite impressed with
you.”
“I... I don’t know what to say,” I said with a bright smile. “That means a lot to hear.”
Leroy nodded his head and before he could say anything more, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I froze and
looked up at Brody who was staring at me with a kind smile.
“Sorry to interrupt. But I can’t seem to find the plug for my guitar,” he said a bit sheepishly.
“Oh, you might need to move the table that’s over there,” I told him. “I believe it’s behind it.”
He nodded, but just before he removed his hand, his eyes wandered across the crowd and then a frown
appeared on his lips.
“You invited Professor Enzo?” Brody asked, seemingly confused.
My heart fell into my stomach. I was so wrapped up in my conversation with Cassidy-Ann and Leroy
Klein, that I completely forgot about that intense feeling of Enzo’s nearby presence and the impatience
of my wolf.
I stared across the crowd, and my eyes locked onto Enzo’s.
His eyes held mine for a moment before they shifted to Brody and then to Brody’s hand that remained
on my shoulder. I saw his eyes darkening; I could tell he wasn’t happy.
But why?
I stepped away from Brody, allowing his hand to fall from my shoulder and I glanced back at Leroy and
Cassidy-Ann.
“If you’ll excuse me, there’s someone I need to speak with,” I told them, bowing my head slightly at
Leroy Klein as if he was royalty.
Who am I kidding? To me... he was the closest thing to royalty I’ll ever get to meet.
“We’ll talk more later, Lila,” Leroy said, bowing his head to me in return.
I couldn’t help the wide smile on my face as I walked past him. I paused when I saw Kate and Emily
talking to a small group of people, showing off their paintings and explaining their thought processes
on their creations.
I walked through the crowd of people and grabbed onto Kate’s arm, startling her.
“I have to introduce you to someone,” I said in a low whisper.
She straightened her stance once she realized what I was talking about. She leaned over to Emily and
whispered something to her, and they both gave me identical looks.
They excused themselves from the crowd and made their way over to Enzo who was standing off to the
side and looked kind of awkward in an art gallery by himself.
It was obvious he had lost sight of me in the crowd, but when his eyes locked on mine, it was almost
like time had slowed down. My breathing became heavy, and I felt my heart beating quickly in my chest.
For a moment, it was like we were the only two in the room.
For a moment, walking toward him felt perfect.
I wondered if this was what it was like when my mother first met my father. I wondered if she could
hardly breathe or think straight. I wondered if it was like time slowing down and everything falling into
place like a puzzle.
I stared down at his lips, wanting to kiss him repeatedly. I wanted to take him for myself.
I wanted him as my mate.
Yet, I was about to introduce him to a couple of she-wolves who want him as their chosen mates.
It felt like my stomach was being ripped out.
“Professor Enzo,” I said when we finally met in the center of the gallery. “Thank you for coming to the
show.”
He nodded his head, trying to appear professional. He was here as my professor, not my mate.
“I wanted to introduce you to a couple of women who work with me at the gallery. This is Emily and
Kate,” I said, gesturing for them to step beside me. They eagerly stepped closer to him, both giggling
and smiling like young schoolgirls. “They’ve been wanting to meet you,” I continued, plastering that
smile on my face that shows I’m not in pain.
Enzo narrowed his eyes at them, not saying anything.
He soon started to look between all of us; I could see the questions surfacing in his eyes and the pure
confusion on his face as he thought about what was happening.
Then, the realization fell across his face, and I felt my heart sink into the pit of my stomach.
He knew exactly what I was doing.
“Of course, he does,” Val chuckled.
“Ladies, it was a pleasure to meet you. I don’t mean to be rude, but I should be going,” Enzo surprised
me by saying.
Their excited smiles fell into frowns as they looked at one another.
Before I could grasp what was happening, Enzo was already leaving through the front door.
I stared after him in shock, unsure of what to do or think. Kate and Emily looked annoyed, folding their
arms across their chests.
I shook my head and went after him.
I stepped outside and saw him walking down the walkway in the distance; it was mainly vacant outside.
Only a couple of people were outside for a smoke break and talking amongst one another. I could hear
the strings of Brody’s guitar from outside; he was playing beautifully.
“Alpha Enzo! Where are you going?” I asked as I finally caught up to him.
He continued walking.
“I don’t know why I bothered to come if you were just going to try and set me up with random, shewolves,” Enzo muttered,
continuing to walk.
I grabbed onto his arm, trying to slow him down.
“Then, why did you come here?”
He paused and glanced at me.
“For you, Lila,” he said through his teeth.
My breathing stopped and I stared up at him in complete shock.
“What?” I managed to ask.
“I came here for you,” he repeated, shaking his head with dismay written all over his face. “Because
believe it or not, Lila. I can’t seem to get you out of my head.”