Samantha dropped her purse. The ivory design purse hit the tip of her emerald satin slipper and plunked against the polished tiles of the floor. She stared up at the rogue who had slipped his arm around her shoulders. "What the devil do

you..."

"Oh, Samantha, this is wonderful!" Anna said.

"Samantha, he is everything you said, and more," Audrey said, squeezing Samantha's hand. "I'm so happy."

"But you don't understand. This man is..." Samantha could manage no more as the guests began descending upon her and the impostor by her side. Smiling faces of friends and family swirled in her dazed vision. Voices buzzed in

her ears.

"Congratulations, my dear."

"Oh, what a charming couple."

"Always knew it would take a strong Alpha to win Samantha's hand.'

"How fortunate you could return, Alpha."

Samantha's thoughts whirled. She received the good wishes of her guests as though she moved through a dream, Stunned. Speechless. This could not be happening. She felt as though she had been yanked from the ground by a whirlwind. Her head reeled. Her heart pounded against the wall

of her chest. She had to stop this!

Her father stepped from the chattering crowd that had gathered around Samantha and the impostor. "You've made me very happy, daughter," he said, touching her cheek.

"Father, this man......

"Counts himself among the most fortunate men of the world," the impostor said, holding Samantha close to his side.

"To have the honor of your daughter's hand in marriage."

Samantha glanced up into eyes as dark as a moonless night.

There was amusement in those endless depths and a subtle warning that stole the words of protest she had meant to

speak. He trapped her with that look, and suddenly she felt like a dove held in the talons of a hawk.

"I've sanctioned another waltz, Samantha," Alpha Johnson said.

"One for my daughter and her new mate."

Samantha was vaguely aware of the violins as they sang the first few phrases of a waltz. The man holding her shifted

his grip, sliding his arm around her back as he led her toward the dance floor. Guests parted and formed an aisle of smiling faces, like peasants seeking a glimpse of their

Alpha and Luna.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Samantha whispered as the rogue took her in his arms.

"Dancing with my bride." He grinned, that solitary dimple peeking at her. "Smile, sweetheart. We don't want people to think you don't like me."

"Like you?" Samantha stumbled as he swept her into the graceful swirling motions of the dance.

He caught her, easing her through the first turn. "I didn't realize you were so inexperienced in the waltz. Just relax

and follow my lead."

"Inexperienced! I'll let you know I'm an excellent dancer."

He lifted one black brow, his midnight eyes sparkling with mischief, "So you say, my lady,"

Samantha glared up at the rogue, aware of an odd going in her limbs. Through the white kid of his hand, the excitement of his hand seared her through the emerald silk of her gown, his warmth seeping into her blood, "Don't try to distract me," she said, painfully aware that his very presence distracted her.

"But I think it will be quite enjoyable distracting you"

His smile turned positively wicked, "I'm looking forward to an entire night of marvelous distractions,"

There was a note of sensuality in his deep, velvety voice, a dark promise that whispered to a need lurking deep within her. A tremor rippled through her. She missed a step, her

slippered foot coming down on his toes. He flexed his hand at her waist, and gripped her hand, imposing balance until she regained the proper rhythm.

He cocked one dark brow, his eyes sparkling with an understanding any decent gentleman would disavow, She was certain the man was aware of every wayward tingle he could conjure inside her. And he wanted her to know how very easily he could read her thoughts, Oh, she wanted to

strangle the man. "Just what are you about, coming in here pretending to be my husband?"

"Pretending?" He gave her a look filled with cultivated innocence, a look completely at odds with the roguish glint in his eyes. "Why, Samantha, I assure you that even though we were married in haste, everything is quite legal,"

"We were never married." She kept her voice low, acutely aware of the couples who had joined them on the dance floor, even though they were nothing but a blur of color in her vision as he swept her in bold, flowing turns

around the floor.

"I know I've been away for several weeks, but I'm shattered to think you could have forgotten that one glorious the night we shared,"

"Oh, will you kindly stop talking such nonsense!"

"Samantha, how you wound me," he replied, his grin spoiling the melancholy in his voice.

Oh, she wanted to slap that mocking smile right off his handsome face. "Not yet. But I will, you know. I'm quite capable of using a pistol."

He laughed, the deep tones rippling with the bright sounds of the violins. "I find I'm trembling in my boots."

"Oh, you... villain! How dare you come in here and play this loathsome game?"

"Game? Samantha, darling, I'm afraid you have me at a loss."

Samantha halted in the middle of the dance floor, ashamed to find her legs were trembling. It was from anger, she

assured herself. She certainly was not trembling at this rogue's touch. "I've had all I intend to take off your info license. I believe it is time to announce you as a fraud."

"That wouldn't be wise."

"Oh, and why, pray to tell?"

He smiled a lazy curve of his lips that reminded her keenly of how those sensual lips had felt moving against hers. "Because your family and guests would be quite dis-

stressed to discover you had deceived them into believing you have found your mate and we were married."

A cold hand squeezed her heart. She stared up into his eyes, seeing the reality of her situation mirrored in the dark depths.

"Yes, sweetheart, I know everything."

A small sound escaped her lips, the startled sound of a rabbit trapped by a lion. Dear heaven, how had he discovered the truth? What did he want? If he whispered the truth

to anyone, her entire family would suffer.

He lifted her hand and glanced down at her clenched fist, his expression growing solemn. "I believe it's time you and I had a little talk," he said, slowly sliding his thumb

over her knuckles in a gesture meant to soothe.

His gentleness was lost in the storm of Samantha's emotions.

Still, she didn't resist as he took her arm and led her from on the dance floor. She glanced around the room, spotting her parents sitting together on an ivory Grecian chaise lounge that stood against one of the pale green walls. Her parents had always done what they thought was best for her. They

I loved her. Trusted her without question. What would they think if they knew she had deceived them? Her stomach clenched as she realized how much pain she would cause them. And her entire future lay in a rogue's hands.

Lady Helena met them as they left the dance floor. She stepped before them, like a palace guard in pale blue, her head high, her golden eyes glowing with fury. "Just where

Do you think you are going with my granddaughter, Alpha Blake?"

Even though her grandmother kept her voice low, Samantha flinched at the venom in her tone. She glanced up at her tormentor. The rogue didn't look the least bit intimidated

by a woman who had a reputation for freezing an opponent with a single glance.

"There is much we need to discuss, Lady Helena," he said, his dark voice low and filled with command. "I believe you have a stake in all of this. Please join us."

Helena looked at Samantha, sudden doubts clouding Paz's eyes. "Samantha?"

Samantha moistened her dry lips. "He knows."

Helena closed her eyes, her lips moving in a silent oath.

When she opened her eyes, there was a hard glitter in the golden depths. "Very well. Follow me."

Samantha's mind churned as she followed her grandmother out of the ballroom and down a hallway where dim light flickered behind glass, casting wavering shadows against the mahogany-paneled walls. She had weaved every inch of this terrible tangle. Now it threatened to strangle her

grandmother as well as her entire family. Not for the first time in her life, she cursed her reckless nature.

grandmother. She stared at the man who strode into the

Samantha set her jaw as she entered the library behind her grandmother. she stared at the man who strode into the room beside her. Heaven helps her, somehow she would find a way to wipe that maddening grin off his beguiling lips. That's a promise. she thought.