The charity gala at Avila Tower was a glittering spectacle of power and influence. Crystal chandeliers cast soft light over the ballroom, where international business leaders, politicians, and socialites mingled with calculated smiles. Claire stood near the edge of the crowd in an elegant emerald-green gown that complemented her ginger hair and the mate bond’s golden warmth. She was here as Xander’s mate and co-parent, supporting him publicly while they continued to rebuild their relationship one careful step at a time.
Xander moved through the room like a force of nature — tall, commanding, and radiating the cold, untouchable aura that had made him one of the most feared CEOs in the world. Women still tried to approach him, drawn to his power and devastating looks. He rejected them all w
