Shocked !!!

Daniella's POV

 The New Year's Eve party on the rooftop of the Venetian Hotel was nothing short of breathtaking. The evening sky stretched endlessly above, dotted with stars, while the city lights below twinkled like scattered jewels. A grand chandelier hung in the center of the open space, its crystals refracting light that danced across the room. Guests, dressed to the nines, sipped on champagne and mingled, their laughter blending seamlessly with the soft notes of a live jazz band playing in the corner.

 The buffet was a feast for the senses, silver platters laden with lobster tails, perfectly grilled steaks, and creamy truffle risotto. A dessert table stood nearby, offering everything from miniature tiramisus to sparkling macarons dusted with edible gold. Servers moved effortlessly among the crowd, their trays balanced with precision as they offered glasses of wine and delicate canapés.

The highlight of the evening was the dance floor, illuminated by soft, rotating lights that made the entire space feel magical. Couples swayed to the music while others looked on, sipping their drinks and chatting animatedly. At one end of the rooftop, a countdown clock ticked away the last moments of the year, surrounded by an elaborate display of fireworks waiting to light up the midnight sky.

Alex Wong approached me as I stood by the railing, marveling at the bustling city below. His sharp black tuxedo made him appear every bit the magnate he was, his confident smile radiating charm.

"Daniella, would you honor me with a dance?" he asked smoothly.

 Before I could reply, Alpha, standing at my side, leaned in and whisper . "Go ahead, Daniella. I'll watch and learn. After Alex, it's my turn to dance with you. Consider this my lesson."

I chuckled at his teasing tone. Alpha was genuinely adapting to my world, though at times it was evident how alien it all was to him. Perhaps everything he said about living in a secluded mining town like Mariposa, which had left him unaccustomed to grand parties, modern technology, and refined social graces, was true. Yet, his keen intellect and swift adaptability never ceased to astonish me.

 Dancing with Alex felt natura,he was a skilled lead. Midway through the waltz, he leaned closer and said the words I'd been waiting to hear. "Daniella, I've decided. I'm signing the contract with Lawson & Firm for all my legal matters in the U.S. But there's one condition. it has to be you handling my account, no one else."

 A smile broke across my face. "Of course, Alex. I already ensured that with Mr. Lawson before I came here. You're my client."

 "Good," he said, shaking my hand before escorting me back to Alpha, who stepped forward eagerly.

 "My turn," Alpha declared, pulling me into his arms.

 To my surprise, he led me effortlessly across the floor. "Are you serious? You just learned to dance by watching?"

 "Yep," he said with a grin. "It's not so hard. I just need to trust my instincts to avoid stepping on your feet. I think I'm pretty good at this."

 As the night unfolded, Mike also asked me for a dance, and Alpha graciously stepped aside. With Mike, the conversation was light but meaningful. He congratulated me on securing Alex's contract and teased Alpha as we returned to our table.

 "You're a lucky man, Alpha. Treat her well, or you'll have to deal with me," Mike said with a grin.

 Alpha's expression softened as he replied, "Don't worry. Daniella will be the happiest woman alive with me."

The countdown approached, but the crowd's energy was starting to feel overwhelming. I turned to Alpha. "Do you want to stay here, or should we head back to our room and watch the countdown there together?"

 His eyes lit up. "No need to ask. Just the two of us sounds perfect."

 We took the elevator down, and the moment the doors closed, Alpha pulled me into a passionate kiss. His warmth, his touch, it was intoxicating. By the time we reached our floor, we were laughing softly, our hands intertwined as we headed toward our room.

As soon as we stepped inside, the lights flickered and went out. An alarm blared, cutting through the muffled sounds of the party above.

 "Is this part of the countdown?" Alpha asked, his hand tightening protectively around mine.

 "No," I said, my voice steady but my heart racing. "Fire alarms are no joke. It means there's an actual emergency."

 I opened the door cautiously, only to be met with a wave of smoke and the horrifying sight of flames licking down from the ceiling of the hallway.

 "We can't get to the stairs," I said, panic creeping into my voice. "The fire's already spread too far."

 Alpha's face was calm but resolute. "What about the balcony? Can we escape that way?"

 I shook my head, trembling. "We're on the 30th floor. We'd never survive."

 The clock read 11:58 PM, two minutes to midnight. Despite the chaos, Alpha stepped closer and held my hand tightly. "Daniella," he said, his voice low but firm, " I'll protect you. I won't let anything happen to you. Trust me."

As smoke filled the room, I turned on my phone's flashlight and led Alpha toward the balcony. But before we could step outside, something strange happened. Alpha's grip on my hand tightened, and I felt his nails dig into my skin, only they weren't nails anymore. They were claws.

I turned to him, my heart hammering as I watched his body tremble and change. Fur erupted across his skin, and his frame expanded, his shirt tearing apart. In a matter of seconds, the man I loved was no longer standing before me. Instead, a massive black wolf towered in his place, its eyes glowing with an intensity that was both terrifying and familiar.

 My knees buckled as the weight of shock and the suffocating smoke overwhelmed me. The world spun into darkness as I collapsed, Alpha's fierce, protective gaze the last thing I saw before everything faded away.