Zade comes out of the bathroom after he couldn't smell Victor anywhere near. He doesn't know what it was but he finds himself back at the party, looking for Inara. He sensed that she might be in trouble.

He looks for her among the people dancing and his eyes fall on her face, sitting alone at the bar. Even with the dim lights, he could clearly recognize her. Her scent was one of those factors but her face was drawing him too. It shone with a warm light that was attracting Zade and he couldn't stop himself.

"Hey!" he whispers in her ear from behind, startling her.

"Hey!" she pats on the chair beside her, "Sit and have a drink," She pushes a glass towards him.

"I hope you didn't mind that I went through your notes. They were on Abir's desk and I couldn't help myself but peek," Inara says sipping her drink.

"Oh, that's why the term catastrophists..." Zade realizes.

"So, how is work? I know I haven't been around to properly help you," Inara emphasized in the last part.

"It's been good," Zade assures her, "Abir is of great help. Talking with him and getting felt up by Brent, it is amazing to work here!" Zade raises his glass to show his sarcasm. Inara laughs a little.

Zade felt a bit relieved that the tension between them was broken.

"Don't mind Brent. He just can't resist a beautiful man," She casually slips in the compliment as if it was some ordinary thing to say. But Zade was astonished.

Did she just call me beautiful?

He stutters, "Uh.... thank you!" barely able to make it to the end of the sentence.

"So," Inara chuckles, "Men blush too?" and laughs which makes Zade more comfortable around her.

"Why were you sitting here all alone?" Zade asks when they were on their second round of drinks.

"No reason. I just don't feel like dancing..." She says, not looking at him.

"What if I ask you to?' Zade had been mustering up his courage to finally ask her for a dance.

"Aren't you engaged?" Inara smirks, pointing at Zade's ring. He quickly hides his hands and gets flustered. Seeing such a reaction, Inara bursts out laughing.

"My gosh! I am just teasing!" she puts her hand forward indicating him to lead the dance, "Let's dance."

Zade hesitantly takes her hand and the moment her hand touches his, he felt a strange feeling of sensation.

Was it just him or Inara felt it too?

She wouldn't, right? Since she is a human, their senses aren't that developed yet.

He shakily puts his hand on her waist, not getting too into it. He has a hard time controlling himself because of this damm scent.

Was it just Zade or does no one else seem to be that fazed with Inara's scent? He could understand the humans, but even the wolves like Abir and Ivory? As a matter of fact, even Victor too. Or was it that they want to hide something or someone?

They both move rhythmically to the song until it changes to 'Total Eclipse of the Heart' by Westlife.

"I love this song!" Inara exclaims.

"You listen to Westlife too?" Zade is a bit surprised that she knows one of the old bands.

"Yeah," she looks down, "I mean my brother did..." She somehow lost her will to dance.

"Are you okay?" Zade stops too.

"Uh yeah!" she catches up the pace again, "Tell me about your fiancé." She asks him with such gleam in her eyes that Zade just couldn't say no to her. Even though talking about Evelyn was the last thing he wanted to do today.

"Well, we aren't married yet," Zade takes a long sigh.

"What's with the sigh? What are you waiting for?" Inara asks.

"The right person..." Zade wanted to say this but he stops himself. He just tells the excuse he has been telling everyone to avoid this question.

"The right time. I wanted to be a bit more stable before I start taking more responsibilities."

"You are a good man, Zade," Inara's compliments give him butterflies in the stomach, "Keep it up!" she pats on his shoulder.

Zade smiles at her but then notices something. Her hair had been covering it the whole night but he finally sees it. A mark, on her neck.

Not just any mark. It was a mating mark.

Zade was just about to ask her when someone takes the mic. It makes a screeching sound and everyone stops dancing. One glance at the stage and Zade saw Victor up there, grinning.

Abir and Ivorywalk over to Inara and whisper, "How come he is showing his face to everyone? He never does that!"

"I don't know," Inara says, suspiciously.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please!" Victor starts, "Our company, Inspired Roots, has been reaching new heights ever since we recruited new, competent personnel."

Everyone around Zade nods but Inara, Abir, and Ivory just look at him in disgust. Was it because of his scar?

"But there is one person who has helped us come this far. I am not disregarding other people's work; I am just rewarding the best." He grins again.

"This doesn't sound good," Abir whispers to Inara.

"And I am rewarding her with the CEO's position here, at the Inspired Roots Publishing House!" Everyone gasps with that news.

"It's a 'her'..." Ivory reminds Inara.

"Miss Inara Walton, would you please come up to the stage?" the applauses grow beside her as the spotlight falls on her. But Inara doesn't look very happy.

And that's when Hunter whimpered, "Omega..."

Did Zade hear it right?