“This looks lovely, thank you.” I took a seat.
“And in much better company,” Caspien added, “Sparkling baseboards, Mrs. Balfour,” Caspien commented, and my dad choked on his coffee. I bit down on a smile, and my mom gave me a wry look I pretended not to see. “Why thank you, Caspien.” She commented, “Such great manners; I’m not sure what went wrong with you,” My mom shook her head at me.
“My upbringing.” I shot back, joking, and my dad smiled at my mom’s scowl.
We fell into comfortable chatter. Caspien informed my parents that his mom was already putting together some design ideas for their apartment and cottage. I glanced around my first home and saw that things were already being sorted and some boxes laid out. I helped clear the table with my dad while Caspien listened to my mom talk about how they wanted to pack and helped her decide what she should bring.
The front door slammed open, and I jumped. I was met with a familiar face under sandy-blonde hair cut short into a bob.
“Lola! You cut your hair,” I wasn’t expecting her back yet.
She bounded towards me and grasped me in a too-tight hug before pulling back and looking me over, breathing a sigh of relief, “I did, I was inspired. You look,” She paused, “Better,” She said carefully.
“I feel better.” I didn’t realize how bad I must have been; even though I had seen her months ago, my shadows must have still lingered.
“I have so much to tell you about you, of course.” She laughed and went to throw her long hair over her shoulder, frowning, “Oh, I keep forgetting I cut it,” I laughed at her and clasped her hand. It was so nice seeing her.
“When did you get back?” I asked.
“Barely home a day, but oh my Goddess,” She shook her head, looking around before finding Caspien, “That’s him.” She whispered.
“Yes,”
“Hi, Vincent, Heather.” Lola called to my parents, “I’m back.”
“We can see that,” My dad said, smiling, “Coffee?”
Lola nodded, “Please.” The familiarity tugged at me.
It made me feel both comfortable and sad at the same time, knowing my parents were giving this up.
Caspien came up to me, “This is my mate, Caspien.” He held out his hand to her, and her eyes widened.
“How do you not suffocate being around him?” She asked me, “Also, hi, I’m Lola.” She gave him a timid smile.
I shrugged, “I don’t feel it in the same way.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Caspien said, his voice kind.
“Now, what is this gossip?” My mom asked, and we all took a seat with fresh cups of coffee.
“Where to start?” She tapped her mug with a finger, “Willa is back. Apparently, she’s a princess. I always knew you were too pretty to be a commoner,” Lola smirked at me.
“Too smart to be a commoner, you mean,” My dad cut in.
“Yes and that,” Lola amended, flashing my dad a smile, “Oh, and Nolan has a son who is the true heir to Blue Ridge. People are torn on that one, they aren’t sure if you ran away and kept the kid from him or if he knew. The timelines are a little fuzzy,” She shrugged, “Of course, I know the true story, but I didn’t know what you wanted me to say, so I just listened.” I nodded at her knowing she would go on without prompting.
“Some people think that you came back to claim the title for your son, others think that you’re here for some revenge, and the logical ones think that you’re here for the conference. But one thing everyone agreed on is that you stole the show yesterday.” She snapped her dark blue eyes to me, “I want photos by the way.”
“I’ll get you some,” I smiled at her trying to process this information, “How did this all get around before even noon?” I asked checking the time.
“It was starting to circulate last night,” Lola said.
“We heard some too,” My mom added, “People were talking about The Prince showing up with his mate, and then talking about how stunning she was,” My mom beamed at me, “And then they were talking about how it was you.”
“I knew there would be drama,” I muttered, and Caspien put his hand over mine on the table.
“Let them talk,” He said, “It gives them something to do, and they were right about one thing at least, you are stunning.” He smiled down at me.
Lola looked at Caspien with wide eyes, “That was so sweet,” She gushed.
“Yes, sometimes he can do that.” I added, throwing him a sideways glance, “Rarely.”
“So you’re with a Prince,” Lola smiled widely, “What great fucking payback showing up with The Prince back here for the first time. I wished I could have seen the look on Alpha A.sshats face,” She shook her head smiling. “Tell me everything.” She turned to me, “About last night,”
So I did. Caspien filled in some parts better than I did. Lola was smirking the entire time, and my mom and dad seemed a bit taken aback at their ranked member’s actions.
“The nerve of that woman to insinuate that you,” My mom trailed off and started shaking. My dad put his hand over hers and rubbed it in soothing motions.
“I knew they didn’t always make the best decisions,” My dad put it lightly, “But that is uncalled for. After what Nolan, Alpha Nolan did,” He forced out, “Then to blame you? They are delusional.”
“I do feel for them, not Nolan, of course. His parents didn’t know that he had another son,”
“He doesn’t,” Caspien cut in, his power curled out of him, a protective thing. It was my turn to squeeze Caspien’s hand.
“You know what I mean,” I smiled at him, “His parents had no idea, and he basically made the decision for them, for all of us,” That familiar hurt tried to edge its way up, but it was quelled with Caspien steady touch, “They are probably shocked and now realizing they never got an option to be in his life.”
“Nolan is a p.rick,” Lola said, and none of us disagreed.
“We better get going,” Caspien glanced at his watch, “The conference is starting soon.”
I sighed and stood up. Lola came to give me another hug.
“Come visit?” I asked her.
“Try to keep me away.” A bright smile crossed her face.
I wondered how she and Cali would get along. I think they would like each other, but they were very different people, but I guess I was different than them, too, and loved them both so much.
“My warriors will stay behind on Sunday to bring your boxes,” Caspien said, “I insist,” He added when my mom started to say something, “You can stay in your new apartment at the packhouse while we update the cottage and then make your move there if that’s okay?” My parents nodded, and my mom looked a bit anxious.
“You can always come back here, Mom.”
“I know, honey,” She swallowed, “I really want to move; we both do. It’s just a huge change.”
“I understand,” Caspien said, “Let us know how we can help ease you into it.”
“Thanks, son,” My dad grasped his shoulder, and we followed Lola out the door.
“If someone asks you feel free to tell them the true story,” I told her.
It was apparent enough that Nolan knew how to keep things hidden and I wanted the rightful story to get out. In all honesty, it did mean something to me to have the truth told after so long. The truth was a huge part of what ate at me during my pregnancy and beyond, not knowing what story people were told and what they believed of me.
“I will,” Her lips tugged into a wicked smile, and she hugged me again, “Great to meet you, your highness?”
“Caspien,” He gave her a smile, and she nodded, heading home.
“She’s very bubbly,” He noted, intertwining my fingers with his.
I nodded my agreement. She was always more positive and outgoing than I was, but we had a steady friendship, and I knew I could rely on her.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.