“Of course, love.” My mom rose first and Camilla nodded once but didn’t look happy.
“Close the door behind you,” I dismissed them both.
I linked my Beta and Gamma to come in, I needed to discuss pack security and other protocols that The Prince asked for. He was bringing along some of his own men and now we needed to house them and figure out how they would fit in and where.
This would be worth it though, the headache would be worth the status boost and the jealousy of every other Alpha in this territory.
The door of my office flung open and Camilla came stomping in her face red.
Did she and my mom get into it already? They just left.
“What?” I demanded icily.
“My dress,” Camilla clutched her hands at her side, “My Anthony Rossi dress, it’s gone.” She wailed.
“Someone stole it?” I asked her, no one would dare.
“The dress I ordered for the ball, I saw it in a magazine six months ago and I had to have it, I planned the entire black and white ball around that dress.” She stomped her foot, her eyes rimmed with tears, “They just called, he gave it to someone else. He can’t do that, you have to talk to him.” She pleaded.
“First off,” I stood up, “It’s just a fucking dress.” That name tugged on my memory and then I remembered the inordinately expensive quote she showed me for a dress she would wear once, “Secondly, I told you not to buy that. That thing was like fifteen thousand.” “More than that,” She whispered.
“You are fucking joking me. A dress?” I laughed, “It wasn’t your dress because you were never going to be allowed to keep it. Are you fucking s.tupid?” I shouted, “Answer me,” I shook my head, she looked down. My rage matched hers but for a different reason. “We don’t have that kind of money to be spending on party dresses, things are tight enough as it is.” We had conversations about that, the parties were one thing, but her spending was getting out of hand, enough so that it was making a noticeable dent. “But The Prince is coming,” She couldn’t stop shaking but she wasn’t as hysterical now, her voice evened a bit.
“With his mate, he’s not going to be looking at your sorry a.ss,” I laughed once and she walked up pulling her hand back but I grabbed it and t.hrust it down.
How dare she?
“Leave now,” I commanded roaring at her.
She had the decency to look scared.
My wolf was pissed too that she would try something so degrading as to slap us. Will would have never, and my wolf would have never gotten angry at her. He couldn’t have.
Her eyes filled with new tears and I dropped her hand, “Never pull that s.hit again,” I laughed once dryly, “And your spending is cut off from here on out, wear something you already own.” She turned back to say something.
“Shut your mouth,” I commanded, “Leave,” I waved her away and she was forced to do what she was told. I rarely actually used my Alpha command on her but I couldn’t help it. Spending that kind of money on a dress, no one has that kind of money.
(Willa)
“Mom?” I called my mom as soon as I got out of the shower, I had two missed calls from her, “Everything okay?” I asked too fast.
“Yes, honey, I didn’t mean to worry you, I just had something we wanted to talk to you about.”
“Go on,” I set the phone on speaker and started to towel dry my long hair.
“We were, well your dad and I were hoping to move, to Crescent Moon, if you’ll still have us.” My eyes widened and my mirror image smiled brightly back at me, “We will work, of course, whatever you need, it’s just we miss you, both of you.” “Of course, Mom!” I cut her off, “Anytime, as soon as possible, we can figure it out.” I didn’t want to tell her that I had been secretly hoping for this moment for a long while. “Good,” She breathed, “We don’t want to intrude.”
“Stop,” I laughed once, “I am ecstatic; we will all be happy to have you,” I shook my head at her ridiculousness.
“Okay then,” I could hear the smile in her voice, “Oh and something else,” She laughed, “Everyone is up in arms, the omegas are running around, and people I have never seen before are crawling around the pack.” She laughed again. “Why?” I released my hair from the towel and grabbed a brush starting to gently de-tangle my hair.
“The Prince is coming to the conference,” I smiled at that. I tried to push the thought of the conference away this week. I thought of nothing but that dress instead. Thinking of going back to Blue Ridge unannounced made me feel deeply uncomfortable. “We are,” I confirmed.
“I was hoping you would,” She said, “Stop by and see us?” She asked.
“Of course, Caspien has never been to my home before.” Besides my apartment, of course.
I never thought I would get the opportunity to show him where I grew up, and the thought thrilled me. It was some semblance of normalcy that would help ground me this weekend.
The thought of showing the dark prince to my humble cottage months ago would have been terrifying, but I wanted him to see it, and I knew he would too. Nothing about myself or my past embarrassed me, and I felt more myself with him than I ever had. “C.rap, I haven’t cleaned the baseboards in Goddess knows how long,” My mom said, I couldn’t help laughing at the panic in her voice.
“It’s just Caspien, Mom. Calm down,”
“Don’t tell your mom to calm down, honey. It doesn’t work,” My dad called, and I smiled.
“Hi, dad,” I shouted.
“You’re on speaker now don’t shout,” My mom scolded.
“Don’t worry about the floorboards, Mom.”
“Baseboards,” She corrected, and I rolled my eyes.
“Just start packing.”
“Packing?” Caspien walked in and wrapped his arms around me, kissing my cheek.
“My parents are moving here. That’s still okay?” I asked, but I knew the answer. His eyes lit up.
“Of course it is, tell them to send me their preferences, and I can get them in our design team’s hands so they can prepare samples for them. They can have a cottage near the old packhouse if they want, but I also want them to have an apartment here on my parent’s floor.”
“Did you hear that?” I asked my mom.
“Yes, but no, I mean, that’s too much.” My mom tripped over her words.
Caspien took the phone from my hand, “You’re family, you’re taking an apartment and whatever cottage you want. They will both be updated to your preferences.” He said his voice a bit cooler but I could see his eyes light up.
“Is this an Alpha command?” My mom joked, and it took me by surprise.
“Yes, actually,” Caspien cracked a real smile, “Keep this up, and I’m throwing in a lake house.”
“I apologize; of course, we would take you up on your generous offer,” I could hear the smile in my mom’s voice and I turned to bury myself in my mate’s chest, wrapping my arms around him.
“Let us know when you want us,” My dad said.
“Come back with us this weekend; there’s a big game on Monday I would love to have you join us for.”
“Baseball and hotdogs, and we aren’t even officially part of the pack,” My dad said, “I don’t think I’ve ever gotten so much as one hot dog here.”
I laughed at that; I was so happy. Despite the looming threat, despite the fact I had to come face to face with my ex tonight and a pack I didn’t want to see again, my heart was bursting.
“See you soon,” Caspien said, nuzzling his head in my hair.
“Love you guys,” I grabbed the phone and hung up.
“You’re happy, princess.” Caspien kissed one side of my smile and then the other before pulling back. I put my hand in his trimmed beard.
“I am.”
He gave me the smile that was only reserved for me, the one that made his icy blue eyes sparkle.
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.