I scanned the Prince, and he was wearing a matching mark.
It couldn’t be.
This was real.
Toby was running around in my head, whimpering in pain. He never wanted me to reject Willa; he knew nothing would compare to the mate bond. Over time he accepted our chosen mate, but seeing her now, he was agitated, anxiously pacing. They stopped in front of us, Willa’s eyes, full of adoration, went to The Prince.
“Alpha Nolan,” The Prince said; it took everything in me to meet his cold stare. He had a stare that seemed to assess you and find you of no importance; it made my skin crawl.
Willa smelled the same, sweet and alluring, but her scent was changed now, mixed with something spicier. I took a deep breath, and Toby calmed a little in my mind.
Her scent was mixed with the familiar sweet scent of her arousal, my d.ick unwillingly hardened at the scent. Images of me claiming her in every way for the first time flashed in my mind.
I could smell him on her, too, ingrained in her very scent and her arousal. That thought snapped me out of my l.ust.
It enraged my wolf further, knowing that he had been where we had, laid his claim to our mate.
The Prince’s eyes clouded over, and Willa’s full lips tugged back in a smile.
“Prince, Dracos. Alpha, Dracos,” I muttered.
Willa moved her gaze to mine, and I was rooted to the spot; my breath was caught in my throat, but it wasn’t because of the proximity to The Prince radiating near-crippling power.
“I don’t think I have formally introduced my mate, Willa Balfour, the future princess of the royal Dracos line.” Willa removed her gaze from mine and looked back at The Prince.
“Alpha Nola,” She looked back, her striking eyes held mine for a moment, but too soon they were gone, looking at my chosen mate.
“Luna Camilla,” She greeted her with a soft voice that felt warm, “Thank you for inviting us into your home.”
Camilla opened her mouth and shut it multiple times. Camilla say something, I silently pleaded. She was embarrassing me. “What a lovely party,” Willa’s sweet voice went on, “And a fantastic dress,” Willa gave her a bright smile that seemed genuine.
I could feel the waves of anger rolling off Camilla, and she said nothing. Great impression.
I invited them to take a seat and had to watch The Prince pull out a seat for her and help her arrange her dress around the chair. When he sat down again, he took her hand in his and rubbed his lips over the back of her knuckles. Goddess, I wanted to do that.
(Willa)
Do you want the place of honor? Caspien linked me, meaning the seat right next to Nolan. I shook my head once, smiling.
Caspien pulled out my chair for me, and I took a long sip of champagne, thanking the omega that filled it. Now that we were seated, chatter burst around us, but all eyes were on our table, but I could do it. I got over the hard part. Caspien reigned in his aura, tucking it away. It still seeped out, but I could feel the tension in the room dissipate and see people breathe easier.
“Have I told you how amazing you look tonight?” Caspien’s lips brushed my neck.
“A few times,” I shrugged giving him a smile.
Behave, Prince,
I cannot wait to have you n.aked under me.
I clenched my legs together at the thought. Caspien sniffed the air, and a satisfactory grin appeared on his face for a second before it dropped back to schooled neutrality.
Nolan didn’t say anything for a long moment, and Caspien and I studied the room, my hand hovering between the table and his lips. It was a comforting thing, and I didn’t mind the display. I knew it wasn’t put on for a show; he craved the c.ontact as much as I did, it grounded me.
“We’re elated you could come,” Nolan’s voice sounded f.orced.
“We have some things we need to discuss,” Caspien responded, but he was looking at me.
“Oh,” Nolan tried to sound passive, but his voice gave him away, “What’s that?” He aggressively buttered his roll, and I fought from rolling my eyes.
“It’s something to be discussed with all the Alphas,” Caspien responded, dropping my hand to pick up his fork.
I hated these long tables. They were more for show than actual conversation. The other tables were round and actually stimulated conversation. I knew we were chosen for this one to be on display, for Nolan to speak to his chosen guest in front of everyone else. Camilla and I couldn’t converse with anyone else besides our mates. It felt archaic.
“Do you remember what you told me when I first met you?” It took me a moment to realize Caspien was speaking to me.
“No,” I shook my head; that night, it was a blur. Less painful now, but I wished I could have remembered Caspien that night.
“I mentioned how I hated how forced these events felt,” He smiled, leaning closer to me.
“I wouldn’t disagree with you there,” I breathed back; my heart accelerated at his proximity, even in a room full of people.
“I said I would prefer something intimate, and you told me that sounded like a hell of an idea,” He gave me his smile, my smile.
“Sounds about right,”
“But then you said that the Lunas might die of boredom, and I think that was the first time I laughed at one of these events.” He grabbed my hand again.
“Again, another fair point made by past me.” I didn’t look away from his face; his smile held firm.
“As always, princess.” He brushed his lips to my knuckles.
Omegas whisked our plates away and continued on with the next course. I forgot how incredibly boring and orchestrated these things were.
Finally, the dessert was cleared, and we were to make our way outside for cocktails while the dining room was to be transformed for the ball.
I stifled a yawn as Caspien helped me up.
“Tired already?”
“Bored,” I whispered back.
“Maybe we can leave early, we showed face, and I just wanted to come for the conference anyways.”
“We’re here now; let’s do this right. Let’s go schmooze the Alphas.” I leaned my head on his arm.
“I have never schmoozed in my life,” Caspien replied, and I knew he wasn’t joking.
“I’ll show you how it’s done,” I flashed him a brilliant smile, “You just have to pretend, and I know this will be really hard for you,” I had his full attention now, “You have to pretend that you are humble.” His face contorted.
“No,”
“I know, I know,” I patted his arm, “I can try to describe the feeling if you think that might help you relate.
“You schmooze, I stare.” He said, and I couldn’t help a laugh that earned me a partial smile from him.
“This is going to be harder than I thought,” I muttered.
Caspien was fantastic, of course, in his own way.
The other Alphas just seemed happy enough that he was speaking to them. He could have been talking about how toilet paper was made, and I doubt they would have noticed.
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.