But he asked the right questions and genuinely seemed interested in them. He knew what was going on in each pack, and that surprised everyone, including me. Not that I didn’t think he was capable of it, but I was in awe of his capacity for it all. I wondered where he stored this knowledge.
It’s not all looks, baby – He turned to me and winked when no one was looking.
And you even wink in a way that doesn’t make my stomach turn. Is there anything you can’t do?
His face fell for a second, lost in thought.
No, nothing comes to mind – He raised a dark eyebrow, and I shook my head, taking a step closer to him.
Goddess, I loved him.
“Let’s get a drink,” Caspien whispered, tugging me away from another group of Alphas and their Lunas.
Camilla was walking towards us with a purpose. I sighed internally, waiting for this confrontation. She averted her eyes and almost walked past us but bumped into me at the last second, spilling her glass of red wine all over me.
My dress was black. The wine did nothing..
I could sense Caspien’s rage starting to build, and I placed my hand on his chest.
“It was an accident, besides its red wine and a black dress. Good thing I wasn’t wearing white.” I smiled up at him, and his eyes softened.
“Oh, so sorry,” She gave me a wide innocent smile that told me she was anything but.
“Don’t worry about it,” I smiled back, “It won’t stain. Although Anthony won’t be impressed when I send it to get cleaned” I frowned at the dress; I saw Camilla pale at the casual namedrop of the designer. I usually wouldn’t be one for that, but Goddess, this felt good. “I’m sorry I ruined your date’s dress.” Camilla turned to Caspien with a pout that made my blood boil.
“Pocket change,” He said, “No need to worry,” His voice was even before he turned to me, “Besides, I have been looking for an excuse to peel it off, my mate,” He growled seductively and slipped a hand around my waist and tugged me to him.
I don’t know if she left immediately or if she stayed standing there, but I didn’t care.
If she had done that years ago, it would have completely ruined me, sent me into a spiral. But I wasn’t the same person I was before.
“One dance, then we can go,” I promised him once we got a drink and stood around a cocktail table.
We had already talked with most of the Alphas, and I felt confident that they would at least hear us out.
“I think it’s interesting how you’re the one that is making me stay now,” He raised a glass and eyed me over it.
“I don’t really want to prolong it, I am ready to get this night over with, but I want to do this right.”
“I do too,”
“And part of that is not just steamrolling your way over everyone,” I looked at him innocently over my glass.
“That, my love, is no fun at all.” He frowned, but it changed to a smile as he dipped down and placed a too-swift kiss against my lips.
He pulled back slightly, his lips still against mine.
“I am in awe of you, Willa Balfour,” My stomach flipped, and I went to pull him in for a kiss when I heard a soft annoyed cough. I fought the urge to roll my eyes and pulled back from my mate, smiling at him.
I turned to see Nolan’s mom, Luna Natalie, or Natalie now.
“Natalie, hi,” I plastered on a bright smile, “Hugo,” My smile was more genuine when it landed on my old Alpha, Nolan’s dad. He was always kind to me.
“Willa, lovely to see you,” He smiled back, but it was tight.
“Can I introduce you to my mate, my second chance, Caspien,” I intertwined my arm in his, not realizing I used his first name.
“Alpha Dracos,” Huge shook his free hand.
“Prince Caspien,” Natalie nodded her head in a slight bow before turning to me, “So you found a chosen mate, at well,”
“Fated,” Caspien cut in, his voice cool, “I’m Willa’s second-chance fated mate, and she’s my first. However, I don’t like the term second chance. I know she was meant for me and only me.” I smiled up at him. I couldn’t help myself. “You haven’t been seen in years in public, at least not around here.” Natalie went on.
Nolan and Camilla came up next to his parents; Nolan was about to whisper something to his mother.
“Is there a question there?” Caspien asked Natalie; his steady confidence did things to me. I was just along for this front-row show and loved it.
“Why now, at Blue Ridge, or all places,” She waved her hand, and Nolan and Camilla both turned their gaze to mine. Camilla was staring daggers but had a smirk on her face. Nolan looked at me with a face full of confused frustration.
“I have a topic that needs to be addressed tomorrow at the conference,” Caspien said, his voice like chips of ice.
“Yes,” Nolan looked irritated, “You’ve mentioned that,” He sounded bored or annoyed, maybe both.
“What is this that is so important it needs to be dealt with now?” Hugo asked, and I couldn’t tell if he was genuinely curious or trying to catch Caspien in a lie.
“There has been a threat against my heir.”
Nolan’s mom’s brows tugged, “I didn’t know you had a child,” She tilted her head, studying Caspien.
“Not by blood but mine nonetheless. He is my mate’s child and my chosen heir if he will accept.”
There was silence from them for a moment, the surrounding chatter seemed to swell over and around us, but the silence around this table felt like a tangible thing. Everyone’s eyes slowly turned to me, and I held their gaze, meeting each of their stares with a passive one of my own.
“How old is he?” Natalie asked, looking at me as if I were some cheap w.hore who got pregnant after her son rejected me. I didn’t look away.
“We just celebrated his fifth birthday,” Caspien said, exasperated at the change of topic.
Nolan’s mothers’ eyes widened, and she looked between Nolan, Caspien, and me.
“Who is the father?” His father demanded.
“If you’re asking if I was unfaithful to Nolan, the answer is no,” I spoke up, my voice surprisingly steady.
“Then that means,” His mom said, opening her mouth in pure shock, “How dare you? How could you take him away like that?” Her voice was an octave higher.
“Nolan rejected me. I wasn’t going to keep him in this pack.” It was hard not to match her anger, my voice wavered a bit, but I tried to keep it even.
“So you left without telling him you were pregnant?” She crossed her arms, shaking her head. Her face contorted with pure disgust and what I could only assume to be hatred. Her misplaced blame and anger lit my own, and it was hard to keep it at bay. “He knew,” I went on, I took a short breath, but I knew my face held the anger I was suppressing, “He was holding my pregnancy test when he rejected me,” I said matter-of-factly.
All eyes turned to Nolan, and I tried to push away the satisfied smirk that was trying to make its way to my face.
This was actually turning out to be a fantastic evening.
(Willa)
The silence settled over us again, but everyone’s eyes weren’t focused on him this time. I could almost feel the wave of emotions flickering through them. The confusion and shock were evident on all of their faces, even Camillas.
I assumed that she either knew or he would have told her, but I guess he hadn’t. Or maybe she was just a great actress, but I doubted that.
“My son will still be the next Alpha, won’t he?” Camilla asked, her voice sounding hollow.
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.