“Thank you,” I breathed to everyone and no one.
“This won’t be forgotten,” Caspien added. There was a double meaning to that. Those that voted against us wouldn’t be forgotten either.
I had to explain to him later that it might not have been out of malice but out of self-preservation. But I knew how he held grudges, so I wasn’t expecting him to let this go.
The conference dragged on after that. I tried to participate, but I was so relieved it was hard to focus on anything but my happiness. I wouldn’t think about what that meant, not yet. But I didn’t think Caspien would lose. I just wanted to get this all behind us and have a slight sense of normalcy going forward. With an Alpha Prince in his penthouse, I almost laughed.
Well, a varied version of normalcy, but I didn’t care where I ended up with Emmett and Caspien. I just wanted them near me and safe.
The conference finally ended, and we thanked everyone. Caspien took the document and sent photos to The Elders before sending it back to Cresent City with a warrior. That was a bit excessive, but I didn’t mention it to him.
“Let’s go tell our parents the good news,” I suggested.
(Nolan)
I could barely focus on anything during that conference after Willa and her mate pulled that horrendous display.
How did everything go so wrong? How did it get to this point?
Willa embarrassed me, she wanted her revenge, and she got it. I hated to admit that. I thought she would have just left it alone, I knew that I must have broken her, and a part of me felt for her because of that. But I didn’t think she was this crazy to come back and put on a public show.
Coming back in that dress on the arm of a prince. Demanded she sit in on the conference and had the nerve to stand up to me, challenge me in front of other Alphas?
Willa changed. She was a raging b.itch now. The Prince turned her from something innocent and submissive and shaped her into something new.
If she was mine, Goddess, if she was mine, I could change her.
She was ours – Toby growled.
Despite my anger at her display, I wanted her.
She was stunning, and her confidence actually made her more attractive.
Goddess, how I wanted to tear her down a peg or two in bed. Shut her smart mouth up with my c.ock.
My d.ick twinged thinking about it.
I thought she was faking it with him, but it seemed real. How could it be real? Second-chance mates were rare. I wanted him to suffer, but he was untouchable. How dare he take her?
My parents burst into my office.
“I didn’t invite you,” I said, ignoring them.
“You rejected her after finding out she was pregnant,” My dad was livid, “You made your mom bear witness to something she knew nothing about.” He went on.
“Get out,” I said, standing to pour myself a drink.
“No,” My dad seethed, his cool anger radiating out of him, stifling the air in here, “You lied to us. Why? For Camilla?”
I shrugged.
“Did you know Camilla was pregnant before or after Willa told you she was?” He pressed on.
“Before,” I said, “Camilla told me first. I couldn’t have two pregnant women at once.”
“So you chose the one who wasn’t your fated mate?” My dad said, shock evident in his voice.
My mom was silent next to him, something she rarely, if ever, was.
“You commended me for it before.” I took a long drink.
“Hardly.” My dad said, “You chose to stand by a pregnant woman you cheated on your fated mate with. Not my proudest moment, son.” He spat, “I was proud of you for owning up to your responsibilities. I am not, and never was proud of your actions that caused those responsibilities.”
“It was my choice, my decision to make,” I said, not knowing what else to say.
“We know, that’s why we let you make it, but choices have consequences, and you fucked up. Real bad.” I downed my drink, ignoring him, “You made your mother embarrass herself today, she was trying to stand up for you in the conference, but she didn’t know all the facts.”
“She embarrassed herself on her own,” I met his angry stare.
“Why?” My mom asked.
“Why what?” I sighed.
“Why did you choose Camilla?” That was rich coming from her.
She was ecstatic when I told her at first. They used to get along so well, and finding out she was pregnant sent my mom over the moon. Willa pushed back on things that Camilla never did. Willa never got the hang of party planning; even if she tried, something about her seemed restless, as if she was never fully settled in her role here. I never asked why that was.
She got what she wanted now – Toby growled at me
“Camilla understood me more than Willa did. Willa was fun, but,” I shrugged, I didn’t think I needed to justify my actions of the past to my parents. “Camilla was Luna material. Even you said that, Mom.” I glared at her.
“I thought she was,” My mom whispered, looking away.
“Well, it seems that Willa is doing pretty fucking well as a Luna,” My dad was angry.
“I can’t take it back now,” I glared at him.
Even though every part of me wished I could. I wanted to have Willa here, waiting for me. Willa to take care of our children. I wouldn’t ever admit that, but I wanted her back, and seeing her this weekend solidified that. She was everything I wanted and needed, and I could have had her forever.
Toby was growling at me, making it hard to concentrate.
Did he come here just to lecture me? I wasn’t a child. I was the Alpha, his Alpha.
“I’m your Alpha,” I told them cooly, “Remember that.”
“Then act like it,” My dad snapped.
My mom finally met my stare, she wasn’t angry but she seemed to turn inward, fighting back tears. It annoyed me, she was happy with my choice, these were her consequences too.
My dad shook his head, “You cost us a grandchild, and this pack a strong perfect Luna. Next time think with your head, not your d.ick.” He stormed out, and my mom followed him. This weekend was getting out of hand.
I wished I didn’t sign my rights away. Then I would have had some hold over her. She could have come around again. She used to be so obsessed with me that it was almost annoying.
But now, I would give anything to have that look of pure adoration cross her face when she saw me. Now I was only met with anger and coldness from her.
She looked at Prince Caspien in a way that she never looked at me. It was something past simple l.ust, it felt raw and deeper and I wanted to wipe that look off of her face when she looked at him like that.
She’s happier without you
I locked Toby away
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.