CHAPTER 18

“More talk like that and you can go out and live in the woods for the rest of your time here. Don’t think for a second that I won’t make my last task as the Luna of this pack to rip away your title and tear it to shreds. Blood and heritage means nothing if the man is hot living up to it.” She said and walked up to us. They had just entered the room. Nobody else was here, luckily because i was dying from embarasment

He nodded his head quickly.

“I’m sorry.” He said.

The tension was thick but if it were even possible, I now liked Marie more then ever. She was strong, powerful, fierce and elegant all at once.

I hand never seen that combination before, not even from my own mother who held the same rank that Marie did.

In fact, I hadn’t ever seen in it in any Luna that I had met.

Aiden walked in and behind him everyone else started pouring in as well. They all grabbed food and took their seats as they began talking.

I was looking over their heads and toward the entrance, waiting for Cassy to show up. When she did, I

I could feel my foolish smile double in size as I waved her over but she shook her head and winked.

“Don’t-” Aiden Said.

“She’s not a ranked member, she can’t sit here.” He said.

“Oh,” I said and grabbed my plate.

“Talk to you later then.” I pushed back my chair and went over to Cassy. Everyone turned their heads. and followed my movements, some seemed baffled by the gesture but if I had to choose between sitting with my friend and sitting with people I didn’t really like would choose her.

A shadow covered me and I felt someone standing close behind. He groaned and leaned down, picking up my plate as well as Cassy’s.

He walked back up to the table and placed them down, pulling out my chair for me and waiting.

I looked at her and she was shocked.

“Thank you,” I said to Aiden and sat down. Cassy was next to me and I could tell she felt awkward.

But hopefully, she would grow to feel accustomed to this. I wanted her here.

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CHAPTER 18

hope

And I had to keep reminding myself that this was my home now, even if it didn’t feel like it at all.

The others glared and the envy in peoples judgy looks were hard to miss but I tried to shrug it off and

that Cassy would too.

“Any plans for the day?” Marie asked and looked between me and Cassy. She smiled softly and I wondered how she could do that.

Go from angry to beaming in a few minutes.

“Not that I know of but maybe-” My phone rang I apologized as I picked it out of my pocket.

My moms name lit up on the screen and I clenched my jaw.

I

“Excuse me,” I said and got up.

I walked out of the dining hall and then out of the house. I didn’t want anyone to be able to listen in on the conversation I was about to have with her.

I

“Hello?” I said as I answered. I was walking around the house, thourgh the big greenery and the flowers that painted the way.

“Hi, honey! I’m so glad to hear you voice, how is everything going?” She asked giddily. As if actually asking her daughter how marriage to a stranger was so far.

“It’s been fine,”

“I knew it would be, you two will have a good life together. Have you consummated the marriage yet?” She asked and I blushed for some reason but really what I wanted to do was flip out on her and throw the phone against a tree.

“No, mom. We haven’t.” I seethed.

“Oh, honey, you’re going to have to put out, you’re his wife now. It is your job to make him happy,”

“Trust me, he has people that make him happy. Happniess was never part of the arrangement.”

“Gabby-” She said and her voice went down to a stiller, sterner tone.

“-It is important for all of us that this works. People need to know that the marriage is successful and you are happy. They need to believe it. You will do whatever it takes to be a good wife,”

that you

“And if he isn’t a good husband?”

“We can’t all get what we want in life,” she said with an exaggerated sigh.

“Right,”

“Your father wanted to speak to you as well but he had to leave for some business,”

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11:33 Tue, May 21

CHAPTER 18

“How are the boys?” I asked. They were the only ones I cared about.

“They don’t talk much and are mostly out doing their own thing. They will come around eventually,” she said in a monotone voice.

best?”

“Uhu, are they happy?” I asked.

“I belive so, what else could they possibly need?” Their sister, I thought to myself.

“I have to go, bye mom,”

“Wait one more thing, we were all thinking of coming to visit sometime next week. What day will be

“None of them. You are not coming here, this is done, I’m married and I have to stay here but that doesn’t mean I have to have you anywhere near me.” She laughed and the laugh sent shivers down my spine.

“Darling, we need to make sure that things are going smoothly and that the alliance is as it should. We are coming and you will greet us with poise,”

“Or what? You’ll marry me off to someone else?”

“Don’t you take that tone with me.” My whole body froze as she seethed. She was getting angry and If I had been home, I knew exactly what would’ve happened.

“Goodbye,”

“Goodbye, sweetheart,” I hung up and inhaled a deep breath. I let it fill my lungs before exhaling

slowly.

Shit…

I shook my head, I couldn’t believe the conversation we’d had. I expected for this marriage to at least keep me far away from my parents but no, they were inviting themselves. If anything good were to come out of this, it was that I would see my brothers.

I turned around, my fingers clutching onto my phone so hard that my knuckles turned white and then my heart stopped. Aiden stood by the corner of the house. No one else had been around and I hadn’t noticed him coming out here.

His eyes were holding mine captive, I gulped as he pushed his chest out and rolled back his shoulders.

I shook it off, rolled back my shoulders and straightened my back. We held eye contact all

until I stood next to him.

the way

“Easedropping is a very bad habit, Alpha.” I said and stepped around him. As I was about to walk back to the house he grabbed my arm and leaned down, his lips were close to my ear and I felt his warm breath

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them to come. The ou