Chapter 109
Claire’s POV
Ivan and I hovered near one of the food tables. We weren’t eating het was clear van had treaty had of that parry and wanted to be out of the way. We were still here, but it almofelt like we were hiding behind for chords dunentzen, and the pastry table.
Though this was the Alpha King’s banquet, the Alpha King himself had yet to arrive.
My nerves were causing me to shuffle from foot to foot and worry my hand, unade to stand will fans was a strong steady presence at my side, which was helpful. Whenever my nervousness became overwhelming, I fanced him and tried so mirror his seriousness.
But the more I glanced at him, the more I noticed how exceptionally grumpy he seemed tonight, particularly since talking with Ms. Watts.
“Ivan,” I said.
“It’s nothing.” he replied, already knowing what I was going to ask
That meant the topic was closed and he would not explain himself no matter what I did.
Still, I felt like I needed to try. He was always stern, but never outright unpleasant. Right now, he was glaring at anyone who came too close. Guests seemed afraid to come and have some pastries or use the chocolate fountain.
Maybe I shouldn’t have made him come here, after all. Some guilt rose up inside of me seeing how very unhappy he was A better friend would have taken his concerns into consideration
“Ivan, maybe we should…”
What I was about to say immediately fell out of my mind. Instead, I felt a strange sort of stirring inside of my chest, like butterflies taking flight.
My body seemed to move on its own, pulling my attention toward the entrance.
There, standing in the middle of the room nearer the entrance, stood Gideon. And he was staring right at me.
Our eyes locked. Whatever folder he had been carrying slipped out of his hands, the papers within scattering around. The servants rushed to collect them, but Gideon continued staring at me.
I couldn’t look away, feeling like I was transfixed by him. In my chest, my heart thundered.
I had no mask and no darkness to conceal me. I was here as Claire, so that was how Gideon would see me.
He did see me.
And now neither of us could look away.
Gideon’s POV
Claire.
It didn’t make sense for her to be here, but there she was. Even across the room like this, I would recognize her face instantly. She couldn’t be anyone else.
For so long, I had thought she was dead. The guilt and the heartache had eaten away at me for years, and I still didn’t know how to explain everything to Leo.
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Chapter 109.
Seeing her here, now, alive, did something to my heart..
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The shock of it left me speechless, stricken, unable to look away yet, at the same time, excitement swirled within me.
Claire was here and she was alive. Maybe if we talked… Could I fix things?
I wasn’t even sure what that would look like, but I wanted – no, heeded to try.
One of the servants handed me my folder again. Gods, when did I even drop it? I glanced down to accept it, and when I glanced up again, Claire had turned away from me to face Ivan
Ivan? She was here with him? Then Ivan and Raven had known this whole time that Claire was alive, safe and sound in Ivan’s pack. Why hadn’t anyone thought to tell me? Or tell Leo?
The mixture of emotions swirling through me was volatile. I was feeling so many things at once, too many. They were hard to keep track of, hard to process.
I felt like I had seen a ghost and was still seeing her, right there in front of me, across the room.
I needed to talk to her.
Yet, after only taking one step, trumpets started to blare, and everyone’s attention turned toward the far side of the room to see the Alpha King’s grand entrance.
My eyes stayed on Claire, even as the lights dimmed and the crowd began to thicken.
Not caring at all about the Alpha King anymore, I tried to push through the people to get to her.
“Everyone! Line up please! Line up to greet the Alpha King!” one of the servants called.
A line started to form. I had no choice but to enter into it.
Claire and Ivan were way ahead of me. I ducked and weaved to try to keep sight of her through the crowd. I felt, if I lost sight of her now, I might never see her again.
Only when I nearly dropped my folder a second time, did I remember my plan.
Claire was important to me. I wanted to speak to her. But I came here tonight to try to save my pack, and myself, from Daphne’s lies. Xavier had worked overtime to prepare this evidence, showing how Daphne and Darius had become traitors, as well as how Darius had only been treated kindly in our pack.
My hands shook a little as I combed through the documents now
Claire was here and the event went well into the evening. I would have time to speak with the Alpha King and reconnect with Claire. I just had to stay focused. I couldn’t let the shock and my tumultuous feelings control me.
Right now, with this line and this crowd, I couldn’t do anything with my feelings anyway.
While I waited, maybe I could think of a way to make things right with Claire. Gods, the last time I had seen her, I had been such an ass. Worse than that. She had just given birth and I had cast her out, not allowing her time to bond with her
newborn son.
Instead, I had chosen to believe Daphne and her lies.
No wonder Claire had hidden from me. It would be a miracle if she would even listen long enough to allow me to explain myself. Maybe she would for Leo’s sake. She had to still love her son. I couldn’t imagine any mother who wouldn’t. Especially because Leo was such a perfect child.
She deserved the chance to know him, just as he did her.
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Chapter 200
What was I going to do? How was I going to convince her?
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I had to think of a way, to convince her to return to my pack, and to convince the King to dismiss Justin’s case against me
This event was my only chance, but it did provide me with this ance. Right here and now, I could save my pack and make things right with Claire all at once.
I could mishandle both chances and end up with nothing.
I couldn’t let that happen. I had to find a way. My heart raced, but I kept my face carefully blank. I had to be in charge of my emotions, even if they were at war within me, or I would lose everything.
No one, not the King or Claire, could know how fearful I was that things could turn badly for me.
To win them both over, I had to be the peak of confidence.
I had to be an Alpha, cool and in charge.
I couldn’t let these chances pass me by.
