Chapter 111
Gideon’s POV
72%8
When it was finally my turn to speak with the Alpha King, after being introduced, I rushed forward to talk to him. Before I even said one word, I had the folder open.
“Now presenting, Alpha Gid-”
“Alpha King, I need you to look at this please,” I said, holding the folder closer to him.
He glanced down at it and then back up at me. “What is this?”
“Alpha Justin wants to bring a case against me, but I have proof he is being lied to,” I said quickly. With how many people were here, I knew I only had a moment’s time with him. I needed to plead my case quickly before the end of my allotted few moments. “If you could just look at this –”
“Gideon, why did you bring this to me here and now?” The Alpha King frowned at me. “You have been a guest at my banquets many times. You know this is not the time and place for work like this.”
“This isn’t just work, Alpha King. This is my life,” I said, trying to hold onto my calm. I felt like as tightly as I was gripping with both hands, it was still slipping through my fingers. If I couldn’t get the Alpha King to agree to looking at these files, then I wasn’t sure what would happen to me.
He could so easily dismiss this case right here, right now. I had enough evidence.
“The answer is no, Gideon, and I do not take kindly to you bringing this here, knowing my rules,” the Alpha King said, frowning. “If you want to talk about this, you can wait for the trial date and present your defense then. Now, step aside, I have other guests to greet.”
There would be no arguing with the Alpha King. Once he made up his mind, any further discussion needed to cease. Else, I could be accused of being a traitor, and I already had too many strikes against me right now. Earning the Alpha King’s displeasure would only make things worse.
“Yes, Alpha King. Thank you for your time.”
Inside of me, my stomach sank down to the floorboards. If he turned me down here, then he would continue to turn me down today, no matter how many times I approached him.
The King’s word was law. I had no choice but to step aside, to put this folder away, and await my day in court. As frustrating as that was, and as much as I wanted to fight against it. I didn’t have a choice. This was simply the way things were.
I moved away from the King. When I was out of earshot, I cursed lightly under my breath.
My Beta met me nearby.
“It didn’t work, Alpha?” Xavier asked.
“No,” I said, with regret. Xavier had truly outdone himself here, getting all of this together. I hated that I didn’t get the chance to use it. No, I needed to reframe that thinking. We had failed here today, but we would continue to press onward. What Xavier found, we could spend more time with, and present more properly at the trial.
I handed him the folder. “Hold onto this. We might have failed today, but we will win at our court date with such good evidence. You did good work, Xavier.”
Xavier nodded. “Thank you, Sir. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to do more.”
“You did more than I even asked you for, Xavier. You are a good Beta to me.”
1/3
10:50 Fri, Jan 23
Chapter 111
*72%
This brightened Xavier somewhat and he fought not to beam ae praise. I didn’t mind if he did. It was nice to feel like I was adding some good into the world, for all the strife that seemed to come my way.
“Should we leave now, Sir?” Xavier asked me.
Gods, I almost said yes, but my own wolf held me back. Turning I looked over the crowd, searching for Claire.
She was standing not too far away, near the champagne table. He shoulders were slumped at she sipped at the champagne flute in her hand. Her back was to me, but she seemed to be alone. Ivan wasn’t anywhere in sight.
“No,” I told Xavier. “I’m not quite ready to leave yet. I’ll find you when I am. Please excuse me for a moment.”
“Of course, Alpha.” Xavier, carrying the folder, stepped away then, leaving my walkway free.
I kept Claire in my sights as I moved closer to her. After so long without her, I felt like I was moving through a dream. She was so beautiful. My heart hammered against my ribcage.
More, as I approached her, I could detect her scent. Inside of me, my wolf was soothed in a way that it hadn’t been since Claire left.
I wished in this moment more than anything that I hadn’t broken the bond between us, that I had chosen her over Daphne, and that we could all still be together and happy.
I had made so many mistakes that I didn’t even know where to begin making up
for them.
First, I reasoned, I needed to apologize.
As I came closer, she turned around, like she could sense me drawing closer. I wondered if her wolf reached out for me like mine did for her.
“Claire,” I said.
Her eyes went wide and she swallowed thickly, taking me in. “You… you must have me confused with someone else.”
“There’s no way that’s true,” I said. “I would know you anywhere
“I wouldn’t be so sure if I were you,” she replied. She glanced to the side, but I didn’t know if she was looking for Ivan or for an escape route. Either would lead her away from me. I couldn’t have that, not until we talked.
At the same moment, the band began to play. The Alpha King must have finished greeting his guests, and now was the time to dance. Already, couples were taking to the dance floor.
I held out my hand for Claire. “Will you dance with me, Claire?”
Her shocked face returned to mine, no less pale. “A dance?”
“Of course. For old time’s sake if nothing else.”
I had her in a spot now. It would be unbearably rude to turn down an Alpha for a dance. Already, in her making me wait so long for an answer, others around were starting to notice.
Worrying her bottom lip, she placed her hand in mine. “Yes.”
Closing my fingers around the back of her palm, I led her out onto the dance floor.
Tugging her into my arms felt like home again, though I pushed away that feeling. Moving too quickly, becoming too familiar too fast wouldn’t work in my favor here.
I had to move slowly, to try to win back her kindness.
2/3
10:50 Fri, Jan 23
Chapter 111
She held herself stiffly, her arm on my shoulder as tight as a rambar, keeping us from getting too close.
The distance made my nerves prickle. I tried to keep my face neutral, to not give myself away.
72%8
As we danced, with her saying nothing, my frustration must have started to show. I had so many questions. I couldn’t help myself from asking.
“Where have you been all this time, Claire?”
She didn’t answer, not even as I spun her out and then returned her to me.
“Why have you been hiding?”
Again, she was close–mouthed.
Gods, she was so beautiful. Six years weren’t enough to change her much, and her sparkling dress made her look like the Luna she always should have been.
Yet, the longer she went without saying anything, the more my anger started to stir.
I knew what would trigger a response, and, bracing myself, said it
“Why would you abandon Leo?”
