Chapter 174
Claire’s POV
I was not jealous. What did I care who he found attractive? Or when he chose to do in his free time? Or who he chose to spend it with? None of this was my concern. Not really. No matter how much my heart ached or how tight my chest felt
“I’m not jealous at all,” I said, trying to sound like I didn’t care at all. I had no idea how successful this was. My cheeks burned, likely beet red, which probably undercut my sincerity, didn’t help that Gideon was looking at me with a kind of befuddled amusement, like he thought he could see through me but was afraid to hope.
I didn’t want him looking too closely. I didn’t want him to see how I might have been feeling. It felt like a secret, and to reveal too much would be my undoing.
I tried to make myself sound more convincing, knowing I was wedged into a corner like this.
“I don’t care who you like or who you want to date. Sleep with the entire kingdom, see if I care.”
Maybe that was too much. I was definitely overselling it.
Gideon continued to smile at me softly. He knew. He had to have known.
I thought he might tease me or worse, openly mock me. I didn’t think I could handle that. It would be too humiliating. It was bad enough that I felt this way. It would be even worse for him to know it.
His grip on me lightened. I knew I could pull away now, he wouldn’t event try to hold onto me, but I didn’t. He just kept his hand on my arm, his eyes on my face.
“I haven’t been with anyone since you, Claire,” I said.
I blinked. It took a long moment for me to process his words, so long to fully understand him.
“Since… me?”
“Yes.”
“Not even…” Gods, I didn’t want to say Daphne’s name, but it would have made sense.
“No,” he said. “I know what things must have looked like from the outside, but no. She was never what I wanted. What I wanted was you, and only you would do.”
None of this made sense. Gideon was so handsome and capable. As far as Alphas went, he was the most eligible of bachelors. He could have had anyone in the entire kingdom. Whoever he wanted. All he would have to do is point, and any girl would happily fall to her knees for him.
But if he didn’t want them, then it wouldn’t have mattered.
I had no idea what to say. I was at a total loss for words. But in this moment, in the quiet comradery building between us, I felt like I had to say something.
“Gideon –”
Immediately I was interrupted from the ring of the dinner bell. I swallowed what I was going to say, pushing it down inside of me.
I was glad for the interruption, as it kept me from embarrassing myself, or pushing something too soon that I might come to regret.
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12:38 Tue, Feb 10 G7
Chapter 174
That was the dinner bell.” I said. “We had better go
I didn’t want to feel like I was running away from him as I left. 1 in truth, dat was exactly what I was doing
Gideon’s POV
After dinner, I searched out the Alpha King. I was pleased when I found him alone in his study. Victoria tended to make conversations more difficult than they needed to be. I wasn’t ready to face Susanne again so soon after whatever happened this afternoon had happened. And I didn’t want Claire to know about this conversation at all.
“Alpha King, do you have a moment?” I asked. “I was hoping to discuss something with you.”
The King gestured me closer and I sat down in a tall back chair opposite his. There was a small table between us where the King’s brandy was sitting. He did not offer me a drink. I didn’t think I would take one even if he had. I wanted to keep my head for this conversation, and all moments afterwards,
With how grabby Susanne seemed to be, getting drunk was the last thing I wanted to do. Plus, I needed to be sober to properly protect the children in case something happened.
Ivan’s warning was still fresh in my mind. There are snakes in the grass here.
Who could he have been talking about? I needed to stay on guard.
After I sat down, the King asked, “What’s on your mind, son?”
“I was wondering if you had any hints about Claire’s wolf,” I said. I didn’t know if it was related to her history or something that happened. I want to try to help her, but I don’t even know where to start.”
The King gave me a long look. “I thought you were her ex–love.”
“I am,” I said. “That doesn’t mean that I don’t still care about her
The King tilted his head a little. “Is it inst caring? Or is it something more?”
I sat there quiet for a moment, unsure what to say.
In my silence, the King continued, “Is it possible that this concern still stems from a place of love?” Before I could answer, he continued, “You don’t have to lie to me, Gideon. I’ve seen the way your eyes follow her around the room. You might have said that you would be here as her protector, and to guard the children, but that’s not the full truth, is it? That’s not the only reason you are here.”
He waited a beat, then finished, “You want to protect her heart, as well.”
“I’ve made mistakes in the past,” I said. “I’ve already ruined my chances with Claire.” Even though I was sure she had been jealous before, that didn’t mean that she would ever open her heart to me again. “I just want to help her. Whatever it takes.”
George gave me one last long look before reaching for his alcohol and taking a sip. “Claire will need a specialized wolf healer. Beyond that, I know very little.”
“I won’t give up,” I said. “I’ll find a way to cure her.”
George hummed slightly. “I didn’t know what to make of you when you first arrived here, but now, I think I understand. I like you, Gideon. I think we both have Claire’s best interest at heart. But I request that you step back if she does not want you.”
I swallowed down the rising hurt at that notion, but still nodded. I would never do anything to hurt her, even if what hurts her is my presence.”
“Very good,” George said, and took another sip of his drink.
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12:38 Tue, Feb 10
Chapter 174
I stayed with George for a little while longer. Neither of us talked but it seemed like the right thing to do, like he had reached some kind of quiet agreement.
It was getting late, and I didn’t want to miss bedtime for the kids so I started upstairs. No sooner had I entered the hallway then Susanne stepped into my path. She was a step above me, which gave more height on me than she would have had normally.
Immediately, she leaned in to try to kiss me.
AD
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