Chapter 183
Chapter 183
Gideon’s POV
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Claire wasn’t as enthusiastic about the celebratory banquet as I’d hoped that she would be, but she did still agree. So I was determined to see that the event was a success, and that Claire would be pleasantly delighted by the event and its turnout.
More than anything, I wanted her to feel a sense of community and inclusion within the pack. She hadn’t been properly included in the past and had felt like an outcast because of it. To easily, after she had been hurt by me, she had gone to another pack and made her home there.
I wanted this to be here home. Not just me, but this pack should support her. If she could see. If she could know. Even if something happened to me, I wanted her to know she belonged here.
Part of that, I thought, wasn’t just enjoying the banquet itself, but also being a part of the arrangements. I thought it might help her feel more attached to the banquet, and more excited about it too. And, I was hoping, that maybe we would come together a bit more… just the two of us.
“Alpha,” Xavier told me, early in the preparations. “We… er, I have arranged for you and Claire to taste test some of the hors d’oeuvres and drinks.” He cleared his throat lightly. “Just the two of you.”
I perked up at once. “That’s perfect, Beta. Thank you.”
A few hours later, Claire and I were sitting in the private rooms at the massive caterers in town. They often brought potential patrons here to taste test the food. The sofa where Claire and I sat was comfortable, with a short table in front of us.
Xavier had volunteered himself to watch our children this time, was surprised when they didn’t want to come. Claire and I both asked them each separately, but each time they gave the same answer.
“You and Daddy go and have fun.”
Or, “You and Mommy go. We’ll be okay.”
It was all very curious, but, as I wanted to try to build a closer relationship with Claire, I didn’t push too hard for answers. I loved my children, and wanted to spend as much time with them as possible, but I wouldn’t turn down the chance to spend some time alone with Claire.
We’d already been given a few different bottles of champagne to try, and though we’d only had a few sips from each, I was starting to feel a pleasant buzz. Claire must have been as well, with how flush her cheeks were and how glossy her eyes. And how she began to be more expressive, no longer able to hide things so successfully behind the steel façade she tried to keep up at all times.
In her eyes now, I could see the hint of her fear and worry. I wondered why I hadn’t been able to discern it before. Of course she would be worried, given all that had been going on. But I wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. I was going to do my best to ensure she and the kids had the best possible life.
I wish she could know that, but I didn’t think just saying the words would be enough.
Soon, one of the attendants brought us a piece of cake to share. Unfortunately, she walked out of the room again before I could realize that we didn’t have any utensils to eat it with.
“I can get someone,” Claire said, starting to stand.
“I don’t think you need to.” It was a simple cake, without much ing. If held the correct way, I should have been able to just hold it. I’d just washed my hands but I sanitized again with the sanitizer that was provided. Then I picked up the cake and
took a bite.
It was delicious.
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Chapter 183
75%
Claire looked at me with a mix between confusion and bemusement. When I held out the cake for her, her amusement won out. She lifted her hands to take the bite from me, but it was already falling apart.
“Just finish it,” I said and held it closer to her mouth.
There wasn’t time to think, the cake was falling apart. At once, Claire leaned forward and took the cake into her mouth. Slowly, I pulled my fingers away, but not before they could be gently wrapped by her plush lips.
I swallowed thickly, trying to push down on my rising desire.
Gods, she was the most beautiful woman… And the feel of her lips on my skin…
She blushed a little. I might have too. We both turned away.
“That’s good…” she said quietly, after a moment.
“Yeah,” I agreed. I wasn’t talking about the food.
After leaving the caterer, we went to visit one of the stationary stores that would be in charge of the invitations. After picking out some subtle notes, Claire and I went over the list of who would be invited. Most of my pack was on the list.
“Should we invite the royal family?” I asked her.
She lowered her head. “I wish I could invite my father,” she said. But to do that would also be to invite Victoria and Susanne…” She huffed. “I would prefer we didn’t do that.”
I couldn’t blame her, remembering the things she had told me. Victoria had been cruel to her, but only when no one else was around to witness it. I believed Claire at once, but no one else was likely to.
This was supposed to be a relaxing, fun event for Claire.
“Best not then,” I told her.
“I would like to invite a few of my friends from Ivan’s pack,” she said.
I braced myself as she gave her list. I still couldn’t keep from wincing as she said Ivan’s name.
She noticed. “He’s only a friend.”
“You don’t have to explain…”
“I want to,” she said. She took a breath. “There was a time when I tried to convince myself I could eventually have romantic feelings for him, but that never materialized. I couldn’t make myself feel those things. And I stopped trying to force myself. Ivan and I had only ever been friends, and that is all we will ever be.”
I nodded, trying to accept
that.
“Regardless of his reasoning, he saved me, and then he got me in the door to meet my father,” she said. “I want to continue to be friendly with him.”
I understand. For her sake, I would swallow my jealousy.
“He’ll probably say no,” she added.
Even so, we added him to the list.
Daphne’s POV
Over the past few months, Alpha Gideon had been trying to crack down on my remaining connections inside of his pack.
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Chapter 183
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He had some success, some of my contacts had been cast out, bir many still remained. Enough still remained.
When Gideon started planning an event in honor of Claire, I heard about it.
And I started making my plans to crash it.
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“I need to go somewhere,” I told Justin. He was in his office, not paying much attention to me. He’d been like that a lot lately. still mad at me for some of the things that had been proven I did “I’ll be gone a few days.
“Don’t cause any trouble,” he said.
“It will be fine,” I replied.
Maybe I would care about his warnings, if I cared about him. But really, I didn’t love him, even if he was my fated mate.
He was now, as he always had been, a means to an end.
“I’ll be back before you know it.”
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