Chapter 110
Claire’s POV
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When I had first turned away from Gideon, I had been sure that he would make his way over to demand an explanation from me. Instead, confusingly, he had kept his distance.
Did he not care that I was here? After all this time, did he have thing to say to me?
I was simultaneously furious and also heartbroken, and I hated myself for both of those feelings. Gideon shouldn’t have the power to hurt me anymore, not after all this time. Yet here I was allowing him to do just that to me, with no ramifications.
I needed to guard my heart better.
Ivan glanced at me. “When he does approach you, just deny everything. You are Claire here. He won’t be able to piece things together. Your identity in his pack should still be safe.”
“When he sees us together, he will know,” I said.
“No,” Ivan said. “He will see what he wants to see. I’m certain of Make no mention of Raven and neither will he.”
Where Ivan’s steadiness had given me strength before, now it only added to my frustration. How could he be so calm in a time like this?
Maybe I should have made plans for if Gideon were to show up at an event like this, but I hadn’t. I had foolishly thought he would be too busy with his pack and building up a defense that he would skip this event.
I should have thought this through more, made plans, and decided what to say.
Yet he still hadn’t approached us, not even as we got in the line.
Ivan looked behind us.
“Can you see him?” I asked.
“He’s back there a ways,” Ivan replied.
I was quiet a moment. Then I said, “He doesn’t want to talk to me.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Ivan asked. “He should stay out of your life.”
I didn’t have an answer and became lost in my thoughts. Ivan stayed beside me, guiding me forward as the line shifted. When we reached the front, he told me, “We are here. Prepare yourself, or you will miss your chance.”
As much as I could, I tried to push Gideon from my mind so that I could focus on this moment.
Thoughts of Gideon might be confusing and hurting me in this moment, but he still didn’t deserve to lose his pack. I had to keep it together. I needed to stay strong.
Daphne couldn’t be allowed to win, not after everything she had done to all of us.
The guests in front of us moved, and the Alpha King looked at us, the next in line.
“Presenting, Alpha Ivan and guest,” said one of the servants.
Ivan and I stepped forward.
The Alpha King was a man of about 50 or so, with some gray in his dark hair and creases on his face. He was tall and broad, a
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1905 Thu dần 28 D B GA
Chapter 110
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tower of werewolf power. There was no question why this man had been made Alpha King, or how he maintained it. Only a fool would challenge a man clearly possessing such strength.
“Ivan.” the king said before glancing at me curiously, “Who is your friend here?”
“This is Claire,” Ivan said.
“Claire.” The King extended his hand for me. When I placed my hand in his, he lifted it to his lips and placed a kiss to the back of my hand. Before he had even finished letting me go, heast another look at Ivan. “Curious companion you have. Ivan. She carries a familiar appearance.”
I had no idea what he was talking about, but with the way Ivan sightened, tensing, he clearly did.
Something heavy hung in the air between us, making it thick and heavy. It mostly swirled around Ivan and the Alpha King. The clear tension between them didn’t give much room for conversation, but I had come here today, placing everything on the line, for this exact moment. I couldn’t miss my only chance to see things through.
“Alpha King, I was hoping that we could speak,” I said. “A friend of mine is facing unjustified strife, and I just wanted to –”
“Would you please excuse us, Claire?” the Alpha King said, glancing at me. “I must speak with Ivan and it would be better if you were not present.”
He hadn’t even listened to me. “Yes, but…”
Both the Alpha King and Ivan looked sharply at me. To defy the Alpha King was akin to treason.
I swallowed down my complaints. “Of course,” I said instead, and bowed. Then I walked away, leaving Ivan behind.
Being dismissed was definitely a speedbump in my plans, but I wasn’t going to let it ruin them. I just needed to find another way. Perhaps I could speak with someone who could help me arrange a private conversation with the Alpha King later?
Glancing around, I spotted an important looking servant, and walked over.
“Excuse me,” I said.
The servant didn’t look at me.
“Yes, um,” I barreled forward regardless. “I was hoping to arrange a meeting with the King…”
The servant did glance at me this time, but only for a moment. “And who are you?”
“I… I’m Claire…”
“Only Alphas and council members are worthy enough to request the King’s time,” the servant said.
“I came here with Alpha Ivan,” I said.
“And where is he now?”
“He’s with the King…”
“Then he doesn’t need an audience, does he? So neither do you. Excuse me,” he said, though he kept standing there. Clearly I was the one being dismissed. Again.
So much for my being bold. Without Ivan as my escort, I wasn’t going to be taken seriously. I had to keep trying though. Maybe someone else would be kinder?
Ivan’s POV
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Chapter 110
“Ivan, what is this?” the King asked.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t be cute. That woman Claire looks exactly like Lena”
“It’s coincidence,” I said.
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“Don’t lie to me,” the King said. “I’ve known you a long time, and know how much you adored Lena when she was alive. This girl is not her.”
“I never said she was.”
“Then tell me I’m mistaken,” the King said. “Because what it looks like to me is that you are using this Claire as a substitute for Lena.”
Anger flared inside of me, but I kept it in check. “I’m not doing that. Claire is not Lena, as you said, but she is special to me in her own way. I have some feelings for Claire, but not because of Lena.”
“Knowing the depths of your feelings, I find this very difficult to believe,” the King said. “She is the spitting image of Lena, and now you say that has nothing to do with your feelings?”
“Claire is her own person.”
“She is, but you are not. Can you love two women separately, as individuals, when they look so much alike.”
“What I feel for Claire is not love.” Not yet.
The King sighed as he shook his head. “You will do as you wish and I cannot stop you Ivan. But I do warn you. Continuing this path will only lead you into renewed heartbreak. Lena is dead and no one will be able to take her place.”
AD
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