Chapter 14

He cleared his throat, as if preparing to speak, once we’d composed ourselves and straightened our clothes. I was now sitting properly in the passenger seat. “Alex will be having his mating ceremony with Miranda,” he said, his tone careful. “I’m invited… would you come with me?” From the look in his eyes, I knew it wasn’t easy for him to bring up the man who had once rejected our bond. But honestly, it no longer stung. Whatever pain I’d felt had faded quickly, leaving nothing behind. I smiled and nodded. “I’d be happy to join you,” I told him, and his lips curved into a smile of relief. “After that,” he continued, “I’ll introduce you to my mother—and to everyone else—as my mate.” My eyes widened. His mother? The Luna? She was stunning, a woman not originally from our pack, who had discovered Alpha Owen Cliff was her mate. My mother used to tell me how, when they married and began a family, every girl who’d dreamed of being paired with the alpha—including her—had cried for days. Now it made sense why my mother had been so thrilled when I was paired with Alex, furious when we rejected the bond, and happy all over again when the alpha’s son claimed me. As if sensing my hesitation, Osborne reassured me. “She’s a good person. You don’t have to worry about her liking you. And as for the pack—no one will dare say anything against you. You have my word.” I smiled and nodded, though another thought hit me. I don’t have anything to wear for such an occasion. “When is it?” “Saturday,” he replied. “At the pack cathedral. I’ll come pick you up—but first, I’m taking you to the spa.” I shook my head quickly. “No, I’ll take myself. Don’t waste your money on me—it’s my father’s responsibility.” He chuckled. “Alright, love, whatever you say. But I’ll be here to pick you up on Friday.” “You’d better,” I teased, and we both laughed. As Osborne’s car disappeared down the road, I let out a sigh and turned back toward the house. My hand lingered on the doorknob for a moment before I finally pushed it open. Inside, Josh and Suzy stood shoulder to shoulder, while my parents sat across from them, deep in a heated scolding. “Oh, there she is!” my mother exclaimed as soon as she spotted me. “You both should be ashamed of yourselves,” my father’s voice was firm, his gaze fixed on Josh and Suzy. “Setting your sister up to be picked on. And you, Josh—you’d better be careful. You’re only living here because you can’t afford your own place for you and your mate. You should be ashamed to plot against your own sister.” In my mind, though, I couldn’t help thinking it was already too late for lectures—they’d spoiled him for so long that, as a grown man, he still depended on them for everything. “You can both leave,” my mother ordered. Josh stormed out first, leaving Suzy trailing behind. When her eyes met mine, I saw the flicker of fear there—she quickly looked away. “So,” my father asked once they were gone, “what did you two talk about? Is he still upset?” I shook my head. “No. But he invited me to Alex’s mating ceremony.” My parents exchanged a knowing look, and I could guess what was running through their minds. “The problem is…” I hesitated, and they looked at me “…I don’t have anything to wear.” They both sighed. “Don’t worry,” my mother said with sudden enthusiasm, clapping her hands together. “Tomorrow, I’ll personally take you to get a full makeover.” It struck me—this was something they should have done for me long ago. But no one had ever made the time for me before. Amazing how quickly people can change when they want to. --- The next day, we headed to the spa. I could feel eyes on us the moment we stepped in. By now, Suzy’s friends had probably spread the rumor that I was Osborne’s mate—or at least pretending to be. When we arrived, the owner greeted us personally, her smile a little too polished, her tone almost ceremonial. It felt overly formal for a spa visit, which instantly made me suspicious. As we were escorted to an exclusive section—so pristine and luxurious it felt like stepping into another world—I knew Osborne must have pulled some strings, despite me telling him not to. But instead of being annoyed, I found myself smiling. The place was breathtaking. From the soothing scent of lavender drifting through the air to the gentle trickle of a nearby water feature, everything felt designed to erase every worry from my mind. The massage melted the tension from my muscles, the pedicure and manicure left my hands and feet soft and perfect, my face was massaged as well and even my hair was given a new shine. Never in my life had I ever been treated like this before, they even gave me expensive and delicious snacks. Afterwards, we went shopping. Real shopping. Not the rushed, bargain-hunting kind I was used to, but an indulgent stroll through boutiques where the staff treated us like royalty. Who knew trying on beautiful clothes and letting someone else carry the bags could be so… fun? I enjoyed every moment of that day, letting myself bask in the rare feeling of being pampered. And deep down, I wished all days could be like this. Friday came, and my mother was practically bursting with excitement—more excited than I was, in fact. “Oh, I called a friend of mine,” she announced with a grin so wide it was almost comical. “She’ll be in charge of your makeover.” My mother was humming under her breath and even doing a little happy dance as she spoke. Not long after, her friend arrived—Miss Susan. She was unmated, her mate having rejected her for reasons only he knew. Instead of letting it break her, she’d thrown herself into her work and built a thriving brand. She had been my mother’s friend long before I was born—probably the most successful friend she had. “You’re going to be the most beautiful woman there, Aina,” Susan said with a confident smile. “When I first heard the rumor, I didn’t think it was true.” I smiled back. “Thank you, ma’am.” She laughed and waved a hand. “Ma’am? Please. And honestly, after that scumbag rejected you, you deserve an upgrade to a better man.” Her bluntness caught me off guard, and I couldn’t help but chuckle. She joined in, her laughter warm and unrestrained. “Well then,” she said, clapping her hands, “let’s get started. When he sees you, he won’t be able to take his eyes off you—and who knows, you might even outshine the bride.” I laughed again, shaking my head. She was indeed a fun person to be around.