Chapter 33

Aina By the time we reached the dining room, the Alpha and Luna were already eating. “Seriously, you couldn’t wait?” Osborne asked as he pulled out a chair for me. “Thank you,” I murmured, sitting down. “You didn’t expect us to wait for you, did you? Where were you anyway?” the Alpha asked while dabbing his lips with a napkin. “Do you really want to know?” Osborne teased, and the Alpha frowned. “No, I doubt I do,” he muttered, which made the Luna laugh. I couldn’t help but smile in embarrassment. Osborne sat beside me and began dishing food onto my plate. That was when I felt a pair of eyes on me. I glanced up—and found the Alpha staring. “I believe Osborne must have told you about what we discussed,” he said. Oh, so he was really going to bring that up here. “Not now, Father,” Osborne cut in quickly. “It’s okay,” I told him. He gave me a look, silently asking if I was sure, and I nodded. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t let anyone wedge themselves between us. “Yes, he did,” I replied. “I want you to understand, Aina,” the Alpha said plainly. “This isn’t because I dislike you. I’m thinking of my pack, of our people—including you. It would be best if Osborne were to wed Bella.” His words didn’t sting the way I thought they would. Instead, something in me stood tall. “And in what way does it benefit the pack—or the people?” I asked steadily. “By strengthening both packs,” he answered matter-of-factly. “So you’re saying Silver Crest is weak?” I countered. He blinked. “No, we are not weak in any way.” The flicker in his eyes told me I had hit his pride. “Then why say the marriage is to ‘strengthen’ both packs? If you ask me, Waterford benefits more than you do. What else does Silver Crest gain aside from marrying into them?” I didn’t know where this boldness came from, but I couldn’t stay silent. Not when someone wanted me to lose my man for another. He didn’t answer my question right away, just kept staring at me blankly. Then I noticed both the Luna and Osborne watching him in surprise. “The young lady just asked you something,” the Luna reminded, and the Alpha shook his head slightly, as though shaking off a daze. “You managed to leave my father speechless,” Osborne said with a proud smile, which made the Luna laugh. “Well,” the Alpha finally found his voice, “to answer you—yes, the Waterford Pack does benefit more than us, but losing our alliance with them would be a problem.” “It wouldn’t,” I countered. “It would hurt them more than us. I doubt Alpha Hamilton would cut ties with you over his daughter. At most, it might cause some strain, but they gain too much from being allied with us.” By then, food was placed before me, and Osborne helped by giving me a good portion, even setting the fork in my hand. Just then, the Alpha spoke again. “It seems Osborne has rubbed off on you.” I looked at him and replied calmly, “Not exactly. I just never realized how much of my mother’s daughter I am.” Then I turned back to my meal, unaware of how much my words had caught the Alpha off guard—or the look he gave me after. After that, I focused on my meal while Osborne ate beside me. The Luna was nearly finished with hers, and the Alpha had already set down his fork. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, though I figured he was simply waiting for me to finish before continuing our discussion. But then, he suddenly stood. “Since I’m done, I’ll retire for the night,” he said. The Luna nodded, smiling warmly. “Good night,” Osborne and I said in unison. “Good night,” he replied, though not before casting me one last glance as he walked away. Once he was gone, the Luna placed her fork aside and took a sip of water, her smile still lingering. “I don’t think he expected that,” she remarked, which made Osborne laugh. “Even I was shocked,” he admitted. “You were?” I asked, genuinely surprised. He nodded. “More shocked that you left him out of words like that.” They both burst into laughter at that. “Even I could never do that,” the Luna confessed, dabbing at the corners of her eyes as she laughed. “Well, I’ll be off too. I’ll see you both tomorrow,” she said as she rose to her feet. Before leaving, she gave Osborne’s shoulder a gentle pat. When the Luna was gone, Osborne leaned toward me and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “I love you,” he whispered. I smiled, my heart warming. “I love you too.” Alex I couldn’t enjoy my honeymoon anymore. Honestly, it was one of the dullest experiences of my life—eat, sleep, and sex. Sex that felt empty, unless I distracted myself by imagining another man’s mate. What was wrong with me? What was it about her scent that drove me to the brink of madness? I wasn’t the only one—half the men lost control around her because of it. I was meant to have a week of peace on my honeymoon, but now I couldn’t endure it. I’d find an excuse to cut it short. What stung the most was rejecting her. If only I had listened to my father that day. Who would have thought that the chubby, plain-looking girl would release a scent like that when in heat? To be honest, she was never my type. I always despised her—the quiet girl who allowed herself to be bullied, who never fought back, only bowing her head while the insults rained down. I hated her weakness. So when I discovered she was my mate, I was furious. How could fate bind me to someone like her, someone I thought of as a pig? Yet that very “pig” now had men losing their minds with desire. And the thought that Osborne has her to himself—it eats at me. He’s probably enjoying what should have been mine. Aina. That girl. She threw herself at the first man more suitable than me. I still don’t understand how it happened—or maybe she bewitched him with her scent. Because there’s no way Osborne, in his right mind, would have chosen her for how she looks.