“I want to see you after work. I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Okay. See you later. ...I love you.”
I’m red as a beet after those three words. Plus, Kathie and Elise are giving me looks that clearly indicate they heard that. I hang up and scurry to them, trying to calm down my heartbeat.
“Nora, you have a boyfriend? Why didn’t you tell us!” Screams Elise.
I try to explain myself to my two excited colleagues, but before I can really get to the depth of it, Narcissa arrives, looking annoyed.
“You three! Your break is long over, go back to work! Elise, table fourteen is waiting for you to take their order. Nora, someone requested you on table two.”
Someone asked for me? I’m not even among the waiter’s list. Is it someone I know? I follow the girls back inside, and quickly walk up towards table two. When I see who is sitting there, I freeze.
Oh, Moon Goddess. Alessandra King?
She is sitting alone at a table for two, looking very proper in a black dress. You can tell she is from a wealthy background. I may be wearing a diamond necklace, but she is wearing flashy gold jewelry, and her designer dress is probably just as expensive. Gosh, I’m really in no mood to face my boyfriend’s fiancée now. When I walk to her, she is smiling like a perfect lady.
“You asked for me?”
“You must be Nora! I recognize your horrible scar.”
Seriously? That’s how she wants to start, bringing up my scar? When she looks at me, I can tell her eyes are obviously fixated on it, too. Most of the time, Bobo and the brothers act perfectly normal around me, so even if other people can’t help but look at it, I feel okay about my scar. However, here, Alessandra’s eyes are fixated on it, and it’s making me uneasy. I try to ignore it.
“And you are Alessandra King.”
“That’s right. Damian’s partner.”
She is doing this on purpose, isn’t she? I cross my arms. Obviously, she doesn’t want me to take her order. “Do youactually have anything to say, or did you just come all the way to my workplace to annoy me and make me lose my time? I have other customers,” I say, not hiding how much she is annoying me
She keeps smiling and takes a sip of her wine. “Don’t be so angsty, I just came to talk. I heard Damian wants to cancel our engagement because of his attachment to you. I hope you will help me reason him.”
His “attachment” for me? I’m not some damn pet! Moon Goddess, that woman really has a gift for pissing people off just by talking. If it wasn’t my workplace and there was no one around, I would be growling at her already. My wolf has been at it for ten minutes already, and though I agree with her, I must fight to contain her.
“Why would I convincemyman to marry another woman?”
If she wants to play with words, I can do that, too. I may be a pacifist, but when it comes to Damian, I’m ready to show my fangs anytime, you pest.
“Oh, please, Nora, you know there is much more at stake, don’t you? Damian Black is not just a common guy who can marry anyone,” she says confidently.
“I am not anyone. I am Damian’s fated mate. You know what it means, right?”
She starts laughing, a high-pitched and annoying sound. I just hate how confident she acts while obviously looking down on me.
“Do you really believe in that kind of thing? This is so... ancient! This is the twenty-first century, honey. No one cares for that kind of thing anymore.”
If she calls me honey one more time, I’m seriously not going to stand for whatever happens next. And “ancient”?Who does she think she is! What are werewolves, then? Does she have any respect left for our Moon Goddess mother?
“I do care, and so does Damian,” I reply right back.
“Unfortunately, whatever bond you have with, it’s not going to be enough. Are you still a child? Well, you do look like one... Let me teach you something then: If Damian stays with you, he’ll lose everything. If he marries me, he will be the King Alpha of Silver City, and no one will be able to resist him.”
I clench my fists. I need no lessons from that woman. Yet, she keeps talking, while I feel my anger rise.
“If he marries me, he will have the full support of the Gold Moon Clan. Do you have any strong Clan supporting you, Nora? I doubt it. You are a penniless orphan. You have nothing to bring to him, no financial support, and no power whatsoever. So, you should learn your place right now, before I put you right back where you belong.”
...Put me back to my place? Is that bitch threatening me now? My wolf is on all fours, growling furiously already, ready to rip her head off any time.You’re right.I won’t let her speak that way to me. Not to us. She is the one who has no idea who she is talking to.
I slam both hands on the table, looking at her eye to eye. I draw all the strength and anger I can from my wolf for the first time.
