Emily
The day of the banquet came faster than I wanted. I’d been reviewing etiquette, including that expected of a Luna, for the days leading up to this important event.
My family had never given me any kind of Luna training. Normally, the sons and daughters of Alphas received Alpha or Luna training respectfully. In my family, that honor had only gone to Chloe.
I guess they never thought I would need it. That’s why I’ll take matter’s into my own hands.
Even if our relationship was a contract, I’d give Logan everything I had. That meant I needed to learn what I could. Especially with the banquet coming up.
The banquet happened twice every year. It was used as a kind of update event between all the Alphas of the nearby packs, and sometimes even foreign packs.
The largest announcement of this year from Titanfang was Logan’s father’s health. The Alpha was not doing well and was rumored to step down soon. Logan was the first in the running as heir, and leadership was expected to be passed to him any day now.
I thought maybe he expected it to be announced here.
It was the first event I’d be supporting Logan at, I wanted to make sure I did a great job. Logan had not spared any expense in making sure I looked like the Luna everyone expected, so I needed to be prepared to make him look good.
That was one of the biggest parts of our deal.
One of the problems that had arisen was all the gossip surrounding our engagement party. Word spread quickly that there was a sudden change of bride before the ceremony. A part of it had to be because of rumors my family might be spreading behind my back.
I needed to find a way to deal with these rumors, fast.
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When the car pulled up to the banquet hall, Logan got out first. He then offered his hand to me, and I accepted it as I gingerly got out of the car.
I was wearing the evergreen dress from the boutique. Although the front was high, the back dipped down low. I had paired it with sunflower yellow high heels and a matching clutch. My long hair was curled and left down, only pinned at the sides to keep my hair off my face.
“You look beautiful,” Logan said as we walked into the banquet hall. I glanced at him.
As usual, he was absolutely handsome. He was wearing an all black tuxedo with an evergreen bowtie to match my dress.
“You look good too,” I said, but it felt like an understatement.
All eyes were on us. From across the room, I felt Chloe’s cold stare of jealousy. No doubt she
recognized my dress was from her favorite designer.
The banquet hall was set up with large tables, ten seats to each table. They were set with
white tablecloths, a large bouquet of flowers acting as the centerpieces for each one. The tables were set with placemats and silverware, and there were placecards labeling who each spot belonged to.
Our table was at the front of the room, right by the podium.
Waiting for us was Logan’s family.
“Logan, looks like you finally made it,” said one man. He came up and gave Logan’s hand a hearty shake.
He almost looked like a cheap knock–off of Logan. When they locked eyes, I saw nothing
between them but hatred.
“Emily, this is my half–brother, Eric,” said Logan. He placed his arm across my shoulders.
“Good evening,” I said to Eric, “I hope you’re doing well.” Eric and I shook hands, and he squeezed a little too hard. I tried not to look like I was in pain, but Logan noticed.
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He took my wrist and brought it to his lips, then softly placed a kiss on the back of my hand.
“Ah, yes. I almost forgot the two of you are already engaged. I’ll have to get used to it, since the two of you are hardly ever seen together,” Eric said.
“Don’t worry, that will be changing soon,” Logan said. I stopped my eyebrows from raising in surprise. If Logan had any plans, he hadn’t shared them with me yet.
“I hope so. People are starting to think this relationship is happening a little too quickly. It’d be a shame if all of this was a ruse for media attention,” Eric said with a big smile. I
didn’t like the awful glint in his eyes.
cupped Logan’s hand in both of mine and took a step closer to him. I was almost pressed up against him. I titled my head to rest against his shoulder.
I didn’t need to say anything. Eric cleared his throat and adjusted his tie at the display. I spared a glance at Logan, and although he didn’t look at me, I saw his smile.
He wrapped his arm around my waist and closed what little gap there was left between us.
“So tell me, where did the two of you meet?” Eric asked.
I was about to answer with the hotel, as that was the truth, but Logan squeezed my hip. I
took it as a warning not to say anything.
It would look suspicious. There was a photo circulating around already of the two of us at
the same hotel. We wouldn’t want to say that was where we met.
Then his finger started tracing out letters on my bare back, where the dress dipped down. His touch on my exposed skin caused goosebumps to raise on my arms. It was an intimate touch that made my heart race.
He spelled out the letters C… A… F… E…
“We met at a,” he said, but I spoke up to say it at the same time, “cafe.” Eric squinted at us,
not expecting our united answer.
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“Yes, I went to get my morning coffee at a new shop, and the place was awfully busy,” I
said.
“Among all the people crowded in there, our eyes met, and we struck up conversation right there in the line,” said Logan.
“Then when we got to the counter, we ordered,” and Logan and I spoke over each other, “a black coffee with two sugars.”
This time, we hadn’t meant to say the same thing at the same time. It was a strange coincidence. Logan and I both looked at each other and laughed at the happy accident.
Eric wasn’t as pleased. In fact, his eyebrows furrowed in anger.
“Well, congratulations on your engagement,” he said through gritted teeth.
“For now,” said Chloe. She had stepped into our conversation at the first opportunity. “At least, not once Alpha Logan’s Fated Mate walks into the picture.”
For a moment, I wondered if she was hinting that it was her. But I’m sure if Logan knew that, he’d have said something. Right?
“I
“Let’s not talk about such things,” I told Chloe. Chloe laughed.
“Of course you wouldn’t want to talk about it,” she raised her voice much louder than she needed to, “You wouldn’t know your Fated Mate from a hole in the ground since you’re in wolf dormancy!”
Those around us heard her loud and clear. Chloe had revealed my secret in front of the most important people in all the packs.
Everyone knew that a dormant wolf could not and would not sense their Fated Mate.
Murmurs began to spread through the banquet hall.
Logan’s grip tightened on me, his dark eyes on Chloe and Eric.
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Chapter 13
