Chapter 46
I couldn’t stop thinking about our almost kiss.
It replayed in my mind like a looped song I couldn’t turn off. I vividly remembered the way the candlelight bad caught in her hair, how her breath had hitched as I leaned in, and the quiet moment before I stepped away. The look in her eyes had been expectant and vulnerable.
In the moment, I found myself unable to go through with it.
It was nothing more than cowardice.
She’d been angry enough at me the entire time that we had been living together. What made me deserve a kiss?
I had faced war councils, rogue attacks, and the constant burden deadership. Nothing had ever shaken me like the way Emily had looked at ine.
Even whenshe was angry.
That terrified me.
1 needed to keep my distance. Or at least, I tried to. It was difficult when she was in my house, brushing past me in the hallway, curling up on the anmchair I had never used until she’d arrived, and humming under her breath while making coffee like she’d always belonged here.
The scent of her lotion lingered in the bathroom. Her shoes were by the door next to mine. Her soft sweaters hung beside my crisp jackets in the entry closet. I hadn’t realized how intimate cohabiting would feel until I started seeing pieces of her in every
I told myself this was temporary and convenient. It was all apart of the deal, and it had nothing to do with the fact that, little by little, I felt myself being drawn to her.
I had planned to head to the gym to blow off steam when I got the call
“They’re coming?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Yes, Alpha,” Beta Tony confirmed. “Your f
father, step–mother, Eric, and Dean. They want to have dinner and meet Emily.
I ran my hand over my face. “Fine. Can you arrange dinner to be brought in?”
“Yes, Alpha.” With that, I ended the call. I almost crushed the device in my hand. My family had to choose now to be nosy.
I found Emily in the kitchen, barefoot and nursing a cup of tea. The sunlight glinted off her hair, and for a second, I watched her, wondering what it would be like to see her like this every morning
“My father and half–brothers are visiting this afternoon,” I said.
She stiffened, then nodded, “I can go to the office, give you space,
“No,” I said quickly. “They’d like to formally meet you, although you’ve already been introduced to my father and Eric. I think they’re looking for something more personal.”
Her gaze lingered on me, unreadable. “I’ll be ready.”
Be wary. I’m almost certain they won’t all have good intentions.
“What I should I watch out for?”
“My brothers, mostly. They’re also interested in becoming Alpha, and they’ll likely try to find any weaknesses they can to exploit.”
1/2
We will have to make sure they don Lind any then.” She nodded once more and turned back to her teal
My heart swelled with pride and a hint of something else I couldn decipher.
When my family arrived, it was every bit as painful as I had expert.
My father was cold, assessing, and distant. The older of my two half–brothers, Eric, was cheerful and boasting, but I saw him eyeing Emily at every opportunity. Dean, a man who thought dominance was measured in disdain, wasted no time in finding anything, or anyone, to criticize.
“So this is the girl,” he said. “The human charity case.
Emily lifted her chin. “My name is Emily!
Dean snorted. “Feisty. Doesn’t change the fact that you’re a PR nightmare.”
I stepped between them. “That’s enough.”
Dean raised his hands like he was joking, but the sneer never left his face.
My father said little, his silence more damning than words. I already knew he disapproved of my relationship with Emily, so I didn’t need him to say anything.
It was my step–mother, Veronica, and Eric that I had to worry about most.
Everyone was cold to one another until we sat down to the catered dinner.
“This looks lovely,” Emily complemented. She inhaled deeply, getting a lungful of the delicious fresh spices in the food.
Tony had arranged for a large spread of Italian food. It included family style trays of antipasti and caesar salad for appetizers with chicken parmesan, lasagna, and handheld calzones for entrees. Dessert was tiramisu and panna cotta.
I had to admit that Tony went all out. It was important, after all, that my family see the best in everything I had to offer. That included the meals chosen to share with them. Even if they feigned how disinterested they were in it.
“Is this all?” Veronica asked as we sat at the dining room table. Her voice was chilly and full of disappointment.
“We can get all this at any Italian restaurant,” Eric said,
“I’m sure it is still delicious,” said Emily from her seat beside me
“You probably would eat anything, huh? Even if it was out of the trash!” commented Eric. Anger flared within me for one heated
moment
