Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Leila’s POV
It was now a day until the wedding, and tonight was the family soirée.
The Bronx Pack was hosting the Manhattan Pack, along with other dignitaries flying in for the wedding.
The event would be held at The Grand Marlowe, a five-star hotel not far from the actual wedding venue.
It had been fully booked out for the wedding.
I zipped up Ollie’s lunch pack, forcing a small smile for my little boy’s sake.
I’d barely slept, lying awake all night staring at the ceiling.
My wolf had been restless, whimpering inside me like a wounded creature.
My heart felt like a stone sinking in my chest. And my mind wouldn’t stop circling back to last night—to the way Luca kissed me, touched me, like I was his to claim, his to own.
Possessive. Certain. Like nothing and no one else existed.
And yet…the reality was inescapable. Tomorrow, he would be another woman’s claim. He would mark her in the ceremony, make her his Mate, his wife. And I would stand on the sidelines, watching the only man I had ever loved give himself to someone else. Forever.
That hurt more than any wound ever could.
Ollie’s giggles filled the kitchen as he skidded inside, socks sliding against the tiles.
His joy was infectious, though bittersweet to me.
He’d been the happiest kid since finding out about his father.
I felt much lighter now that Ollie knew the truth.
Not just because I didn’t have to pretend or lie anymore, but because I knew Luca would always be there for him—always show up for him.
He was a good man, and a good father. Whatever else happened between Luca and me, Ollie had the kind of father any boy would be lucky to have.
“Mom, will Dad come visit at Aunt Val’s place? He promised we’d start the new LEGO set he got me yesterday.”
I quickly dabbed at my damp cheeks, crouching in front of him with the brightest smile I could muster.
“You’re only going to be at Aunt Val’s for a couple of days, baby,” I said, ruffling his curls gently. “Besides, your Daddy’s going to be…busy.”
The smile on Ollie’s face faltered. He studied me for a beat longer than usual, then lifted his tiny fingers to touch my cheeks.
“Have you been crying, Mommy?”
My chest ached, and the tears I’d been holding back for days threatened to burst free like a broken dam.
I wasn’t prepared for the question I couldn’t answer—what would happen when Ollie realized his father was marrying someone else?
He was too young to understand bonds, marks, and the brutal finality of them, but one day he would.
And when he did, would he look at me and wonder why his father had chosen another woman over us? The thought gutted me.
“Something got in my eyes, baby.”
“Are you sure, Mommy?”
I nodded, forcing another smile—this one a little more real than the last. “Yes, Ollie.”
Just then, Valerie stepped into the living room.
“The Uber’s here, Ollie,” she said, glancing at me with a questioning look. I ignored it and handed him his lunch pack.
“Make sure you’re a good boy, Ollie. And don’t give your Aunt Val any trouble, okay?”
He bobbed his head enthusiastically. “Goodbye, Mom.”
I turned my cheek so he could kiss it before he trotted out of the kitchen.
Valerie reached for me and pulled me into a hug. “I’m here if you wanna talk, Leila.”
“I know,” I murmured. “Thanks again for watching Ollie.”
“Of course. Anything for you and my godson.”
After Ollie and Val left, I got ready and headed to the Grand Marlowe.
The welcome party was scheduled to begin in about twenty minutes, and several sleek, luxury cars that screamed money and status were already pulling into the hotel’s parking lot.
I’d slapped on an extra coat of blush—and makeup in general—hoping it would keep my face brighter and push away any questions along the lines of, are you okay?
The last thing I needed was someone assessing my emotional state. I was too fragile right now.
As I walked into the hall where the soirée was happening, I spotted Trina, the venue coordinator for the soirée, dishing out orders and jotting notes into her notepad.
We’d been talking over the phone for the last few days about this event.
While I focused primarily on the wedding to ensure everything went smoothly, Trina handled the hotel’s coordination for the soirée under my instructions.
“How’s everything? Seating arrangements settled?” I asked, stopping beside her.
“Seating arrangements are settled. The Vaughn and Moreau families have the largest tables in the center of the hall, and their table occupants are all delegates from their packs. Elena Moreau will be sitting at the Vaughn table beside the groom, as requested.”
My heart constricted in my chest. I remembered calling her a couple of days ago to give that order after Elena insisted she wanted to sit next to Luca.
“Food is settled. I’ve considered all notable allergies and everything else. I’ve checked the sound system, music is set…” She glanced at her notepad. “Souvenirs, check—” she listed a few more items before looking up at me. “Everything is set.”
As if on cue, one of the hotel staff brushed past us in a rush.
“The Alpha is here,” he said.
“Which Alpha?” I asked.
“The groom, Luca Vaughn, and his family.”
The air seemed to thin instantly. My pulse gave a sharp, traitorous jump, and it was as if the ground beneath me tilted just enough to throw me off balance.
The chatter of the hall faded to a low hum, my ears buzzing with the memory of his voice, his touch, that kiss I’d been trying—and failing—to forget.
Beside me, Trina sucked in a deep breath, clearly nervous about making sure everything went perfectly. She began walking toward the stairs but stopped when she realized I wasn’t following.
“You coming?”
“No, I’ll just wait in the hall.”
She nodded and disappeared down the stairs while I slipped into the hall, finding a hidden corner where I could stay out of sight—hopefully for the rest of the event.
I knew the exact moment Luca walked in, because my wolf stirred inside me. But unlike every other time—when the pull of our Mate would have her leaping in anticipation—she was still, solemn. She knew this wasn’t our moment. He was here, but not for us. He was here for another woman.
Luca entered with his father, Charles, and Victor. The second he stepped inside, his gaze swept over the hall—and then stopped. Not a second later, his eyes found me, as though he’d known exactly where I was all along.
His stare was unyielding, sharp, the kind that stripped you bare without touching you. There was heat there, yes, but buried beneath it was something darker—possession tangled with frustration, a flicker of regret that almost undid me.
Memories of Thursday night crashed through me—the sight of him with Ollie, the week we’d spent together working side by side on the Alpha Regent pitch.
They swelled inside my chest until they hurt, and I realized they were already becoming what they were always destined to be—just memories.
Luca was going to be the Fated Mate who rejected me, and I’d have to live with the ghost of what could have been all my life.
My eyes burned, and I tore my gaze away before the tears could fall. But beside him, I saw Luca’s father staring at me. He seemed to have noticed the moment that just passed between Luca and me. His eyes were narrowed to slits, contempt and barely restrained fury etched into every line of his face.
It was the look of a man who had long despised me, who believed I was unworthy of his son, and now, seeing the tether between Luca and me at what was supposed to be his son’s celebration with another woman—his disgust was laced with a flicker of shock.
Almost immediately, Elena and her family swept into the hall. She was radiant in a yellow dress, and when she saw Luca, she rose onto her toes and pressed her lips to his.
It felt like someone had reached into my chest and wrenched my heart free, tearing it in two before I could take a breath. My wolf let out a low, wounded sound inside me, and I could only stand there, still and silent, while the world kept moving around us as if nothing had just shattered.
As the event went on, I made sure everything remained in order—drinks went out at the appropriate time, appetizers and whatnot.
Most dignitaries simply walked up to greet the Alphas and congratulate them on the wedding, while everyone waited for Luca’s big speech, which was scheduled to come after dessert had been passed out.
I tried to focus on what I was here for: work.
But I couldn’t help it. I would find myself glancing toward where Luca was sitting—beside Elena—and most times, I would catch him staring at me.
Elena held him possessively, like she was his—which, soon, she would be.
She ran her hands along his chest as she laughed, helped him adjust his already perfectly fitted tie all over again, and did a number of other things that made it clear to everyone, myself included, that they were locked in.
On the other hand, Luca’s face was one of irritation and disgust each time she touched him.
I had to remind myself that even if he appeared not to care about her or this marriage, he was still choosing to marry her. He was still choosing her. And nothing else mattered besides that.
I couldn’t. I couldn’t bear to watch this anymore. I needed to get out of here.
I stood and turned in an instant. But I turned too quickly, without looking, and ran straight into one of the waitresses carrying a tray of dessert cakes. Everything shattered on the floor, glass breaking. The impact drew everyone’s attention—heads swiveling in our direction.
I saw Luca stand from his seat urgently, worry clouding his eyes. In the corner, a furious Elena watched us, but I didn’t give her gaze any attention.