18. Grace
“Are you glad you came?” Harlow stares at me in the mirror. She’s standing next to me at the sink with her hand hovering under the automatic soap dispenser. “You must be. I mean, your date is the gorgeous Stanton Adams.” She grins. “Do you like him?”
Shaking my wet hands as I stroll to the dryer, I think about my date. “He’s nice enough.”
“Nice.” She laughs. “He’ll be wounded if he hears that. The man is the captain of the team and you brush him off like he’s nobody.”
I shrug my shoulders. “He’s nobody to me.”
“I can tell that he likes you.” Her eyes catch mine in the mirror. “What’s his scent?”
“Oh God, stop being an alpha and just be a sister. I don’t believe in scent matching.” It’s a little lie, but I got it so wrong before.
“You’re just jaded after what happened to you. Just be nice tonight.”
I slap my hand on my chest. “I’m being the perfect date. I smile at him. I let him put his arm around my shoulder when he talks to someone, and I lean on him like he’s mine.”
Harlow sighs. “He could be good for you. Getting to know an alpha... Letting someone in your life. You know...”
“Spit it out, Harlow,” I whisper-yell.
“Omegas need alphas. And Stanton is successful, gorgeous, and I know he’ll look after you.”
“No way... I don’t want an alpha to look after me. You’re an alpha. And more than anything, you know what Dad did. He left Mom... and us, in search of his scent match.” I pat my belly. “I’ve got to wait for this one to come along and then I can get an implant to tell my body I’m a beta. And then I’ll find a beta one day.” The words rush out. I take a breath. “Anyway, Stanton is not my type. I googled him and he’s a playboy. So friends is as far as it will go.”
“Because you can’t forget about the fucking alpha who ruined your life,” she hisses.
I breathe in and out, not wanting to cry. “He changed my life... not ruined it.”
She rolls her eyes to the ceiling and sighs. “Same thing.”
My voice is barely above a whisper as I say, “I want this baby.”
“Sorry,” she murmurs as her shoulders drop.
I shove my hands under the dryer, glad the noise is stopping her from pushing the idea of Stanton on me, or worse, trying to bring up Henry.
“I bet Stanton would give up his whoring life for you,” she says. “I can see he will by the way he looks at you.”
“Oh wow, I’m honored.” I press my hand on my heart. She doesn’t even realize how ridiculous the comment sounds.
“You’ll be hunted by a pack. Then you’ll realize the option you gave up.”
I frown, hating that she is trying to frighten me. “Were you waiting for the dryer to stop just so you could say that?”
Harlow smiles. “You need an alpha.”
“I don’t need an alpha or anyone. I’m happy to be single.”
“Grace...”
I hold up the palm of my hand to stop her from going any further. I don’t need another lecture about my life. The door to the restroom opens, and I give Harlow a warning look to stop talking about my life.
“I don’t know why I bother.”
Her words are only just out when I spin around and inhale. My eyes lock onto a girl with black hair and dark blue eyes. She smells like...
Is it possible a girl is my scent match?
No way.She looks like a beta, maybe an omega, but certainly not an alpha.
She smiles, but in an uncertain way. Probably because I’m staring at her like I know her.
Or perhaps the way a serial killer looks at his next victim.
“Grace, come on.” She glances at her cell. “Colton is wondering where I am. He and Stanton are in the ballroom. The auction is about to start.”
I forget about the girl’s scent as we dart out of the restroom, bypass the bar and down the corridor, where we rush into the enormous room. Colton stands and waves, letting us know where they are.
We make our way through the dimly lit room. Elegant, circular tables are positioned in front of a stage with steps leading up. On the stage, a man is working on his laptop and checking the screen behind him.
“This way.” Harlow leads me to the table where Colton is standing.
“You’re on the table next to us, but closer to the stage. I swapped the labels on my table so we are back to back and I can talk to you,” Harlow says as we head past the tables. I see Stanton on the round table nearest to the stage.
“Why am I closest to the stage?”
“Stanton is the captain and gets preferential treatment. Colton’s still a rookie.”
“I thought we’d be sitting together.”
“Sorry. I didn’t know until I came in earlier.”
I plaster a smile on my face as I stroll to Stanton. He stands and pulls out my chair when I reach him.
“Thank you,” I say.
“You’ll realize how perfect I can be,” he says.
I smile as he takes his seat. “But only when you want to be.”
“Absolutely. I don’t waste my gentlemanly-like act on just anyone.”
“Act?”
“It’s a figure of speech,” he grunts.
I grin at his frowning face. It’s nice to see he isn’t always full of arrogance, because until now, that’s all I’ve seen and heard from him. I pick up my drink and raise it to him. “Here’s to a lovely evening. Thank you for inviting me.”
His wide smile returns, before he turns to the table he is hosting and says. “Hello everyone, I’m Stanton and this is Grace, my date.”
“Hello Grace…” I recognize the man, but can’t put my finger on his name, says, “I’m Senator Hilton.”
“Hello,” I squeak. I’ve never been in the company of such powerful people in my life. I smile at his wife... perhaps his daughter. She’s very young looking, but I know powerful, rich men attract women who are much younger than themselves.
Stanton introduces me to the rest of the table. A table that stinks of money. A stockbroker, a lawyer, a CEO, and their significant others.
“Welcome ladies and gentlemen,” the emcee says. I glance at him as he stands at the microphone on the stage.
“Grace.” I turn to my sister as she whispers my name. “Everything okay?” She smiles as she dips her head to look at Stanton’s fingers, which are stroking over the top of my hand.
I nod.
And inhale. My head feels hazy as the smell of toasted marshmallow coats my skin. I suck back the scent like an addict, like the smell is the only thing that will keep me alive. I think for a moment it’s Stanton, but I shake that thought away.
Where is the girl?
“What’s wrong?” Harlow asks. Her eyes widen. Our sisterly connection is coming on strong.
I shake my head but twist my body to turn around. First, I see the girl again. A smile curves up her lips, but the smile doesn’t reach her eyes.
Then my gaze floats to the man she is with. He’s gorgeous, espresso colored hair frames his angled face, soft pink lips contrasting beautifully against his masculine look. At over six feet tall by easily four inches. The tuxedo he wears is just like every other man here, but with his wide shoulders and chest, he looks so much better.
Henry?
Only he smells like that.
What is different about him? He is no longer wearing a mask, but he doesn’t need to. I smell him, and worse... my omega purrs for him.
Stop it!
“At last.” Senator Hilton stands up and holds out his hand to the only man who has that scent.
My gaze lifts to his face once again and this time the man isn’t looking at the Senator—he’s glaring at Stanton’s hand stroking the top of mine.
Blood is rushing around my veins, sparking a strange sensation between my thighs.
His nostrils flare as his eyes lift from Stanton’s hand to my face, and he glares at me.
And suddenly anger pours my way.
Half an hour later and the auction is nearly over and I feel woozy just being in the same vicinity as him. Slick that seemed to disappear once my heat went away now coats my panties and I’m scared it will soak through to my dress.
I need to get away.
“And next we have lot number fifty-one...”
Over two point eight million dollars has been raised for three children’s charities and there’s a few lots still to go. Senator Hilton has paid a fortune for four lots which has thrilled the organizer.
“Who will give me two hundred thousand dollars for a one-week stay on this super yacht?”
I stare at the screen at the back of the stage to see a video of a mega-yacht floating on crystal blue water. It has three levels and there’s a helipad on the top.
“You and your guest will fly by private plane to Skiathos, Greece, and from there you’ll be chauffeured to here.” He points at the boat on the screen. “The yacht has a full crew and top class chef on board, and they will provide you with whatever you wish.”
I turn to Harlow. “That’s your dream holiday.”
She rolls her eyes. “Self chartered, not a mega-yacht. I want to live Ava’s life.” Ava is our friend Ella’s sister. And she lives a charmed life on the Mediterranean Sea with her beta, making my sister very jealous.
“Two hundred thousand,” a deep voice calls.
“Thank you Senator...”
“Two hundred and twenty thousand,” a voice shouts from the back of the room.
“Thank you. Please raise your paddle.” He pauses as he writes the man’s number on his paperwork. “This is going well. But you can do better. Can I get two hundred and fifty thousand?”
Colton turns his chair to me. “Do you like Stanton?”
I glance over my shoulder, and Stanton gives me a boyish grin. I smile back at him, then slightly behind him, and see Henry still glaring at me at the next table.
What the fuck?
Why is he angry with me?
I don’t know if I want to scream at him or run away and cry. I’ve managed so well to control my emotions since the day he left me all alone.
Since the day he made me believe he wanted me and then he might as well have laughed in my face.
It was all a lie.
All along he never wanted me, and for a good reason—the bastard is with another woman.
He told me he wasn’t interested... That his career was important to him. But it was all a lie.
Did I fuck a married man?
Tears prick my eyes as I lower my eyes and stare at my hand as I press my palm against my stomach.
I suck back a ragged breath. The deep sigh rattling back up my throat as I realize the father of my child, and the man I’ve secretly tried to find for two months, never wanted to be found because he already has somebody.
How do I tell him?
I glance at his partner.
No wonder her scent pricked my senses, made the skin on the back of my neck stand on end. It wasn’t hers, but it was his coating her and making me think she could be a scent match. Bile scurries up my throat, making me feel nauseous.
He was here all along.
Should I tell him he is going to be a father?
Her left hand lifts as she pushes back her hair. There’s no ring on her finger. Not that it means too much, and I still don’t want to hurt her the way he hurt me.
“Sold to the Senator for two hundred and fifty thousand...”
“Yes,” Senator Hilton says as he pushes his chair out and strolls to the stage.
“What a fabulous vacation,” the emcee says. I follow the emcee’s eyes to the winner’s much younger partner. Her smile is wide as she bounces on her seat. “You’re going to love it.”
The Senator clears his throat and says, “Can I ask my son Lucas, and…” He clears his throat. “And Raine to come to the stage.”
Stanton leans into my ear and whispers, “Oh, this is going to be fun.”
“Why?” I whisper back, looking around the room and waiting for Lucas and Raine to go onto the stage.
I smile when the Senator’s partner gives a deep sigh as her body sags into the chair.
“Lucas,” the Senator repeats. This time, his firm voice exudes authority.
“He doesn’t like his father,” Stanton replies before he leans closer to me. “Do you want to go somewhere after this?”
“Where?” I ask because I could do with leaving here right now, not later.
“My place.”
I chuckle. “I don’t think so.”
He tilts his head to one side and considers me before he smirks. “I can give you the best time of your life.”
I pick up my glass and smile sweetly before I say, “No, thanks.”
“You know I’m not letting you leave me without a kiss, or you could wrap those luscious lips around my cock.”
I roar with laughter and sputter the water in my mouth.
I don’t know whether to slap his face or kiss him for making the evening fun. But despite everything, I’m still pregnant. I pat my tummy and glance downward. “And you know I’m pregnant, right? And the baby is sitting on my bladder again, which means I need to visit the ladies’ room?” It’s a lie. I know it’s not bigger than a bean. I just need to get away.
His mouth drops open for a moment before he quickly realizes. “Sorry, nobody told me.” His voice is quiet as stares at my stomach for so long it becomes uncomfortable.
“There was no need, we’re...” I start to tell him we’re only a casual date and there’s no need for him to know much about me, but just as I do, Henry stands and walks to the table I’m on, causing my heart to pound.
Our gazes clash as he reaches the table. He presses a hand on Stanton’s shoulder, and I’m readying myself for him to give me eye contact again, but he doesn’t—he turns to the stage and is followed by his girlfriend.
“Thank you, Lucas.”
I stare at the Senator.
Lucas?
His name is Lucas, and his father is Senator Hilton.
Was anything he told me the truth?
My omega is crying inside. I turn to Harlow and say, “I’m going to the restroom.”
She nods. Too busy staring at the stage, wondering what’s going on.
“I won’t be long,” I say to Stanton, taking my purse and glancing once more at the stage to see the senator kissing his future daughter-in-law on the cheek. He hands her the envelope. I don’t know what he says to her. The blood thrashing in my ears drowns out every word.
I push out my chair and leave the table.
“I want to give this prize to my son Lucas and his future wife Raine for their honeymoon,” the senator says, breaking my heart all over again.
I can’t stop the tears from rolling down my cheeks and only when I reach the exit doors do I turn and glance over my shoulder at Lucas.
Time stands still when our eyes lock for a moment.
Just before I open the door and escape.