Chapter 26 #2
“Our pictures are all over Facebook?” I asked.“You’re part of our university Facebook group for werewolves?” How did she see our pictures?
“I’m an alumni,” Ava explained. “And even if I wasn’t—honey, your pictures are all over the Packs of the Southeastern Region Facebook Group.”
I almost dropped my glass of water. Champagne wasn’t happening for me tonight. “There’s a Facebook group for that too?”
Ava whipped out her phone, grinning. “Oh, I’ll send you an invite!” She started typing away, then glanced up with a cheeky comment. “Shouldn’t your name be Rose Sinclair now? Oh wait… no mating ceremony yet.” She giggled. “Living in sin for a while.” Her eyebrows waggled at us.
I nearly jumped when I felt Aiden’s hand slide possessively over my bare knee.
“Enjoying it too,” he murmured with a wicked smile, his fingers moving in slow, seductive circles on my skin. Ava’s eyes widened, clearly thrilled by the interaction.
My hands shook from the feel of his touch. I laced my fingers together tightly, hoping I wasn’t giving myself away. This—this was not something I was prepared for. Public displays of affection came with the territory, sure, but I hadn’t anticipated it feeling like this.
“I don’t blame you,” Ava said, eyes sparkling. “Honestly, I think Ron and I rushed it. Once everything’s official, the pressure from the pack can get insane. But don’t worry, Rose. For now, just enjoy your time with your alpha.”
I gave her a tight-lipped smile, trying to ignore the heat of Aiden’s hand still resting on my knee. Ava and Ron seemed to know a lot about him. They weren’t one of our aligned packs, but their familiarity made me wonder—was this normal? Was everything about Aiden common knowledge?
He gently pressed his fingers against my knee again, as if urging me to relax.
But how could I relax when his touch sent sparks racing up my spine?
His fingers barely grazed my skin, but it felt electric.
I told myself the mate bond was intensifying everything—but knowing that didn’t calm my nerves.
My eyes shifted when the event host stood with a mic under the spotlight. After he welcomed everyone, dinner commenced
My gaze drifted back to Aiden. He was dabbing at his mouth with a linen napkin, eyes fixed across the room. I followed his line of sight—and my stomach dropped. Alistair Evans was staring daggers at him… and me. Sitting beside him was a woman with Lexia’s exact blonde hair. Her mother. Of course.
Aiden leaned back and casually slung his arm over my shoulders. I tensed. He brought his champagne up again, sipping as his fingers slid along the back of my neck, playing with a curl.
My pulse spiked.
“I don’t think Alistair buys this,” Aiden muttered, his lips close to my ear.
That’s why he’s touching me like this, I realized. To sell the lie. His index finger toyed with a curl, a deceptively innocent gesture. But I felt every loop of it in my gut. He was doing this—knowing full well that Lexia’s parents would report back to her. He didn’t have to. But he did.
I turned slightly. Aiden’s eyes were darker now, fixated on the spot where his mark would eventually go on my neck. Fake or not, that look made me shiver.
Alistair suddenly threw his napkin down and stalked off.
Had it worked?
Aiden had just made a choice, whether he admitted it or not. He’d chosen to sacrifice the truth of his feelings for Lexia to make this whole act more believable—for me. It could cost him later, and he still did it.
I should’ve reminded myself that this was all pretend. That I needed to stay grounded.
But instead, I leaned into the smallest, most dangerous thought:
I liked being first.
Even if it was only for now.
So, I pushed the guilt down and let the butterflies in my stomach take over as Aiden’s fingers lingered in my curls for a few more minutes before he pulled away and started digging into his main course.
The second his arm left my shoulders, I felt like I could breathe again.
My head started clearing and I began looking around the room again.
That’s when I noticed a pattern: the single alphas were seated together at various round tables, while the couples were grouped together.
And the couples? All madly in love, obviously mates.
Their body language said it all. Apart from Mr. Evans, most looked like they were under fifty-five. Just a handful of graying couples.
“Everyone’s young,” I murmured under my breath. Aiden took a bite of his steak, and my eyes betrayed me, watching his lips move around the fork. The amount of pheromones buzzing around this place was seriously affecting me. Still, wasn’t it my job tonight to look attracted to him?
“Most alphas retire early,” he replied. He nodded toward Mr. Evans, who was now seated again with his wife, eating quietly. “Alistair’s the oldest here at fifty-five. You need to stay fit if you want to keep your alpha status. Someone’s always ready to challenge you.”
“Why hasn’t Mr. Evans retired yet? I mean, not that he doesn’t look... fit. He looks... pretty ripped,” I said, my eyes flicking over to the man in question. For his age, he did look strong.
“He would’ve if he had a son,” Aiden said. “Lexia’s his only child. His wife’s been sick for years, couldn’t have more kids. Lexia came after two miscarriages and a lot of trying. Even after that, more miscarriages. Doctors eventually told her to stop.”
I didn’t need to ask how Aiden knew all this. Of course, he knew—he’d been close to Lexia.
“And now they’re upset that Lexia doesn’t have a mate to inherit the pack,” I said, keeping my voice low.
“What if she never mates? I mean—just as a hypothetical.” I stumbled over the words, trying not to make it sound like I was saying Lexia couldn’t mate.
Aiden raised an eyebrow at me. “Couldn’t she just become alpha herself? ”
“Alphas are always male,” he replied with a patient smile, gently setting his fork down. “And Alistair is stuck in the old ways. He wouldn’t let a female become alpha.”
I should’ve known that. But Aiden didn’t make me feel stupid. He just explained things calmly, probably realizing how out of my depth I still was.
“Alistair’s worried someone will challenge him and take the pack.
He wants to keep it in the family, but now that our mating ceremony is public knowledge, people are circling.
Before, alphas were hesitant because I was tied to Lexia.
With me protecting her, no one dared challenge him.
Now? He’s fair game. That’s just how our world works.
Alliances don’t stop power plays. Even allied alphas can challenge weaker ones. ”
“Who’s he most afraid of right now?” I asked. Maybe I could help somehow—make up for the chaos I’d caused his family.
Aiden tilted his head, a little amused. “Me.”
“You?” My voice pitched up in surprise. He reached for another glass of champagne—how many had he had already?
“I’m younger, probably stronger. Our territories border each other. And if I won, he doesn’t have a son to challenge me. I have the most to gain from taking over his pack.”
“Oh, well, then he doesn’t have to worry. You’d never do that,” I said quickly, reassuringly.
“I wouldn’t?” he asked, his tone unreadable.
“Well…I mean…” I looked around nervously. I couldn’t bring up Lexia with all these ears around.
He laughed. “You’re right, Princess. I’d never do that. He’s just paranoid.”
I tried to return his smile, but mine didn’t quite reach my eyes. If he hadn’t loved Lexia, would he have challenged Mr. Evans? It wasn’t illegal. It wasn’t even unusual. Every werewolf loved land. The law allowed open challenges. Barbaric, but normal.
Or maybe… maybe that had been his original plan. Was that why he’d started dating Lexia in the first place? If they mated, he’d automatically become Alpha of Silver Creek, merging both their lands.
“But you wanted to,” I whispered. My mind was spinning. It all made sense now.
Aiden turned to me sharply.
“I want to,” he corrected, voice low. “The wolf in me does. But I won’t.” He glanced around quickly. He knew people might be listening. And he wasn’t wrong—werewolf hearing made eavesdropping way too easy. Suddenly, it made sense how everyone seemed to know so much about everyone.
“Maybe this isn’t the best place to talk about this,” I said hoarsely.
Aiden gave a tight smile. “You’re a quick learner.”
And in that moment, I realized—he’d risked having this conversation, despite everything, just because I’d asked. Just because I was curious.
For the rest of the night, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t belong here.