I looked around, wondering if anyone else had overheard the elder’s disparaging comments. He stood with his arms crossed, waiting for whatever response I might give him. I was positive he’d just take my words, twist them, and then regurgitate hisnonsense back at me. How had Persephone dealt with this old geezer all those years?
As if summoned by my internal plea for help, Persephone appeared, gracefully crossing the room. She wore a stunning emerald-green gown that clung to her curves, her dark hair cascading down her back in soft waves. She held her head high, exuding confidence and authority. I really did feel like a little girl playing dress up as she approached. I wasn’t sure I’d ever pull off being the First Lady of the Keller pack the way Persephone did. She’d set the bench high.
Damn. The woman knew how to own a room. From the moment she entered with an air of confidence, her presence commanded attention. Not that I was jealous of Persephone, but observing her effortlessly captivate everyone around her was a reminder of the standards I aspired to meet. She inspired me to strive for greater self-assurance, which wouldn’t be an easy goal to reach with backlash from elders and pack members alike.
“Excuse me,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. “But I couldn’t help overhear your concerns, Elder.” She turned her gaze toward me, giving me a quick reassuring smile before turning her intense gaze back to the man. “However, must I remind you that questioning our alpha and offending his mate is not acceptable behavior?”
The elder’s expression faltered, a flicker of uncertainty passing through his eyes, but he remained stubbornly silent, his lips a tight line. Persephone, sensing the tension, took my arm and guided me away from the disgruntled old man before he found his voice again to choke out a response that may escalate the situation further.
“Liza, let me give you some advice on how to deal with grumpy old people like him. My mother-in-law gave me the same advice when I married Dominic,” she said as we walked toward the refreshments table. “Be polite, or they’ll use it againstyou. Remind them of their importance—it plays into their ego. But most importantly, never let them have the last word or allow them to feel like they have the upper hand. They’ll use it against you and simply walk all over you.”
Before I had the time to question her further, another pack member hollered Persephone’s name, interrupting our fleeting connection. She gave my cheek a gentle pat, her touch warm and comforting, letting me know everything was okay. The depth of her understanding shone from her eyes, instilling me with a sense of hope and courage.
“You’re doing great, Liza,” she said. Then I watched as Persephone joined one of the council members and his wife.
Glancing around the room, I realized I had no desire to speak to another soul. I needed a breather. Being in front of the pack like this was not something I was used to, especially since I’d always considered myself more of an introvert, happier to be in the background than upfront for all to see.
I stepped out into the cool, crisp air, taking a small winding path in one of the gardens that surrounded the house. I didn’t go far, just far enough to breathe and clear my mind.
How had Persephone handled all of this with such poise and grace for so long without shattering under the pressure? It might do me some good to spend time with Persephone. I was sure she’d be happy to let me tap into her years of experience and wisdom and give me some pointers on how to approach being an alpha’s mate.
The cool breeze caressed my face as I looked up at the moonlit sky, seeking solace in its calming presence.
A sudden shift in the air had goosebumps rising on my skin. My instincts were on high alert when I felt eyes on me again. I peered around the shadowy gardens. Night had hidden the gaps in the trees. The moon wasn’t full anymore, so there wasn’t enough light to banish the darkness of the woods. I didn’t seeanyone nearby. I was sure nobody had followed me out. Was it my imagination, or was something truly amiss?
I felt extremely vulnerable. I hadn’t told anyone I was coming outside. After all our talk of Castro being our enemy and being careful to look out for one another, I’d stupidly left myself exposed. Just as I was turning to walk back inside, a voice I didn’t recognize seemed to resonate directly in my mind.“You’ll know everything soon,”it said, clear and unnervingly.
My heart pounded in my chest as my head whipped around, searching for the source of the voice. But there was no one here. I was completely alone.
Blood rushed through my veins. The overwhelming fear I experienced froze my chest and made it hard to breathe, but I fought against it, determined to maintain control. I couldn’t let Ty sense this through our bond. There was no fucking way I’d let him see me like this, never mind tell him about what had happened here.
Despite my unwavering certainty about having seen a figure from our bedroom window the night before, I was fairly sure Ty thought I’d imagined it. If I told him I’d heard a strange voice in my head, he’d believe I’d gone batshit crazy, and I didn’t want him to think he had made a mistake in choosing me as his mate, or that I was unable to handle my position as the lady of the pack.
I closed my eyes tightly, taking in some cleansing breaths before opening them again. It was just stress and lack of sleep that was causing my mind to play tricks. At least, that’s what I kept telling myself. It was another matter entirely whether I believed in myself.
Although I returned inside and joined the remaining pack members, I couldn’t shake the fear. Maybe Iwaslosing touch on reality.
When I wokeup the next morning, Ty looked down at me with worried eyes. “You all right?”
Hesitating for a moment, I took a deep breath and mustered a smile that I hoped passed for genuine. “I’m fine.” Deep down, however, I was far from it. My emotions threatened to overwhelm me, as if the world itself was closing in on me.
The guilt over not telling Ty nagged at my conscience. He had enough to be worried about with Castro and the pack, so I pushed the events of the previous night in the garden to one side, determined to soldier through the day.
Today marked the first day of launching the next chapter in my catering business, but I was completely out of it. The incidents of the previous evening weighed heavily on my mind, and I hadn’t slept a wink. As I trudged along the corridor to my home office, I caught sight of my reflection in a hallway mirror and winced. No wonder Ty hadn’t looked completely reassured. I looked like shit. No amount of eye cream or concealer would hide the dark circles under my eyes.
Sabrina arrived soon after I’d made my way downstairs to the office. It was bright and early, which wasn’t exactly her favorite part of the day. She was a true night owl and slept in most mornings.
One of the house staff led her to my office. Sabrina walked in, rubbing her eyes with her index fingers, yawning loudly.
“Good morning, sunshine. I didn’t realize you went anywhere before noon.” I grinned as Sabrina cracked a smile.
“Seriously, though, thanks for showing up so early to help me get everything ready,” I said. “And for offering to deliver the meals until I find a permanent driver.”
“Of course,” Sabrina said enthusiastically. “Anything for my favorite chef and lady of the pack. Doesn’t hurt to be on the good side of the alpha’s mate.” She winked at me playfully, and I rolled my eyes.
We took my menu cards down to the kitchen and set about cooking the meals. While we carried out our tasks, Sabrina and I chatted about everything from pack gossip to the latest fall recipes we were excited to try. The laughter that bubbled up between us was a welcome distraction from the anxieties that had been plaguing me since I’d spotted that shadowy figure in the woods.
“Seriously, though,” Sabrina said as she poured batter into a cake pan. “This kitchen is like something out of a dream. It’s got to be the biggest and nicest one any of us have ever seen.”
