“It’s gorgeous,” I say, twirling for her. “Thank you.”
“This makes me so happy!” she exclaims.
We catch up a little, and I tell her about all the new developments happening with Pack Escalus. She shares some new ideas they have brewing for Hel’s Carnival, and my cheeks hurt from smiling.
Lilian grabs my arm, interrupting once our conversation starts to taper off. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“I’m great,” I say, because it’s mostly the truth.
I freed myself and my pack from my abusive father, and helped Yasmeena bring peace between the felion and lupion, and that’s great. I am proud and relieved, but I also feel a sense of hollowness that I can’t seem to shake.
“I’m so glad,” she says, one hand on her belly, and I wince.
“How is Baelor doing?” I’m not sure what she knows, so I tread lightly, hoping the question doesn’t bother her. Last I checked, he was still in the hospital.
“He’s doing good. He’s actually no longer considered critical condition, and he’s set to be released tomorrow,” she says, smiling. “I’m ready for him to be home.”
She doesn’t know anything.
“That’s great,” I say, feigning happiness.
My eyes finally meet Yasmeena’s golden stare. I was avoiding looking at her, for fear that once I did, I wouldn’t be able to stop. It was a valid fear. I drink her in. She’s sitting, but I can see the form-fitting shape of her strapless dress, and the way it shows off her chest and shoulders.
She stands, and I think she’s going to come over to me, when another felion grabs her by the arm and escorts her away. My heart falls to the pit of my stomach.
There’s a ringing sound, and Raph stands. “That’s my cue.”
In decorating the big top, they set up tables around a dance floor, and placed a small platform at one edge of the tent. Raph moves towards it and I head back to my seat, deciding I’ll torture myself by talking to Yasmeena later.
“Good evening friends and foes,” he begins. “Tonight, we celebrate the peace treaty between the felion and lupion on the continent of Haeresis. Please honor and welcome King Luc Morningstar as he congratulates Representative Yasmeena Al-Khalifa, Alpha Tempest Lupine, Alpha Duncan Porter, and Alpha Ferdinand Meyer on this tremendous achievement.”
Everyone stands, preparing to bend a knee for Luc, but the moment never arrives. We all look around the room, but he doesn’t seem to be present.
After a moment, Raph clears his throat. “My apologies, my brother must be handling an urgent issue,” Raph states and smiles, before going on to give a heartfelt speech himself.
I half-listen to him describe the hard work we put into the treaty, but it’s difficult to focus on his words as my eyes and heart remain fixated on Yasmeena. I trace her in my mind, wanting to commit her image into memory.
When Raph finishes, everyone stands in ovation, excited applause resonating through the space. Soft, slow music begins to play, and something inside me snaps.
Returning to the den and taking on the mantle of Alpha has shown me that I can survive without Yasmeena.
I can, but I don’t want to.
Walking over to Yasmeena’s table, I extend a hand. “Will you dance with me?”
She smiles, her cheeks flushing, but she places her fingers in mine and I lead her onto the dance floor. My hand slides to the small of her back, and I pull her in close, pressing her against me. Taking her other hand, I lead her through slow, romantic steps.
“What’s your favorite color?” she asks, and the question throws me off balance.
“What?”
“We were engaged and I never even learned your favorite color,” she says as if it’s a crime. “Mine is pink. What’s yours?”
“Whatever color your underwear are,” I retort.
Yasmeena laughs and leans in close. “That’s strange, because I’m not wearing any,” she whispers.
Heat curls low in my stomach, and it feels like nothing’s changed between us.
