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They both looked older, my mother and father’s black hair now had streaks of gray that I was sure were maintained by their expensive hairdressers. Their faces were lined, but my mother’s edged on the elegance that could only be achieved by a really good plastic surgeon. Her brown eyes, which were the same shape and color as mine, were fixed onto my face.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, finally finding my voice, though it came out as more of a croak than anything. My parents never came to political events like this. They also hadn’t been on the guest list for tonight, yet here they were standing in front of me.
“We’ve been trying to reach you,” my mother said, taking the lead in the conversation while my father remained silent. She smiled at me, but her smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. It looked practiced and I realized, with a jolt, that her smile looked like mine when I was putting my Maddie-facade on. “We’ve been watching you on the news, but when we reached out to Ric to speak with you he kept telling us no.”
Ric had heard from them? That was news to me.
“So...?” I crossed my arms over my chest, like the position could help me protect myself from them. “I haven’t heard from you in almost thirteen years, why are you trying to come back into my life right now?”
My mother glanced over at my father who still didn’t say anything, in fact his brown eyes were looking over my head like I didn’t exist.
Turning back to me, my mother reached out and took my hand. “We’re just so proud of you....”
Those had been the words that I had been waiting to hear from them my whole life. That I wasn’t a disappointment, and that they were proud to have me as a daughter. For just a single moment I let myself bask in the idea, and for just a moment it soothed my frayed nerves that were still fried from my conversation with Charlotte. Unfortunately, my mother hadn’t finished her sentence yet. “Our daughter, a beta, mated into a politician’s pack, all of my friends have been gushing about you.”
Ice filled my veins and I snatched my hand away from her like her fingers had burned me. Twenty-five years of wanting nothing more than to be loved and accepted by those who were supposed to do so came rushing forward. All of the work that I had done, and all of the insecurities that I’d been trying to get over came roaring to the surface as I took a step away from them.
“I amnotyour daughter. If I’m anyone’s child, I’m Ric and his pack’s. Don’t try to contact me again.” I turned and headed for the ballroom blindly, wanting to find my pack and leave. My eyes burned with unshed tears as I stepped into the hustle and bustle of the party. The lights and noises were immediately overwhelming and I wasn’t sure how I was going to find my pack in all of the chaos.
But luckily for me, Marcus was near the entrance to the ballroom.
The desire to be comforted rode me hard, even if I had to seek it with the stubborn alpha who had spent the better part of a year avoiding me. “Hey, can we leave...” I slid my hand into his and gasped when he yanked free of me.
“Marcus...?” I was confused because, while he was still trying to figure himself out, I knew that he at least didn’t hate me, but looking at him now? I only found animosity in his green eyes.
“I saw you with your parents. You looked pretty chummy to me.” Marcus’s voice was cold as he stared at me like I was exactly what he had thought I was.
Golddigger, golddigger, golddigger, Charlotte’s voice sang in my head.
“S-sorry,” The word tumbled free from my lips before I could catch it. I had no reason to apologize to him, but I couldn’t help it.
Whirling away from Marcus, I ran blindly for the door as fast as my feet could take me. I needed to get out of here, there was no air in this hotel.
Once I made it out onto the sidewalk, I sucked in the brisk bay air. Numbness settled into my body as I dug my phone out of my purse and dialed Ric’s number. I felt as desolate as I had when I was twelve years old, standing at the front desk of the Berkeley City Library. The phone rang once, then twice, before he finally answered. He sounded half-asleep, which made sense since it was just after midnight now.
“Madeline?”
“Hey,” my voice wobbled. “Is the spot to go on vacation with you all still available?”
I had walked into the party feeling like I was on top of the world, but as the clock finally struck midnight...the glittering carriage of my life had turned back into a pumpkin, and I was back at square one.
