AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She says it so incredulously that I almost laugh, but I hear in her voice what she’s not saying. What she means.
You chose me.
“Yes.” My heart is pounding just as hard as hers as my hand travels into her hair. I stroke the soft strands, kissing her temple while I wait for my breathing to return to normal.
Reality will come for us soon, but this moment means everything to me, and I intend on making it last for as long as I possibly can before I’ll have the fight of my life on my hands.
Because itwillbe a fight. A fight for our happiness. Our joy. Our future.
But it’s one I won’t give up on. Now that I have Maddie in my arms, I’m never letting her go again. No matter what, I’ve chosen her. My pack has chosen her. She is our Omega, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making that clear to anyone who would dare challenge it. It’s what I owe my packmates.
It’s what I owe her.
It’s what I owe myself.
TWENTY-NINE
—
M A D D I E
Although the RPhave made it quite clear to me that I’m going to win this thing after all, the Trials have to continue. We need to go through the motions, even if it kills me to be separated from them for a minute at this point.
“Down to the final three,” Mary clucks as she fits me for my outfit for the ball. “I’m so proud of you, Maddie.”
Beside me in the parlor where the fittings are taking place, Antonio’s chest puffs out as he tests the boundaries of his shirt. “I think this one is a bit small, but it won’t matter. No one is going to be looking at me anyhow. Not with you two in attendance.”
He glances at me in the mirror in front of us, winks, and then turns his attention to Casey. “I’m glad you’re here with us. The others were vile, weren’t they? Let’s hope you caught the attention of a wonderful pack during this process.”
My elbow shoots out and connects with his ribs. A whoosh of air comes out of him, but he smirks and shakes his head as he brings his eyes back to mine. “What? I’m just saying.”
Casey smiles kindly. “You look wonderful, Maddison. I love the emerald green, it really suits you.”
“Thank you. Turquoise is definitely your color.” I haven’t spent much time with her, but she doesn’t seem surprised or offended by Antonio’s statement. She doesn’t argue with it, either.
She nods at us and then climbs off the small dais she was on, waving at her lady-in-waiting to step back. “I think this fits beautifully. I’ll see you two at the ball.”
“See you there,” Antonio says happily, turning to me as soon as she’s out of earshot with her lady-in-waiting in tow.
Mary and Antonio’s lady-in-waiting exchange a glance before they rise, excusing themselves to give us some privacy. Every member of the staff I’ve met here has been exceptionally good at sensing when people want to talk alone, and they bow out so discreetly that I’m a bit jealous of how gracefully and effortlessly they move.
Not a clumsy bone in any of them, I swear.
Meanwhile, Antonio is obviously more used to having such instinctive servants around him and he doesn’t skip a beat once they’re gone. “Why did you elbow me? You already know who they’re choosing and so does everyone else.”
Since I promised my Alphas I wouldn’t confirm anything to anyone, I only smile instead of giving him the information he’s fishing for. He sighs, but then he winks at me. “It’s okay, Maddie. I’m perfectly happy with it. I’m bringing my own Alpha back to Barcelona, remember? Everything is working out as it should.”
I nod, but I can’t help the nerves bubbling deep down inside me. The RP has made their choice, but it’s not official yet.What’s that saying? Oh! It’s not over until the fat lady sings.
In this case, the fat lady is a queen and although she’s not fat and she certainly won’t be singing, I wouldn’t put it past her to make her opinion known some other way. The ball is the final test before an Omega is chosen, and there’s time yet for her to make a move.
“What do you think will happen at the ball?” Antonio asks reflectively. “Do you think it’s going to be much like the Scenting Ceremony? Us getting all dolled up only to be in the room for a couple of minutes? I hope not. This suit is snazzy.”
I laugh, looking him over in hissnazzytuxedo before I shrug. “I don’t know, but I doubt it. There are so few of us now, and it’s a ball as opposed to a Scenting. We’re being presented as the final three. Surely, we’ll be in the room for longer than it took them to sniff us.”
He chuckles. “Fair enough. I’m only there to cheer you on, anyway, so I guess it doesn’t matter if they dismiss me a few minutes after we arrive. As long as I get to keep the tux, I’m happy. Francis is going to have a hard time keeping his hands off me in this.”
“I’m sure he is.” I giggle, but then the door opens again and a decidedly nervous-looking Mary comes rushing back in.
