He can’t be my mate.
His scent would have overpowered everyone else’s easily and signaled me that he was near.
I chew at my thumbnail while my thoughts keep running wild about the fact that all of this just doesn’t make any sense.
Also, how bothersome it would be to have a Blackwood as my mate.
So, why am I disappointed?
Joining the applause that drags me out of my train of thought, I beam as my brother and his mate step onto the stage. They look so excited and anxious at the same time because of what is about to happen that it makes my heart flutter. They seem to be the happiest to finally be able to see each other again. Even if in such moments the memory of my rejection hurts the most, I’m glad that the feelings of happiness that I feel for my family overpowers it.
Automatically, my eyes wander over the crowd to find Alpha Blackwood already looking at me. My eyes snap back to the stage and I gulp.
So embarrassing.
As he’s standing rather close by, I guess that the mystery of the mouthwatering scent is resolved.
Goddess, why me?
The coronation goes by slowly as I can’t seem to concentrate on the ceremony. I bounce on my heels as my insides won’t stop tingling. I keep peeking at Blackwood, only to find him already looking at me.
Oh, Goddess, maybe he feels that my wolf is dormant.
As the elder finishes the ritual, and my brother leans to take his Luna’s hand, a collective gasp rises. I clench onto Zaccaria, and he puts his arm around my wrist to stabilize me on my feet, even though he must feel the uncomfortable feeling as well as our bond to our parents is strapped from us before our links to our new Alpha and Luna click into place.
As another round of applause disrupts the air, I try to push through the crowd after my brothers to get to Giorgio and Diana to congratulate them. But the people are so aggressive, trying to get there first, that I get separated from my brothers and, as I seem not to be able to move any further, choose to step out to the side, waiting for everyone to calm down after they had their chance to see the beautiful pair.
I take a deep breath and smile at a waiter who brings me a glass of champagne before my nostrils get assaulted by a scent that I had hoped not to smell again.
And right when I’m without my brothers.
How convenient.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Taking a sip from my champagne flute, I act annoyed, hoping he’ll get the hint.
Even if he never does.
“Alpha Riccardo, good evening.”
“Come on, Missy.” He chuckles, stepping closer to me. “No need to be so formal. After all we’ve been through.”
I look over the crowd, my tongue pressed to my teeth, trying to spot my brothers. But all I find is a certain someone staring at me.
“If we were talking about what we’ve been through, it’s Dr. Guerrieri for you.”
I tear my eyes from Alpha Blackwood to look at Riccardo, who is grinning at me like a fool. And I regret it immediately.
“Come back in with me. Let’s talk.”
I push out a single laugh, trying to keep my voice down. “You’re not really trying to hit on me while your wife is at home, pregnant with your third baby, Rick.”
“You always think too much. Missy, come on.” As he grabs my wrist, I snatch it out of his hold.
“Don’t you dare touch me!”
“Why are you playing so hard to—” Riccardo is just about to earn himself a slap for insulting me again when he gets interrupted by a deep baritone.
“Missy, is everything alright?”
I have to keep myself from physically shuddering as I turn around to look at the disrupter, wide-eyed.
What did he just call me?
Blinking repeatedly and still recovering from his voice traveling through me like honey, I put up a smile and shake my head.
“Yeah. Everything is alright.”
Alpha Blackwood clenches his jaw, his gaze moving onto Riccardo. “Where is your wife, Alpha?”
I nearly choke on my spit as Riccardo’s face pales. The way he pronounced his title mockingly, makes me feel malicious joy.
“She wasn’t feeling well, so she stayed at home,” he stutters like an Idiot.
Alpha Blackwood clicks his tongue, uninterested in what Riccardo said, and leans in to talk to me.
“Didn’t you want to congratulate your brother? I guess we could get to him now.”
A shiver runs down my spine as his eyes capture my gaze, making me lose the sense of time and place for a second. The moment I see him lift an eyebrow I finally get my brain to start working again.
I lift my head to look over the crowd. I don’t see how we’re going to make it as my brother is closed in tightly by his admirers, but still choose to go with his rescue offer.
“Oh, great. Let’s go. Bye, Rick.”
Blackwood nods his head at Riccardo with his signature frown before saying, “See you around, Richard.”
I stifle a laugh as I pass the lawn to find an open space where we can get through, but there is no avail.
Alpha Blackwood follows me leisurely and watches me, not helping.
“His name isn’t Richard.”
“Really? I don’t pay much attention to names.”
“But you called me Missy.”
He shrugs nonchalantly. “He was practically screaming it all over the field. Didn’t like how uncomfortable he made you look.”
I let my shoulders slump and turn around to look at him with a smile. “Thank you.”
Seeing the corner of his lips twitch has butterflies erupting in my stomach.
I’m such an idiot.
“Doesn’t seem like we’ll be getting anywhere near my brother.” I exhale sadly and purse my lips.
“Yeah,” he states, frowning towards the crowd, and I’m surprised that he’s still around.
“Well, can’t be helped,” I say, turning around to face him. “Have you already had a tour of the grounds?”
My heart beats into my throat as I wait for him to stomp on my invitation. After all, that’s what would be appropriate for the insect he must think that I am.
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
“Oh,” I say, taken aback. “Okay, come with me then.”
Trying to put up a non-awkward smile, I start walking out through a gap in the rose bushes.
“Be careful. They have nasty thorns.” I realize how stupid it must sound to say that to the strongest Alpha around even before I hear him chuckle.
Well, at least he doesn’t take it as an insult.
We walk back to the pack house more or less silently. The silence is only disrupted by me commenting on the garden or the house. As we reach the front yard of my home, I gesture along the paths splitting in front of us.
“This way you reach the back of the house.” I look up at him, expecting his gaze to be directed to the house, only to find him looking at me.
And as the confident flirt I am, I blush as I stutter. “Erm… There is like a garden with high bushes designed as a…well…like a…around a set of fountains…”
I remember my brother telling me how he saw Alpha Blackwood punish a warrior for stuttering in front of him when he had visited the Blood Fang’s pack territory. So, the slight smile on his face makes me freeze in confusion.
“And over there would be the lake.”
I clear my throat, trying to shake off the feeling of his eyes burning into my skin. “There are a few benches and flowers and a playground for the pups.”
Oh, Goddess. Shut up!
“It’s nice.” I press my lips together as I avoid his gaze to look at the path that leads to the lake.
This is so embarrassing.
“Show me then.”
“Huh?” My eyes dart up to his, and he makes a small gesture with his head.
“Show me,” he says, his gravely voice making my heart skip a beat.
Goddess, I’ve been engaged. When did I get back to acting like a lovestruck teenager?
“Sure. This way, if you please, Alpha Blackwood.”
As I walk in front of him on the dirt path, I concentrate on not tripping over my dress with my high heels as I feel his overwhelming presence following me close by. As we reach the lake, I let go of my skirt to turn around to him. “Tada,” I say a bit too enthusiastically.
“You really like it here, do you?”
I nod, making him chuckle.
Again, I find myself drawn to him as I think of how I could listen to him chuckling for hours.
Oh, Goddess! Am I crushing on the Alpha of our enemy pack?
We walk to a bench a few steps away, sitting down to stare at the lake silently. I push down the urge to say something just to end the silence as it will definitely be embarrassing. Thinking about how it’s not awkward at all and how much I feel at ease with him, has me worrying. I bite my thumbnail thinking about the last time I felt like this in the company of a man. But seeing all the horrible dates I had after breaking up with Riccardo, there is really no surprise.
Goddess! He isn’t my mate, is he?