Both Henry and Caroline gave me an apprehensive look, as though they were studying me.
“We’re simply surprised that you managed to commit to the marriage,” Henry commented dryly.
My brows drew together. Did Alexander really think I was going to be scared off like the other brides? Or had he intentionally tried to scare me away?
“I’m sure you’re well aware of the others that had been matched before you,” Caroline said. “Alexander can be a bit difficult to handle at times.”
I bit the inside of my cheek and tried to push the biting anger back. “I’m sure he and I will be just fine,” I said tightly.
My chest filled with indignation as I inwardly cursed Alexander for putting me in such an
uncomfortable situation.
My God. It seemed like no matter what, the man was deliberately trying to complicate my life.
Lost in thought about Alexander, I glanced upstairs and saw a shadow at the corner of the hall. I leaned back on my heels to find the corner footrest of a wheelchair just barely visible.
Was Alexander just sitting up there, overhearing this entire encounter?
[Evelyn’s POV]
Wait a minute…
If by some chance Alexander was listening in on what was going on downstairs in the living room, then that surely meant that I was being placed in another goddamn test.
The mere thought had me seething.
What was the point? Was this him trying to make me back out of the marriage?
The other potential Lunas had never even made it down the aisle much less had to be put through these mindless trials. It made me seriously think…Was Alexander still trying to scare me off?
Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a single reason to think otherwise. Alexander had purposely sent me down to deal with his parents alone. The question was, why? Was he trying to find out how I would act around them?
I couldn’t imagine what he was expecting to
hear. It wasn’t as though I knew either of these people. Oh, yeah. Something was definitely going on.
I swiftly recalled what Nina had mentioned just moments before I entered the living room, regarding Alexander’s Grandmother’s outlook toward Caroline. Perhaps, this was a test to once again prove my character. It was to see how I would align myself with Alexander’s family.
I was tempted to let out a sigh and forgo this entire ridiculous ordeal. All these trials – it was getting exhausting!
If Alexander was so suspicious of me, then why couldn’t he just keep asking me questions instead of doing all this?
But, as usual, it appeared that I had little to no choice. Granted I was exceedingly tempted to march up those main stairs and personally haul Alexander down myself, but I knew that I was meant to face this trial alone.
I turned back to face Henry and Caroline who seemed no more interested in my presence than when I first stepped into the room. However, something must have changed in
Alexander’s father’s mind. He glanced in my direction and actually gave me a once-over.
His gaze filled with skeptical doubt as he spoke. “Just fine? You’re telling me that my son, who’s been dodging Luna’s left and right, decided to settle on you?” he scoffed. “You don’t seem like you’d be Luna material.”
“E-Excuse me?” I hated myself for stuttering, but I just couldn’t block the surprise from my voice.
What the hell?
My eyes widened in sheer shock at the man’s blunt, unfiltered remarks. He wasn’t even trying to hide his displeasure. Henry Kingston was a clear mimic of my own father – someone whose unpleasantness came as second nature whenever they opened their mouth.
“I don’t see how you could be worthy of such a pack, even if Alexander is paralyzed,” he spat. “My guess is that you’re just after his money.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, again as a means of keeping my comments to myself. It was
one thing to snap at my own family, but I certainly couldn’t get away with doing the same to Alexander’s.
Caroline suddenly decided to take a small step forward and offer her two cents into the conversation. My head was swelling from all the aggravated pressure by the second.
The sickly sweet tone of her voice was an obvious indicator that she was merely pretending to be nice.
“Well, even if you did marry Alexander for his money it would still be alright. Since Alexander is now physically impaired, it’s been hard to find such an excellent Alpha daughter to be Luna, considering the previous ones had all been scared off,” she said.
Henry let out a sigh and rubbed a hand roughly over his face. “The other Lunas came from equally smaller packs. And I have no doubt that this one comes from an ever smaller, useless pack as well,” he scoffed.
My anger was beginning to get the better of me. This time, I wasn’t able to hold back the retort that came flying out directly at Henry.
“All because I come from a small pack doesn’t make me useless,” I hissed. I then turned to Caroline with an equal look of dismay. “What makes you think that I married Alexander to climb the social ladder? Is this really your opinion?”
Neither one of them dared to interrupt me as I went on.
“True strength comes from within, and Alexander’s pack is already the strongest. You’re Alexander’s father, why are you looking for a helper or a support system for a pack that clearly doesn’t need it? Is insulting me your way of saying that you feel insecure about your own abilities?”
Henry’s face twisted in anger like he was getting ready to punish me. He raised his hand high in the air like he was getting ready to strike me. “Why you insolent little bi – “
“What’s going on here?”
A strong booming, authoritative voice called out.
Henry hesitated to say anything and slowly lowered his hand as though he was still a little
wary of Alexander’s authority.
As soon as Alexander made his presence known, his father was quick to question him.
“Is there a reason why the wedding hadn’t been announced to the family?”
The younger Alpha shrugged with his mask firmly in place. “The pack has been busy lately and Grandma is currently not feeling well. So, there was no need for a formal ceremony.”
It was clear that he wasn’t concerned about the two people present, even if they were his parents.
Henry stepped forward and spoke through clenched teeth.
“I suggest you get better quickly, otherwise you’re going to have to relinquish some of your power to Michael and myself,” he said. “Once everyone knows you’ll be in a wheelchair forever, the soldiers will leave.”
Alexander, however, wasn’t bothered. “My army has been recruited and trained by me. Even in a wheelchair, I would still be more
effective than you. Even if I never stood up again, you and Michael would struggle to control them.”
Based on Henry’s baffled look, something told me that he had already tried to do so in the past, but failed. Alexander’s father was clearly humiliated and prepared to leave with Caroline in tow. This entire ordeal confirmed my suspicions that Alexander and his family were truly on opposing sides.
Before he made it out, Henry stopped and turned to face the two of us.
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