“I’m not joking. Let go of me now,” I said loudly, making people look at us.
Ella finally let go, her face red with anger. She pointed at my face and, with an even louder, higher voice, yelled, “Listen here, Draven, I’m having your baby, I’ll be your wife, and you should start being nice to me like a good boyfriend.”
Great. Just what I needed, a big scene. I rubbed my face and, trying to stay calm, said, “Ella, we’re not getting married because I love you, because I actually hate you. We’re getting married because you and your father forced me, and you say you’re pregnant. But that doesn’t mean I’ll be a nice boyfriend or husband.”
“Baby, think about it. Our marriage will happen, so just accept it and let me show you I’m right for you. I promise you’ll love me soon.”
“You’re crazy. You haven’t done that in thirty years. How will you do it ‘soon’ now?” Ryan said with a laugh, and others laughed too. Ella looked at him like she wanted to kill him.
“The problem, honey, is you’re with bad friends,” Ella said, looking angry at my friends.
“I agree with that, but not because of them. I should have kicked your father out of my company and gotten rid of you long ago,” I said, standing up. Alaric agreed inside me.
“Draven!” she screamed.
“Now do everyone a favor and go away,” I said.
“Like it or not, you’ll be my husband. We need to talk, we have things to plan,” she kept going.
“Talk? About what, you crazy woman?” I asked, shocked by how bold she was.
“Well, about the wedding party, where we’ll live, the honeymoon…” she said like it was normal.
“There won’t be a party or honeymoon. I already got you a place to live. Anything else?” I was very tired.
“It doesn’t work like that. I’m going to tell daddy everything,” she complained.
“You know what, guys, I’m tired of this place. I have a better idea,” Joseph said and got up. “Shall we?”
We all followed Joseph out. Ella stayed there, stamping her feet and yelling like a little kid who couldn’t get candy. We left the Social Club, and Joseph sent a mind message with where to go, a place I knew well.
When we got there, the manager welcomed us and took us to a special booth at Silver Moon, the best club in the area. Before we sat down, two waitresses in nice black dresses brought glasses and bottles of whiskey and cognac. Nate and I got sodas.
“At least here, gentlemen, that awful woman has never found us!” Joseph said, lifting his glass.
It was a nice place with pretty dancers doing good shows. We talked and watched, staying with safe topics. By the end of the night, I felt a bit better, but I kept thinking about Caroline. While my friends liked watching the dancers, I didn’t care. Since meeting Caroline, no other woman made me interested.
When the night was ending, I said goodbye and left by myself, seeing my friends’ worried looks. They knew I loved someone else, a pretty woman with green eyes and her son.
Draven’s POV
The morning after the nightmare at the club, I arrived early at the office, hoping to focus on work and forget about Ella’s public display. I had barely opened my first report when Kyle’s voice came through the intercom,”Alpha Draven, Elder Howard is demanding to speak with you immediately.”
I clenched my jaw, feeling Alaric stir within me.
“Put him through,” I growled.
Howard’s grating voice filled the line,”How dare you, young Alpha, treat my daughter like that?She came home last night sick, nervous, and depressed because you humiliated her in front of everyone. Alpha Draven, you’re going to be her mate,you need to give my daughter the respect and position she deserves.”
“What position, Howard?” I felt my anger rising. “The position of a prostitute in a brothel? One who traps drunk men into getting her pregnant and then blackmails them? Because that’s exactly where she belongs.”
“Don’t speak about my daughter that way!” Howard shouted.
I let out a low growl that made him fall silent,even through the phone line.”Are you forgetting who you’re speaking to, Elder Howard? I am the Alpha of this pack, not some pup you can intimidate.”
There was a moment of silence before Howard spoke again, his tone slightly more respectful. “Alpha Draven, you need to discuss the mating ceremony arrangements with Ella. You’re about to be mated, and there are many details to sort out. I expect you at my house for dinner tonight.”
“Absolutely not,” I stated firmly, my Alpha tone leaving no room for argument. “If you wish to speak with me, we’ll meet for lunch at Golden Petal. At noon, and we will settle this matter once and for all.”
I ended the call before he could protest and immediately mind-linked Ryan.
“I need you at Golden Petal at noon. Howard and his daughter will be there.”
“I’ll be there,” Ryan responded without hesitation. “Should I bring backup?”
“Just yourself. Your presence will be enough to keep me from ripping out Howard’s throat.”
At noon sharp, Ryan and I entered Golden Petal.Howard was already seated at a prime table, looking smug and self-important.
“What is he doing here?” Howard glared at Ryan with unconcealed disdain.
I allowed my Alpha aura to pulse slightly. “You brought your family,I brought mine. If you disrespect my Beta in any way, this meeting ends immediately.”
Howard’s face tensed, but he wisely stayed silent. When a server arrived with a bottle of champagne, my control almost snapped. The audacity,did they really think there was something to celebrate?
“Take that back,” I commanded the server. “We’re not celebrating anything.”
“But of course we are!” Howard protested. “We’re celebrating your upcoming mateship with my daughter!”
“We are not,” I stated coldly.
I turned to the server again, “Please remove the champagne.”
The server nodded quickly, sensing the tension, and retreated with the bottle. Before I could continue, I felt arms suddenly snake around my neck from behind. Alaric snarled within me, recognizing Ella’s sickeningly sweet scent before I even saw her.
“Let. Go. Of. Me. Now.” My words were like commands that others would have to obey.
Ella immediately released me, her eyes wide with shock. She and her mother stood there in matching designer dresses, an attempt at presenting themselves as high-class mates worthy of an Alpha.
“Sit down,” I ordered.
I watched their faces carefully. “Now, what exactly do you want?”
“Darling, let’s have lunch first and talk after…” Ella started with a honeyed voice.
“Ella,” I cut her off, “I don’t want to tolerate your presence, but I’m doing so out of respect for pack traditions. So state your purpose.”
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