Chapter 82: Chapter 82

SEAN "Babe, what do you think?" In the dress store, Lily’s wearing a high-end gown tailor-made for her. This gown had been specially made for the engagement banquet and it costs half a million.

Can I see the point in spending so much on a few bits of cloth and beads? No. But she could and her family did, and like everything that marked the start of their relationship, it was about appearances.

And sparing no expense illustrated how committed the Atkinsons were to this engagement.

To this merger between our packs.

I look at this royal and beautiful woman in front of me. She’s strong and smart. Capable and cunning.

She’ll make a good luna for Pack Stevens, and our children… our children would cement the merge between our respective bloodlines, guaranteeing a combined pack whose resources would put us on the path to dominating this region.

Jason should be resentful of this mating.

Because given time, we would move against him.

“You look beautiful, Lily. I’ve never seen anything more lovely.”

She beams.

My pack is proud of me and excited for me to mate this woman. The only heir to Pack Atkinson.

Despite the drama with Grace, I’m very satisfied with my decisions.

But at this moment, when I looked at my future-wife wearing such a gorgeous dress, I’m dragged back to the sight of Grace. Her shitty little apartment.

And hearing her welcome Alpha Jason Reed inside.

Had Jason seen me? There had been a second where Jason stared knowingly into the darkness.

Had all of that really happened?!

It all seemed to impossible to be true. Could it really be that the most powerful and influential and wealthy Alpha in a century was slumming it with the wolf-less rogue convict who’d killed his first love?

In what world was this even possible??

“Sean?” Lily frowns. “I’ve been calling you for like a minute. What's wrong with you? You have been zoning out a lot in the last two days. If you don't want to marry me, if you don’t want to go through with this mating, just say it."

I quickly smile. “Of course not. Why wouldn't I want to get engaged to you? You know that my heart is only for you."

"Only for me?" Lily raises an eyebrow. "You really have no more feelings for Grace?"

My body stiffens.

Lily watches me carefully. Her wolf is small compared to mine, but vicious. One hint of weakness and she’ll attack. The same is true of Lily in human form…

”Why do you mention her again? I broke up with her years ago. How could I still have feelings for her?"

"Well then why did you want to help her find a job before?" she asks pointedly.

"I just pity her," I say. Because it’s true.

"What is there to pity about her? You should pity my sister. Because of Grace, she lost her life.” Lily snorts coldly. "If you dare to ‘pity’ her again when Alpha Reed looks for you in the future, you'd better not blame our family for not supporting you.”

I let her threat settle in for a moment. My wolf is furious that she would dare to leverage her pack’s support.

I stalk toward her. “Let me remind you, dear Lily, that it was your stunt with faking to lose a ring that has embroiled us in a mess of negativity. And it is MY pack and MY unwavering support that has helped pull you out of that spiral.”

Her expression falters for a second.

“Think twice, my love, before you threaten me again,” I warn her.

Lily bristles but does not argue.

She must realize that if we are to start slinging mud, both our packs would be vulnerable. And together we are far stronger.

She fluffs her dress.

I take out my black AmEX and hand it to a sales associate when she enters this private suite in the store. “Ring up this gown and whatever else my future wife might need.”

Lily smiles delightedly.

And just like that, we’re back on stable footing.

As the human leaves to go charge my credit card, I ask Lily offhandedly, "Lily, do you know if Jason has gotten involved with a new woman recently?"

“Of course not,” Lily immediately denies. "Jason is notorious for keeping his distance from women. He’s cold and detached. It was a miracle that Jennifer thawed his cold heart—and that she presented the only suitable partner for marriage.” From the way she says it, it’s obvious that Lily too saw the former engagement to her sister as nothing more than a strategic alliance between two ruling packs. “Jason Reed has not had any other women for the past three years!"

It was for this reason that the outside world thought that Jason loved her sister deeply, but only the Atkinson family knew that it was not the case.

But wisely, I knew that the Atkinson family would not take the initiative to expose that kind of misunderstanding. On the contrary, they even hoped that others would misunderstand more. It upped their value.

Since that in turn, upped my pack’s by extension, I was fine with everyone living in their own versions of reality. And, really, this is politics.

Seldom are things actually as they appear to be.

I pour a glass of Champagne and hand a second one to Lily. “To our future,” I toast.

“To what will be the most powerful pack in the next millennium.”

“Bold.” I ching my glass against hers.

“Indeed.”

She sips then resumes trying on clothes.

I watch disinterestedly as she does.

But I keep track of her purchases. I won’t be checking out of here for less than a million dollars today.

My future wife, it seems, will make me pay—literally—when she is displeased.

Good to know.

And if that’s all the trouble she’ll stir then we’ll navigate out relationship easily enough.

When we finish and finally leave the store, a car drives up to the valet section. A tall, big male steps out of it. One we recognize instantly.

“Beta Terrence,” I greet him.

“why are you here?" Lily asks curiously.

Terrence smiles slightly, "I'm here to invite Alpha Stevens to a meeting." Then, his eyes turn to Sean.

”Mr. Stevens, Mr. Reed wants to see you."

Damn it. I exhale a long breath. "Okay, I'll go see Alpha Reed with you.” I choose not to think to hard on how Terrence knew exactly where we are or how he’d timed it perfectly to intercept us as we leave the store.

“Sean? Babe, what's going on?" Lily demands.

I start toward the car. “We will discuss it, if it pertains to you, when I come back."

I get into the car with Terrence.

Lily sputters, but what can she say? The invitation had been clear and extended only to me. As two Alphas, it is not unusual for us to discuss things privately.

And, though it bothered Lily and it had absolutely triggered Grace, packs were still primarily patriarchal.

There were some where females held the Alpha position, but such packs were few and far between.

I settle into the back of the sedan.

Terrence orders the driver to ‘Go.’

As the car speeds off, I wonder what fate will await me.