Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Willow

“I am really, really sorry for not telling you that your model is none other than Walter,” Lola’s panicking voice came from the other side of my phone. “Actually, he volunteered to become your model but asked me to keep it a secret. He wanted to surprise you. I never thought that he would appear where you are staying unannounced!”

Amidst Lola’s repeated apologies, I ran my hand through my hair out of pure frustration. The reason behind Lola referring to Walter as the “new model” in modeling now became evident. Despite his role as a ton fashion show organizer and Walter’s S*xy physique he had never worked as a model. Lola, constrained by Walter’s influential position and status, found herself unable to offend him in any way. Unbeknownst to her, beyond his billionaire facade, Walter concealed the hidden identity of a formidable hunter.

“It’s all right, no need to fret,” I said calmly, ending the call. I turned my attention to the dining table, where Wyatt and Lori had greeted Walter with an enthusiasm akin to a reunion after decades apart. Spotting Walter from a distance while they had been playing on the playground, they had eagerly ushered him into the packhouse, inadvertently bringing him into further danger.

“Uncle Walter, is this robot for me?” Wyatt inquired joyfully, while Lori’s eyes gleamed with anticipation, clutching a doll in her arms. He had bought them a lot of expensive

toys.

“Absolutely!” Walter affirmed, embracing the both of them as he always did. The trio became engrossed in their endless chatter, seamlessly lost in the joyous exchange for the past fifteen minutes.

I couldn’t overlook Reuben’s furrowed brow as he witnessed the undeniable connection between Walter and the children. The trust and affection Reuben had diligently cultivated over the past two weeks seemed to effortlessly redirect its flow toward Walter, having been established over the course of the last five years, an outcome that did not sit well with Reuben.

Approaching the dining table at a measured pace, I observed Oran and Bix seated on either side of Reuben, their expressions mirroring Reuben’s disquiet as they observed.

Walter.

“Wyatt, Lori, it’s time to head up to your rooms to play with your toys, I announced. Both children eagerly extricated themselves from Walter’s embrace, racing up the stairs.

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with their toys in tow. As they departed, the palpable tension between Reuben and Walter resurfaced, their gazes locking in an unspoken exchange.

“Walter, let’s go. I’ll take you to the hotel that Lola arranged,” I suggested, gesturing toward the exit..

Walter approached me, questioning, “Didn’t you tell Lola that you needed to collaborate on the design work with the model? You and I even have a lot to discuss about the show as well ensuring that you remain anonymous to the public. With the fashion show looming, there’s much to catch up on. Won’t it be inconvenient for you if I stayed at a hotel?”

I had indeed said that, unaware that the model in question would turn out to be Walter. While he was the perfect fit as a model, the packhouse couldn’t be where he stayed.

“It’s alright, I’ll come to your hotel room tomorrow then we can…” I began to explain.

“He can stay in my packhouse,” Reuben interjected, catching me off guard. My eyes widened in surprise. Had I heard him correctly? Was he allowing Walter to stay here in his pack? His gaze shifted slowly to me, before adding, “It will be convenient.”

Wait! What was happening?

Locking onto his calm eyes, I realized he was honoring the promise he made earlier, back when Wyatt and Lori had brought Walter into the packhouse.

Facing Reuben’s unreadable expression, I maintained a calm demeanor as I began to calmly explain to him, “I know you don’t like Walter. He is bold and crazy but I assure you, Walter is not an adversary, and he poses no threat to the pack. However, this fashion show holds immense significance for my career. Please promise me that you won’t harm Walter. He will only be here for two days.”

Reuben fixed me with an intense look for a few heart–pounding moments, then unexpectedly agreed, “Alright, I promise.”

“Really?” I replied, my eyes widening in astonishment.

“But…” he abruptly closed the distance between us, trapping me between a tree and his imposing figure. “What will I gain in return?” he inquired, his eyes unmistakably lingering on my l*ps as he slowly licked his own.

I swallowed, a sudden warmth spreading through my b*dy especially between my legs. I secretly clenched my thighs together, “What do you want in return?” my voice barely rose above a whisper.

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He playfully bit his own l*p, maintaining silence as he looked deep into my eyes before replying, “I’ll tell you later.”

With that he pulled away but I had read the meaning behind his words.

Uncertain about what he might ask, I felt compelled to agree at that moment. Ensuring Walter’s safety while in the Emerald Bright Pack was my priority, I was willing to consent to almost anything to get it. Yet, a nagging sensation told me that agreeing to Reuben’s terms without understanding the full extent of them might lead me to regrets. later down the road.

Walter’s sudden chuckle, circumspectly directed at Reuben, jolted me back to the current situation. “Alright, I’ll gladly accept your offer of hospitality and stay here, he stated. Then turning to me suggested, “Willow, how about assigning me the room next to yours? It would be the most convenient.”

Considering there was an empty room next to mine I was about to agree, but Reuben’s grave voice interjected before I had the chance, The guest rooms are on the first floor. That’s where you’ll stay. Carve it into your head.” His tone carried an ominous warning, signaling to Walter that he should not venture anywhere beyond the first floor, especially in the vicinity of my room, not even by mistake.

Walter’s emotionless gaze locked with Reuben. I couldn’t recall the last time he had tolerated a blatant offense. The Walter I knew was the nightmare of every werewolf in Britain. No werewolf pack dared to offend him as doing so would result in their complete eradication from Britain’s map. What set Walter apart was his tendency to openly attack and ensure that the message he sent was not only received by the intended pack but others as well.

Walter had earned the moniker of the grim reaper but unfortunately for him, Reuben was the embodied death itself. The pure presence that these two men wielded, even when standing a hundred meters apart, was unsettling for me. The only consolation was that my days away, and Walter would be leaving afterward.

fashion show was just two

I positioned myself in front of Walter, bridging the distance between the two of them. “Let’s go, I’ll show you to the guest room,” I gestured for him to follow me.

He smiled, grabbing his luggage. However, I noticed Ella standing in the door frame. “So now this hunter is allowed to stay in the pack too?” She began staring blankly at Walter.

“Your attitude and arrogance scream your identity as an Alpha,” Walter stood face to face with her, his handsome face radiating arrogance. “However, I don’t believe you. belong here, Miss Ella Martin, the soon–to–be Alpha of Opal Moon Pack.”

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Chapter 43

Ella frowned slightly in response. It wasn’t difficult for Walter to dig into anyone’s identity. “Surprised?” he chuckled.

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She smiled, “No, just wondering if you are staying here for two days does that mean you. will be joining Willow’s welcome party tomorrow?” As she spoke, the room fell into dead silence. Shit! Walter shouldn’t know about my welcome party.

Walter turned to me abruptly. “Willow, is tomorrow your welcome party? Why haven’t you invited me yet?”

I forced a smile and replied, “I was just about to invite you.”

I could feel my head on the verge of exploding under Reuben’s burning gaze. He detested having his personal space invaded, and that’s exactly how he viewed Walter joining the party. It was one of the reasons I had insisted on having Walter stay at the

hotel.

I swiftly guided Walter through the hallway before anything else could happen. Once we were alone, I finally inquired, “Did you have a death wish? How could you enter werewolf territory so boldly?” I demanded.

“To come visit you, I would find a way to climb up to the heavens, you know, right?” He smirked playfully.

I couldn’t help but roll my eyes. “Don’t you dare talk to me like this in front of Reuben,” I warned him. “He is not the slightest bit welcoming of jokes.”

Walter’s feet slowed at my remark. “My feelings for you are not a joke,” his voice was low and held hidden emotions, ones that I always pretended not to understand.

I slowed my pace, choosing not to respond. Instead I stated, “All these rooms are empty. You can choose whichever you like.”

He smiled, understanding that I didn’t want to delve into that forbidden conversation, as always. “Life doesn’t usually offer so many choices, so I’ll take my time in choosing a room if you don’t mind,” he remarked, slowly passing by each room as we walked. together. “I never expected your husband to be an Alpha,” he murmured, peering into at room through an open door.

The moment he mentioned Reuben, my husband, a different feeling stirred in my heart. I should have corrected him, stating that we were not married and were soon to reject each other. However, no words escaped my l*ps. It was as if I didn’t want to refute his claim.

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My eyes slowly drifted to my hand, which held the heat–prevention pills that I had pilfered from Reuben’s pocket in the front yard during our earlier conversation. I had rarely experienced my heat cycle during the past six years, so now it was completely disrupted. Reuben’s proximity was fueling my irregular heat, but I believed I only had to endure it for another four to five days until my heat would be avoided for this month.

Ceri let out a frustrated groan in my mind. She was vehemently against taking heat- prevention pills, but I had no other choice.

When I didn’t reply, Walter continued, “The more surprising fact is that he just so happens to be the strongest werewolf in America. He really has made the hunters in this country pussies. I swear that when I looked into your location in this pack carlier I honestly wondered if he had kidnapped you or something but that push he just gave me was very personal. It’s what clued me in earlier that he was into you. I always thought that you were a single mother but you turned out to be a woman with such a strong man behind her. You really have hidden a lot of stuff behind that beautiful face of yours. At this point, I feel as if I know nothing about you even though I’ve known you for six years,” he commented lazily.

“I have always told you that you know nothing about my life,” I murmured, pushing the door open to the room opposite to where we stood. I chose a room for him on my own.

“I agree, he chuckled, following me inside; “yet, I have figured out another thing, do

Ι you know what?”

“What?” I murmured, failing to discern Walter’s expression at that moment and taking it as another one of his peculiar talks.

“Your husband does not trust you, he whispered into my ear, his words freezing me in place.

A moment later, I glanced at him to find a handsome smile plastered on his l*ps. However, it did not reach his eyes. It was the smile of someone who had just discovered something precious.

“Am I wrong?” He pulled away from me only to sit on his luggage, like a king on his throne. “He let a hunter stay at his home just because he didn’t want you to go to my hotel room. A place where he couldn’t keep an eye on you. He gave me a guest room that is on another floor from your room. Is he afraid that something will happen between us if I am next door to you?” He questioned.

I couldn’t deny that I was already somewhat aware of all of this. Reuben’s obsession. kicked in whenever other men were around me with different intentions and I was

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damn sure Reuben could smell Walter’s interest in me.

“This is not new for me. I’ve been dealing with this side of him for 11 years…” I brushed Walter’s comment off, wanting to leave when he spoke.

“Don’t tell me you’re taking his attitude as jealousy because from where I’m standing it was suspicion.”

My feet immediately paused in the door frame upon hearing the most sensitive word of my life. The memory of Reuben tossing the pregnancy report at my feet, refusing to recognize our baby as his, stifling my breathing.

Sitting in the dark room, Walter’s sea–blue eyes remained fixed on my expression as he added, “Why does it look like this is not the first time this has happened?”

As he spoke, the room fell into a dead silence. A couple of seconds later, I walked out of his room without looking back or answering to him.

Unknown to me, Walter closed his eyes, throwing his head back and murmured, “Just like I thought, they are not together. Two days should be more than enough time to break something that is already broken, right?*

Walking out of Walter’s room, I could only manage to cross the hallway before my legs refused to support me any longer. I curled up in a corner, breathing hard, and clutching my chest.

That day….Reuben had never directly accused me of cheating on him. I still did not know on that day whether he had doubted my character or my love.

That day…did he believe me even in the slightest?

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