Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Nolan’s POV
The word “bitch” had barely left Falicity’s lips when the room froze.
Alaric’s eyes narrowed the way only seasoned Alphas could manage: calm, lethal. His son, Cassian, went rigid in his chair, his jaw flexing as he leaned forward with a sharpness that barely restrained violence.
“Bitch?” Alaric repeated, his voice so low and even it was more dangerous than a shout. “Divorce p>
Felicity, to her credit, or maybe to her ignorance, looked confused for a second too long. Her bright red dress seemed suddenly too loud for the muted tones of the meeting room. She blinked, finally noticing the tension as if it had just dropped from the ceiling and landed on her shoulders.
“I-I didn’t realize you had company,” she stammered, smoothing down the front of her dress as if that would fix anything.
“You clearly didn’t,” I said sharply, my voice colder than I’d intended. “These are our guests from the Moonstone Pack. Important guests. And you barge in here like this p>
Felicity’s eyes went wide with hurt. I saw the way her lip trembled, but I wasn’t in the mood. She wanted to be Luna, yet this display was just p>
“You can leave,” I added, voice low. “Now p>
Her mouth parted in protest, but she thought better of it. With one last, wounded glance, directed more at the guests than me, she turned on her heel and walked
out.
The door shut behind her with a soft click, but the damage was already done.
Cassian turned back to me slowly, his expression unreadable. “So,” he said, “Who is she to you? The next… Luna p>
“No,” I replied too quickly. “She isn’t p>
Alaric arched an eyebrow. “Then who is p>
I hesitated.
I’d already made the mistake of letting Felicity talk. The last thing I needed was for my alliance to unravel over something as trivial, no, as volatile, as Ellie.
“She’s not relevant to this conversation,” I said with a tight smile. “Neither of them are. We’re in the middle of a transition. Internal restructuring p>
Cassian tilted his head. “Does that include a divorce p>
I didn’t answer directly. Instead, I forced a small laugh and waved a dismissive
hand. “What Felicity said was inappropriate. I’ll deal with her later p>
“And your Luna?” Alaric asked again coolly. “When will we meet her p>
“She’s recovering from an accident,” I said. That part was true. “This isn’t the time to involve her in diplomatic
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Chapter 8
+25 Bonus
affairs. I’m sure you understand p>
The two of them exchanged another look. Subtle, but deliberate. I was losing control of this conversation fast.
“I understand,” Alaric said finally. “But for future partnership, we’d appreciate clarity. Stability, especially within your leadership… is vital p>
Cassian nodded. “When she’s well enough, make the arrangements p>
I forced another smile, already calculating. “Of course. I’ll consider it when she’s ready p>
I stood before they could ask anything else, signaling to the Beta.
“Please show our guests to their palace accommodations. They’ve had a long journey p>
The Beta nodded and gestured toward the hallway. Alaric rose first, followed by his son, neither of them voicing the things I knew they were still thinking. They left the room like a quiet storm, and I was left staring at the empty space they’d occupied, wondering how two words-bitch, divorce—had nearly ruined a year of careful diplomacy.
I stepped into the corridor with a sigh, running my hands through my hair when I saw her.
Felicity was waiting, leaning against the wall with her arms folded, looking like she’d been rehearsing her apology for the last ten minutes.
I didn’t slow.
“Do you have any idea what you just did?” I said, my tone low and sharp.
“I didn’t know they were in there,” she shot back, following me with shuffled steps. “I thought you were just with some advisors! You didn’t tell me p>
“You don’t need to know. That wasn’t your meeting to interrupt p>
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
“Nolan, I’m sorry,” she said, voice softening into something pitiful. “I thought you’d
be happy. I thought you’d finally be free from her p>
I stared at her, jaw tightening. “This wasn’t the time p>
“But why were they so upset?” she asked suddenly, her expression turning calculating, wiping her sleeve to her nose. “Why would Alaric and Cassian care that much unless there was something going on p>
“What are you talking about p>
“I mean She leaned closer, eyes glinting with something cruel behind the innocence. “It’s just strange, don’t you think? The way they reacted? Especially Cassian. So protective. So emotional. Almost like… they had something to hide. Or like Ellie had been very close to him p>
I stiffened. “That’s a serious accusation p>
“I’m just saying what everyone’s too afraid to,” she whispered. “You know what Ellie’s like. Always so sweet and helpless, but always needing attention. Maybe she’s not so innocent. Maybe she used her body to
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manipulate him, too. She’s a rogue. They don’t have rules like we do. You know that p>