Chapter 31

Elizabeth and I talked for a while, and I found that we really hit it off far more than I ever could have expected. It was nice to have a normal conversation with someone, especially after everything I had been through in the last few weeks.

She was intelligent, brave, and confident—everything I hoped to be. I could see why there were so many rumors that her father planned to make her Alpha when he was ready to retire; I could tell that she would be a wonderful leader.

I didn’t drag myself away from our conversation until it was time for David and me to begin accepting gifts from the guests.

There was a long line of people waiting to approach the head table and present their gifts to us. David and I stood in front of the table with our parents on either side of us, ready to take the gifts and set them on the tables to keep the line moving.

We received many nice things, but after the first few gifts, I began to notice a pattern. At first, I thought it was only a few people who had gone off our wedding registry and gotten things that weren’t requested. But it soon became clear that David must have made some additions to the registry without my knowledge.

Many of the gifts we received were items specifically for him—designer clothing, watches, cufflinks, and other things that I knew David could never afford for himself.

I didn’t mind this so much, except that the people who had bought him these expensive gifts obviously had nothing for me. It didn’t matter, as in the end, I was sure we would be returning all of these gifts. Still, the table behind us was piling up with things intended only for David, and I found it increasingly difficult to thank the people who presented him with these gifts.

It seemed careless to me to bring a wedding gift only intended for the groom, with nothing for the bride. Then again, most of these gifts were coming from people within David’s pack, so I suppose it made sense that they would want to win favor with him and not care one way or another about what I thought.

That seemed to be a common attitude in the Lunar Lake Pack.

Compared to the gifts from David's pack members, the gifts we received from my own pack were much more thoughtful. Silk sheets, lovely vases, and other décor items, as well as pots and pans, made up most of the gifts from my pack. Many of these were items that David and I had put on our registry together.

As each person presented their gift, we thanked them. David seemed very excited about all of it; I could tell he was having a good time. He probably hadn’t seen such fine things in a very long time, and to know that they were now his must have boosted his pride.

He wanted to appear wealthy to enhance his power; it didn’t matter to him that it was all just a show. After all, that was the whole reason he wanted to marry me—for my family’s wealth and reputation.

I forced the bitter thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand. All the guests had come out of kindness and respect for us, and I owed it to them to show my sincerest thanks.

Eventually, Elizabeth stepped forward with her father, which shocked me. It was strange enough that the king had decided to attend our wedding; I never anticipated that he would have brought us a gift.

“Oh, this isn’t necessary,” I said as Elizabeth approached with a gift bag. “Please, it means enough to us that you’ve come.”

She smiled sweetly. “It wouldn’t be appropriate to come without a gift, especially since you’ve shown us so much kindness and consideration.”

David was practically vibrating with excitement as he reached for the gift bag. I watched him open it curiously; I had no idea what kind of gift we could expect from the Alpha King and his daughter. I was sure David was expecting something extravagant, so I was even more pleased when I saw that he had pulled out a beautifully carved wooden plaque.

“It’s stunning,” I said as I looked at the image of a large wolf standing silhouetted against a full moon.

“Yes, it’s nice,” David agreed, trying to hide his disappointment.

“Is this hand-carved?” I asked, reaching my fingers out and delicately running them over the lines of the image. “It must have taken hours, and the wood is such a beautiful color. Is it stained, or is it naturally like that?”

“It’s natural red oak,” the Alpha King responded, and I’m pleased that you like it. “I made it myself.”

I looked at him in shock. “I had no idea you had such artistic talent.”

“I don’t often get a chance to show it off,” he said dismissively. “It's a She Wolf,” he explained. “I hope that the image might be some inspiration to help your own wolf reawaken.”

I was touched by the thoughtfulness of his gift.

“Thank you so much,” I said. “We’ll find a place of honor to display it.”

The King seemed pleased with this response. David was silent. I wasn’t sure if he was embarrassed by how underwhelmed he seemed by such a thoughtful gift or if he was just afraid of saying something else to offend the King.

I took the plaque from David and carefully handed it to my father, who placed it gently on the table. When I turned back to the guests in front of us, I saw Alexander making his way forward, a small box in his hands.

“Oh, great,” David grumbled under his breath. “Him again. Who invited him?”

“I did,” I replied. “I thought we agreed to invite all of the Alphas and Lunas.”

“I didn’t think that would include him,” David said, looking at me with irritation. “I thought I made it clear how I feel about him.”

“You should have been more specific,” I replied dismissively.

I turned my attention back to Alexander and smiled brightly at him.

“Congratulations on your wedding,” he said, stepping towards me and placing the small, turquoise-colored box gently into my hands.

“You’ve already given us many gifts,” I pointed out.

“And yet I found one more,” he replied coolly. “And since it seems you’ve gotten so many extravagant gifts for yourself already, David, I’m sure you won’t mind that this one is specifically for Ella.”

“Why should I mind that?” David replied snappily.

I ignored him and opened the box. I couldn’t contain a gasp as I looked at the contents.

“This is too much,” I said softly.

Inside the box was a beautiful white gold diamond-studded necklace, bracelet, earrings, and a ring.

“That can’t be real,” David said.

“It’s very real,” Alexander replied.

David’s mother gasped in shock as she looked at the gift. “It can’t be,” she said softly. “Did you purchase those from the estate auction of the luna of Silver Lake?” she asked.

“I did,” Alexander confirmed.

“But those cost a small fortune!” David’s father declared.

Alexander waved his hand dismissively. “They weren’t cheap, but it was hardly what I would consider a fortune.”

I could hear the people around us whispering as they tried to get a look at the contents of the gift box.

I had heard of the Silver Lake pack. They were once the most wealthy pack in the kingdom, but they had fallen on hard times and were forced to sell of some of their most prized posessions.

Alexander made a point of looking at my left hand, where the small diamond that David had put on my finger during the ceremony sat. He made a slight face, then looked at the box.

“Perhaps your style is more simple,” he said, “but I hope that you’ll enjoy the jewels I chose for you anyway.”

“I’m sure I’ll find the perfect occasion to wear them,” I responded. “Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift.”

“You’re very welcome,” Alexander said, smirking slightly at David before he turned to walk away.

“Arrogant,” David muttered under his breath.

But I ignored him. My eyes were fixed on Alexander as he disappeared into the crowd.