Chapter 26

I walk into a beautiful room with the most lavish decorations I could ever hope to see. There was a time in my life, I never thought I would be in a place like this, much less as a guest. It’s like something out of a fairytale.

I know there’s a look of awe on my face as the man at the door announces our arrival to the waiting guests. I do what I can to hide it.

Every face in the room turns to look at us. I clutch Julian’s arm a little tighter, uncomfortable with all of the attention. The stares don’t look like the good kind. They look like they are scrutinizing me, as though trying to judge if I measure up.

As we make our way across the floor, the looks don’t ease. Even though the chatter resumes, I can feel the whispers and the evaluating looks.

Julian escorts me to where a man with a beautiful brunette stand waiting. He introduces me to his friends. The man seems friendly enough, but his date is another matter.

She looks me up and down and greets me with just enough courtesy one couldn’t call it rude.

Julian and his friend start chatting, and I take the moment to glance around the room. The butterflies in my stomach continue to flutter and I have no idea where to look or what to say. Not that I can add to the conversation. They are talking about a party I hadn’t attended with people I didn’t know.

I spy Adrian across the room. He’s shaking hands and speaking with two older men. Yet it looks like he’s watching me and my stomach twists again.

I will not pass out on this floor in front of all these people.

Suddenly, Julian’s arm is around my waist and he’s tugging me in closer to his side to press a kiss to the side of my neck. He holds me there against him and excuses us to greet another friend a few steps away.

Julian introduces me again, and my nerves jump as I’m forced to endure another one of those evaluating looks. He holds me tightly and kisses my cheek as he says, “Isn’t that right, baby?”

I’m flustered and it takes me a moment to realize what he’s said. “We fell in love the day we met.”

I force a smile and answer, “That’s right.”

It feels over the top to say but I really can’t say anything else. The woman across from me looks like she is suppressing an eye roll.

Adrian’s eyes track us across the floor, and I feel light-headed under his gaze. I don’t want to mess anything up and would much rather find a corner to hide in. But Julian is ensuring that doesn’t happen. His arm, his kisses, his attention, it all feels possessive. Like he’s staking a claim on me.

Suddenly, my dress is too tight, and I can’t breathe. I spy a drink table with a carafe of water.

“Excuse me,” I say pulling myself out of Julian’s grip. “I’m going to get some water.”

I relish in the quiet as I make my way to the table, though I don’t escape the eyes. People are still staring, and I can hear a question or two as I pour myself a glass.

“Who is she?”

“Where did she come from?”

“Excuse me.” A voice says as I turn around. Three women stand behind me with curious expressions. “You’re here with Julian Whitmore, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am.” I answer, aware that she knows full well who I came here with.

“It’s lovely to meet you, dear.” She says, though she is in no way sincere about that. “Tell us, what is your name. What family do you come from?”

I pause. These wealthy women are expecting me to give them some influential name. Except I don’t have one. I’m an orphan who grew up in foster care. To these people, I’m a nobody.

I raise my chin a little. There’s no shame in who I am or where I came from. I might as well just tell the truth and put the rumors to rest. They can judge me if they want.

Just as I’m about to open my mouth to answer a voice says. “Her family is none of your concern.” Adrian approaches. His authority over these women is apparent immediately. They lower their eyes and take a step away from me. “Gossip about my household will not be tolerated. Find your entertainment elsewhere.”

The women scatter and hurry back to where they came from faster than their tall shoes should allow.

I turn to Adrian and feel a rush of panic. My heart beats and I find that I can’t meet his eyes. I had been about to tell those women the truth, but he had stopped me. Does my background shame him?

He approaches me and says quietly, “Those women are judgmental snobs looking for something to talk about. They’re bullies, but they won’t bother you anymore tonight.”

I feel a little reassured at his words. He wasn’t embarrassed. He was just protecting me.

“Lily!” Julian calls for me and I see him waiting with a group of people.

“I can handle it.” I assure Adrian. “Excuse me.”

I make my way back to Julian when I’m stopped by, of all people, Vanessa. One would think the woman would learn to avoid me by now. I believe it would be frowned upon to have to hit her among all these people, but she and I have a tendency to fight.

She falls into step with me, “Lily! So wonderful to see you.” Her voice and smile are fake, but to anyone around, it looked like a cordial, polite greeting. She walks with me back toward Julian and leans down to whisper, “I don’t know what he sees in you. You’re a weird little nobody with nothing to offer. One of these days, he’s going to wake up and see that he and I are a better match than you will ever be.”

It takes everything in me not to react. I’m more than a little uncomfortable with Julian’s over the top displays of affection tonight, but I take a petty sort of satisfaction when his arm instantly goes back around my waist as soon as I’m in reach.

Vanessa’s smile falters and I see the envy in her eyes when she sees it.

“I’m going to get some air.” I say to Julian and untangle myself again to go outside. I find a spot just outside the door where I can still hear the conversation inside. Julian is pulled aside by another guest, and I can hear as Vanessa and the other girls cluster together.

“…Grace’s mother.” One voice says and I tune in to listen.

“Her relationship with Adrian is so unusual. They aren’t married but they might as well be.” Another says.

I look across the room and see the subject of their conversation. Adrian stands with a beautiful older woman in her late thirties to early forties. They appear to be deep in conversation and she’s smiling comfortably. I see that smile and those eyes every day. There’s no doubt this is Grace’s mother.

My heart sinks in my chest and I feel like curling in a ball on the floor. I have no claim over Adrian, and yet to think that his heart belongs to this woman makes me want to cry.

“They aren’t together.” Vanessa answers as though she has authority on the matter. “Adrian is still in love with his deceased ex-wife. She was his eternal moonlight. He hasn’t been serious about another mate since her. I doubt he’ll take another.”

Mate? Eternal moonlight? What was she talking about?

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is time!” An older man in his sixties announces and everyone gathers together. Julian stands next to his father who is looking at him with every bit of pride. I find a quiet spot off to the side by the wall.

It is by far the oddest thing I’ve ever seen. Julian kneels before Adrian and his father places a hand on his head declaring that for the health, safety, and continuation of the pack, he has chosen Julian as his heir. Julian in turn vows to protect them and lead them with strength and wisdom until the moon calls him home.

The entire room erupts in shouts and animalistic calls that has me shrinking back against the wall. Is this a cult? It is absolutely terrifying and at this moment, I would like nothing more than to go home.

“Lily!” Julian calls and extends his arm for me to join him. Everyone turns to look at me and I have no choice but to go to him.

As soon as I am in range, his arm shoots out to pull me into his side. I try to remain calm, but I’m resisting the urge to run out the door as fast as I can.

“Lily is my beloved!” Julian announces and I silently beg the floor to open up and swallow me. “She is an orphan that comes from no great family, but she is my beloved regardless!”

The announcement feels out of place and inappropriate. I hear the hushed whispers around me.

“…The nanny?”

“This union is entirely inappropriate.”

“An elder should put a stop to this.”

Julian stiffens against me. He’s getting angry and I don’t know what to do.

Suddenly he shouts, “Silence! No one will gossip or mistreat this woman so long as she is mine!”

He leans in and I feel helpless humiliation as he plants his lips onto the side of neck and a sharp pain pricks my skin.

I gasp and reach up to touch my neck. A small drop of blood comes away.

Julian bit me.