Chapter 22

Violet

The next morning, I woke up to less pain and at least fifty notifications on my phone. Some of them were from news outlets having mentioned me at the Gathering, but most of them were of me in Theodore's arms wearing that wedding dress as he carried me around Midnight.

My face heated, embarrassed at the footage, but I was surprised by his expression. He looked... happy. Really happy as if that whistling had actually been as carefree as it sounded.

I scrolled through the news on my phone. The top story featured the photo of him walking across a bridge with me in his arms, the train of the gown whipped out dramatically behind us. The lighting was beautiful. Whoever took the photo had serious talent. I scrolled to the next story and laughed, seeing Lucas' flushed and angry face from the Gathering.

The First Alpha To Be Abandoned: What's Going On in Darkmoon?

I chuckled. Most of the comments were mocking and filled with ridicule toward Lucas.

Some speculated that there would be a merger between Darkmoon and Midnight and, of course, what the current alpha king would do about it.

I hadn't thought about that, but I took note to talk with Theodore about how to best keep that thought from spreading too far.

I just think she's an idiot to up and abandon her birth pack.

I scoffed at the comment. I was an idiot, but I hadn't abandoned anything. I had simply believed in someone I shouldn't have.

A knock sounded on my door. Theodore opened it and leaned in.

"I thought I heard you up. How are you feeling?"

"Fine," I sighed. "Reading through the news."

He grinned. "That one on the bridge should be framed."

I laughed. "You needed something?"

"I wanted to take you to the Tower today to start the transference if you think you're up to it."

I swung out of bed. "Let me get dressed, and we can go."

"Not before breakfast." He paused and grinned. "Wear something distracting, hm?"

I scoffed at that as he left. I went with the least flashy dress suit I owned. It was black with a blue, white, and black color-blocked dress. When I got downstairs, I met him in the hallway and headed to the dining room. He let out a low whistle.

"That's... one of my favorite suits on you."

My jaw dropped. "What?"

He grinned. "Were you expecting me to really like the red one?"

I blinked. "How do you... know so much about my wardrobe?"

He offered me his arm. I entwined my arm with his, and we walked toward the dining room.

"You don't just barge in without a plan, Violet. I had to study you, and trust me, it wasn't a hardship." He hummed. "I didn't expect to use my knowledge the way I did, but I don't regret it."

I set my jaw. "I bet."

A low growl rumbled through him. "You were so much more than I had let myself imagine."

My heart raced as a warm, pleasurable feeling filled my stomach. I felt a little proud, preening a bit and pleased with the compliment. Then, I caught myself. He was still an asshole even if he was a good lover.

He ushered me to a chair at a long table, but to my surprise, he didn't take the seat on the other end. Instead, he sat right next to me. Everything looked delicious, but there was something about the spread that prodded at the back of my mind.

I was maybe a few bites in when I realized it.

"You had them make all of this for me, didn't you?"

He grinned. "I wouldn't want you to have any hesitation eating. You need your strength."

I swallowed and continued eating, processing what he'd said without saying. He'd been studying me for a long time. Longer than I could imagine to know what I liked to eat for breakfast.

When we were done, we headed out for the day, walking from his house to Midnight's central tower the way we had the day before.

My phone chimed, and I checked it. It was a message from Kincaid.

The eclipse has set.

I breathed out a sigh of relief. Kincaid had managed to retrieve the key and get the rest of my things out of the house. I replied, asking him to get Lily and her parents out of Darkmoon and help her get ready for the auction.

He replied with his agreement, and I sent a message to Lily telling her that Kincaid was on his way to get her and her parents relocated. After a quick thanks,

Theodore opened the door for me and ushered me in. Barely a step inside, I felt everyone watching me. It wasn't like yesterday. This time they seemed to be sizing me up.

"Is that her?" I glanced in the direction the voice had come from and saw two women leaning over a phone.

I smiled politely at them. They waved back awkwardly. As we walked toward the elevator, I was unsurprised that Theodore wasn't saying anything to anyone.

“I can't believe this is real."

"I bet Alpha Theodore is just toying with her.”

We got into the elevator with a few others, but Theodore didn't say a word. It was unsurprising. When we got to his office's floor, a woman wearing a form-fitting dress that managed to be sexy but still appropriate, rounded the corner. Her eyes hardened when she saw me.

Then, Theodore spoke. “Sophia, from today on, the luna duties you've been managing will be handled by Violet."

Her jaw dropped open. "Did I do something wrong? I--"

“No, but she needs to take over her duties." He nudged me forward. "I'm expecting a smooth handoff."

I looked at him as he turned to head into his office-- stunned by how bad of a manager he is. Did he just not care how much trouble he'd caused? I looked back at Sophia who looked like she'd rather eat nails than give up her duties, but she turned and rolled her eyes as soon as Theodore was out of sight.

"This way, then."

What was waiting for me in this closet of an office was stacks upon stacks of paper. My head hurt just thinking about how unorganized Midnight likely was with all this paper around. It all seemed coded, and she dropped a small notebook on top of the stack.

"There's the cipher. Have fun." She smirked. “Besides this, our Alpha is quite the playboy, so you should probably handle that first."

I frowned as she tilted her head. I walked back out to this side waiting room where two women sat. Both of them were beautiful and glaring at each other. I looked between the two of them. Sophia walked off, probably to do whatever secretaries did.

I looked at the two of them. "You have ninety seconds to tell me why you're here and what you want."

The blonde one huffed. "I'm pregnant with the heir. What do you think I want?"

At least she was brief. I looked at the other.

"He forced himself on me. What do you think?"

I scoffed and looked at the "pregnant" one.

I doubted it, but I continued. "When the baby is born, the kid will be tested for paternity. If Midnight foots the bill of your care for nine months and the child isn't his, you'll be sued to repay the amount and charged with attempted line theft and conspiracy. So you can wait the nine months or leave Midnight now without complaint."

Her jaw dropped. I looked at the other one. "Unless you have proof you're prepared to testify on at the temple, you can either leave Midnight immediately and never return, be incarcerated in Midnight for the threat, or be executed for planning treason against the Alpha. I'll give you a minute to decide." I took a photo of both of them. "So what'll it be, ladies?"

They said nothing for a moment, staring at me, and then they shuffled off.

"You have until noon tomorrow to get out. I really don't care where you go. If you're gone before morning, I won't even put a black mark on your pack registry profiles."

I walked out of the room, past Sophia who seemed stunned, and went to Theodore's office. He was behind his desk, pouring over papers.

“You're going to start dealing with your one-night stands."

“That was Sophia's job,” Theodore replied.

“Well, your secretary dumped it on me, and I--"

Theodore sighed, stood, and walked around me, leaning out of the door.

"Sophia, starting tomorrow, you will be working for the Beta.”

She shot to her feet. “What, but I--"

“I don't need a secretary who can't and won't do her job. Let alone someone willing to disrespect the future--"