Chapter 483

Olivia

I peered out the window as Nathan and I pulled up to the press event, which was to be held in the council building of Dan’s pack. A low whistle escaped my lips as I peered up at the formidable building.

“That’s quite the structure, isn’t it?” I asked quietly.

Nathan leaned forward to look through the windshield at the massive building.

Its tall spires and stone walls gave the building an almost brutal look, but the narrow stained glass windows added an air of elegance to the place. It was almost hard to believe that this was another council building and not a cathedral.

“Yeah,” Nathan said with a chuckle. “Old money, huh?”

“You can say that again.” Dan’s pack was one of the wealthiest in the entire region—hence his position as the de facto head of the Alpha association. And the longer I knew him, the more I realized how much he seemed to enjoy flaunting his wealth.

But to each their own, I suppose.

As Nathan and I climbed out of the car and made our way up the marble steps arm-in-arm, I looked around at the other people around us; reporters with their flashing cameras, other wealthy Alphas in their tailored suits, Lunas in their fur coats and pearls.

The place practically reeked of cash, and even in my own expensive dress, I felt a bit out of place. But, then again, I had come to expect this sort of feeling around these people.

“Ah! The man of the hour.” Dan’s voice suddenly pulled us both out of our reverie when we entered the building.

I looked up to see Dan striding toward us, his shoes echoing loudly off the marble floors despite the bustling atmosphere. The ceilings were unbelievably high in this place—so high it felt as if I had just stepped inside the Vatican.

“Dan,” Nathan said, extending his hand for a handshake. “Good to see you.”

“Come, Nathan. The council has to discuss some matters before the press conference.” Dan’s eyes flickered over to me rather coldly; I knew what that meant. I was to stay here.

As Dan and Nathan walked away, I watched them go with a cold feeling in my chest. The way that Dan had spoken to Nathan the other night in our own home kept floating back through my mind, making me feel even more bitter.

I wasn’t alone for long, however, when I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to see Clarissa’s kind face.

“Clarissa!” I said, reaching out for a hug out of instinct. “Long time no see.”

Smiling from ear to ear, Clarissa hugged me back without hesitation. “How have you been, Olivia? I heard your Valentine’s Day gala was a success. So sorry I couldn’t attend.”

“Oh, no worries,” I said warmly. “Did you and Dan go away for the holiday, or…?”

At my question, Clarissa’s face seemed to drop—but only for a split second before her expression had returned to normal. It was so quick that I almost wondered if I had imagined it.

“Oh, no,” she said. “You know how Dan is. Always working.”

“Yeah. I know.” I withheld a frown as I thought back on how Dan had called Nathan on the holiday; and how Nathan had no choice but to answer. I still didn’t know what they had discussed, but still—even an Alpha on the Alpha association should have days off.

For a little while, Clarissa and I stood alongside one another, chatting amicably. I noticed how the other Lunas seemed to be off on their own, not engaging much with either of us.

But that wasn’t all that I noticed.

I also noticed how the reporters seemed to be taking pictures of us—maybe even more pictures than the others.

Strange, I thought. But still, I pretended to ignore them.

And with the press conference starting soon and the Alphas emerging from their private chambers, the attention was soon lifted from the two of us anyway.

…

“Glad that’s over with,” Nathan whispered with a wry chuckle as we stepped down off of the stage together.

“Me too.” The press conference had finally come to an end after two hours of speeches, questions and answers, and photo opportunities. My feet felt like they were on fire from standing beside Nathan for that long, and my lower back hurt even more.

But as we made our way to the banquet hall for the luncheon with the others, it became clear to me that aside from Nathan and Clarissa, no pity was reserved for the young pregnant woman.

In fact, as we settled into our spots in the grand banquet hall, it was painfully obvious that the other Lunas looked at me with nothing but disdain—and maybe even a little self-satisfaction as they saw me sink into a chair, wincing and holding my pregnant belly.

“I’m sorry you had to stand like that,” Nathan said softly. “I asked for a chair, but—”

“It’s alright, really.” I offered him a warm smile and reached up to touch his cheek. “I wanted to stand beside you.”

Nathan leaned his cheek into my hand for a moment, his own fingers passing over my belly with a tenderness that made my heart skip. Finally, he pulled away and straightened. “I’ll get us something to eat,” he said. “Wait here.”

I nodded and watched him go. For a few moments I just sat there, observing the room; the other Lunas, as was becoming custom, ignored me entirely. I felt like the odd one out as I sat there, holding my belly.

Normally, this sort of thing wouldn’t bother me all that much—but I guess a part of me had hoped that things would be different than this.

Finally, though, Clarissa walked over and sat down beside me. Her eyes drifted warmly over my belly before she leaned a little closer.

“They really can be a bunch of bitches sometimes,” she whispered.

My eyes widened; this was the first time I had ever heard Clarissa curse, let alone say anything bad about the other Lunas. “Clarissa—”

“It’s the truth,” she said with a giggle. “I’ve seen the way they look at you. Little do they know how pleasant your company actually is.”

Her words made me blush. “Thank you, Clarissa,” I said softly. “That, um… That means a lot, you know.”

“They will come around, though.” She offered me a soft smile and patted my hand. “They’re just a tight-knit bunch, that’s all. They don’t take kindly to outsiders, especially such a beautiful and talented young woman such as yourself.”

I almost laughed at her statement. “As if they’re not all stunning themselves.” I looked around at the other Lunas, all of whom were dressed to the nines in designer clothes with their hair and makeup perfectly styled.

They were older than I was, yes, but that hardly ever made a difference in my eyes. I actually envied their maturity and elegance.

“That’s true.” Clarissa sighed quietly, then leaned back in her chair and shot me an amused look. “You know, I’m still considered a bit of an odd duck here myself,” she said.

I raised an eyebrow at her. “You?” I asked. “Why? You’re the head Alpha’s wife.”

Clarissa merely shrugged. “When I married Dan, they looked at me much in the same way. And even now, four years later, I haven’t quite… fit in yet.”

My eyes widened; it wasn’t so much the behavior of the other Lunas that surprised me, but rather…

“You and Dan have only been married for four years?”