Chapter 19

My face grew hotter by the second. It was my worst nightmare come to life.

I dared to peek at mason’s face, hoping he maybe hadn’t noticed – but his expression was stiff, his smile gone completely.

That’s a lot just for his daughter.

What’s their relationship, really?

Is it possible they’re…

From their spot near the front, Avery cleared her throat loudly and the whispers paused – but picked back up in full force. Her face turned sour. I chanced a look at Levi, but his dark expression made me look away.

Finally, Avery snapped.

She raised her voice the moment the Josh was done. “I can’t believe I even have to say this,” she forced a laugh. “But as his fiancé, let me clarify that Levi’s generosity is a mark of his care for his foster child. Nothing more.”

I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. I waited for Levi’s voice to say… anything. But he was silent, which I took for agreement. Foster child. Right.

“Exactly,” Mason said, doing a much better job faking his amusement. “Let’s not be vulgar, everyone. A father should care for his daughter as much as Levi does, right?”

Each word tore a little deeper, but I just smiled and motioned Josh to continue.

…

My face hurt from smiling for the crowd, so I was glad to step down and actually talk to my guests. I had a little time before the ceremony, and I needed as much of it as I could get to assess the alphas I’d chosen.

“Alpha Glenn!” I shook the large man’s hand. He had a jovial laugh that gave me a good feeling.

“My dear girl, how lucky you are to have a father so generous!” The circle of people around him all enthusiastically agreed.

“And so good to you,” someone else chimed in. “I mean to think so much about your future!”

A shadow fell over the group and I turned to see Mason. Crap. “What are we so happy about over here?” he asked, offering me champagne.

My thanks were drowned out by Alpha Glenn’s laughter. “Levi’s gifts, of course! I hope your accounts are ready for this one is that’s what she’s used to!”

The group chuckled, but no one seemed to notice Mason’s fingers tighten on his glass. “Oh, I’ve been spoiling her since the day we met, don’t worry.” His arm came down heavily around my shoulders, molding me against his side.

“He absolutely does, just look at this ring!” I showed it off, leaning in to pacify him. Then I swiftly got us out of there and to another group, hoping I could leave him with his friends and go talk on my own.

But no such luck. Everywhere we went, it was the same thing.

“Oh Levi is so generous!” “What a doting father!” “He must be so sad to be losing you.”

“You can tell how much he loves you!”

Finally, Mason snapped. As we passed a side hall, he grabbed my arm and yanked me in with him.

“I’m only going to ask you this one more time,” he growled in my ear. “What exactly is your relationship with Levi?”

Heart thudding against my ribs, I gave him wide, innocent eyes. “What are you talking about Mason, you know! I told you, he treats me like a foster daughter!”

Mason scoffed. “I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean! You heard them, it could mean anything!”

I shook my head frantically. “It means what I said! We were never really close, but he cared about me because he had to.”

But he didn’t want to listen. “Really? Because that out there looked a lot more like showing off! Trying to say I can’t give you what he can,” he snarled. “Is that it? Was Daddy showing off for his little girl?”

“Mason, please,” I begged, glancing behind me for someone – hopefully one of the alphas I’d chosen – to notice and intervene before he lost control. “I swear, it’s not like that!”

His jaw clenched, and he seemed to calm himself down a little. “Not for you,” he sighed, yanking me against him again. “No, I know you love me. But him—”

“Don’t think about him,” I said, patting his chest. “Go enjoy the party with Josh and the guys, you have a couple minutes before –”

“No.” He held me tighter, pulling me back into the throng. “I’m staying right here with you.”

My heart sank. “Lucky me.”

Finally, the priest stepped up on the altar. It was time to prepare for the vows. The crowd parted and I tried to step away from Mason – tradition called for us to go around the altar separately to get ready before being joined back together in front of it.

But Mason didn’t let me go. Whispers started up again, so I made myself giggle. “I don’t want to separate either,” I whispered loudly, “let’s go together then.”

Mason relaxed a fraction and let me lead him around the altar to the doors that led to our changing suites. Emma was already inside mine. He stiffened as he heard voices. “Who’s in there?”

“Just Emma and Vera,” I promised. “No men of course, I’m getting dressed.”

He nodded tightly. “Good.” He waited for me to go in first. I took a deep breath while no one could see my face. This day was already exhausting, but I had a long way to go.

…

I had to give it to myself – I planned a beautiful wedding.

When I stepped back through the front doors, the space had changed. Satin covered seats held the hundreds of guests, and flowers spilled down to frame the long lilac runner leading between the rows to the altar where Mason waited in a black tux.

A murmur of appreciation went up as everyone rose to their feet. I looked beautiful in the simple, elegant white gown that highlighted my best features. My makeup was perfect, my hair braided into a crown on my head studded with pink sapphires to match my ring.

Even my heavy bouquet matched, blush pink and gold flowers bursting to spill down the front of my dress. It was all perfect, exactly as I planned it.

And I couldn’t care less.

I felt like I was piloting a robot as I took measure steps down the aisle. None of it meant anything. I planned to be free of the monster taking my hand as soon as I possibly could.

“Don’t they just look perfect together?” Someone sighed. I swallowed a snort.

I auto piloted through the ceremony until the part that made my neck prickle.

“… As our wild ancestors did,” the priest droned, reaching for a silver knife and golden bowl, “you shall seal the union with an oath of blood.”

I hadn’t believed in the power of blood oaths before. But after what Mason did to me… what would another oath do? Bind us tighter? Would I ever be able to truly escape?

My eyes instinctively darted out, seeking safety. Seeking… Levi.

The moment our eyes met, he stood. “Stop the ceremony!”