Chapter 15

Elara

I gasped, nearly tumbling off the edge of the bed, but Alaric’s swift reflexes saved me. He caught my wrist and pulled me back up with ease.

My heart was still racing from the close call, and I found myself staring into his eyes once again. I didn’t know what to say, what to do. I just laid there, pressed firmly against Alaric’s body. His torso was firm and warm beneath my palms, his fingers callused and steady around my wrist.

But the spell was quickly broken.

“Careful,” he said calmly, releasing my wrist. “We wouldn’t want you injured before the party.”

I swallowed hard and moved away, trying to compose myself. “Right. Sorry, I must’ve lost my balance.”

He nodded, his expression unreadable. “Don’t forget, the children’s welcome party is today. You need to be ready.”

I blinked, momentarily disoriented. “Oh, that’s today?”

“Yes,” he confirmed. “We’ll take the kids to pick out outfits first.”

I glanced at the clock on the bedside table. It was nearly seven o’clock, much later than I thought it was. “We should get going then.”

After gathering ourselves, we met Zoe and Ella downstairs. The girls were already dressed, practically bouncing around with excitement.

“Mommy, can I get a dress with sparkles?” Zoe asked.

“I want one with flowers,” Ella chimed in softly.

I smiled at them. “We’ll see what we can find. Are you both ready to go?”

They nodded eagerly.

Alaric gestured toward the door, all business as always. “Let’s not waste any time.”

We headed out to the car, and as we settled in, the girls chatted animatedly about the kinds of dresses they hoped to find. Alaric drove us to a luxury mall owned by the Donovan family—a place I’d only ever heard about but never dreamed of visiting.

As we pulled into the parking lot, Alaric turned to me. “I have a call to make. You and the girls go ahead to the boutique. I’ll join you shortly.”

I hesitated. “Are you sure?”

He gave a slight nod. “I’ll catch up.”

“Alright,” I agreed, unbuckling my seatbelt. “Come on, girls.”

We stepped into the grand entrance of the mall, the air scented with expensive perfumes and polished marble gleaming underfoot. The boutique Alaric had mentioned was just ahead, its display windows showcasing gowns that looked like they belonged on a red carpet.

“Wow,” Zoe whispered, her eyes wide as saucers.

Ella gazed silently but appreciatively at the dresses, her small hand slipping into mine. I gave her a light squeeze, taking Zoe’s hand with my other.

We entered the boutique, but before we could take more than a few steps, a sharply dressed clerk stepped in our way. Her expression was cold, her eyes scanning us with thinly veiled disdain—like we were vagabonds sneaking in to steal.

“May I help you?” she asked sharply. Her tone suggested she had no intention of doing so.

I offered a polite smile. “Yes, we’re here to find dresses for the girls, and I need an appropriate gown for a party tonight.”

The clerk raised an eyebrow, her gaze flickering dismissively over my attire. “I’m sorry, but we don’t serve nannies here.”

I froze for a moment, caught off guard. “Excuse me?”

She folded her arms. “This boutique caters to a discerning clientele. Perhaps you’d be more comfortable in a store that’s more... suited to your position.” As she spoke, she gestured across the corridor toward one of those cheap fast fashion stores.

Heat rose to my cheeks, but I maintained my composure. As an Omega, I was used to this sort of treatment, and I wouldn’t let my daughters see me be cowed by this sort of bullying.

“I’m Alpha Alaric’s wife,” I stated evenly.

The clerk let out a derisive laugh. “His wife? The Luna? Are you delusional? Take a good look at yourself before dreaming of something so impossible, Omega!”

Zoe’s grip on my hand tightened. “Mommy?” she whispered, giving me a tug.

I squeezed her hand reassuringly. “It’s alright, sweetheart.” Turning back to the clerk, I said firmly, “Your behavior is unprofessional and unacceptable. I will be filing a complaint with your manager.”

The clerk simply smirked, clearly unfazed by my threat. “Go ahead, complain all you want. Let’s see if anyone actually cares.”

With that, she turned away dismissively, leaving us standing there.

At that moment, Ella stepped forward. She looked directly at the clerk and declared, “You’re fired.”

My eyes went wide. The clerk spun around, surprised. “Excuse me?”

“You can’t talk to us like that,” Ella said firmly. “My daddy owns this mall.”

The clerk scoffed, rolling her eyes. “Where did this little brat come from? Get out of here before I call security.”

Before she could say another word, an angry voice cut her off. “Is there a problem here?”

We all turned to see a man in a neat suit approaching, a nametag attached to his lapel. Beside him stood Alaric, his eyes icy and unyielding.

The clerk’s face paled. “Manager! I was just—”

Alaric fixed her with a cold stare. “This employee publicly insulted my family,” he stated flatly. “Handle this appropriately.”

The manager’s eyes widened. “Mr. Donovan, I am so sorry for this misunderstanding. Rest assured, we will take immediate action.” He turned to the clerk, his face flushed with anger. “You’re fired. Collect your things and leave at once.”

“But—but sir—” the clerk stammered.

“Now!” the manager barked.

She glanced between us, her eyes wide, before scurrying away.

Alaric approached us, his expression softening slightly as he looked at the girls. “Is everyone alright?”

I nodded. “We’re fine. Thank you.”

He met my gaze briefly, and I felt a warmth spread through me at the way he’d referred to us as his family. But I quickly schooled my expression into one of neutrality, lifting my chin at him.

Zoe tugged on my hand, her earlier excitement returning. “Mommy, look at this dress!” she exclaimed, pointing to a gown displayed nearby.

It was a beautiful dress—a soft pink color with delicate lace and tiny sparkling crystals woven throughout it. A princess’s dream.

Ella wandered over to another dress, a light blue taffeta covered in tiny floral embroidery. She pulled it out, holding it up. “Can I try this one?”

Alaric nodded approvingly. “Why don’t you both try them on?”

The girls didn’t need to be told twice. A new clerk, far more gracious than the last, guided them to the fitting rooms.

As they disappeared, I turned toward Alaric. His eyes were glazed, his gaze faraway. I realized he must be receiving a mindlink, so I slipped away and began perusing the gowns to give him some space. A little while later, I found a few dresses to try on: a dark green silk, a black taffeta, and a midnight blue velvet piece that really caught my eye.

In the fitting room, I slipped into the midnight blue gown first. The fabric felt luxurious against my skin, and the dress hugged my curves in all the right places. The off the shoulder sleeves were just sexy enough to make me feel feminine, and the sweetheart neckline was delicate and modest.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out hesitantly.

I glanced over at Alaric, but he still seemed preoccupied, his eyes distant—still mindlinking. He was completely oblivious to my presence.

But before I could say anything, his gaze shifted to me, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes—surprise, perhaps?

He quickly tamed his expression again, like it had never even happened. “Very good,” he said simply. Then he turned to the clerk. “We’ll take this dress and any others she and the girls tried on.”

I blinked in surprise. “Alaric, that’s not necessary—”

He held up a hand. “Consider it a gift,” he said, his tone brooking no argument. “Besides, you’ll need a variety of gowns for future events.”

“Oh… Well… Thank you,” I replied softly, unsure of what else to say.

He gave a slight nod. “You’re welcome.”

I lifted the hem of the gown, preparing to return to the fitting room. “I’ll go change back.”

As I turned, Alaric stopped me with a glance. “Wait. You’re still missing a pair of suitable shoes.”

Before I could protest, the clerk reappeared, holding a pair of exquisite silver high heels adorned with delicate, deep blue butterfly decorations. It matched my gown perfectly.

“Oh, they’re so pretty!” Zoe exclaimed.

I couldn’t deny they were stunning. “They are,” I agreed, admiring the intricate design.

“Try them on,” Alaric suggested.

I sat down carefully, mindful of the gown. Lifting my foot, I attempted to slip on the shoes, but the corseted bodice of the dress made it difficult to reach down. My movements were awkward, and I felt a flush of embarrassment rising to my cheeks.

Seeing my struggle, Alaric approached without a word. To my astonishment, he knelt down on one knee before me. The room seemed to hold its breath as I looked up to see him gently wrap his fingers around my calf, his large hand dwarfing my ankle.

“Alaric, you don’t have to—”

He glanced up briefly. “It’s alright.”

My heart skipped a beat as he guided my foot into the shoe, his fingers brushing lightly against my skin. He fastened the butterfly-adorned straps, securing the shoe perfectly in place.

I couldn’t speak as he rose to his feet and told the clerk to add the shoes to our bill. I couldn’t even move.

All I could do was sit there, blushing furiously.