Chapter 48

Elara

I bit back a curse under my breath as Grace saw me and immediately announced my presence.

For a moment, I considered slipping away and pretending I hadn’t heard her. But I knew that it

would only make things worse, so I forced a pleasant smile and stepped into the room.

But as soon as I did, I regretted it. Both Grace and the woman’s gazes snapped to me, and I

could feel their judgment hanging in the air. Both of them were fully dressed, poised and proper,

and here I was—standing there in my dressing gown, my hair still in a messy braid over one

shoulder, having just woken up.

Hell, I hadn’t even brushed my teeth yet that morning.

“Ah, there she is,” Grace said, her smile as tight and cold as ever. “Elara, this is Emily. She is

the daughter of an old family friend of ours.”

Emily looked me up and down, and I could practically smell her disdain in the air. Her eyes

swept over me like I was something unpleasant she had just found on the bottom of her shoe.

It was a look I knew all too well, of course—the look that high society women often reserved for

Omegas. And as if to make matters even worse, her gaze lingered on my neck.

I resisted the urge to raise a hand to the fresh mating mark, feeling its presence thrum through

me like a reminder. I’d nearly forgotten it was there, but there would be no forgetting it now.

Grace’s jaw tightened as she noticed Emily’s focus, her lips pressing together in what I could

only describe as barely-restrained fury. For once, I wasn’t the sole recipient of her ire. No doubt

Alaric would be hearing about this later.

“Elara,” Grace suddenly said, gesturing to the tea set on the table between them, “why don’t you

pour us some more tea? The pot’s gone cold.”

It wasn’t a suggestion. It was a command and a reminder that, despite the mark on my neck, the

mark created by her son, I was still beneath her. And the glint in her eye told me she was

relishing this.

I hesitated, considering telling her to shove her tea where the sun doesn’t shine. But I didn’t

want to cause a scene. I was too tired after yesterday, and with a guest here, I knew it would

just be easier to do as she said.

“Of course,” I murmured with a pleasant smile, stepping toward the table where the tea set was

laid out. I could feel their eyes boring into me as I picked up the pot and began pouring three

cups. My hands trembled slightly, and I hoped they wouldn’t notice.

Although they certainly did.

Emily accepted her cup with a faint smile. “Thank you, dear,” she said, not even trying to hide

the condescension in her voice. She took a delicate sip, her eyes never leaving mine as she did.

“Tell me, Elara, why are you still in your dressing gown at this hour?”

I opened my mouth to answer, but Grace cut in before I could.

“Oh, Elara has a habit of waking up late,” she said with a sneer. “Isn’t that right?”

I bristled, but I bit my tongue. It wasn’t even true—it was barely eight in the morning, and after

the night we’d had, I was running on fumes. But Grace didn’t care about facts. She just cared

about making me look small.

Emily let out an airy but distinctly pointed laugh. “Ah, enjoying the finer things in life, I see. I

suppose you’re not used to a life of luxury, so you’re taking advantage while you still can.”

My fingers tightened around the handle of my teacup. There were too many insults in that one

sentence to count. I straightened my spine, about to respond, but before I could get a word out,

the door opened and Alaric stepped in.

“Emily,” he said, looking surprised. “What are you doing here?”

Emily’s face lit up like the sun, and she practically leapt to her feet. “Al, darling!” she cooed,

crossing the room to greet him. She kissed him on both cheeks, her lips lingering on his skin

just long enough to make my stomach twist. “It’s so good to see you! It’s been ages!”

Alaric stiffened visibly, his jaw tightening as she used that nickname. “Likewise,” he said,

clearing his throat. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

As he spoke, he glanced at me, but only for the briefest of moments—I hardly even had a

chance to comprehend his look before it was gone, and I hardly felt anything through the bond,

either. In fact, I hadn’t felt anything all morning; he must have slammed up his inner defences

like walls of steel, keeping me from reading or feeling any of his emotions through the bond.

Emily shrugged and gestured to Grace. “I was in the area, and Mrs. Donovan was kind enough

to invite me over. I thought it would be lovely to catch up. Oh, I got lipstick on your shirt. Let me

just…” With a grin, she licked the tip of her thumb then wiped at Alaric’s collar.

I felt like an outsider in my own home as I watched Emily dote on Alaric. Her presence seemed

to fill the room like a cloud of cloying perfume, and I suddenly felt very small, still standing there

in my dressing gown like I didn’t belong.

As if suddenly remembering I was there, Emily then turned her attention to me then, her smile

sharpening. “So, Alaric,” she began, her tone casual but her words anything but, “you’re married

now. To an Omega, no less. How... unexpected.”

I swallowed hard, my cheeks burning. Alaric’s eyes flicked to me, his expression unreadable,

and he didn’t respond right away. I couldn’t bear it any longer.

“Excuse me,” I said quickly, setting my teacup down and rising to my feet. “I should check on

the girls. It’s time for breakfast.”

Without waiting for a response, I slipped out of the room, my heart pounding. I needed to get

away from Emily’s smug smile, from Grace’s icy stares, from the way Alaric hadn’t said a word

to defend me.

When I came back downstairs, dressed and somewhat more composed, Emily was gone, and

so was Alaric. The house felt quieter, but not in a comforting way. Still, I busied myself in the

kitchen, preparing breakfast for the girls. The mundane task helped steady my nerves.

But my reprieve didn’t last long. I was plating the food when the sharp click of heels echoed

through the hallway, and I knew who it was before I even turned around.

“Grace,” I said without looking up from the plates of vegetable omelets and fruit.

“Elara,” she replied, striding up to me. “How domestic of you. Cooking a healthy breakfast for

once. How charming.”

I turned around, holding the plates in my hands, and strode past her to place them on the table.

“Is there something you need?” I asked as neutrally as I could.

Her smile turned razor-sharp. “Oh, no. I just thought I’d come see how you’re settling in. You

know, while it lasts.”

I frowned, my hands stilling over the table. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I’m saying you shouldn’t get too comfortable, Omega,” she said, dropping her voice as she

closed the distance between us. When I dared to look up, her eyes were dark and red with fury,

but they were only fixed on one thing: the mating mark.

But then, just as I thought she was going to snap, she schooled her expression into a

saccharine smile and stepped back.

“Emily is going to replace you soon,” she said, turning on her heel and striding away.