Chapter 227
Chapter 227:
“For the bridesmaids, Luna,” Mrs. Thorne hummed, holding up a piece of shimmering lavender silk. “This shade perfectly complements the Alpha King’s formal wear p>
I forced a polite, professional smile. “It’s beautiful.” I kept my eyes firmly on the fabric, refusing to look at the massive Lycan sitting beside me. Kain was entirely too relaxed. His arm was stretched along the back of the sofa behind me, his ancient cedar scent wrapping around my senses in a thick, intoxicating blanket. He was enjoying this domestic illusion entirely too much.
He’s just playing the part, I reminded myself frantically. He’s protecting his secret with Fletcher.
Sitting on the Persian rug at our feet, Jaxon looked up from his coloring book. “Auntie Adelina,” the seven-year-old pup chirped, his brow furrowed. “Why can’t Auntie Carmella wear the purple dress? I want her to be a bridesmaid p>
My heart softened at the mention of my new CFO. “Carmella is very busy, sweetie,” I explained gently. “And she has her own wedding to plan. She has a fiancé p>
Jaxon’s little jaw set in a stubborn line. His Lycan pup instincts flared, demanding to be heard. “But Daddy loves her p>
The living room went dead silent. Mrs. Thorne froze, the lavender silk slipping from her fingers. Kain’s arm stiffened behind me.
𝘛𝗵𝗲 b𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋е𝗏іe𝘄𝗌 𝘰𝗻
“Jaxon,” I breathed, my eyes widening. “What do you mean p>
“He does!” Jaxon insisted, crossing his small arms. “When he thinks I’m asleep, Daddy looks at pictures of her on his secret tablet. He stares at them for a really long time p>
The pup paused, searching his young mind for a way to make us understand the sheer magnitude of his father’s hidden obsession. He pointed a small, accusatory finger directly at Kain.
“He looks at her pictures the way Uncle Kain looks at you, Auntie Adelina,” Jaxon declared loudly. “Like he really, really wants the last cookie from the jar, but knows he’s not allowed to have it p>
All the blood rushed to my face, igniting my cheeks in a violent, burning blush.
The silence that followed was deafening. My theory completely shattered under the innocent, undeniable observation of a child. I risked a terrified glance at Kain. He didn’t look angry. The storm-gray of his eyes was swirling with molten gold, and a slow, devastatingly wicked smirk spread across his lips. He had been caught, and he didn’t care.
“Right,” I squeaked, jumping up from the sofa so fast I nearly knocked over the coffee table. “Look at the time. Nap time, Jaxon. Let’s go p>
I grabbed the bewildered pup’s hand and practically sprinted down the hallway, my heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, desperate to escape the suffocating, undeniable truth burning in the Lycan King’s eyes.
Grant POV
The silence inside the armored SUV was a suffocating tomb. Parked in the shadows of a quiet street in the West Village, the heavy vehicle reeked of my own agonizing grief. The scent of rosemary and rain was thick, soured by a violent, metallic jealousy that was slowly tearing my soul apart.