Page 26 of The Alpha's Cursed Queen

Willow shakes off her father’s hand. “I just want to know how they even let Alice in here. Look at the clothes she’s wearing, Father. Alice, dear, if you didn’t know how to dress for a place like this, you could’ve told me. I would’ve helped you.” My cheeks grow hot, and she continues. “You don’t have to embarrass your friend, Alice. That’s so distasteful. I would have shared any of my old dresses with you, if you had just asked me.” She looks at Darian, her exquisite features twisted into a pout. “She doesn’t pay attention to herself. I’m so sorry for my friend. She just doesn’t understand her surroundings. She’s an orphan, you see. There was no one to raise her and give her proper values.”

“If your father is the beta of the pack,” Darian counters, his eyes sparking, “then it was his responsibility to teach her what you think is lacking.” Thomas’s face turns red, but my date is not finished. “It seems to me that you’re the one who is being distasteful. We are trying to enjoy our evening together, and you keep forcing your way in. I think it’s time you leave.”

The flash of anger in Willow’s eyes has me swallowing. She’s going to make sure I pay for this humiliation.

I want to tell Darian to stop, but I can’t find my voice. If I was ever truly scared of anyone, it’s Thomas.

Thomas gives me one last look, which promises retribution, before saying, “I have to be somewhere. It was nice seeing the two of you. Come along, Willow.”

He drags his daughter away, and I tremble.

Darian looks at me, his brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

I shake my head, trying to calm down. “He’s going to kill me,” I finally whisper. “You shouldn’t have said anything to him. What have you done, Darian?”

I’m so terrified that I can’t even feel my legs. If I could, I would walk out of this place and run home to pack my bags and leave right now. Forget the mating gathering and the consequences of not attending. I don’t want to face the punishment that Thomas will have planned for me for tonight.

Darian gives me an uncomprehending look, and then, as realization settles on his face, he gets to his feet, rage in his eyes. “It was him? He did that to you?!”

I can see the bloodthirst in his eyes, and I grab his wrist, pulling him down before he makes a scene. “Stop. Please. Don’t make things harder for me.”

“Be honest with me. Is the beta of your pack responsible for your injuries that day?” His voice is harsh.

“His daughter isn’t my biggest fan,” I admit. “She and I don’t see eye to eye, and he doesn’t like it when Willow is unhappy.”

“How long has this been going on? Does your pack alpha know?”

I wet my lips, feeling on edge. “Everybody knows, Darian. I don’t want to talk about this. Just leave it.” I can’t control the way my hands are shaking in fear. “You shouldn’t have spoken to him that way. He’s going to punish me for it. And Willow wasn’t all too pleased with your snubs. She’s—” I sigh. “Forget it. I knewI shouldn’t have stayed for the mating gathering. I’m going to leave tonight. I can’t risk Thomas coming after me again.”

Darian lets out a soft growl and gets to his feet, wrapping one hand around my wrist and picking up my belongings with his other hand. “Let’s go.”

“What are you doing?” I ask as he pulls me behind him, walking out of the restaurant. “What about dinner?”

“Forget that. I want to know what’s been going on with you.”

The car that brought me here turns on its headlights. It’s parked across the road, but when Darian motions with the hand that is holding my things, the driver gets out, comes over, and takes them from him.

“Get the food packed, Jimmy. Alice and I are going somewhere else.”

The driver, Jimmy, looks between the two of us before nodding. “Alright.”

Darian leads me down the street for several blocks until we reach a small coffee shop. “Go take a seat.”

His voice is authoritatively sharp, and instinct tells me to obey.

He looks furious. However, it’s strange that the angrier he looks, the safer I feel. Nobody has ever been angry on my behalf before. They’ve pitied me, yes. I’ve gotten sympathy. But anger at the treatment I face? Never.

Even Edith and Mary have never expressed this emotion. I can understand why. Wolf shifters look down on the weak. That’s why it’s very surprising to me that Darian is still choosing to bewith me. It doesn’t make sense to me, but I don’t want to dig too deep.

As I find a spot for us at the back of the café, I see one of the servers approach each of the tables where customers are seated. He speaks to them softly, and they all get up and start to leave.

I get to my feet, too, but the server shakes his head at me. “Please, sit.”

Confused, I look over at the counter where Darian is standing, a black card in his hand. I notice the server flip the “open” sign on the door to “closed.” The whole place is empty now, and Darian finally joins me.

“What are you doing now?” I ask warily.

“Giving us a private setting to talk,” he tells me, his voice steady but anger still lingering in it. “I ordered us some sandwiches. Now, talk. Why has the beta of your pack been abusing you?”

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