Page 42 of His Sunshine Baby

“No, I did not!“

“What?”

“Wait until I get home. We gotta talk.”

“Don’t get home late then. I only have half a season left.”

I sigh and put an end to our mind-linking. This is going to be another dispute again.

The rest of the dinner goes by, and I suddenly learn Tonia is Boyan’s older sister! It’s a bit tricky to follow the conversationafter that since she probably has no idea about her brother’s sudden change of tastes. I’ll need to let Danny know though, this is such a coincidence that his sister actually attended the dinner.

Suddenly, I feel something brushing my fingers on the table. I look down and realize Nathaniel just discreetly pushed a business card under my napkin. I take it quickly and look under the table. It’s his business card, but he marked through the phone number to write a private one. Probably his. I take it and hide it in my skirt’s pocket. We don’t exchange any words. He just saw me taking it and returned to his conversation with Iris and Clark. Why do I feel a bit better now?

I try to not think about the little piece of paper and spend the rest of the dinner focused on chatting, eating, and behaving normally. My mind doesn’t follow and wanders somewhere else. In the memories of a luxury suite, with a view of the city night lights and white silk sheets. I get lost in my thoughts for a while before I realize my wolf is growling internally. When I look around, I suddenly spot my uncle, Xavier, intensely glaring at me. What’s wrong with him now? I ignore him, and this time, turn towards Nathaniel who is talking with Isabel and Chris. My cousin catches his father’s glare in my direction and frowns. I give him a silent look, and we both ignore him to pursue our conversation.

Like promised, Nate actually acts very normally towards me after that, finally allowing me to relax. We talk and enjoy the dinner, with various guests joining our conversation. It’s mostly business and trivial talk, but we can’t show we are involved in any way. Anyway, many join our conversation, until the dinner ends.

Around 11:00 p.m., the Black brothers politely decline a tour of our turf, and without too much ceremony, leave our grounds. Our group watches as their car drives away from our streets in silence.

However, as soon as they are out of sight, Clark suddenly turns around and grabs Xavier by the collar, growling with all of his might. Everyone freaks out, and for a second, I think this is about his remarks earlier, until Clark speaks out to my uncle’s terrified face.

“This is the last time I ever see you glare at my goddaughter like that again!”

A cold silence falls around us while everyone is shocked by the scene. Clark, still holding Xavier by the throat, is growling like a furious wolf. I get a chill and realize this is because of me, or because of my uncle’s attitude towards me. I didn’t expect Clark to get so mad.

“I’m fed up with your attitude!” growls my godfather again.

“Uncle Clark,” says Chris, a bit scared.

Next to me, Iris looks serious and even a bit annoyed at her dad. Did she notice his glare as well? The only calm one is Isabel. She knows Clark by heart and doesn’t look surprised at all. Instead, she turns toward the rest of us.

“Everyone but the Whitewoods, time to go home.”

Nobody dares to argue with her and soon enough, I’m left with Isabel, Clark, my cousins, and my uncle in this tense situation. Xavier growls back as a reflex, but there is no way he can oppose Clark. He is the rightful Alpha, while my uncle is only Alpha of a sub-pack, and by his will too. He eventually looks down and stops growling, submissive. But my godfather looks really pissed and only lessens his grip by a bit.

“I’m warning you for the last time. I’ve had enough of your attitude. Her father might not be here but damnit, I am, and as long as I am the Alpha of this clan you will not show disrespect to Sam’s daughter!”

“I’m sorry.”

He can barely talk, but Clark finally lets him go after a while. My uncle massages his neck, still visibly shaken by what justhappened. But Iris walks up to him and takes his arm, neither complaisant nor angry.

“Let’s just go home, Dad.”

My cousin and her father leave without another look. We watch them walk away, Clark still growling. Chris, who stayed behind with us, turns to me and Clark, looking very sorry and uneasy.

“Sorry, Alpha. I don’t know what’s with my dad. You too, Elena, sorry.”

“You’re a good kid, Chris. Don’t worry. Your father’s just a greedy and stupid man,” says Isabel, clicking her tongue.

Clark doesn’t even look his way, his eyes still glaring in the direction that Iris and Xavier took. I sigh, tired of all this crap and the emotions from tonight.

“All I ask is that he leaves me alone.”

“Don’t worry, kiddo. If that idiot messes with you again, let me know.”

Clark finally seems to relax and ruffles my hair with a gentle look but a bitter smile.

“I miss your dad. Samuel knew how to handle his brother’s greed.”

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