Page 48 of The Wild Moon
“Actually, you are,” Lars growled, coming over. “For tonight.”
“Tonight?” I could feel the jaws of his trap closing around me. “What’s tonight?”
“Oh, hadn’t you heard?” Lars chuckled, coming up to stand next to his mate.
I noticed Lady Aldridge tense as he wrapped a hand around her shoulder, but Lars didn’t seem to notice. I briefly wondered about the dynamic there, but the Alpha’s next words left me too stunned to do much more than gape at him.
“Why, the party we’re having,” he said. “Here, of course. With many guests.”
I snarled angrily. “We had an agreement–”
“And that agreement,” Lars rumbled, standing tall, looking all Alpha and imposing as he cowed me. “Was that in public, you would be the loving mate. We must introduce you to the pack. I don’t care if you like it or not. They must know that my son’s mate has returned. Do we understand one another?”
I sensed he was ready to blast me with his Alpha power if I tried to resist. This was a battle he wasn’t willing to back down on. One way or another, I knew I’d be at that ball.
“Fine,” I said through gritted teeth. I hadn’t planned on staying that late, but it was looking like I wasn’t going to have any choice in the matter.
Of course, if everyone is going to be downstairs in the ballroom …
“Fine,” I repeated. “I’ll do it. But don’t make a habit of it.”
Lars smiled. “I’ll see you tonight, then.”
I closed the door in their faces. Lars’ angry growl was easily audible, and I smiled, taking solace in my small act of rebellion.
Taking the box with the dress in it to the bed, I pulled it out, the burgundy, spandexy material soft to the touch. I laid it down over the comforter and looked at the midi-length bandage dress. The bust plunged deep between the breasts. I was going to have alotof skin on display tonight, it seemed.
The pencil-cut skirt might have stopped just above the knees on Lady Aldridge, but on me, it was going to be more of a mid-thigh hem. Just what an egotistical, horny male would want a woman to show up dressed in. It was pathetic.
There was another knock at the door. I went and got it. George, one of the Alpha’s enforcers, was standing at the door with two bags and another box.
“Can I help you?” I asked. I’d never really interacted with George before, but in a town as small as Seguin, everyone knew everyone.
“For you,” he said, dropping the items into my arms and then marching off without waiting.
“Right,” I said, juggling the bags and box so I could shut the door before bringing them back to the bed.
Shoes, makeup bag. Sticky bra–three sizes worth, thankfully, so hopefully one would fit–and last but not least, a pair of black undies.
“I really hope these are new,” I muttered to myself. They looked new. So did the shoes. Peeking at the strappy black three-inch heels, I noted a tag on them. They were also the right size.
Had Johnathan remembered my shoe size? That’s kind of cute. I didn’t realize he’d paid so much attention to me. I–
“Stop it,” I snarled, catching myself. The Soulbond was devious like that. It permeated every thought, twisting it into something positive. It was trying to make me fall for him.
I surveyed the haul of goods in front of me. The Aldridges were expecting me to go the whole nine yards for their party, it seemed.
Well, fine. If I’m going to do this, I may as well do it right. Give them what they want. If I went along begrudgingly but still giving them what they expected, perhaps none of them would make a scene when I retired early from the party.
“Okay, time to whore it up, I suppose,” I grumbled, only half upset about it.
The dresswasreally cute. But I would much rather be wearing it while at the side of someone who deserved it.
Like, say, Aaron…
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Astranger looked back at me from the mirror.
