Page 150 of Alpha-Ex Wedding Ruse
I chuckled into my wine as my gaze drifted to a far more entertaining sight—Valerie and Charles. She had, of course, slipped into the dress she swore wasn’t for him, and now she lingered at the dining table, casually picking up a plate. From the sofa behind her, Charles watched with dark, heated eyes, jaw clenched as though he were furious at her for daring to look that good. A pillow sat strategically in his lap.
Valerie glanced over her shoulder, caught him staring, and smirked before sashaying away.
Charles noticed me staring at them, and he gave me a small, strained nod. I returned it with a deliberately oblivious smile.
The doorbell rang. I went to answer it and found Isabella on the step, balancing a foil bowl of her signature chicken wings.
“Oh, I’m so sorry I’m late,” she said, offering the dish. “It was visiting day at the correctional facility.”
I nodded, knowing what—or rather, who—she was talking about. Victor.
He’d been sentenced to twenty years in prison just last month. Under pack law, his crimes—attempting to kill the Alpha and kidnapping the Alpha’s son—were seen as capital offenses. Both were considereddirect threats to the stability of the pack’s future. And because he was blood, it wasn’t just treason. It was blood treason.
The law would have demanded his death. But Luca couldn’t kill his own brother. So, instead, he decided to hand him over to the human courts, where he’d been tried and sentenced.
“I shouldn’t have brought him up,” Isabella said quickly, her eyes flicking apologetically. “I know it’s a sore subject.”
I shook my head with a smile. “It’s okay. I’m just glad you’re here. You were such a big part of this renovation. It wouldn’t feel right without you.”
Her smile softened. She touched my shoulder. “Congratulations, Leila. You deserve this moment. I know how hard you’ve worked.”
“Thank you, Isabella.”
“Is Luca here yet?” she asked, peering inside.
“No, not yet. He texted me earlier and said his meeting at the office was running long,” I replied. “Come on in.”
As she stepped inside, Ollie’s squeal cut through the hum of conversation. “Grandma!” He bolted straight into Isabella’s arms.
I laughed, carrying the chicken wings toward the dining table, my heart full in ways I hadn’t thought possible.
Luca arrived justin time for dinner. When the doorbell rang a few minutes before, I’d practically jumped to my feet, already knowing it was him. Warmth spread through me when I opened the door and found him standing there with flowers.
“Sorry, I’m late,” he said, pressing a kiss to my cheek as he handed them over.
“It’s all right. We were just about to eat,” I said. “Are you hungry?”
“Starving.”
After dinner and a toast, the guests trickled out one by one. Ollie headed upstairs to prepare for bed, but Luca remained.
He had just finished seeing off his mother when I felt a hand snakearound me from behind in the kitchen, his thighs pressing against my back.
My eyes fluttered shut as I melted into the warmth of his arms.
“I’ve been wanting to hold you like this all night,” he whispered, his lips brushing along the curve of my neck.
He breathed me in, his voice low against my skin. “You should see yourself in this house, Leila. It’s beautiful. You made it beautiful.”
A chuckle slipped from me. We’d already christened every room, which meant he’d seen everything at least twice, and each time he marveled at what a wonderful job I was doing. “Thank you, Luca.”
In the small space between us, he managed to turn me so I was facing him. His eyes searched mine with a look that was both tender and weighted.
“My father came by the office today,” Luca said. “He announced he’s stepping down completely from the Alpha position while I assume the full role as Alpha of the Manhattan Pack.”
I blinked, my face splitting into a smile. “That’s incredible, Luca. You’ll be an amazing Alpha, just like you’re an amazing father to your son.”
A genuine smile spread across his lips. “That means everything coming from you, Leila.” His thumb brushed against my cheek, though I could see the weight in his expression. “It was just unexpected, the timing of it all. I mean, we haven’t exactly been seeing eye to eye lately.”
