Page 16 of Finding Love with the Fae King

“What’s wrong? Why are you getting angry with me?” Esteban took a step closer, and I took a step back.

“I just want you to know. I do care about you. I do have feelings for you. I haven’t experienced these feelings before, so it is all quite new. Just give me a chance, Melina. I promise you won’t regret it. Please.” The begging Esteban was back. He seemed honest in his tone, but his eyes held something else. I knew the wolves could get possessive in the little time I’ve been around them, but this was something different.

“All right, Esteban, I’ll give you a chance. Now, I have to get ready. I’ll see you tonight?”

Esteban nodded and gave me a kiss on the side of my unruly bedhead. It felt unnatural to me, almost scary.

Once I was downstairs, the girls already had their pedicures. Omegas quickly led me into the room, giggling and laughing as they picked out the colors that would match my dress. “Teal, you say?” one girl asked as she scrubbed my feet.

“Yes, a light-colored teal.”

Luna Clara started shaking her head. “Oh no, dear, I have a special dress for you!” Her eyes beamed. Both Tulip and her mother looked at her questioningly. “I have this dress that would look beautiful against your skin, and I have been waiting for someone to wear it. Please, do it for me, please!” Clara was pleading with me to wear this dress, and I couldn’t help but smile.

“I’d love to, Luna, thank you.”

Clara clapped excitedly as she told one omega to have it prepared and sent to my room.

“Are you excited, Tulip?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Very much! I mean, we have already taken care of the mating part. Now it is just for show!” I shivered listening to that.Who in the heck wants to get bit in the neck like that?

“How are you and Esteban?” Tulip wiggled her eyes while Clara and Rose stopped speaking, now glancing at me. I pursed my lips together and clenched my hands. Rose came over and put her hands over my clenched fists.

“Did something happen, dear? What’s wrong?”

“Just some things he said today. It just put me off a little,” I mumbled.

“What sorts of things?” Clara demanded.

Looking at both Tulip and Rose, I told them what had happened in my room and what he had told me back home. He thought I was his mate. He wanted to court me and take things slowly but didn’t like it when I denied him. How he would grind his teeth and hold his fists tight frightened me, and it didn’t bring me comfort. I had no feelings for Esteban. However, it was very real to him.

Clara sat back in her massage chair. Her eyes were glazed, meaning she was speaking to someone.

“I don’t want to get him in trouble. I just don’t think I am anyone’s mate. I’ve got emotional problems. Being alone is something I am used to. Even if I were Esteban’s mate, I think I would just push him away.”

Clara’s eyes softened, and she stepped out of the foot tub to sit with me. “Melina, what Esteban is doing to you is wrong. A mate shouldn’t feel that way. If he was really your mate, you would like the possessiveness. Obviously, he is not your mate,” she growled. “I want you to trust me. Come tonight, and I will be sure to have Esteban busy. He won’t bother you.”

I smiled and let out a sigh that I didn’t know I was holding.

An enormous burden was lifted from me, knowing I wouldn’t have to deal with Esteban.

Tulip was having the final preparations done for her dress and could not be seen until she walked down the aisle with her parents. I had just left my room, completely in awe of my dress. It was a lightly glittered gold dress that fit my body like a glove. It dragged on the back, but the gold high-heeled shoes kept it off the floor, mostly. If I was ever asked to dance, it would still be all right. My dark hair was done up in loose curls and small gold pins with small diamonds placed in my hair. I kept telling Clara I couldn’t outdo Tulip, but she shushed me anyway.

I strolled to the back of the packhouse. The back courtyard was filled with white chairs and at the end of the walkway, where they would give each other vows, was a massive archway filled with white and yellow flowers. I smiled, looking at the flowers decorating each chair.

Still holding onto the doorway, a hand came to pull it away. Spinning my head, I saw Carson and his friends. All three were wearing lightly colored suits with different colored roses in each of their pockets. “Y’all clean up nicely,” I joked.

“We could say the same for you, Melina.” All three looked me up and down, and I folded my arms across my chest.

“Mhm, horn dogs.” They all chucked, and Carson held out his arm for me to take.

“Luna has instructed us to escort you tonight if that is all right with you.” The three of them bowed, and I giggled.

“Why, I would be delighted.” I fluttered my lashes mockingly.

Carson held out his arm. I accepted it, and they led me to the front row, reserved for the head Alpha families and close family. I smiled, realizing I was sitting in the sibling section. My three bodyguards sat behind me and told me about the high-ranking warriors and leaders that were being escorted in and put into their seats.

“That’s Elder Maxum. He is old and a bit of a perv. His wife likes it, though. One time I caught them in the packhouse doing the deed in the laundry room.” Carson smirked while Sean rolled his eyes. Sean still talked little, but he was a comfortable soul to have around.

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