Chapter 37
1527words
"you all will remember this day." was all she said, and turned away from us, before scurrying along to find someone else to make miserable.
William turned to us and stretched out his hand to each of us and we took them,
"I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, I was tied up with the security staff."
"It's alright, Ember actually had her in knots before you appeared."
William turned to me and smiled, "did you know?"
I smiled and shook my head, "I just was just giving her a sound warning." I said lightly,
"and made her scared in the process. Might have scared me too, if we weren't already friends." William chuckled and I tugged at the hand I held,
"nothing like that. It's not so serious,"
"it is." Lily said smiling and blowing out a breath, "Well, I've still got one last change of clothing to do for the night, so if I'll be excused."
She waved at William and me, and went on her way,
"I don't mean to leave you alone, but I was on my way to deal with the manager. Just a moment?"
I smiled," take the time you need."
"you'll be okay?"
"I will."
I was walking back to where Lily called me from when Kate stopped me, and I prayed for patience because I was sure I had elapsed most of my patience on her mother,
"so, that's where you've been hiding?" she asked, gesturing to the VIP Lounge and I just scowled at her,
"you only have a few seconds to state what it is you want."
"from you? Nothing, you've got nothing that could be of value to me."
"good for me," I said, and turned away from her,
"where are you going?"
"as far away from you as I can manage," I called back, still walking,
"must be be nice able to lure men and hoodwink and seduce them into doing your bidding," she called back, and was topped, before slowly turning to face her,
"what the hell are you talking about?"
"you think I don't know? That we all who see you can't tell that you've successfully played your part and made Alpha William fall for you?"
I slowly walked to ward her, and as I did, two of her friends were joining her. They all had on that annoying smile that I couldn't bring myself to tolerate at such a time,
"Mind to repeat that? This time up close. I'm not sure I caught that the first time." I said coolly.
"Well, since you're hard of hearing all of sudden, I was trying to let you know, that it's clear to me, and everyone else present, that you're doing a fine job at seducing Alpha William. You have the young man wrapped around your fingers. Am I right, girls?" she asked the two women who had joined her, and they all chuckled.
The slap was out there before I couldn’t even process it, and while Kate held her cheek and looked at me in surprise, I was ready for another one.
"How dare you lay your hand on me?" she asked, cupping her cheek, while her two minions fawned over her.
"I'll do it again if you don't watch what direction you wag that tongue of yours," I said in anger,
"what is going on here?" we all turned to Paris, who regarded me with a strange gaze. But the last thing I wanted to do was try to understand what the loo in his eyes was.
"Paris!" Kate cried, and quickly went to his side, "oh Paris, you wouldn't believe this woman. She had the audacity to slap me on the face." she said, her lips in a pout, and Paris regarded her, before turning to look at me, then back at her
"You really expect me to stand here and believe that you’re the victim??" he asked simply, and those four words had me in shock.
After all these years of Paris immediately taking her side, and me looking like the villain, this was the first time that he acknowledged that his beloved mate could do some kind of wrong.
"What… what do you mean by that?! I didn't hurt her.
"I saw what you did to Ember just now, no need to play innocent. Ember, are you okay? I'll advise you to put some ice on it, go ask the bartender." he turned and pointed to the two women, who stood there looking helpless, "help her."
They nodded quickly and both took her hand to go, but Kate was a bit hesitant.
"aren't you going to come with me?"
"no. I'd like to have a word with Ember."
If she hated the fact that Paris wanted to speak to me, she said nothing,
She looked at Paris and pressed her lower lips together, "I'm sorry for what just happened here." she said and allowed her friend to drag her along.
That excuse of an apology was more for Paris than for me, but Paris barely seemed moved by it.
"People are going to hear what you're doing right now and think you're choosing me over your mate," I said blandly,
"I don't have an issue with that. People say a lot of things anyway.
"Well, I have an issue with that, seeing that I'm trying to cut all ties with you."
"why? So you can be with William?"
I looked at him for a long time before shaking my head, "one has nothing to do with the other. I just need my freedom. I need to breathe."
"Am I keeping you from breathing? Am I keeping you from being free?"
"indeed." I replied, "Very much so."
"Ember!" I turned to the sound of William's vice and heard Paris curse.
"What are you still doing out here? Is he causing you any trouble?"
"Hey, you stay out of people's marital affairs," Paris said, his temper lashing out, and I stepped between the both of them when I saw the anger flare in William's eyes.
No way in hell were they going head to head, while in my presence.
They were both Alphas. Very strong ones and the last thing I needed was bloodshed.
"you dare to stand there and talk about marital affairs? After everything you put her through?"
"William? William, don't pay him any mind, " I said, taking his hand and turning to Paris, then turned back to him, " we were actually just talking. I can handle that, and handle him."
"I'd rather you didn’t m, “William said and I nodded,
"me neither," I said, but I couldn't let William fight this battle for me. That was too much. The idea of him saving me from having a conversation with the husband I wanted to divorce, felt like something I would have to pay him back for. But if he and did were going to have a relationship of any kind, I'd rather it be built on trust and love, not me feeling like I was indebted to him in some kind of way.
"but u can handle it."
He looked into my eyes, before he finally relented, "Fine. I'll be in the lounge."
"I'll be there shortly," I said and watched him leave, before turning back to Paris,
"I thought for a second there, you'd go with him."
"soon."
"you still won't give into the fact that you might feel something for me still. That we might be worth another chance."
I sighed and shook my head, "Chances, the time for them, is long over. Don't delude yourself with the possibility of me feeling something. And if I'm having this conversation with you, instead of going with him it's because I simply want to clear the hair between us."
"nothing more?"
"nothing more."
"And for a moment there, I was glad thinking you were picking me."
"then it must be that you think too much for your good."
The conversation with Paris didn't last long, and even after that, I was so turned that I didn't spend close to an hour in the lounge before I longed to go home. William must have noticed how worn I was because he offered to take me home, to which I happily agreed,
"I'm sorry you didn't have such a good time tonight. I know it was filled with too many unhappy events."
I smiled softly and shrugged, "it can be like that sometimes. I guess my highlights were all the times I spent with you."
He smiled broadly at that, and I was too tired to hope he'd kiss e. too tired, too worn.
"Well then, I guess I'll be heading in. Thank you for tonight."
"thank you for coming."
He reached over and opened the door for me, and I thanked him again. Truth was, if all the rumors that had been spread about me, one thing was closer to the truth, William was a damn fine Alpha, and if I didn't have my baggage to deal with if I had been a little bit lost, I would have seduced him to make him completely mine.
