Chapter 87
The second William mentioned late-night food, my internal alarm blared.
I stepped forward. Standing beside Alpha Gideon, I said, “Alpha Gideon, your nutritionist has a hard rule: nothing after 8:30. Let’s skip the snacks, yeah?”
His dark eyes softened, a warm glint flickering in them like embers. “You’re the boss.”
William’s face clouded over, his jaw tightening as if he were clamping down on a snarl.
“Vivian, you’re sticking your nose pretty far, huh? Know your place.”
I flashed a practiced smile.
“Oh, William, I wouldn’t dare boss Alpha Gideon around. Margaret put me in charge of keeping him on track- you know how she gets about pack health. She hired the nutritionist, super strict, tracks every calorie like it’s a rival pack’s movement. No fudging allowed. I’m just doing my job… and it’s tough on me too, believe me.”
William snorted, a low, rumbling sound that vibrated in his chest.
“Using Margaret to shut me down, eh? Playing the mom card.”
I demurred, ducking my head slightly. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”
“What, if Margaret says it’s fine, we can have the snacks?”
He pulled out his phone, pretending to dial.
Like he didn’t know I was bluffing. Nutritionist? Margaret’s orders?
All pulled out of thin air.
But he wanted to spook me, to force Alpha Gideon to step in and nix the meal.
But neither of us budged.
We watched him, our gazes steady, as if we could scent his hesitation.
William fumbled with his phone, scrolling for a number, his knuckles whitening.
What kind of shady elder calls a pup’s mom at midnight to whine about snacks?
Margaret would probably storm over, and tear him a new one for messing with her cub.
That’s why I name-dropped her, not Charles.
A dad might play nice for pack politics; a mom?
She’d go feral to protect her own.
William’s expression grew strained, his scent souring with frustration.
He cleared his throat, a sound like gravel.
“Look, it’s just snacks. No big deal. Let’s not bug Margaret. Come on, have a little something-don’t make me
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< Chapter 87
lose face in front of the pack.”
Alpha Gideon’s eyes twinkled as he glanced at me. “What’s the verdict?”
Rewards
= Menu
Usually, he was all cool distance, his gaze like frosted glass, even his smiles barely reaching his eyes- wasting those gorgeous, flirty peepers that could make a she-wolf’s tail wag if he wanted.
But now? The frost thawed, and it was like staring into a peach-blossom paradise, soft and inviting.
I met his gaze, nearly getting lost in it-damn those wolfish charms-and then pinched my palm, sharp
enough to sting, snapping back.
I shook my head firmly.
“No way. Absolutely not!
Alpha Gideon turned to William, mock-regretful, his tone light but laced with a subtle growl.
“You heard her. She’s got me on a tight leash. If I don’t listen, I’ll catch hell back home-and you know how
Margaret’s lectures can make a wolf’s ears bleed.”
His tone, his words, that look-too much, way too much.
I knew he was playing it up, but my heart still skipped a beat, half-panicked.
Alpha Gideon, you’re laying it on thick!
Keep this up, and the pack will never let us live it down.
William was fuming, practically steaming from the ears, his scent thick with rage.
He gritted his teeth, his patience fraying.
“Fine. Just sit with us, no eating. I’ve bent over backward here, Vivian. Say no again, and I’ll make you regret
it.”
I couldn’t speak for Alpha Gideon on this.
The resort was a joint venture, and burning bridges with William-stupid as he was-could mess with pack relations. I looked to Alpha Gideon, deferring.
“William’s about to cry,” Alpha Gideon said, amusement lacing his voice. “Alright, I’ll sit. But no food. Scout’s honor.”
William grumbled, but led us to the dining room.
The room reeked of meat-roasted venison, grilled elk, all the heavy scents that made a wolf’s stomach growl.
The table was packed, a long wooden slab with bowls of stew, platters of ribs, mounds of wild rice.
William took the head seat, Alpha Gideon to his right.
I stood off to the side, beside Margot, my senses on high alert.
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<Chapter 87
William placed Chloe next to Alpha Gideon, because of course he did.
Still not giving up, huh?
But I couldn’t focus on that.
Rewards
My eyes tracked the wolf William had signaled earlier-a she-wolf with a polished, influencer-perfect face.
She sat beside Chloe, her smile sweet but her scent off.
Everyone dug in, their jaws working, some even letting out low, satisfied growls.
“Alpha Gideon, soup’s fine, right? Super healthy-wild mushroom, foraged this morning,”
the influencer she-wolf said, standing to ladle a bowl of porridge.
Her long nails flickered over the rim, just barely-if I hadn’t been watching, I might’ve missed it, written it off as her flinching from the heat
Alpha Gideon said a polite “thanks” but didn’t touch the soup.
No matter how William and the others hyped it up-calling it the freshest, most divine thing ever, a crime to skip-he wouldn’t budge.
His jaw stayed tight, his hands resting on the table, unmoving.
Everyone thought: How’s this wolf so hard to sway?
Doesn’t he smell the food?
William seemed to give up.
Chloe’s attempts to catch Alpha Gideon’s attention flopped too-her shy smiles, her soft laughs, all falling
flat.
Things quieted down, the only sounds the clink of bowls, the murmur of conversation.
I exhaled, relieved, my shoulders relaxing.
Then I noticed the influencer she-wolf stand, her chair scraping, and leave the table, heading out of the dining
room.
As she passed me, a whiff of cherry-liqueur perfume trailed behind, cloying, masking something sharper-
fear, maybe?
She didn’t return before the meal ended.
Alpha Gideon stood to leave, his posture stiff, like he was eager to get out.
William walked him to the door, the rest trailing like a pack of strays.
At the doorway, I glanced outside.
My sharp eyes caught the influencer she-wolf, who’d vanished earlier, now strolling on a path outside the villa, clutching a water bottle, swaying tipsily-her scent now reeking of alcohol, masking whatever else she’d
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been up to.
Had she bailed after failing William’s task? Probably.
Alpha Gideon and I headed back to our villa, the night air cool.
The second we walked in, I made a beeline for water, parched from standing guard all night without a sip, my
throat raw.
“I’m starving. Whip me up something to eat?”
Alpha Gideon’s voice rang out, his tone lazy but his eyes bright.
I froze, half-empty water bottle in hand. What happened to “staying healthy”?
I set the bottle down and checked the fridge-barely anything, just some berries, a carton of milk, a leftover
steak from lunch.
“Fruit’s all we got,” I said, washing a handful of blueberries and blackberries, placing them on a plate.
Alpha Gideon eyed the plate, his brow creasing, a low huff escaping him.
“Vivian, you’re getting lazier by the minute. Where’s the meat? A wolf can’t live on berries.”
I rolled my eyes, but there was a smile tugging at my lips.
< The Alpha Regretted Having An Affair
