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Chapter 25
Mason’s sympathy quickly turned to fury. Like any Alpha, he was fiercely protective of his pack. “As soon as the Alpha Ball is over,” he hissed, “you don’t have to have any contact with that man. I’ll see to it myself.”
Aiden, quiet as a mouse, had stalked up to Mason’s elbow and looked beseechingly up at his
uncle. “What if I want to see him?” Aiden asked.
Mason looked like he was about to go on a furious rant, but I held up my hand, stilling him.
Aiden turned his attention to me. “Is he really not my dad? I’m a Moonstone prince. Don’t I get to pick?”
I was about to tell him that that’s not at all how life worked when a voice chimed in from
the doorway, smooth and teasing.
“You wound me, Aiden.”
Logan. He stepped into the room feigning hurt as he placed a hand over his heart. “Don’t you think I treat you well? Why would you need a dad when you’ve got me?”
Aiden’s face melted into a smile.
“How’d the appointment go?” Logan asked me, walking over to Aiden to ruffle his hair.
“Okay,” I said, thinking about those memories that seemed to always be just beyond my
reach.
“just okay?” he said kindly.
I shrugged.
Mason, sensing the tenor of the room turning melancholy again, wasted no time steering the conversation elsewhere. “Logan,” he said. “Why don’t you take Elena shopping for a dress for the Alpha Ball tomorrow? A little retail therapy for the whole crew.”
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I shot Mason a look, but Aiden clapped his hands together excitedly. “Can I come too?”
I sighed. “Sure sweetheart,” I said, hoping he couldn’t hear the reluctance in my voice.
“You can come, too.
The mall was bright and bustling, filled with happy shoppers and sellers hocking their
wares, each storefront trying to outdo the one next to it.
We walked into the high–end dress boutique and were met by a salesgirl with an enormous
smile.
a
“Alpha Logan!” she said, obviously excited to see him. Logan introduced me, explaining that the shopgirl, Vanessa, was from Blackwood–Logan’s family’s pack. She offered to
take good care of me while Logan took Aiden off to get ice cream.
“Anything you need,” she said deferentially, “don’t hesitate to ask.”
I gave her a tight smile and started browsing through the racks of elegant gowns. When I
didn’t find any that I liked right away, Vanessa put her finger to her chin and gave me an
appraising look.
“Wait right here,” she said. “I have a few dresses in the back that I want you to try.”
I looked over the accessory selection for a few minutes and then made my way back to the dressing room, waiting to see what Vanessa brought out. I was having trouble focusing on
fashion.
My mind was elsewhere–still tangled in the earlier encounter. Derek had been so quick to dismiss Aiden. Why had that bothered me? I should be relieved.
He didn’t suspect anything. I could keep my secret. So why did my chest feel tight?
Just then, Vanessa and another attendant came out of the back, beaming. They had brought out several of the finest gowns, draping them over their arms like precious silk–you could see the quality just by looking.
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“What do you think of this?” Vanessa said, watching me closely to gauge my reaction to the
dress.
I reached out and ran my fingers over the smooth fabric, willing myself to focus.
That’s when I heard it. A voice. Sharp and familiar.
And hated.
“She has somehow managed to subvert me at every step. But mark my words. I’m not going to let her get away with it.
I froze, my fingers clenching into the sumptuous fabric.
Cassandra.
G
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