Tori’s POV
Waking the next morning, I found that Cayden had not returned to the room the entire night.
Of course not. He was getting engaged to Sophia, so what was the point of being with any more?
The idea turned my stomach.
I didn’t think it was possible to get sick as much as I was, but then again, the stress of everything was weighing down on , and I didn’t have any choice but to accept it.
Dragging myself from the bed, I made my way to the sink to brush my teeth. Kas had told while getting ready yesterday that she wanted to try breakfast down in the garden area this morning. I was not in the mood for eating, even though it sounded lovely– but I’d always love to see Kas.
“Tori,” Cayden’s voice called from the bedroom.
I managed to put on the white, sumry dress with yellow flowers on it before he entered. When his eyes t mine, he seed to almost sigh.
“Yes...Alpha?” I stuttered. Given what the queen had offered the previous night, I wasn’t sure how he would treat now.
“I thought...” He stopped, shaking his head, and gently pinched his brow before giving a look over. “Never mind. I am heading back down soon. Do you want to escort you?”
He acted like nothing had happened.
So did I.
“Yes, please. I was going to et Kas for breakfast in the garden room.”
Cayden quirked his brow before smiling and nodding. “Are you sure you want to be down there? There are a few people there already. You can stay up here, and then you don’t have to socialize with them.”
His sudden mood change made feel as if he was seeing in a different light, and not the way he had before. The small conversation ant more to than he realized.
“I would really like to go, if that’s okay with you?” I replied softly.
At the quiet sound of my voice, he nodded and smiled. “Very well.”
As quickly as the warmth had co, it was replaced by coldness again.
I wasn’t sure why he was so temperantal around , but I hoped he would decide what mood he would stick with so that I didn’t have to be on my toes all the ti whenever he was around.
A while later, I found out the reason why Cayden had said I didn’t have to go. And to be honest, a part of wished that I hadn’t. The room was full of people, mainly won, who were gossiping and moving about in their small groups, looking for sothing to entertain themselves with.
“Tori!” a giddy voice exclaid, and I watched as Kas ca walking over quickly with an excited expression on her face. “I would have co to get you had I known you still wanted to co after last night.”
“I know. I wasn’t going to, but I decided to take advantage of the chance to see sothing other than those four walls. Plus, I didn’t feel quite right this morning...a bit hungry, I guess. Probably because I didn’t eat much last night.”
“Well, co on then. Let’s get you sothing to eat,” Kas replied, smiling as she looped her arm through mine and led over to a table.
There I saw Cayden’s sister sitting and drinking coffee. Realizing Kas had been eating with her, I lanted even more that I even ca down.
“I’m sorry... I didn’t an to intrude on your breakfast.”
“Oh, don’t be silly!” Kas exclaid, calling a waiter over and showing into my seat.
Caroline looked up from her coffee and smiled. “She’s right. I think we got off on the wrong foot, and I apologize. I thought you were so woman looking to steal my brother’s money and take your place as his Luna for power.”
“O-oh!” I stuttered, shocked at her honesty. “No, I would never–”
Caroline laughed, and Kas smiled at my response.
“Calm down. Kas explained the situation to . There’s no need to worry. I am sorry to hear so of what you’ve been going through.” Caroline’s response was not what I had expected. Yes, I had been through a lot, but I didn’t realize that anyone would actually care about that.
“It’s fine,” I said. “I’m used to it.”
“Yes, but that’s just it. You shouldn’t have to be used to it.” Her words were kind, and I could see in her eyes that she was sincere. “Don’t worry though. You have another person on your side now, and my brother knows better than to upset .”
Kas choked on her water and began laughing, which caused Caroline to smirk.
I was at a loss for words over what was going on. I could see that there was a connection between the two won that far surpassed the one I had with Kas, and I loved how they seed to have a bond.
More than anything, I wished I had a bond like that with soone.
“Caroline is a bit of a rebel, Tori. Careful, she will have you doing things you never have before.”
Caroline swatted at Kas, and both won began to laugh again.
“Don’t listen to her or Talon. I am not that bad. I just don’t take my brother’s shit.” A smirk spread across her face as she sipped her coffee once more.
The morning fell into step with us having pleasant conversations, and eventually, I heard the voice of the one person I was hoping I could have gone an entire day without hearing.
Sophia’s voice was like nails on a chalkboard, and the woman was way more trouble than she was worth.
“Can you believe it? I’m going to be marrying the queen’s cousin!”
Cousin?
I looked at Kas, confused. Her eyes drifted to where Sophia was sitting a few tables away.
“Don’t listen to her, Tori,” Kas whispered before Caroline quickly caught on.
“Kas, what’s she talking about?” Caroline’s voice took on a striking sternness, and I suddenly understood what Kas had said about her.
Sighing, Kas shook her head. “This isn’t the place for this, Caroline.”
“Tell ,” Caroline insisted.
“Last night at dinner, the queen demanded Cayden to get married,” Kas finally explained in a hushed whisper, “in order to strengthen the alliance with Alpha Marcus.”
Caroline looked at for a mont. “There is no way he would agree to that. He hates the idea of mates and marriage.”
Hearing Caroline clarify what I had already partially known and suspected broke a small part of inside. The nausea that I had felt this morning quickly ca back, and the need to lay down beca all that more real.
“He will do what he must for the pack, Caroline. Regardless of what he wants to do. He wasn’t given much choice. You can’t get in the middle of it. It doesn’t have anything to do with us. He is our Alpha, and we must obey and accept his choices.”
“Even if it’s bullshit, Kas? Co on, now. I know you can’t stand her either. Are you telling that you will be okay with her coming into our ho and trying to tell us what to do?!” Caroline’s words getting a little louder started to draw the attention of a few people nearby, and as I looked around, I saw Sophia staring straight at .
“Kas, could you tell where the bathroom is? I am really not feeling well...” I asked Kas.
Her expression turned from irritated at Caroline to concerned for .
“Oh, no! Do I need to take you to Ava?”
“No, no. I’ll be fine. Just a lot of excitent, is all,” I reassured her.
“I’ll show you.” Kas made her way to stand before I quickly placed my hand on her arm.
“Honestly, it’s okay. Just point it out, and I’ll be right back.”
As much as I liked Kas, I needed a mont to myself. A mont to get my head wrapped around everything that was going on so that I could catch my bearings.
I could see the hesitation in Kas’ eyes, but she nodded and pointed the way.
“Co right back, Tori. I shouldn’t be allowing you to go alone.”
I chuckled before looking at Caroline. “Tell her to stop worrying so much.”
Kas gasped as I walked away, and I heard Caroline laughing.
Sophia wasn’t really the daughter of an Alpha. Compared with her, Caroline wasn’t bad. She was just straightforward, and what’s more, she treated with respect. It made feel that I had unconsciously made another good friend.
Kas pulled Caroline aside, her eyes filled with indignation as she recounted the whole sordid tale. “You wouldn’t believe what Sophia has been up to. She was so desperate to get rid of our friend here that she accused her of stealing. It was a blatant lie, of course. She even went as far as to set up elaborate traps, thinking she could fra her and have her thrown out.”
Caroline’s brows furrowed in anger as she listened.
But then, as Kas finished, a big grin spread across Caroline’s face and she burst out laughing.
“Oh, that Sophia! I’ve always known she was a piece of work. Serves her right, trying to pull such dirty tricks. I’m glad she failed miserably. She won’t get away with this kind of behavior anymore.” With that, Caroline gave Kas a reassuring pat on the back, a newfound determination in her eyes to protect their friend from any further harm.
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