Selene POV
Smoothing my features into an inscrutable mask I strode into the visitor’s waiting room. At the entrance of the room, I heard Reid’s voice. He was laughing wildly at sothing Conrad may have said. When I opened the door, the laugh died down as four pairs of eyes stared at . Then Reid’s flickered with recognition as I stared at him pointedly.
"Your majesty!" Reluctantly, he rose to his feet giving a stiff bow "I’ve been here keeping our visitor company," he said.
I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Why was he telling that? I didn’t ask. "That’s good to know," I said dryly "Alpha Noah was looking for you earlier. You might want to go and see him, he’s in his office waiting for you,".
Reid’s eyes bored into mine with disbelief and for a mont, I thought he wouldn’t leave but he mumbled an acknowledgent and promised Conrad that he’d be back before leaving the room.
As soon as we were alone, Conrad let out a satisfied grin "That one is easy. Is he always like that?"
"I don’t understand," I tried not to show interest "That’s Reid, Noah’s beta,"
"I know that," he smiled "But he’s easy and more friendly than all the people I’ve t today. While everyone is breathing down my neck and barking that I didn’t follow stupid, long protocols, he’s the only one who cares enough to know if I’ve eaten or whether I am comfortable... that sort of thing,".
"Good to know!" I said dismissively shrugging it off. "Anyways, I ca here to tell you that Alpha Noah has agreed. All the Kings of the region will be welcod at Moon Whisper. There are terms of course but nothing bad. They’re all very easy and doable terms. I promise. Now," I placed my hands on my hips "That I’ve kept to my end of the bargain, it’s ti to keep to you. I’ll take my purse now," I stretched my hand towards him.
A mysterious and mischievous smile spread on his lips as he rose from the settee with a slow gracefulness that reminded of a dog stalking towards you. His eyes glinted with undisguised calculation as they raked the length of my body. He crossed the room quickly and ca to where I stood, closing the distance between us.
Up close, his amber eyes seed to blaze with an intensity that should have made the old Selene cower, but I held his stare defiantly.
"Did he agree to everything?" he arched his brow "Including throwing a banquet for them and they all stay for at least three days before they leave? Did he agree to all of that and what are the conditions that need to be t for him to do all of this?"
I allowed a small, satisfied smile to curve my lips, I liked how it seed so unbelievable even to him. "Nothing, Conrad. Unlike you, Alpha Noah is generous and believes in helping people who truly need help. So, everything would co without conditions. For the duration of the stay, the pack will take care of every expense, including the ones incurred. I know, this is no ti to blow our trumpet but we do well for ourselves. So yes... Noah has agreed to open his arms wide to the visitors,".
"Did you apply..." he trailed off as his eyes glinted aningfully "Any delicate considerations to secure his approval?"
Bile rose at the back of my throat as my skin crawled with irritation at his choice of words. I wanted to call him out at that mont for his undignified behavior but I decided to remain calm. Until I collect the purse, I’d have to dance to his tune.
"Yes," I agreed with a small smile "I did use my advantage as his Luna and mate but then again, he’s my husband and I could use whatever ans pleases to get what I want,".
"Ah, I suspected as much!" Conrad purred, exposing his white pearly teeth. I saw a golden canine teeth flash as he did that. "Nothing beat the potent sway a beautiful wife can hold over even the most stubborn of n,".
"Noah is not stubborn," I said a little too forcefully but then I tried to calm myself as I tried to speak calmly "Noah is anything but stubborn. Whatever resist he puts up is because he’s being careful and doesn’t want his goodness to be taken advantage of, especially by people like you,".
"But you sneaked out of the pack house to et up with another man. It seems you love your mate but do not respect him as much because...".
"I did not sneak off to et another man!" I yelled and then rembered I was supposed to keep up the façade at the end for it to beco believable. I couldn’t believe for the life of that he was trying to spin the narrative even when it was nothing but pure lies. I sunk my nails into my palms as I wrestled the anger that was fast turning into pure disdain.
"I an..." I said a bit more calmly now "I didn’t go to et any man in the hotel. Can we please stop selling this narrative? Stop spinning things around to make look stupid, please. Can I get the purse now and just leave? Please... I have other things to do,".
He rely chuckled. He knew he was provoking but it only goes to prove that Kurtis was right about him. He knew how to play mind gas.
"You know," he shrugged "I’ve heard a lot about you. From when you first ca to Moon Whisper and how you turned their economy around in less than a few moons to the saga that went on between Noah and his nephew, Alpha Xavier and everyone seed to be so smitten by you. Even , at so point, I won’t lie but now...". he trailed off
"But now that we’ve t, I don’t find you quite as dazzling as I was led to believe. You’re not even as beautiful as I envisioned. The woman whom everyone wanted to co for consultation at their pack, who was so revered that she only took two consultations every month turned out to be a... woman who was desperate to keep a man. Tell , why are you so desperate to keep Noah as your mate?"
I exhaled reminding myself that this was all a ga he was trying to play and nothing more.
I arched a brow at him "Have you never found your fated mate, Conrad?"
A muscle ticked in his chiselled jaw as his eyes flashed with amusent "You address by my na and not my title. Show so respect at least. By the way, regarding the mate thingy... nope, I have not!"
"I don’t know who you are except that you’re the Late King’s brother. Hence, why I address you by your na and I am not surprised that you haven’t t your mate. Because if you have then you’d be able to relate. Being with your fated mate is the most incredible feeling in this world other than anything,".
"Ah yes, ’your fated mate’" he crooked his hand in the air "By that do you an your mate’s uncle that you seduced and married when you were still bonded with your other mate? Tell , was the experience worth it? Jumping from one bed to another within the sa family? Don’t you have parents or family mbers who will be ashad of the kind of person their beloved daughter has turned into?"
For the briefest mont, the calm façade I had on faltered and a flicker of pain passed through my eyes but it was gone in an instant, replaced by a cool detachnt.
"I have places to be, Conrad and things to do," I said flatly, extending my hand towards him "My purse, now!!!"
"C’mon, are you angry? I was just funning. I thought we were friends,".
"If you’re quite finished with your cody show, please return my bag. I have fulfilled my agreent, do yours or is that too hard for you to do to? Don’t make the last shred of respect I have for you, slip off,".
He cocked his head slightly as his eyes widened at my rebuke. Then he sighed.
"Fine! No need for such frosty air between us, Selene,". Turning towards a small box he had co in with, he retrieved the purse and held it out to , dangling it tauntingly. "I wonder what’s so special about this that you’re willing to do anything for it,".
My fingers instinctively curled, longing to reclaim the purse but I remained rooted in place, still fixing him a cold, pointed look. I didn’t want to appear too enthusiastic, because he might notice. And I also didn’t want to raise suspicions.
"I’m still waiting,".
Giving one last look, he pointed the purse, towards and I collected it, sighing in relief as I felt the heavy weight of the purse in my hands. Thankfully, I know it cannot be accessed because only my fingerprint could open it.
Straightening, I faced him with a quiet smile "Our agreent ends now that my belongings have been returned. So, I shall leave first. Do try to enjoy these coming days and the banquet of course. After all, what sort of host would we be if we cannot afford to gift you the best and most delusional banquet you’ve ever wished for before the inevitable?"
Giving him one last lingering look, amidst his confusion, I turned on my heels and strode out of the room.
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