Fourteen

Chapter 14 Cherry

I snuck out the front door almost as soon as I returned downstairs. Only a quick goodbye to Heather and Chris detained me. Bert seemed to realize my need to get out of there and, thankfully, followed me out.

When we climbed into his truck, he was mercifully quiet, too, not taxing me with talk. Just as well, given that my head was so full of Dylan's words, I doubted I'd be able to form one coherent sentence. I kept seeing his furrowed brow as he confessed to me that he wasn't happy. My breath had hitched in my chest to witness the familiar tension thrumming through his body at being cornered. My heart ached for him as he told me he'd agreed to this match with Lucy only out of a sense of duty. Part of me was infuriated at his disclosure, too because I had thought that by walking away and freeing him from a mate he hadn't chosen, he'd have found happiness.

Confusion whipped through me. But he hadn't. He seemed even more at war with himself than when we had been together.

When we arrived at Bert's, he showed me my room, the double bed already made up for me, complete with a towel and washcloth laid out.

"Fancy some food, or do you wanna catch up on some sleep?" Bert asked.

I'd been surviving without any proper sleep for a couple of days and said, "I think I'll just check on Fern, then get some shut-eye."

Bert answered with a ready smile. "Say hello from me then, and I'll see you in the morning."

As my friend clicked the door shut behind him, the quietness of the room seemed to shiver with Dylan's low voice. "Neither I… nor my wolf has feelings for Lucy. Whereas–"

My skin prickled at the memory of his intense dark eyes and the deep rumble of his voice, and I wondered what he'd been about to say. The suddenness with which he'd pressed backed me into the wall earlier, embracing me and breathing me in, had dazed me. But the movement had been so jarringly similar to the one night we'd shared together when he'd shoved me against the wall and kissed me. The memory had sent a warning through me. Dylan had told me way back then that that night was a mistake, that he didn't want me. With the painful recollection ringing through me, this time, I'd been able to push Dylan away from me.

I'd forced myself to focus on my breathing, subduing my body into emulating a calm I didn't feel when Dylan asked me about my life as if I could sum it up so easily. Of course, if I'd been able to be honest, I'd have told him that my greatest joy was being a mom. But I'd had to tamp the thought down as it had surfaced. Fern had given me the clarity of mind I needed in the moments I'd spent with Dylan. Even as he'd poured out how he was only marrying Lucy for the pack, I had kept the thought of my daughter in the forefront of my mind. Above everything else, I needed to protect Fern. To keep her a secret from the Starsmoon pack. And from Dylan.

The resolution gave me some peace again now. And I decided that I wouldn't think any more about Dylan. His priority, as he'd expressed

tonight, was the pack whereas mine was my daughter. I was only here at Starsmoon out of my duty to the pack, but it was only a temporary one, I reminded myself. Soon, I'd be back with my daughter and to my business. To my life that I was happy with. I wouldn't let Dylan get under my skin.

I plugged in my laptop, nipping out to get the Wi-Fi password from Bert, then sat down on the bed, dialing Lara.

As I checked the time, I realized that Berlin was nine hours behind, and she was probably getting Fern ready for school. But I couldn't resist checking in.

Lara's smiling face greeted me. "Hey, how's Seattle?"

I tried not to think about Dylan. "Good, thanks, although I feel like I haven't slept in weeks. How's Fern?"

"She's good," our nanny said. "She's doing her teeth. Wait, I'll get her."

Soon, my daughter was framed on the screen, an excited grin showing off a new gap in her smile. "Mom, Mom, look! I lost my second tooth. And the tooth fairy came again. Look what she left!" Fern gabbled, holding up a euro proudly.

I'd left a coin underneath my daughter's pillow when she'd lost her first tooth a month ago. A little flutter throbbed in my chest as I wished I'd been there to sneak into her room myself and watch her excitement as she'd discovered the token this morning. But I was pleased we had Lara, who was always so attentive to Fern.

Lara chipped in, "Sorry, Cherry, but we better get going to school."

I smiled. "Of course. Thanks, Lara." Taking a last long look at my daughter, I said, "Have a great day, Sweetie." When the screen went blank, a pang of homesickness struck, but my little treasure had done the trick and calmed my thoughts. As I found my peaceful slumber, it was with thoughts about Fern going off to school and showing off her gap-toothed smile to her friends and teacher.

The next morning, I felt more refreshed and, on rising, enjoyed an easy- going breakfast with Bert. Then we both got dressed for the afternoon's ceremony. We joked around with the ease of old friends. He made James Bond impressions when I admired how dapper he looked in his tuxedo while I mock-cat-walked through his living room in the rosy-hued dress I'd chosen for the occasion.

Because of my heels and long dress, Bert drove us the short way along the dirt path from his house, and we joined the other pack members, all dressed up in their finery and milling towards Heather and Chris's house. I caught a glimpse of the huge marquees set up around the gardens, filled with tables and food, ready for us all to feast after the ceremony.

As Bert and I followed our pack into our Alpha and Luna's house, my heart tripped in my chest as I soon found myself in the vast reception room. My haunted mind couldn't help remembering the night the Starsmoon Alpha had announced the date for my and Dylan's Moon Ceremony. It felt like an age ago that it had happened, but the prickly feeling that rushed over my skin made it feel, contrarily, as if no time had passed at all.

But the banquet hall had been cleared of its huge table, leaving rows and rows of seats, and an aisle between them, up to a stage. Behind the stage, the huge balcony, open to the blue sky, provided a beautiful backdrop. The

different décor and the fact that lots of my old friends surrounded me with merry chatter distracted me from the past. Bert went up nearer the stage, taking a seat in the front row, but I chose to stay nearer the back of the room, determined to keep out of the limelight. At the rear of the room here, another balcony lay open. A welcome breeze dampened the heat caused by the large gathering and the mild day.

When the old Alpha walked into the room and down the aisle, the pack stilled, and we all took our seats. Heather came next, the old Alpha and Luna, turning to look at us all from the stage.

My heart tripped over itself as Dylan strode down the aisle next. In a tuxedo, he was devastatingly handsome, but I recognized the power and presence he exuded too. His every movement was strong and purposeful as he mounted the stage, standing between the old Alpha and Luna. Once again, my stomach clenched as I responded to his presence, even after seven years. I admitted to myself that his effect on me hadn't weakened whatsoever.

At that moment, the phone in my handbag vibrated. With embarrassment, I slumped down in my seat, covertly answering it. Thoughts that something might be wrong with Fern instinctually had me picking up the call. At least I had taken a seat near the back of the room.

"Hey, Hun," Carl's voice sounded in my ear as I answered, and I internally cursed myself for not checking who was calling.

"Hey, Carl," I said, my voice hushed. "I'm not in Berlin at the moment. Now's not a good time."

"No worries, Darling, I just wanted to hear your voice," he answered smoothly. "Also, I've been thinking about my mess up with the butter and Fern. I want to make it up to you on our next date. Let me book a hotel for us."

His request stumped me, and the fact that I was sitting at the ascension ceremony of the new Starsmoon Alpha slipped out of my head. My thoughts whipped back to Carl's confession the last time we were together: he loved me. But… I hadn't been able to say it back. Now he wanted to book a hotel room. Clearly, he wanted us to go to bed together. Uncertainty washed over me at the thought of him and me being alone in a hotel together. My head felt too full right now to think about it, and I said, "Carl, I'll think about it when I get back, but I've got to go now. See you soon." I hung up, my heart now working overtime.

Then, my whole pack rose from their seats, a round of applause breaking out. I stood, joining the pack in celebrating the new Alpha. As the clapping died down, the old Alpha gestured for everyone to be seated.

We all returned to our seats, and my thoughts were in danger of slipping back to thinking about Carl's request.

I distantly heard our old Alpha's voice ringing through the room. "After the joyful ascension of my son to Alpha, I am happy to announce that he will shortly be marrying his mate, Lucy, and the Starsmoon Pack will once more be carried into the future under the protection of an Alpha and Luna."

My heart charged, and alertness prickled over me. My attention crept over Dylan's tensing body, and I swore I felt his pressure in the air like a sudden storm. His brown eyes darkened as he regarded his father.

Dylan's low voice cut through the room. "My relationship with Lucy is unstable. We need to talk about the future Luna of the pack more, Father."

Disbelief punched through me.

Chris's face looked like thunder as he stared down at his son. "You will do your duty to your pack, Dylan."

Our new Alpha's jaw hardened, his hands balling into fists as he stared the old Alpha down. He shook his head. "I will not marry Lucy." And just as his dark eyes left the old Alpha, they found me. Their heat was so intense that it was as if they burned our surroundings away until only Dylan and I remained.