Filed To Story: Secret with Betas Daughter: Skylar Story Series
“She needs to not be invited to the next function, that will hopefully improve her behavior a bit. No matter what her dad’s agenda is for her being here, this is all she knows and she’s afraid of losing the privilege of being here. That might deter her from attempting to come after me again.”
“Did you just defend the person who publicly insulted you?” Xander asked, his jaw basically on the floor. “Why would you do that? She would not hesitate to have you banned from everything and you want me to ‘not invite her’ to the next function.”
“She has a point though. That girl lives and breathes being seen at these functions. Maybe not being allowed to attend the next one will sober her up a bit. Hopefully Sky put her in her place enough to leave you alone for a little while. Until you find your mate, she won’t leave you alone. She may not leave you alone after that either. Maybe she’s hoping to be a mistress at the very least. We already know she wants to breed with you.”
Mina backs me up with a little smirk.
“You both need to quit saying ‘breed.’ It just sounds gross like that.”
Xander shudders just as the music picks up to a faster tempoed song. “Let’s teach Midge here how to dance.”
He grabs both our hands, abruptly changing the subject, and we start to laugh at his antics. He is setting a precedent after rejecting Olympia like that, but choosing to add Mina to our group. I just wish people would get the memo and understand that an interaction with him here doesn’t put them in some nonexistent running for the Luna Queen position. But social climbers will never go away. Ambition is one thing, hard work is another, but to gain better things in life by trying to take them from someone else I will never understand.
We dance a little while longer and then Luna Anne lets us leave to go and hang out upstairs. We all head to Xander’s room. I never really hung out here the last time I was in the Royal Pack. It’s interesting to see the way he lives without prying eyes.
Xander isn’t a neat freak, but everything seems to have a place and is well cared for. I do smell Oscar’s scent here pretty strongly. I wonder if he’s here every night? I wander around looking at the pictures and knick knacks he has on a set of floor to ceiling bookshelves that flank a heavy looking desk on one wall of the room. It looks very official and important with the dark wood up against the medium gray accent wall. The rest of the room is in a soft gray, almost white color and all the frames are varying shades of black and dark gray. The only color is the deep maroon comforter with black sheets folded out over the top and black and maroon pillows all looking inviting.
I quickly raid Xander’s closet for shorts and a t-shirt, I am done being in a dress. Mina does the same, spending a little too much time choosing items. She seems lost in thought while she runs her fingers over the folded piles of t-shirts. I will pack that observation away for a later conversation.
When we both come out, I find Jena, Nathaniel and Wyatt have joined us.
“Wait! You changed? Help a girl out!! I mean Luna Queen Anne can dress me anytime, but I am done with the monkey suit!” I just laugh at her and she follows me back into the massive walk-in closet.
I did discover that Oscar has, indeed, moved in. His warrior clothes and his scent consume one whole side of the room that is about the same size as the room Jena and I share on the compound. I don’t know if I will ever get used to the grandeur of the royal family, they are all so down to earth and yet, live here in this castle and have unlimited access to basically every creature comfort you could ever want.
“At this rate, you’re not going to have any clothes left.”
Wyatt laughs at Xander as we walk back into the room
“Meh. Midge is worth the effort, don’t you think? It’s a small sacrifice.”
“Until your female mate finds out you’ve been sharing your clothes with other women.”
“Who’s sharing clothes with women?” Oscar walks in with Barty hot on his heels with a cart of food and drinks for us.
“I was saying that Xander’s female mate might not be alright with the girl’s scent all over his clothes.”
Wyatt tilts his head towards Mina, Jena and me.
Oscar looks at us, gets a strange look on his face, shakes his head just a fraction like he’s trying to get his thoughts straight all in the span of a second. He coughs and shrugs his shoulders.
“If she is our true Luna Queen she will understand sharing anything that is needed with these ladies. No one else has ever been up here or allowed that privilege, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.”
His eyes tell me he may not believe his own speech, but I’m not going to call him out on it though. I know they are both worried about finding their Luna soon, before the Elders find a way to force a marriage for Xander. “Have you two marked each other yet? Or are you waiting for your Luna?” I don’t know why the question fell out of my face like that, but now I am curious.
“We were waiting, wanting it to be special for all of us, but the longer it takes the less sure I am about waiting.”
Xander says keeping his focus on his plate. “At least if we are marked they can’t try to make me give Oscar up. The best argument they will have is adding a female which is what we are waiting on anyway. My parents want to wait until they force our hand or we find our Luna to tell anyone though, because everything is still so volatile and people like Bastian and Chandler will try to spin the narrative to ‘electing’ the next Alpha King since I won’t produce an heir with my male mate.”
He finally looks at me and rolls his eyes.
We talk into the night just getting to know each other. Jena opens up about life in her pack before the attack and Mina and I talk about life on campus. Barty watches over us, coming and going to replenish food or drinks. Not for the first time, I wonder if he is watching Jena and I for signs of anything bad. I mean he knows me and my history, but with what we know of the Rogue King’s methods, he turns people agains the Royals with clever words, bribery and threats. For all they know Jena and I could have been turned to their side and gathering information on the Royal family to send back to them. I still can’t think of Mike as the Rogue King, they are two different people in my head. Something about him tells me he is a pawn just like the rest of the guys we met, he’s just high up in the ranks. That didn’t stop the implications that he is the Rogue King from floating around though.
Yeah, if the situation was reversed, I wouldn’t trust Jena and I right now. But, the only way to gain trust is to prove ourselves everyday. Which is all either of us can do.
I don’t know when it happened, but somehow Jena, Mina and I ended up in Xander’s bed. Jena and I were off to one side and Oscar and Xander sandwiched Mina. Jena tossed and turned next to me, but she didn’t wake up screaming like she has been lately which I will take as a good sign. I sit up slowly not wanting to disturb anyone. I know it’s early, the soft light of the morning is barely visible through the curtains Wyatt and Nathaniel are sleeping on the comfy reclining chairs in front of the fireplace, not leaving their posts, even in the safety of the castle.
I just smile looking at my crew of friends, so much like back home. I feel a wash of emotions come over me and tears prick the backs of my eyes. I miss my boys. I have to find a way to see them when they are here for training later this summer. I can’t believe I have been away for almost a year now, I think wiping the back of my hand under my eyes and walking to the bathroom to handle my morning business and shower all the make-up and hair product off of me.
I want to go back to my room, but I don’t want to wake anyone to escort me and all of them would kill me if I walked alone. So this is my option.
When I am done I can hear voices on the other side of the door. They weren’t sleeping as soundly as I thought.
“Seriously, Midge! You cannot do that!” Wyatt runs his fingers through his already messy hair.
“Do what? I woke up and took a shower. Or did you miss the noise I made in the bathroom in your anger at my not being in your line of sight?” I raise an eyebrow, crossing my arms over my toweled form. He looked slightly ashamed of his outburst, but then squared his shoulders. “You have to tell someone if you leave. That wound is still too fresh for surprises.”
New Book: Returned To Make Them Pay
On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.