Chapter 716 – Hidden Desires of the Werewolf King Novel

Filed To Story: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel

As for James and Cornelia, their knees were touching under the table, and James’ hand would disappear down there whenever he didn’t need both hands to eat, searching for the smooth skin of Cornelia’s thigh under the hem of her skirt. James loved that Cornelia didn’t push his hand away like she was aware of how desperate he was to feel those sparks of their bond.

Most of the talks at the table were about babies and pregnancy.

Dayson mind-linked Maya and Jaeden to plan for a vacation in a month because Maya’s heat will come, and the couple was super-focused on baby talks.

Meg wanted to head to the Lightclaw pack and visit her family first thing in the morning, but they needed to coordinate their departure with Tony and Kalina due to security concerns. Now that Meg was pregnant, the energies she controlled with her ability were flowing differently, and there was a danger of her ability flaring uncontrollably if her emotions become unstable. Cornelia advised Meg to not manipulate energies because there was no way to predict how it will impact her baby.

The consensus was that it would be safest for Meg to return to the Midnight Guardians pack as soon as she could, but she wanted to visit her family first, even if it’s just for a bit. They didn’t meet Kai, and if she delayed visiting them due to the pregnancy, it would be too much.

The mood was good, but as the event progressed, Dayson was losing his patience.

Even with Keith, Caleb, and Lulu stepping in to prevent people from approaching their table, one individual managed to disturb their dinner. Many were eager to talk to Alpha Natalia, and Dayson called security to remind everyone that drinks and socializing will happen after the meal.

Talia didn’t have anything against talking to people, but she noticed that several women were looking their way, obviously at Dayson, which reminded her that her mate was highly desirable and that only a handful of people knew how dangerous it would be to get close to him. Those females were not brave enough to approach Dayson during dinner, but Talia could see it happening when people started mingling. Did they think Dayson was available because he (officially) came without his Luna?

Talia sneered while imagining those women tripping ‘accidentally’ right in front of Dayson and spilling their drinks on him, and then apologizing while offering to clean up the mess personally. Bitches! No one gets to touch Dayson. He was hers!

“Do you really want to mix with these people after dinner?” Talia asked Dayson, not bothering to use their mind-link.

Dayson’s expression brightened. “You want to call it a night early?”

“And miss all this?”

Dayson didn’t get it. Did she want to leave the party or not? “What’s your plan?”

Talia smiled and spoke through their mind-link. ‘I would love if you could hold me for everyone to see while they wonder what’s our relationship.’ And those sluts who are coveting Dayson could die from envy.

Dayson had no objections. But how can he hold Talia without revealing they were mates or making them look like cheaters? And then it hit him. ‘You want us to dance?’

‘Oh, Mr. Blake! How nice of you to offer. I would love to.’

Dayson loved how she was bold and innovative in this game of deception. And he loved the idea of them dancing for everyone to see while not knowing the truth. Now only if he could kiss her, that would make everything better.

James noticed that Dayson and Talia went to the dancefloor as soon as they finished their meal. He saw them holding each other while swaying to the music, and he thought it was a great idea.

“Miss Cornelia,” James called. “Would you like to dance?”

Cornelia’s eyes shifted to the dancefloor. She danced a lot in the Silver Flame Coven, but this music was different, and people danced as couples, and the legs moved strangely, and she wore those wretched high heels.

“Uhm… I don’t know how”, she admitted.

James smiled a little. He was not really an expert, but as part of his education to be the next Alpha, he also had a few dancing lessons, so he had several moves ready. He could imagine twirling Cornelia, making her bend backward, and then he would help her straighten while their noses touched. Maybe he could sneak in a kiss without people noticing.

James was about to offer to teach her how to dance when he noticed a presence behind him.

“James, my son,” Alpha Edward greeted cheerfully. “Good job on representing us at the ceremony. Do you mind introducing me to your partner?”

James’ mood went to hell. Why was his father here? And why did he make it sound like James was a groomsman for the sake of the Red Moon pack?

When James snapped to his senses, he saw Cornelia’s warm brown eyes directed at him, silently sending him messages he didn’t understand, but he knew that she was telling him they were in this together.

Alpha Edward was right there, behind him, exchanging shallow pleasantries with Meg and Kai.

Dayson, Talia, Maya, and Jaeden were on the dancefloor, and James wondered if his father had waited for people from the Shadow Fang pack to leave their table before coming there. Alpha Edward and Alpha Dayson never got along well, and things worsened after the Marcy fiasco.

Normally, James could smell Alpha Edward from a mile away, but when James was with Cornelia, everything faded because her sweet scent of wild berries would overtake his system. Like now.

James turned robotically toward Alpha Edward and forced a smile while getting up. Sitting in front of a standing Alpha was a sign of disrespect.

“Father,” James called. “This is Miss Cornelia Silverflame, special advisor to Alpha Natalia Moonrider from the Midnight Guardians pack.” He turned to Cornelia. “Miss Cornelia, this is my father, Alpha Edward from the Red Moon pack.”

With a stoic expression, Cornelia raised her hand toward Alpha Edward with her fingers curling slightly. She saw that in movies. That was how people greeted royal females; in this setting, she was definitely a royal.

Alpha Edward stared at Cornelia’s hand, needing a moment to process the situation. Why was she still sitting? And did she expect him to kiss her hand? Did she treat him like he was inferior? He was an Alpha, for crying out loud!

But Cornelia had a special status, and he couldn’t risk offending her. Meg and Kai were observing this interaction, and there were too many witnesses.

Alpha Edward held Cornelia’s hand and moved to kiss the back of her palm with, “It’s a pleasure, Miss Cornelia.”

Cornelia’s lips lifted into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Oh, trust me, Alpha Edward, the pleasure is mine.”

As Alpha Edward bowed to kiss her hand, Cornelia noticed a female behind him.

“And this is?” She asked.

Alpha Edward straightened his posture and stepped to the side while gesturing. “This is my mate, Luna Layla.”

Cornelia nodded at Luna Layla, not bothering with pleasantries. She heard how Alpha Edward was harsh toward James; any mistake would result in physical punishments, and that woman who called herself James’ mother would just stand there and let it happen. James said he doubted that Alpha Edward was his father, but considering how cold Luna Layla was, Cornelia wondered if that woman was James’ mother.

Alpha Edward opened his mouth to say something, but he paused when Cornelia stood up.

“I heard a lot about you, Alpha Edward.”

He smiled and leaned toward Cornelia. “Good things, I hope.”

James gritted his teeth while suppressing the growl that bubbled in his chest.

James knew very well that sleazy smile and how his father would approach little by little, not making it evident that he was flirting until it was too late. By the time female in question realized what was going on, she was forced to accept his advances or to cause a ruckus by refusing an Alpha. No one dared to offend the Alpha of the second largest pack in North America, and then there were those who foolishly thought that they would get some benefits by giving in.

Cornelia tilted her head and didn’t respond to Alpha Edward’s comment. Instead, she turned to James. “Is your offer for dancing still valid, or does your parents’ appearance change that?”

“Still valid,” James responded right away.

Cornelia hooked her hand with James’ and said to Alpha Edward. “I would love to stay and chat, but my partner asked me for a dance, and it wouldn’t be polite to let him wait.”

Alpha Edward’s smile fell, and he stared at James, silently asking him for an explanation.

“Father, mother,” James said while nodding at them. “If you excuse us.”

Alpha Edward’s face darkened at the sight of James leading Cornelia away.

‘What is the meaning of this?’ Alpha Edward’s voice boomed in James’ mind. ‘I told you to introduce us and not take her away! And to think that I had to come to her!’ Instead of the other way around.

‘I asked her to dance before you came,’ James responded coolly. ‘Did you expect me to go back on my word? I would advise you to avoid Miss Cornelia and let me handle this. Her opinion of our pack is not very good.’

Alpha Edward could smell bullshit from a mile away. ‘Not good? She is friendly with you.’

‘That’s because I prevented her from embarrassment during the ceremony. Didn’t you tell me to stick to her and leave a good impression? I am doing my best to turn her gratitude into something more. As a special advisor to Alpha Natalia, Miss Cornelia can open the door of the Midnight Guardians pack for us. Or would you rather I approach those three females you assigned to me in advance? Will you handle the pack that never wanted anything to do with us while I already have a foot through the door?’

After a few seconds of silence, Alpha Edward responded, ‘Stay with Miss Cornelia. Make us look good.’

‘That’s what I’m doing, father. Instead of jeopardizing my progress, I recommend you keep an eye on Nora. If she ends up in a dungeon again, I’m not going to be the one lowering myself so that she can be freed.’

Alpha Edward grumbled something, but James didn’t care about it anymore.

James was fuming when his father approached them, and he had no idea how to get Cornelia away from Alpha Edward, but then Cornelia stepped up and humiliated the old guy. Did Alpha Edward realize that Cornelia looked down on him, and he let it happen? What kind of an Alpha would allow for such a scene to happen? His chocolate-colored Goddess is awesome!

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