Kein’s POV
“What the fuck Caroline, what possessed you to this, an anniversary party, have you forgotten that we are in the middle of a divorce?”
“No, I haven’t, but please remind me one more time” she said continuing to check the list with the decorator
“Caroline!”
“What?!” she boomed, then in true Caroline fashion she looked around at all the staff who had now stopped working and where now staring at us, she smiled, then took a deep breath keeping her composure
“Bit-na”
“Yes” the decorator tentatively walked towards us
“Please ask everyone to excuse us please”
“Right away ma’am” she bowed and escorted everyone out
“You know, despite what you might think, I’m doing this for you, and not to get at you”
“How, how is all this for me? Please enlighten me”
“What do you think the rumours of a diverse will do to your share price, a CEO that cannot handle his own marriage can’t possibly handle a company, so yeah, I’m doing this for you honey…now if you’ll excuse me” I turned and walked away from her
How did I get myself into this mess, I have a wife that hates me, a mate that thinks I’m a selfish jerk who thinks of only himself, the past twelve hours have been hell, I had to watch Ali being taken away from me, I tried in vain to get her back, I have truly never felt this powerless in my life and I’m tired of this feeling, a few weeks ago life was simple ‘what the hell happened?’
Ali came into my life and changed everything, she has now become the centre of my world, I have to get her back no matter what.
Alicia’s POV
“Alexander I’m not going; you can’t make me”
“Have you forgotten what you said last night?”
“You can’t use the wish for this, pick something else”
“Not the wish, you said you’ll do anything” I looked at him and didn’t respond “tell me what to do I’ll do anything, please Alexander” he said in a squeaky voice with his hands flailing in the air
“Is that supposed to be me?”
“What, you didn’t like my impression?”
“Could use some work” I smirked, we walked into the second bedroom, it was not as big as Alexanders, but it had the same finishing's.
“The point is, he’s alive because you said you’d do anything for me so…”
“Fine”
“Bora, this is Alicia… Alicia Bora” he gestured to a short middle aged skinny woman with long black hair, she wore glasses and dressed in baggy black clothes and high heeled boots
“It’s nice to…meet…you” I bowed timidly confused by the way she looked me up and down as she walked around me
“Good cheekbones, good posture, nice hips, and butt” she nodded and looked at Alexander “I can work with this”
“Excellent” he offered her a small bow and started to leave “be good” he pointed at me, and I scrunched my nose up at him and he chuckled and walked out
I sat on the chair and let Bora do her thing, she braided my hair into three different chunks, and she pieced them together so effortlessly, she inserted beautifully decorated pins randomly around my head, some white, some red and some blue ones
“What do you think, mm” she asked holding a hand mirror showing me her masterpiece, it was like she created art with my hair
“It’s beautiful” I gasped, and she offered me a smile
“Now for the Hanbok”
“The what?” I looked at her curiously
“It’s traditional Korean clothing”
“Why do I need to wear traditional Korean clothing?”
“Because Mr Clyborne said so, by the way, your Korean is really good”
“Thanks” I said laughing nervously, I know I agreed to go but now it just seems too real, the white blouse of the Hanbok had a beautiful black hand embroidery along the wrists, and around the neckline forming a pendant wrapped in a silk black bow that trailed down to the red skirt, which was embroidered in gold around the hem, the outfit was simple and elegant topped with red traditional shoes that felt light as air decorated with animals dancing on clouds
“Thank you” I bowed as Bora left the room, I gave the mirror one last look “not too shabby if I do say so myself” the only thing wrong with this picture is that I’m going to celebrate Kein’s anniversary, but other than that, it’s perfect, I sighed and walked out
“Wow, look at you, I must say you clean up nicely”
“Thank you, you look rather dapper yourself” I said examining his outfit, it was red with a hand embroidered golden dragon seal along the chest and shoulders
“Is this called a Hanbok too”
“I believe it’s called a Durumagi”
“Oh, it’s beautiful”
“Thanks, shall we?” he offered me his arm, and I took a deep breath and wrapped my arm around his
“Can we go eat first, that way we can show face and leave…what do you think?”
“How about we show face first and afterwards I take you out to a nice dinner, what do you say?”
“Like a date?”
“Yeah, like a date” his body tensed up and he avoided my gaze, ‘I’m on my way to my mate’s anniversary so…’
“Yeah, why not?” he tried to hide it, but I saw a small smile form on the side of his lips, I don’t know why, but my heart skipped a beat a little bit
Kein’s POV
“Where are you?” Caroline hissed over the phone
“I’m parking the car; I’ll be there in two”
“You’re late, people have already started to arrive, and you know how people talk, I’m sure the rumours have already started, I told you not to move out, you were never late when you were with me” she growled as I walked in
“Caroline… please” I said stopping her mid rant “besides I don’t care what people say”
“Right, I forgot that you’re only here for the sake of your company, how noble”
“Whatever, let’s get this charade over with” I started walking away from her and she pulled me back and looked around smiling politely at the guest pretending that everything was fine
“Listen here Kein Keng, I am still your wife, and you are still my husband, and all these people have come here to celebrate with us, now be a good little boy and put a smile on that pretty face of yours”
“Or I can just leave” I turned towards the door
“Okay, wait, I’ll give you the beach house in Jeju”
“I swear sometimes it’s like you don’t know me at all” I started to walk out
“Did all those years mean nothing to you?” I stopped and looked at her
“You know it’s not about that, it has nothing to do with you”
“Then stay in honour of our time together, stay and celebrate the marriage we had”
“Okay, what do you want me to do?” she took my hand and turned me around
“Minister Che, welcome” she said as we bowed “Mrs Che it’s nice to see you again, come let me get you a drink” they waved us off and went to the bar
“This is quite a display” I nodded forcing a smile as we admired the black and gold deco “you are really putting the rest of us to shame, making us look like we don’t love our wives” he chuckled
“To be honest she did everything, I just showed up” we both laughed continuing the small talk, then the scent of passion fruit filled the air, my wolf leaped and started wagging his tale, Minister Che’s voice faded into the background
My eyes glued to my mate, the Hanbok only magnified how beautiful she was to me, my love for her is so potent that I can’t stand being away from her any longer
“Excuse me” Minister Che nodded and went to join his wife,
“I see Caroline took my advice”
“Mom, when did you get here” I turned startled by her sudden appearance
“I’ve been here for a while helping out in the kitchen, by the way have you seen your father? He should be around here somewhere” she said looking around the room
“No, I haven’t…what did you mean when you said Caroline took your advice?”
“Wait, you know that Caroline knows about us?” she gave me a confused look
“She knows about what dear?”
“Nothing…why did you ask her to invite the prince?”
“I know you’ve chosen to live a life outside the pack, but it wouldn’t hurt to rub shoulders with the elite in our world” she said fixing my Gat, ‘I feel ridiculous in this thing, I don’t understand why Caroline decided on this traditional theme, a simple black-tie event would have sufficed’
“Oh look, he came with someone, do you think that’s his mate?” mom gleamed looking over my shoulder
“No, she is not, she’s actually…”
“Here they come, I’m going to find your father” she said leaving in a dash
“Your highness, Miss Thompson” they bowed acknowledging my greeting
“I see you’ve bounced back and clearly ready to party” Prince Alexander mocked
“I’m a Lycan after wall” I turned my gaze to my mate “you look beautiful, being Korean suits you”
“He hem” he glared at me and held her close to him
“Still trying to force your way into her heart I see” I took a deep breath as I felt my anger flair up
“No one is forcing anything”
“That grip tells a different story”
“She’s not protesting is she?” he smirked, I stepped forward ready to punch him in the face
“Stop, don’t cause a scene” Alicia barked in my head through our personal mind link
“Why do you let him touch you like that?”
“Why are you having an anniversary party?”
“What?”
“It seems we’re both free to do whatever we want” she leaned into him wrapping her arm around his waist, I growled balling my hands up into fists
“Welcome, so glad you could make it” Caroline said taking my arm and wrapping her arm around it, I saw pain flash through Alicia’s eyes, and she withdrew her arm from around his waist
“Thank you for inviting us” prince Alexander smiled at Caroline
“My husband and I wouldn’t have it any other way” I looked at her and she was glaring at Alicia as she said those words
“We have kept you from your guests long enough, we should find our seats” Alicia said offering a small bow as she started to walk away”
“Wait” I said trying to stop her
“You are at table number five” Caroline interrupted, they nodded and walked away
I turned and growled at Caroline “did you have to be so mean to her?”
“Do you have to be so desperately in love with her? Honestly it’s our anniversary and your drooling over another woman”
“You know what Caroline; I’m done with this” I turned and saw prince Alexander sitting at the table with an empty seat next to him, I looked around the room for Alicia, but I couldn't see her anywhere
‘Where is she, where could she have gone?’
“I need to find her, and I need to find her now while she’s separated from him, this might be my only chance to rescue her”