Chapter 109 Chapter 109
Violet
The morning sun filtered through the crystal windows of Ironcrest's breakfast room, casting prismatic patterns across the elaborate spread.
I'd barely slept, my mind still churning over last night's conversation with Dane and the evidence I'd sent him about Nate. But sitting here at this table, surrounded by the elegant formality of Deveraux women, I had to wear a mask of composure.
"The florist assured me they could source peonies in December," Nicole was saying, her voice awfully bright. She held up her phone, scrolling through what had to be the hundredth photo of wedding arrangements. "Imported from New Zealand, of course. Only the freshest will do."
Lady Aurelia sat at the head of the table, her posture impeccable despite the slight tremor in her hands as she lifted her teacup. She'd been quieter than usual this morning, only nodding at whatever Nicole said occasionally.
"Lovely choice," Aurelia murmured, though I detected a hint of weariness in her voice.
Aunt Thelma, seated beside Aurelia, nodded approvingly as she delicately spread jam on her toast. "Very sophisticated. Though I do hope you're not overextending yourself with all these arrangements, dear."
"Not at all," Nicole said quickly. "Everything's under control. The venue is confirmed for the twenty-third—the Silvermoon Estate. Isn't that right, Nate?"
Nate, who'd been picking at his breakfast with barely concealed boredom, looked up. "Hmm? Oh, yes. Very nice."
He'd been watching me, probably to gauge what my reaction was to the ‘evidence’ he gave me yesterday. And I decided to not trust him without doing a little investigation of my own.
My heart didn’t want to believe whatever he said blindly.
I'd done my best to avoid him, which wasn't difficult given how much time he spent trailing after Nicole like a dutiful fiancé.
The irony wasn't lost on me, he'd left me for her, and now he looked utterly miserable.
Aunt Rosy took a sip of her orange juice. "The Silvermoon Estate is beautiful. We attended a reception there last spring."
"It cost more than most pack houses just to book," Nicole added, unable to help herself. "But Alpha Alaric insisted on the best."
Alpha Alaric himself was conspicuously absent from breakfast, probably locked in his study with those mysterious papers covered in symbols. Tyler and Gavin had stopped by earlier to grab coffee before heading out to handle pack business.
Cassie sat beside me, unusually quiet. She'd fired off at Nicole last time though she maintained civility for Lady Aurelia's sake.
I focused on my coffee, willing myself to be invisible. The less I engaged with wedding talk, the better.
"Oh my Goddess, there she is!"
The shriek came from the doorway, making several of us jump. Two women burst into the breakfast room with the energy of a small tornado- all perfectly styled hair, designer athleisure, and clouds of expensive perfume.
"Nicole!" The taller one, a willowy blonde, rushed forward with her arms outstretched. "Look at you! Absolutely glowing!"
"Veronica!" Nicole jumped up from her seat, her face lighting up with genuine pleasure for the first time all morning. "And Madison! You're early!"
"We couldn't wait," Madison, a brunette holding an impressive number of shopping bags, gushed as they exchanged air kisses. "Less than a month until the wedding? Please. We needed to see you now."
I exchanged a glance with Cassie, who rolled her eyes subtly.
"Ladies," Lady Aurelia said with strained politeness. "How lovely of you to visit!"
"Lady Aurelia," both women said in unison, offering respectful nods before immediately turning their attention back to Nicole.
"We brought samples," Veronica announced, dumping several fabric swatches on the table. "For the bridesmaids' dresses. I know you said lavender, but I found this divine shade of periwinkle that would photograph so much better."
"And I have three different options for your bachelorette party," Madison interrupted, pulling out her phone. "There's the yacht in the Mediterranean, the private island in the Caribbean, or,hear me out, a château in the French countryside with a Michelin-star chef."
Nicole's eyes sparkled. "You two are amazing. Come, sit! Have you had breakfast?"
The women settled themselves at the table, barely acknowledging the rest of us. Nate straightened in his chair, clearly pleased to have new people to impress.
"You must be Nate," Veronica said, giving him an appraising look. "Nicole's told us so much about you."
"All good things, I hope," Nate said with that charming smile I used to fall for. Now it just made my stomach turn.
"Of course," Madison replied, though her tone suggested otherwise. "So brave of you to marry during the winter season. Most couples wait for spring."
"Well, when you know, you know," Nate said, reaching for Nicole's hand across the table. She let him take it, but I noticed her smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
"Speaking of knowing," Nicole said, squeezing his hand before pulling away, "you two absolutely must see the ring. It's…"
"Oh my God!!!"
Veronica had stopped mid-reach for a pastry, her gaze fixed on something beyond the breakfast room's large windows. Madison followed her line of sight and audibly gasped.
"Who is that?" Madison breathed.
I turned to look, already knowing what,or rather, who had captured their attention.
Through the windows, in the manor's private courtyard, Elijah was in the middle of what appeared to be an intense workout.
Shirtless. All of his tattoos on display. My breath hitched.
He was wearing just gym shorts and even from afar, I could see his corded muscles flex whenever he moved.
I hadn’t really noticed the huge glass gym on the other side of the manor, opening to the view of the huge frontyard with perfectly manicured lawns but now I couldn’t take my eyes off him.
He moved through a series of exercises with focused precision, pull-ups followed by push-ups, then some kind of combat training drill. Sweat made his tanned skin gleam in the morning sunlight, highlighting every muscle in his back, shoulders, and arms.
Oh for the love of—
"That," Veronica said, her voice almost reverent, "is the most beautiful man I have ever seen in my life."
"Dibs," Madison declared immediately.
"You can't call dibs on a person," Veronica argued, not taking her eyes off Elijah. "Besides, I saw him first."
"You did not! We looked at the same time!"
Nate cleared his throat loudly. "Ladies, that's…"
"Is he single?" Veronica interrupted, completely ignoring him.
"Does he live here?" Madison added, leaning forward in her chair for a better view. "Please tell me he lives here."
Cassie's fork clattered against her plate. "That's my brother you're ogling."
Both women turned to her with identical expressions of delighted surprise.
"Your brother?" Veronica's eyes widened. "What’s his name?”
Cassie didn’t answer but aunt Thelma did, enjoying the drama over the boring wedding prep talk.
“Thats Elijah”
“Elijah? As in Elijah Lockwood? THE Elijah Lockwood who hasn’t made a public appearance anywhere in the last five years"