Chapter 98 98
Aurélie POV
I am yanked there’s no gentler way to describe it out of my office and straight into the front courtyard of the Alpha House.
Of course he has to be the last one out of the car.
The red sports car suits him far too well. He loves that thing. Cares for it. Polishes it like it actually matters. I find myself wanting to drive it straight into a brick wall just to spite him, just to make him feel even a fraction of what I’ve lived with. I don’t think Damien has ever truly cared about another living soul, so the car would be my best target.
The moment he steps away from it, Dominique releases my hand and bolts.
Delphine stays tucked close to my leg, her small fingers still curled tightly around Roland’s hand. Poor Roland.
“Alpha Damien!” Dominique shouts as he collides straight into Damien’s upper thigh.
“Woah careful there, Dominique,” Damien says, theatrically pretending the impact nearly knocks him off balance. He stumbles back against the car before steadying himself, one arm dropping easily around Dominique’s shoulders. “You’re getting strong.”
“S-sorry,” Dominique murmurs, his cheeks flushing a sudden, embarrassed pink.
“Nothing to apologise for,” Damien replies lightly. “I was only teasing.”
He ruffles Dominique’s hair nearly the same shade of blonde as his own then rests his hand on the boy’s shoulder before lowering himself to eye level.
“How have you been?”
“Okay,” Dominique shrugs.
“Sleeping?”
Dominique shakes his head slowly, eyes dropping to the ground.
“Well,” Damien says with a wink, “hopefully we can fix that.”
Dominique beams.
“Hello, Aurélie. You’re looking well.”
Alpha Maurice steps away from one of the black SUVs, positioning himself beside Damien and Dominique.
I hadn’t even noticed him.
Or Lucas. Or Florence. Or the warriors.
My attention had been completely, dangerously fixed on Damien.
“Welcome, Alpha Maurice,” I say warmly. “This is quite the surprise.”
“Is it?” Damien straightens, that familiar arrogant smirk tugging at his mouth.
“Not that you’re here,” I reply coolly. “Your men have been hovering near my pack borders for days.”
Maurice chuckles. “I told you, Damien a woman always knows. You can’t get anything past a clever female.”
He steps closer, takes my hand, and presses a polite kiss to the back of it.
“Especially Aurélie,” he adds with a bright smile. “Shall we?”
I can’t help but chuckle beneath his intense gaze. There’s a warmth to Maurice that could thaw even the coldest ice cap.
“I’ll have drinks brought in,” I say. “Beta Fabrice will be here shortly.”
“Come on, Alpha Damien,” Dominique pipes up innocently, grabbing Damien’s hand. “I want to show you my room.”
He tugs Damien toward the house.
But Damien isn’t looking at him.
His eyes are locked on the little girl half-hidden behind my leg.
And then sharp, unmistakable on the boy holding her hand.
“Roland,” I say gently, meeting his nervous eyes with a soft smile. “Why don’t you put a film on for you and Delphine? I’ll have Miss Lambert check on you shortly.”
I want him to feel safe. Especially standing in front of the Alpha King who’s currently glaring at him for daring to hold his daughter’s hand.
Between Fabrice and Damien, Delphine is going to have a very difficult time dating when she’s older.
That is if she even forms a relationship with Damien at all.
I’m thinking far too far ahead.
“Yes, Alpha,” Roland replies quietly.
I ask Theo to look after the Bloodnight warriors and ensure they feel welcome before ushering Maurice, Lucas, Florence and of course, Damien into my office.
They take their seats around the round meeting table as I step out to prepare drinks, waiting for Fabrice to arrive.
When I return, tray in hand, everyone is seated
Except Damien.
He’s standing, studying the photographs lining my wall.
Pictures of me. Of the children. Of Fabrice.
I know it hurts him. I understand that much.
But this is the consequence of his own choices.
It’s Florence’s expression that makes my chest tighten.
The faint frown. The quiet ache in her eyes.
She and Fabrice might one day accept each other. They might even have children of their own. But all of his firsts are already framed on that wall.
She’ll have her own firsts.
But they won’t be his.
The realisation makes my stomach twist.
For the first time, I feel like the other woman.
“So,” I say, perhaps a little too sharply, setting the drinks down as I take my usual seat. “To what do we owe the pleasure of this impromptu visit?”
The door opens just as Fabrice steps inside.
His eyes land on Florence instantly.
I watch his entire body go rigid.
Is her lemon drizzle scent already working its way under his skin?
“I just wanted to see how secure things were here” Damien begins.
“No,” I cut in flatly.