117
Emma
“We are somewhat used to Kai pulling idiotic stunts, but I thought you would do better,” Uncle Hendrick reprimands him, getting a scoff from Ace.
He averts his gaze shortly while he approaches us, before setting it back on us. “I can’t possibly go against orders of the Alpha King, can I?”
I feel my blush spreading on my face as his eyes halt to study my expression, and I curse myself because I know that he must be hearing my heartbeat speed up.
A faint grin appears on his face even though Hendrick is still berating him, and I have to pull myself together with all my might to squint my eyes at him.
Why does he have to look this good in his uniform anyway?
He crosses his hands behind his back, turning towards his father while he conceals his smug expression with a lick of his lips.
Jerk.
I resist the urge to check the time and find out how much of the five hours have passed already. Serena‘s shrill voice pierces the fog in my head, and I look between her and her father while they are talking without registering any of what they are saying.
My brain keeps getting blocked on my mate who conquered my mind with his navy-blue uniform and the silver buckles. I take a deep breath, wanting to ignore the thoughts streaming through me, my fingers itching while I can’t help but ask myself how the embroideries around the silver buttons would feel.
Clearing my throat, I butt in, in the hopes of rebooting my brain. “There will be a garden party tonight.”
Hendrick and Serena look at me, confused, while Ace lifts a brow as I must have disrupted their conversation in the most awkward kind of way. I clear my throat again, rolling back my shoulders. “That’s what the Alpha King told me.”
“Well,” Hendrick sighs. “I guess you will have to go to that by yourselves, as we, apparently, are stuck in this wing.”
“What?” I ask simultaneously with Serena while Ace remains quiet, obviously already informed.
“The guards told us that we weren’t allowed to leave,” one of the warriors of our pack shouts, getting an unhappy but affirmative murmur from the others.
I instinctively look at Ace, my eyes widening, but he just smiles at me softly, not helping to ease my heart pounding in my chest, even if it’s now happening for an entirely other reason.
Uncle Hendrick takes my hand, squeezing it comfortingly, getting me to direct my attention to him. “Don’t worry. I’m convinced that you will do just alright.” He shakes my hand gently, tilting his head. “Take a deep breath. You are our future Luna after all.”
His eyes sparkle, and I mimic him, inhaling and exhaling slowly, which makes me light up automatically. “Thank you,” I whisper, and with another squeeze, he lets go of me.
I lay my hand on my chest, my heart still feeling heavy, but at the same time, I feel determination stream through me. “What will happen before the trial starts? Will we see you again? Don’t we need to discuss some kind of strategy?”
Ace lowers his head while Hendricks lifts his chin defiantly. “I don’t think you will be allowed here anymore, my dear. But don’t worry, Cayden and I had time to prepare a claim, and we may not have to go through a trial. As soon as they have reassembled, we will know more. We got this.”
Nodding, I tap the hand he laid on my forearm. “Okay. We will try our best to keep our calm.”
“Very well,” he says, elated, bending to pinch his daughter’s cheek gently, causing her to smile at him broadly. “And you behave when you are with Emma. Be careful not to let them stress her any further.”
Serena puffs her chest, nodding repeatedly with a proud expression. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll beat them up if they annoy her even slightly.”
She lifts her arm, flexing it, triggering a round of laughter, and I hug her to my side. “You are precious.”
Pursing her lips, she wiggles in my grip, murmuring. “And you are the best sister one could have.”
Before she can successfully escape my grip, I gasp, hugging her closer. “Oh, I heard that.”
“Well, you need to get going, or you will be late for the party,” Hendricks interrupts us, causing me to finally let go of Serena, who pushes herself away from me with a huff.
Ace straightens his spine, taking his eyes off us, facing his father with a smile still playing on his lips. “Will you be alright?” he asks, getting a nod from Hendrick in response. “Tell me if you need anything. I know who to ask to get the guards to bring you what you want.”
“Something decent to eat would be nice,” one of our warriors shouts. “And some booze,” another chimes in, triggering the others to utter their wishes too, and soon enough they are laughing, their voices entangling in one another.
Serena hugs her father, and after exchanging our goodbyes, we start walking back into the palace. Hendricks slaps Ace’s shoulder in a fatherly manner. “Don’t let her out of your sight, son.”
I lay my arm around Serena’s shoulders, convinced that he must talk about her just until Ace answers in a whisper, “I’m rarely able to take my eyes off her, Dad.”
My heartbeat skyrockets once again, even if I act like I didn’t hear him. I smile at Serena, asking her if she is excited about us dressing up nicely for tonight’s party, but fail to distract my mind.