Chapter 41 HIS WOMEN
WILLA’S POV
I could’ve melted into a heap on the floor just from the relief that flooded me as soon as my brother showed up. But I would rather shave my head than show any sign of vulnerability in front of Gallahan.
“Nothing,” I fibbed, pulling Sarina away from Gallahan, who stood glaring at William. “Is the Ascension Rite about to start?”
“In less than an hour,” William replied, willingly meeting Gallahan’s furious gaze with an impassive one. “I was sent here to inform our honorable guests. But then this is what I came to.”
He walked up to Gallahan and squared up to him in an almost haughty manner.
“Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Wick. Still, I honestly had half a hope that since we have welcomed you as a guest in our home in respect to you as the Alpha King’s son and in consideration to the longstanding ceasefire, you would’ve acted accordingly. But I suppose that is too much to ask from you.”
Tension lined the contours of Gallahan’s body, betraying how he was just seconds away from jumping straight into a bloody fisticuff. “This does not concern you, Alfiero.”
“It doesn’t?” William arched his brow. “You dared to terrorize an Alfiero in her own home on an important night like this, and you still think it is not within my domain of concern? All the battles of the war must’ve really dealt a great damage to your brain, Mr. Wick.”
Gallahan sneered. He was about to retaliate with a scathing remark but the absurdly beautiful and elegant woman, the one who held Gallahan’s hand earlier, stepped in.
“Gallahan, it’s best if you prepare now for the Ascension Rite.”
She laid her hand on him again. This time, it was on his shoulder, and just like before, Gallahan didn’t seem to mind the physical contact.
Ha!
He wanted to claim me as his fated mate? And what then? I'll end up joining his growing harem?
No way! To hell with that!
He could have as many women as he pleased as long as he stayed out of my life and my children’s lives.
Still, I couldn’t deny the ache that flared in my chest just by the mere thought of him and his women.
But it wasn’t because I loved him.
It was simply because of the wolf inside of me that would forever yearn for its better half.
And the yearning had grown nearly a hundredfold just from his presence.
He was right there. Within my arm’s reach.
And apparently within other women’s reach too.
His other company, a woman equally beautiful as the other, but in a more subtle and understated kind of way, finally spoke for the first time.
“Come on, Gee. You wouldn’t want to be late. Your presence is already expected there, after all.”
Hearing the nickname, I harshly bit down on my lower lip, afraid that a scoff would escape me.
It seemed it didn’t slip my brother’s notice either. Because he picked it up and threw it at Gallahan’s face in sarcastic sweetness.
“That’s right, Gee,” he said with a smirk. “Listen to your beloved women. You better get ready now. The Ascension Rite wouldn’t wait for you even if you are the Alpha King’s son.”
Gallahan angrily let out a snarl, gathering William's collar in his fists. “Listen here, you-”
“Gallahan!”
His women rushed to pry him off from my brother, while I simply let William handle things on his own.
“See, Sarina?” I whispered to her. “What part of him has changed? Still as violent and aggressive as the man who had waged war all those years ago.”
Sarina didn’t say anything, just looked at Gallahan like he was a puzzle she was trying to piece together.
“Gee, seriously,” pleaded one of his women gently. Almost sweetly. “Drop it, and let’s just get changed for the Ascension Rite. You wouldn’t want to miss it, right? Think of your painting.”
Gallahan was still seething, his grip on my brother’s clothes trembling in sheer fury. But he eventually freed William with a harsh shove.
His chest was heaving, his breathing labored and quick from the wrath he hadn’t unleashed yet.
Then with one last lingering glance at me, he stormed back into the adjoined bedroom where he came from.
The woman with deep black hair immediately followed after him without much of a word, while the other lady, straight auburn-haired and curvy, turned to us and politely said, “I apologize, Mr. Alfiero, Miss Alfiero, and Miss…”
“Welby,” Sarina finished.
“Right. Miss Welby. I deeply apologize. It wasn’t our intention to cause a commotion. We simply want to attend the Ascension Rite.”
William hummed. “I shall send someone to escort your group to the Glass Dome, where we hold the Ascension Rite.”
“Thank you.”
William smiled, as polite as the one that the lady had on her face. “Oh, and please put a tighter leash on your beast. Tonight’s ceremony is too important for him to disturb and wreak havoc.”
Her lips curled in a subtle sneer, but the way her eyes hardened and turned icy was clear and undeniable. “Please excuse me. I shall get ready for the ceremony as well.”
She then sauntered elegantly to the room where Gallahan and the other woman had disappeared to, gently shutting the door behind her.
“Philandering wolf,” I mumbled.
“Or maybe you’re just jealous they’re changing in the same room,” Sarina answered, looking at me with a knowing gaze.
“I am not,” I denied with a roll of my eyes. I then made my way to the main door of the lounge room, intent on getting to my children soon. “Anyway, I do not have time to dilly-dally anymore. I need to change too. Gillian and Calisto are probably looking for me now.”
I made my way back to my room with Sarina, who kept stealing glances at me warily.
“Er, Willa?” William called, catching up to me in the hallway. He looked absolutely concerned.
“Yeah?”
He raked a hand over his hair, sighed, and then said in a very hushed voice, “Maybe it’s best if you let Sarina escort the twins around tonight.”
“I think so too,” Sarina seconded.
I blinked at the two of them with furrowed eyebrows. “Er, why?”
His hand found his hair once again, combing through the mussed up strands. “Did you completely miss the reason why they are here? They are attending the Ascension Rite, Willa.”
Oh.
Oh, shit.
It totally slipped from my mind. I had been too caught up in the situation with Gallahan and by the fact that I saw him again.
Instantaneously, horror slammed onto me, leaving me feeling breathless.
Whatever denial I still had about everything Sarina had said to me earlier became nothing but smoke and ashes.
“Oh, gods…” I whispered, the gravity of the entire situation hitting me heavily like an anchor on land. “What am I going to do?”
It seemed like Sarina was truly right.
I couldn’t hide from the inevitable forever.
Gallahan would not only feel the parental blood link form and know the twins’ existence for certain, but he would also see them tonight.
But perhaps I could keep him from actually meeting them after the Ascension Rite.