Chapter 116 116
Aurélie POV
For all I knew, we could have been the only two people left in that crowded party room.
The tingles were stronger now impossible to ignore and suddenly, I understood what he’d meant. What he had been trying to tell me all along.
Were we… fated mates?
The thought hit me with startling clarity. It explained so much the overwhelming intensity whenever we were alone, the way everything between us sharpened the moment I wasn’t distracted by pack duties or the looming threat of his ex.
How had I not seen it sooner?
He had known. I could see it plainly now in the smug, infuriatingly cocky curve of his mouth as he watched realization dawn on my face. He’d known for some time.
My gaze drops to our joined hands. His thumb strokes the back of mine slowly, deliberately, as if savoring the moment.
“Well, now seems like the perfect time to announce the reason for tonight’s celebration!”
Alpha Quentin’s voice cuts through the tension, drawing the room’s attention back to him.
I release Damien’s hand just as Dominique and Delphine come rushing toward us, Fabrice close behind with my drink.
“Everything okay?” Fabrice asks, his eyes flicking between Damien and me as I intercept Delphine just in time stopping her chocolate-coated fingers from touching my dress.
Ah. They’d found the dessert table.
Delphine’s hands are smeared with chocolate, and Dominique’s mouth is ringed with cake crumbs, neither of them making any effort to hide their guilt.
“Fine,” I say briskly, grabbing a napkin from a nearby table. I wipe Dominique’s face, then Delphine’s sticky hands.
Fabrice gives me a look questioning, knowing.
I return it with one of our silent exchanges that says leave it.
“As many of you know,” Alpha Quentin begins, “my Luna and I were not blessed with children of our own. But we have been blessed in many other ways.”
The room quiets.
“Beta Simon has always been like a son to us. And when he found his mate, Élodie, two years ago, we were further blessed with a daughter.”
A ripple of curiosity passes through the guests.
“It is therefore my great pleasure to announce that I have named Simon my Alpha heir. And Élodie, as his mate, will become the Saint Wolf Luna.”
Silence falls heavy and stunned.
This was unexpected. Highly unusual. An Alpha without a biological heir passing leadership to a Beta? The looks exchanged around the room confirm I’m not the only one thinking it.
“Simon will begin Alpha training immediately,” Quentin continues. “And I hope we may rely on our fellow Alphas and friends for support, and for welcoming him into his new role.”
Damien stiffens beside me.
As if he knows what’s coming.
Behind me, I hear a quiet snigger female, paired with an older male voice. I turn to see them trying and failing to suppress their laughter. The woman shoots me a look full of disdain before letting her gaze roam appreciatively over Damien’s back.
Ah.
One of those.
To the outside world, Damien was still a widower without a Luna. Untaken. Available.
“I also call upon my Alpha to support my decision,” Quentin says, lifting his voice.
At the same moment, Damien leans in close, his whisper brushing my ear.
“Get ready. He’s about to out you.”
“As many of you know,” Quentin continues, “we have recently joined the Darkvale pack, while remaining in good standing with the Bloodnight pack with the Alpha King himself in attendance tonight.”
He raises his glass toward Damien.
All eyes snap to him.
The Alpha King. The most powerful male in the room.
“Who is she?” the same pair behind me whispers.
“I don’t know… where’s Geneviève?” the woman replies, her voice edged with disappointment.
Was she one of Geneviève’s friends?
“Does the Alpha King truly support Saint Wolf joining Darkvale?” a man near the bar calls out. “The hidden Alpha couldn’t even show his face tonight!”
A laugh follows.
“Haven’t you heard?” the woman behind me adds loudly. “He’s covered in boils. That’s why he hides doesn’t want to be seen in public.”
She sounds almost gleeful.
I glance at Damien with a smug smile.
Had he started this rumor? Not recently, obviously but back when he hadn’t known who the Darkvale Alpha truly was?
“Yeah,” the man near the bar continues, pushing too far, “I heard his Luna cut off his”
The room erupts in laughter.
But not Quentin.
Not Simon.
Not Élodie.
They’re all looking at me now apologetic, uncomfortable.
“Mum,” Dominique whispers, tugging gently at my hand. “Why are they saying such nasty things about you?”
I crouch slightly, lowering my head to his ear.
“Because they don’t know who I am,” I whisper back, smiling. “Would you like me to tell them? Shall I make them wet their pants?”
He grins and nods enthusiastically, squeezing my hand.
My little heir.
Already ready to defend me.