Chapter 29 29
Gregor POV
If I thought Sugar was finished torturing me, I was wrong. Dead wrong.
She clapped her hands again, striding into the middle of the sitting room like a general about to command troops. “All right, lovebirds,” she chirped. “Phase two of training: cheesy couple scenarios. Because nothing says ‘madly in love’ like public displays of dramatic nonsense.”
Leon pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sugar…”
“No, no, don’t ‘Sugar’ me,” she cut him off, finger wagging. “If this kingdom is going to buy that Margaux here”—she flung her arm toward Marigold, who was already rolling her eyes—“is your blushing bride-to-be, then you two better sell it like a telenovela marathon.”
Marigold groaned. “Please tell me this doesn’t involve fake kisses again.”
“Oh, it’s worse.” Sugar’s grin was downright villainous. “Scenario one: Margaux trips on the royal carpet, and Leon heroically catches her. Swoop her up, hold her tight, make everyone swoon.”
Marigold squawked. “What kind of Disney princess nonsense—”
“Go!” Sugar barked, clapping once.
Leon, to his credit, didn’t hesitate. He stepped toward her, and with one calculated movement, “accidentally” brushed against her ankle. Marigold yelped, stumbled, and before I could blink, she was in his arms.
“Really?” she deadpanned, arms crossed even as she dangled in his hold. “You tripped me on purpose.”
“And saved you. You’re welcome,” Leon replied smoothly, his royal smugness intact.
My wolf snarled inside me again.
Sugar squealed like an overexcited director. “Perfect! Except Gregor looks like he’s about to chew your arm off, Leon. Keep going!”
I growled. “This is ridiculous.”
“Scenario two!” she steamrolled over me. “Margaux feeds Leon a grape while lounging decadently. Go on, darling, pick up the fruit like you own the place.”
Marigold stared at her like she’d sprouted horns. “You want me to what?”
“Feed him. With longing in your eyes. Pretend you’re obsessed with his jawline or something.”
Leon actually smirked, reaching for the fruit bowl. “I don’t mind—”
“I do,” I snapped.
Sugar pointed at me. “Shut it, Alpha Grumpy Pants. You’re the audience. No heckling.”
Marigold huffed, plucked a grape, and held it up like it was poison. “Here. Choke on it.”
Leon leaned forward, teeth catching the fruit from her fingers in one infuriatingly smooth move. Their eyes locked a second too long.
I dug my claws into the armrest.
Sugar fanned herself. “Yes, yes, give me more scandal. The tabloids will eat this up.”
Marigold wrinkled her nose. “This is the dumbest thing I’ve ever done.”
“Scenario three!” Sugar announced before I could stand up and drag them apart. “The Dramatic Entrance. Leon, stand at the bottom of the staircase. Margaux, descend like you own every diamond in Paris. Swoosh the gown. Toss your hair. Smile like you just invented champagne.”
Marigold groaned loud enough to shake the windows. “Sugar, it’s nine in the morning. I am not swooshing anything.”
“Oh yes, you are.” Sugar snapped her fingers at a maid, who appeared with a dress so glittery it looked like it had eaten half a chandelier.
I swore under my breath.
Minutes later, Marigold was stomping down the grand staircase in that ridiculous dress, muttering curses with every step. “I feel like a disco ball. A walking disco ball, Sugar. My wolf wants to murder you.”
“Own it, darling!” Sugar hollered from below, bouncing on her toes. “Chin high! More sass! Pretend Gregor just bought you a Hermes bag in the wrong color!”
Marigold flipped her hair dramatically, then snarled, “This isn’t pink quartz, Alpha Gregor. This is blush beige! How dare you insult me?”
The entire room burst into laughter—Leon hiding his behind a cough, Sugar howling like a banshee, and Marigold finally cracking a grin mid-performance.
Me? I just sat there, seething, my wolf clawing at me while they all carried on.
Because Sugar was right about one thing.
I looked jealous.
And worse—I was.
A few minutes later.
My wolf was pacing, teeth bared in the back of my mind. Every time Leon’s hand brushed Marigold’s arm, every time she tossed her hair like Sugar demanded, every second their eyes locked in some fake dramatic scene—my chest tightened like a damn vice.
Sugar had gone too far this time.
“Scenario four!” she sang, twirling in her silk robe like some unhinged Broadway director. “The Balcony Confession. Leon, you tell Margaux you would die for her. Margaux, you gaze up at him like he hung the moon. Extra points if there’s lip trembling.”
“No,” I snapped, louder than I meant.
All three of them turned toward me. Leon arched a royal brow, Marigold tilted her head sassily, and Sugar put her hands on her hips like a tiny general about to scold me.
“No?” Sugar repeated, voice dripping with mockery. “What’s the matter, Alpha Growly? Can’t handle a little acting?”
My wolf pressed harder against my skin, snarling. She’s mine.
“This isn’t acting anymore,” I growled, standing. “It’s unnecessary.”
Marigold smirked, arms crossing under her chest like she had been waiting for this moment. “Ohhh, someone’s jealous.”
“I am not jealous.” The words came out too sharp, too fast.
Leon, the bastard, actually smirked. “It does seem like it, Alpha.”
Sugar gasped theatrically, fanning herself with both hands. “Oh my gods, he is jealous! Gregor, you’re about to pop a vein.”
“I said—” I snapped, pointing a finger at them, “—this training is over.”
Marigold’s grin widened, eyes glittering with pure sass. “Oh no, Big Bad Alpha can’t stand to see me feed grapes and walk down stairs. Tragic.”
“You call that walking?” I shot back. “You looked like a drunk peacock in sequins.”
She gasped, hand flying to her chest. “Did you just insult my dramatic entrance? That was art!”
“Art? That was a crime scene.”
Leon actually chuckled, which made my wolf snarl again.
Sugar practically bounced. “This is better than I imagined. Forget Leon and Margaux’s romance—we’ve got a whole other soap opera right here.”
“Sugar,” Leon muttered, though I noticed he wasn’t stopping her.
Marigold stepped closer to me, eyes dancing with mischief. Too close. My wolf shoved against me, demanding I drag her away, hide her from Leon’s gaze.
She tilted her chin up. “If you’re not jealous, Alpha, then why does your wolf look like he wants to eat your prince?”
The words hit like fire, and for a moment I almost lost control. My claws pricked at my palms, my wolf howled inside my skull.
Leon stepped forward, cautious, sensing it. “Gregor—”
I snapped my gaze to him, and my voice came out like a growl. “Stay away from her.”
The room froze.
Marigold blinked, caught off guard for once. Sugar’s jaw dropped like I’d just confessed my undying love.
Silence stretched, heavy. My wolf was right at the edge, pushing hard. One more second of Leon standing that close, and—
Sugar broke it with a clap and a squeal. “Ohhhh, he said the thing! The stay away from her thing. Classic jealous alpha line. Somebody get me popcorn!”
Marigold’s cheeks flushed even as she tried to keep her smirk. “Wow. Did the almighty Alpha Gregor just admit he cares?”
I clenched my jaw, turning away before my wolf could betray me further. “This charade is over. Training’s done.”
But the truth was already out. My wolf had made damn sure of it.