Chapter 15 First Impresssion
Nova's Perspective
I let my gaze drift over the small crowded room, taking in the cluster of girls and their accompanying escorts, all of them trying to look relaxed while clearly feeling anything but.
My stomach twists with a mix of nerves and excitement, and I can’t quite tell which feeling is making me more uneasy.
Lucia steps forward at my side, clasping her hands together with quiet authority. The low murmur of voices fades as attention shifts to her almost instantly.
“Good morning, everyone, and welcome,” she says warmly. “My name is Lucia. I am Cassain’s mother, and the former Luna.”
That title alone seems to straighten spines and sharpen smiles. Earlier this morning, they arrived in a whirlwind of bright fabrics, expensive shoes, and an almost comical amount of luggage. In their defense, none of them know how long they’ll be staying—or whether they’ll leave disappointed or chosen.
Lucia turns slightly toward me. “I’ll be leaving you all in very capable hands. This is Nova. She knows the estate inside and out… and my son even better.” She arches a brow at me meaningfully.
I smile back and give a firm nod, silently promising I won’t let the situation spiral out of control, at least not today. Lucia offers the room a final wave before gliding out, leaving the responsibility squarely on my shoulders.
“She’s quite busy with other duties today,” I explain, breaking the brief silence. “But she’ll be joining us again at dinner.”
The group is gathered in the formal sitting room, sunlight pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows. It illuminates eager faces, sharp eyes, and carefully neutral expressions—all of them trying to read the room, and me.
“I recognize all of you from your profiles,” I continue, rubbing my hands together without realizing it. “We’re very happy to have you here.”
“So,” a girl cuts in smoothly, “when do we meet the Alpha?”
I recognize her immediately, Elora. The description hadn’t exaggerated. Dark hair frames her face perfectly, and her eyes are even darker, sharp with confidence.
I force myself not to glance lower, remembering an unfortunate line in her profile that mentioned birthing hips.
I offer a thin smile and smooth my hair back, buying myself a second. “Soon,” I say lightly. “Very soon.”
“Will I have my own bathroom?” another girl asks, already making herself comfortable on an expensive chaise lounge, arms crossed like she owns the place.
Right. That must be Lexa.
Her hair is pulled back neatly, the vibrant ginger shade almost glowing in the sunlight. She looks exactly like her profile described—confident, bold, and completely unbothered.
“Ah, yes,” I say, clearing my throat. “Everyone has their own—”
“Are the rumors about you fucking the Alpha true?” Lexa cuts in, her voice loud, blunt, and unapologetic.
The room freezes.
“Lexa,” the man beside her snaps. I glance at him briefly. He must be her brother, though they don’t share much resemblance—, his hair and eyes are much darker, his expression tense with embarrassment.
“Well, everyone already knows she is,” Elora adds casually, flipping a page in the book she brought along, as if she’s commenting on the weather.
I straighten my spine, refusing to shrink under their scrutiny. This isn’t new. I’ve heard the whispers, felt the looks, endured the assumptions. Still, it never stops being exhausting, being reduced to gossip, to something easy and ugly.
The last time someone accused me of being in Cassain’s bed, they didn’t bother to lower their voice. They called me a whore.
I take a slow breath and meet their gazes head-on.
“I understand that hearing I’m Cassain’s mistress might make some of you uncomfortable,” I say evenly. “But more than anything else, I am his friend. His best friend.”
The words feel tight but true. I offer a polite smile, even though my jaw aches from holding it in place.
Lexa scoffs, rolling her eyes. “Sure. We all know what that means.”
Her brother shoots her a sharp, warning glare, but Lexa doesn’t flinch. She’s clearly immune to subtle threats.
“Is he good in bed?” Elora blurts out suddenly, slipping her bookmark between the pages of her book with an almost careless flourish. “He looks like he’d be incredible…those hands…”
I clap my hands together quickly, cutting her off with more force than I intend. “Please,” I say firmly, trying to maintain some control, “can we not discuss the Alpha and I? That’s private.”
Then Elora laughs. “So that’s a yes.”
I turn to her fully now. “That’s a boundary.”
The word lands heavier than shouting ever could.
I draw a firm line in the sand. I understand their curiosity, they may very well have to marry a man whose heart is elsewhere, but right now, their questions feel invasive, and I can feel my patience thinning.
Lexa leans forward, pressing further, her pale eyes sharp and challenging. “Fine, but what exactly do you do here?”
“I…worked for Lucia,” I answer cautiously, keeping my voice steady.
Elora snickers, glancing at Lexa with a conspiratorial grin. “Oh, she’s the Alpha’s mistress, so obviously she does nothing but lounge in his bed all day waiting for him to show up.”
I grit my teeth. This was supposed to be straightforward, even entertaining. Instead, it’s quickly sliding into humiliation.
“I told you—”
“Why don’t you just marry him, then?” Lexa asks, tilting her head with a wicked smile that makes it clear she already knows why I won’t.