Page 4 of Alpha's Secret Baby
Our Alpha’s speech continued, “Nothing makes me happier than seeing the whole pack together and having my loving Luna and wonderful son and heir beside me.
“But, perhaps, there is one thing to make me happier still, something that I’ll take the opportunity to share now since we’re all gathered together. Nuu-Chah has made it known to me that our wonderful Cherry will soon officially join our family. I’d like you all to join me in toasting Dylan and Cherry, whose Moon Ceremony will take place in three months.”
My heart rocketed into my throat. Its furious thumping seemed to compete with the gasps and applause erupting around me.
Our pack’s smiling faces pressed in around me, and I realized they were raising their glasses to drink to Dylan and me. “To Cherry and Dylan,” the words engulfed me, my gaze tracking to my “mate.”
I felt my brittle smile falter as his jaw clenched. Tension stiffened his wide shoulders, and his gaze hardened as he looked my way.
I longed for the floor to swallow me whole.
I couldn’t stand this.
Our Moon Ceremony would happen in three months, and still, there was no sign of Dylan’s feelings changing towards me. I felt like I was drowning beneath everyone’s scrutiny. I imagined what they must be thinking. Their unspoken words seemed to buzz in my head.“Our future Alpha doesn’t even like her. Poor Dylan—he’s not attracted to her. Do you think it’s a mistake? Do you think the Alpha and Luna misinterpreted Nuu-Chah’s wishes?”
On shaky feet, I forced myself to stand alongside Dylan, who was already shaking hands with his father, who clapped him on the back. Heather’s arms were suddenly around me. I fought back tears.
I will not cry.
“I hope you didn’t mind me giving you the dress tonight. You can see it as a dress rehearsal for the real day, or you’re welcome to choose your own dress if you want something new,” Heather said.
I shook my head and managed to say, “I love it. I’d love to wear it on the day.”
My Luna beamed at me with touching fondness.
As if underwater, I heard Heather and Chris’s voices telling Dylan and me to go and join the party. The pack’s excitement flooded the room. Someone had set music playing, the pounding beat like the jackhammer of my heart. Everything around me seemed to blur. A wall of well-wishers surrounded me for what felt like an eternity. With each exchange, my breath caught more sharply. It barely registered as my dad found me, pulling me into a giant bear hug. In his arms, my feelings threatened to spill out, but more excited arms soon tugged me onward.
Finally, at the edge of the room, the space around me was clear of friends. I take a step, only to find myself teetering as if walking on unstable ground. Belatedly, I realized that I was, somehow, beside Dylan. He must have come out the other side of the pack, too.
Instinctually, my arm reached out to him, curving around his but Dylan tensed. A frown marred his handsome brows, and he pushed me away as if unable to bear my touch. I gaped after him, but he only stalked away.
Grabbing a bottle of champagne by the door, he strode out onto the empty balcony. My gaze darted back at the crowd, but the pack was oblivious, abuzz with excitement. Most people talked about the upcoming celebration.
My eyes tracked back out to Dylan’s wide back. He leaned over the balcony railings as if wanting to escape into the night. I wondered if that was what he wanted. Did his wolf want to flee from me too? I watched him take a swig of the bottle in hand, only to swiftly take another. Tears prickled across my gaze. No matter how hard I tried, it was hopeless. Dylan wouldneverlove me. He hated me. Humiliation washed over me as I remembered how he’d flinched at my touch.
Burin three months, we’d be bound together for the rest of our lives. A flash of our future beat through me. I’d really tried to believe that things would work out between us. I’d tried to give Dylan time to come around to me, to show him that I’d always be there for him, but his constant coldness towards me was…exhausting.
Taking one last look at Dylan’s back, I snuck off to the bathroom to gather my thoughts. There, I raked my fingers through my hair, tidying up the flyaway strands. I stared hard at my reflection.
The whole past year seemed to swarm over me. The one I’d spent so hard trying to get Dylan to notice me. For the first time, instead of helplessness, anger flooded me. I couldn’t keep doing this. I wouldn’t stay here only for Dylan to reject me over and over.
I thought of the moments of happiness I’d had over the last year while designing things like the curtains, cushions, and some of the dresses I’d made for myself. A year ago at college, I graduated with a qualification in fashion design. I’d toyed with the idea of applying to universities to study for a degree, but I’d put my interests on hold to come to grips with my future duties as Luna and to have more time to get to know Dylan. I refused to put them on hold any longer. Iwouldapply to study further.
In what felt like forever, excitement drummed through me. Formyfuture. For whatIwanted. The idea cemented. I wanted to be happy with what I was doing. The dream of designing things, creating them, and sharing them with others took root. So… I’d leave the pack before the bonding ceremony. It wasn’t as if Dylan wanted me around. He’d probably be relieved when he found out I’d gone.
With a final look in the mirror, my eyes filled with determination, I left the bathroom. From the edge of the room, I checked out the banquet hall and didn’t spot Dylan. He was so tall that I’d easily have spied him if he’d returned from the balcony. Not feeling like socializing alone and accepting more congratulations as half of the “happy couple,” I snuck out of the hall.
The barn had a large hallway, which was empty except for Dylan. As I stepped out into the space, I registered his slumped shoulders, how he leaned back against the wall, the bottle of champagne trailing in his hand.
His dilated eyes snagged on me. “Che– Cherry,” he slurred.
Shit.
He slid down the wall a little. He was wasted. For a moment, I thought about getting Bert to help. But at the thought, I worried Dylan would follow me back into the reception room. What if Dylan blurted out why he’d got so drunk? He’d ruin his dad’s night. Neither of his parents needed to see their son like this. The pack didn’t need to see their futureAlphalike this, either.
I resolved to look after him myself. Our house was only a few minutes’ walk down the dirt track.Dylan’shouse, I corrected myself. It wouldn’t be mine much longer. I’d made up my mind, but I still couldn’t resist the urge to look after him.
Dylan dropped the, luckily, empty bottle with a thud, then swayed.