Blossom POV
As I looked into Dean's eyes, I saw disbelief etched across his face. I hoped he would reassure me, tell me it was all a misunderstanding, that I hadn't seen what I thought I saw and that he hadn't been embracing Liza. There were so many things I wanted to hear from him, so many explanations he could offer. Yet, he just stared at me, as if completely clueless about what I was referring to. He remained silent.
Summoning my courage, I spoke in a calm, measured tone, "I saw you both last night. After you left me and didn't return for so long, I began to worry about you. So, I crept out into the corridor. There was a door ajar, and I thought I could find you and make sure you were okay. I quietly approached the door until I could see inside, and there you were with Liza. She had her arms around you," I continued. "And I think I saw your arms around her, too."
Finally, I had spoken the truth that had been weighing on me all day. I studied Dean's face, hop
Blossom POVSuddenly, Dean felt a strong urge to keep me close, safeguarding me from the world's harm. My sweetness and innocence fueled his protective instincts. He realized he should have shielded me from Liza and wondered if I had encountered her after he sent her away from Eliza's room.I was contemplating Dean's words when I felt his arms wrap around me, holding me protectively. The security of his embrace soothed me more than anything else that day, or perhaps it was finally hearing the truth in his own words. I realized I needed to place my trust in Dean, rather than others. I was relieved to hear that Liza would soon be leaving the villa.As Dean and I lay together, his arms holding me, we each became absorbed in our own thoughts. I continued to process his explanation of the previous night, willing myself to believe him completely. Initially, I thought I could. It was a relief to finally hear him speak about that night, answering questions I had been lo
Blossom POV.Liza knew exactly how to exploit my vulnerabilities. She understood just where my insecurities lay when it came to Dean. Once she found my weak spot, she knew how to press it, cutting deep and mercilessly.Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by Dean's voice. "Oh, I almost forgot to tell you," he said. "I need to leave for a business trip shortly and won't be back until tomorrow."Dean tried to sound casual, though I could sense he wished he had given me more notice. It was one of the reasons he sought me out earlier when he found me in the breakfast room with Caleb. Things hadn't gone as planned then, and he'd been looking for the right moment to tell me since. He could have mentioned it sooner, but being caught up in our shared moments distracted him. The timing was less than ideal, he realized, but hopefully, he had soothed my worries. I was naive and innocent, and he knew he needed to be more mindful of what might unsettle me to avoid th
Blossom POV."You will marry Alpha Dean! Do you understand?!"Uncle Alejandro's voice was deep and firm, enough to stop me from opening the door. Probably my sister Diana pleaded again.Its been two days since our uncle announced the wedding of my sister to Alpha Dean, the alpha who lost his wife a few days ago, and until now, I still can't believe our uncle's decision! Alpha Dean is a death sentence! He is known as the most cruel alpha in the entire continent! Yet, I can't do anything to help my sister."Make sure you look good tomorrow! I don't want any unnecessary problems!"After does remark, I heard footsteps, a signal for me to turn the doorknob. "Uncle Alejandro..." I greeted with a smile on my face. I make sure that he won't notice the annoyance and anger that I hide. If he finds out that I don't agree with the marriage, surely he will lock me to my room until my sister is taken away by the bastard Alpha Dean."Blossom," Uncle Alejandro uttered with his usual strict face. He l
Blossom POVI shivered slightly as my uncle tightened his grip on my arm and pushed me forward to stand at the center of the Royal Werewolf Court. I could feel the steely-eyed gaze of the court's high leadership piercing me, but I dared not look up. There was no way I was going to let them see how frightened and alone I felt.I was there as a substitute for my sister Diana, who had escaped the grip of our uncle before landing in the very position I now found myself in. Even when I had helped my sister to get away, I never expected that I would be the one selected as the mate for the alpha. It was Diana whom our royal family had offered to the courts as a substitute mate for the newly widowed Dean, the alpha leader of New Orleans' largest werewolf race. I had never actually laid my eyes on him before, but I had heard plenty about him. He was said to be one of the strongest leaders ever known, a fierce warrior who ascended to his position as alpha at a very young age. But that wasn't al
Blossom POV It was with that strength that I was determined not to show any outward weakness. I would concentrate on the one bright spot in all of this shameful mess—I was about to be out of my uncle's house and away from my cruel family. I had often vowed to myself that I would seize any opportunity to be out from under my uncle's fist once I came of age. This was my chance. While I knew little of what might lie ahead, there were few scenarios I could imagine that would be worse than the life I had known under my uncle's roof.I am suddenly aware that someone is speaking. It is the head of the Royal Elders, and he is acknowledging my uncle, much to Alejandro's delight. The senior elder is now formally asking the court to vote on accepting me as the substitute mate for Dean. After some mumbling and a voting process that was far more formal than necessary, their recommendation is unanimously approved. It is now up to Dean to confirm that he accepts the court's decision so that I can b
Blossom POV.My uncle is quite possibly the most controlling man I have ever known. I remember looking around my bedroom this morning. It is the drabbest place in his entire home, by far. Sure, it had a bed and a place for what few clothes he allowed us to have. The rest of his home is full of sparkle and glamor, almost gaudy because Uncle Alejandro is nothing if he isn't a showman for all his wealth—and all the wealth he wants people to think that he has, on top of that.I remember the day Diana and I came to our uncle's home. We had just lost Mom and Dad and were in such a state of utter despair, we didn't know what was happening. Of course, we were just little kids; we didn't know what was going on anyway. Diana seemed relieved that our uncle had summoned us. We had barely seen him up to that point in our lives. I have no idea why he never came around. Father used to refer to him as the black sheep. I am not sure if they grew up together. I know he and Father were half-siblings.We
Blossom POV.Even with Diana's sharing of knowledge about what it means to be a she-werewolf, I am petrified of becoming the alpha's mate. I don't know the first thing about being anyone's mate, let alone the alpha. The crowd is probably right; I am nothing but a substitute for a substitute. I hope I can at least make Dean believe that I know what I'm doing. Oh, my God...Dean. He is so incredibly handsome; no wonder others envy me for this position.I had been told he was incredibly good-looking, confident yet not boastful. That combination made she-werewolves swoon. Now that I've laid eyes on him, I see what they mean. I am not sure whether I should be more frightened and nervous, wondering if I measure up, or feel overjoyed that I am lucky enough to have Dean as my mate.But now—now, he isn't saying anything! I don't understand why his father interjected himself into the situation anyway, but I have heard that the alpha's father is "in bed with the court." I'm not even sure what tha
Blossom POVA hush fell over the group once again. The elders are just as taken aback by Dean's response as I, Alejandro, and Aries are, and like them, they are not quite sure how to react. Clearly, as the court leadership, they had made the authoritative decision. Whatever they say becomes the law of the land. At least it always had.The court is not known for its appreciation of surprises like the one the alpha has just delivered. I had been found sound and worthy as a substitute mate for the alpha. They had made this clear in reading their decision aloud before all those present, including Dean.Now, at the surprise statement made by Dean, the elders were left pondering exactly what to do next. In their memory, there had never been a situation quite like this where someone—in this case, an alpha—contradicted what was already dictated by the court. Questioning the authority of the court can lead to punishment, as it has in other situations. Imprisonment is not out of the question wh