Chapter 9

VIOLET

It was as though I'd thrown away my courtesy after leaving Silver Moon. I rushed out again and was grateful to spot Mason's back, only a house away.

"Mason!" I hollered, waving my right hand at him as he halted in his steps. Hurrying out, I quickly caught up with him.

"Sorry for my manners, I don't know what's gotten over me lately," I sighed, tucking a lock of hair behind my ears. It was very windy.

"This is the second time you're apologizing," he said observantly, his full eyebrows raised.

"I know, I forgot to walk you—" I began to ramble.

"God, no, Violet. It's the other way around, actually," Mason said, letting out a little chuckle. I could feel the color rising in my cheeks. If I was being honest, I was a bit embarrassed.

"Okay then. I'll see you around," I managed to smile as I lowered my eyes.

"You too, take care," he said. I quickly turned around, relieved to see him going.

The aroma of roasted chicken greeted my nose as soon as I stepped into the kitchen, where my grandmother was preparing dinner.

"Something smells nice in here," I said, taking a deep sniff and patting my stomach.

"I'm glad you like it. Who was that at the door?" she asked, looking up from the vegetables she was washing.

"The Alpha of your pack, or should I say Mason?" I replied, looking outside the window, away from her piercing gaze.

"And?" Grandma Charlotte asked. The sound of rushing water and swishing sounds stopped. She was now looking at me intently.

"Well, I think I've gotten myself into a tight spot. I told him I'm a caterer, and now he wants me to cook for the ball," I sighed, plucking a spinach leaf from its bunch.

"You told him that? Why?" My grandmother's face was pulled into a confused look, her hands on her hips as she stared at me, a puzzled expression in her eyes.

I knew I had to tell her the truth. She listened to me carefully as I spoke, nodding her head slowly and making small sounds of agreement.

"You should be very careful in this pack," my grandmother warned, her voice sounding very firm.

"I didn't know things were going to turn out this way. Honestly, if I'd known he was the Alpha, I don't think I'd have bothered saying anything about myself at all," I said sadly.

"I know, I know. Don't try to make yourself too obvious," she placed her hands over mine, giving me a slight squeeze. Despite the cool air she put on, I could tell she was as tense as I was.

"It'll be better to avoid Mason altogether. The last thing you want is for him to find out you're from Silver Moon, and their Luna for that matter."

"I know," I agreed, wrapping my arms around my stomach.

"Once he finds out you're pregnant with Adrian's child," Grandma Charlotte paused before letting out a sharp whistle, "he'll rip you apart. And that, my dear, you wouldn't want to happen to you."

Letting out a shiver, I released a deep sigh and let my thoughts distract me. Grandma was right. Mason was nice and welcoming, but that was the part of him he showed to me. For all I knew, I could be sentenced to death by the same person if he knew I was from Silver Moon pack.

The thought of him finding out never crossed my mind, but now that it did, I felt more skeptical than ever lest I get myself into a bigger problem.

******

**ADRIAN**

I should have said more. I knew that, but even if I did, what were the odds he would want to listen to me? I wondered. My father was overreacting and using something important to me as collateral.

I shut my eyes tight and leaned back against my chair. This wasn't the first or last time a member of the pack had decided to leave the pack. It wasn't often it happened, but it wasn't strange either. So what was his point exactly?

The only reason he was adamant, I realized, was because Emily was in the picture. He had never liked Emily, so I wasn't totally surprised he would go against my being with her. But to go to this extent of using something important to the pack against me?

"Oh, yes, sweet Emily," I heard Ares say.

"Shut up," I scowled, rolling my eyes at his sarcastic comment. That was when I totally remembered her. Jerking from my seat, I scolded myself mentally, my thoughts now centered on her welfare.

I didn't like abandoning Emily like I was doing. Since the previous day Reynold had called me, we hadn't spoken, much less seen each other.

I felt bad for Emily a lot of times and wondered how she put up with my busy periods, not to mention those years when Violet and I were married. If I could turn back the hands of time, I would right all my wrongs to her.

Grabbing my keys, a small smile fell on my lips. The thought of her alone was enough to make me happy. I felt a bit lonely sometimes, especially now that I was at loggerheads with my dad, and Ares was ignoring me.

If that was the price to pay, then so be it. I'd done my best doing what my Wolf and my dad wanted. And as for the Moon Goddess, I had to give it to her for playing her cruel trick on me. If she'd just paired Emily with me, it would have saved everyone a lot of stress. Damn her!

"Funny how you'll go the extra mile for Emily. Maybe, just maybe, if you'd paid this much care to Violet, you would have loved her," he said airily, but I could detect his anger.

"Ares?" I called out to him but got no answer. If he was going to go on this way, then so be it.