“Was that all?” he pressed, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. I know my mother, Berry.”
Shes protective of you,” I offered vaguely. “That’s natural for a mother.”
“There’s protective and then there’s intrusive,” he murmured, but didn’t push further. Augustin studied my face for a moment, then his expression shifted to a mischievous grin. “Well, we can be fashionably late to lunch. His fingers toyed with the hem of my dress. “What do you say? Let’s make them wait while I remind you exactly why you’re mine and I’m yours.”
I hesitated only a moment before leaning in to kiss him. He responded eagerly, pulling me onto his lap. We moved together like teenagers in heat, all wandering hands and hungry kisses
“I want you to ride me right here,” he growled against my ear.
I laughed at his eagerness. “You’re becoming addicted,” I teased as I rocked against him.
His grip tightened on my hips, his eyes shifting to the wolf’s silver gaze. “I already am.”
We spent the next hour making love on the sofa. My scent mingled with his, permeating the room. At one point, I felt him struggling to hold Fenris back from biting down and claiming me permanently. The intensity of his restraint only heightened my pleasure. By the time we finally dressed to head to lunch, I was thoroughly claimed with his scent.
The dining room looked different when we arrived. For the first time, Bryloch, Adryx, Scarlett, and Freya were nowhere to be seen. Instead, Amelia, Evanth, and Elowen sat waiting for us.
“Why is she here?” Augustin asked, toward Elowen.
“Same reason she is,” Evanth replied with a nasty smirk, jerking his chin in my direction.
Augustin didn’t say anything else. We sat down–Augustin at his usual place at the head of the table, me beside him. His mother had taken Adryx’s seat, while Elowen and Evanth occupied Bryloch and Scarlett’s places. I wished we could join our friends and eat in
our room.
After a tense silence, “How do you like being back in Levenston Manor, Mother?” Augustin asked.
“It’s been beautifully decorated,” Amelia replied, giving me an appraising look. “The Manor hasn’t looked this inviting in years. You’ve breathed new life into these old walls.” I could tell she was studying her son, wondering if I’d revealed our earlier conversation. The slight relaxation in her shoulders told me she’d realized I hadn’t said anything.
“Juno oversaw all the changes,” Augustin said with unmistakable pride, placing his hand over mine on the table. “She has exceptional taste and vision.”
Evanth scoffed, his face twisting with disgust. “I’m sure she’s used to such work. Decorating for her Alpha master. She was someone else’s woman until you claimed her as a spoil of war.” His voice dripped with contempt. “Tell me, Juno, did you redecorate for your
first husband too? Before he discarded you?”
Before Augustin could respond, Amelia raised her hand. “Enough, Evanth. You will not disrespect Juno or your brother in his home.”
“This is the Levenston family estate,” Evanth muttered. “Our ancestral home. Not just his.”
“And as Alpha King, it’s Augustin’s home,” she replied firmly. “And as the future Luna Queen, it’s Juno’s home as well. That’s our way. Always has been.
“So we just accept her?” Evanth demanded, slamming his hand on the table. “This… this stranger waltzes in and suddenly she’s
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Chapter 86
family? She’s going to be Lund Queen? What does she know about our traditions, our history, our bloodlines?
Evanth’s face with disdain. “I can’t believe you’re going along with this, Mother. He’s making a terrible mistake. He leaned forward, eyes burning with hatred. “She’s not one of us. She never will be.”
She’s my choice,” Augustin said.
‘She’s just trying to please her jailer to make her life easier,” Evanth pat. “Can’t you see that? You could have any young, untouched girl in Clifflands. Girls from the oldest, purest bloodlines. Or you could find Cassandra–she was at least from a respectable family.” His lip curled in disgust as he looked at me. “Instead, you’re marrying another man’s leftovers. A woman whose own husband didn’t want her.”
Those final words cut deep. felt tears threatening but swallowed hard, refusing to let them fall.
“Get out, Augustin warned.
“Make me,” Evanth challenged.
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