After She's Terminal The Alpha Regrets (Elaine and Lucas) novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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Chapter 16

Liam smiled brightly as Elaine led him away. He couldn’t help it. She was choosing him.

She noticed his expression immediately, the way he’d stood a little straighter. Of course she knew what this looked like, but it wasn’t what it looked like. Maybe she shouldn’t have gotten his hopes up.

“Easy,” she said, her voice carrying a slight teasing tone. He looked over at her. “Don’t read into this too much. I’m just doing this to get away from Lucas.”

A pause.

“And to maybe thank you for helping me,” she said.

Liam nodded, smirking. “I get it, don’t worry. I’m perfectly happy to act as your living shield.”

Elaine couldn’t help but roll her eyes, though a smile touched her lips. “Yeah, well… thanks.”

They walked further into the gala, arm-in-arm. The event was quite spectacular. Soft music played just beneath the murmur of the crowd. There must have been at least a hundred people filling the space. All in extravagant clothing, not unlike what Elaine had decided to wear. Though perhaps not as concealing as what she might have in the past.

Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a warm light over the space. Someone to Elaine’s right steps backward and bumps into her. She stumbles into Liam, who takes her arm more firmly.

“Easy,” he replied, using the same tone she had earlier. “Don’t fall for me too soon.”

Elaine pushed herself upright and pulled her arm away from his. “As if.”

He chuckled, his gaze warm as he looked down at her. “So,” he began, “It’s been a while since I last visited Lucas’ pack. I’ll be honest, I did not expect the one he married to be you.”

“What, you think I make for a bad Luna?”

Liam quickly shook his head. “Not at all. Well, I guess I don’t know. I’ve only heard what Lucas has been saying about you, and I’m inclined not to believe his word on that.”

Elaine nodded along but had taken a moment to look around the gala, trying to spot Adrian. He’d said in his message he’d be at the end of the east corridor before the speeches. There was time yet.

“Sure you are,” Elaine said.

“I actually only ever saw him wanting to marry…” Liám trailed off too late, as Elaine already knew what he was going to say.

“Ayla.”

Elaine couldn’t fault Liam for thinking that way. Ayla and Lucas had been fated mates. Lucas had always loved her, always wanted to marry her. So when he’d been assigned Elaine as his partner, it’d been a disappointment.

Elaine wondered just how much of a disappointment she’d been all these years, despite everything she did for

Lucas. (1

Liam might insist he did not believe Lucas when it came to her, but she wasn’t sure she could trust that. How many years had Lucas been ranting about his lackluster wife to his best friend? It surely would have tainted Liam’s view of her.

Liam noticed Elaine starting to go quiet and cleared his throat. “Enough of that, though,” he said. “It’s a beautiful

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Chapter 16

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gala, don’t you think?”

“I suppose.”

“I think there’s a dessert table near the back…” Liam offered his arm once more.

Elaine laughed softly and shook her head. “Desserts?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t eat sweets. That might be a deal-breaker,” Liam teased.

Another laugh. “Deal-breaker? Liam, I’m married still.”