Defying the Lycan King (Kira and Derek) novel Chapter 244

Chapter 244: Total Acceptance

Valerie nodded and sipped her wine, forcing her smile to stay firmly nailed in place. But somewhere between the word soulbond and the toast to the werewolf girl, her appetite had quietly packed its bags and left.

Tan glanced at her. "Are you alright, Aunt Valerie? You look a little pale."

Valerie laughed a touch too loudly. Loud enough that a few heads around the table turned towards her, and the family exchanged small, puzzled glances.

"I’m perfectly well," she said, recovering. "I’m happy, that’s all! We’re having a wedding soon! Kai, you’re a true man. Knowing exactly what you want and going straight for it. That’s the mark of a real Mondragon."

Kai lifted his glass to her in a toast. "Thank you, Aunt Valerie. I appreciate the enthusiasm."

Valerie turned to Jessica, her smile sharpening at the edges. "You must be a very lucky girl."

Kai reached over, wrapping his fingers securely around Jessica’s hand on the table. "Actually, Aunt Valerie, I am the lucky one here," he said before Jessica could even open her mouth.

Valerie took another sip of wine to stop herself from snarling out loud, and at last began to eat. And despite everything, despite the bitter turn the evening had taken, the food was undeniably good. She savoured a mouthful, then another.

"Hmm," she hummed in satisfaction and looked at Angelica with a tight grin. "My dear friend, you really must increase the salary of whoever prepared this meal. They’re clearly a treasure."

Angelica smiled and raised her glass. "A toast, then. To my lovely daughter-in-law, who made this very delicious meal for me, with her own two hands, to welcome me back home."

Valerie’s jaw dropped. She sat frozen, her fork hovering mid-air as she gaped at her friend.

"Jessica’s a wonderful cook," Kai added proudly as he scooped another portion onto his plate.

Angelica gave a fond nod, patting Jessica’s shoulder affectionately. "I’m not the least bit worried about Kai’s stomach in this marriage," Angelica went on. "I know he’s in very good hands."

Valerie’s eyes flew back to Jessica, watching the young werewolf girl blush and smile sweetly at the compliments. She hadn’t meant to praise the girl’s cooking at all. She’d only reached for it as a safe subject, something ordinary to cling to while her mind reeled from the soulbond revelation.

And now she’d walked straight into a far worse blow, because Valerie knew their pack culture better than anyone. When a potential daughter-in-law cooked for her mother-in-law, and that mother-in-law openly enjoyed the meal and praised it at her own table, it meant one thing and one thing only.

Total acceptance.

The girl wasn’t just Kai’s soulbond. She was already, in every way that mattered, welcomed into the family.

This is completely unfair, Valerie thought fiercely, her chest heaving with silent rage. This nameless girl is getting everything handed to her on a silver platter far too easily. The status, the wealth, the family approval... all because of a stupid cosmic bond!

As Angelica carried on, chattering happily about Kai and Jessica and wedding preparations, Kai’s phone buzzed against the table. He picked it up and saw a text from Derek. He opened it to find an image, with a line of text beneath it.

If you have some time, I’d like you to look into this man. He’s claiming to be Kira’s private tutor, but I don’t trust the bastard one bit. Find out everything.

Kai smiled and shook his head, thumbing out a reply.

On it, Your Grace. Even though we both know this is jealousy talking.

Derek’s text came almost immediately: I am not jealous. I know this guy is off. You can come see for yourself!

Kai replied: Yes, sir. I guess that would be sometime within the week. Right now, I’m enjoying family time. Expect your details tomorrow.

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