When You Were My Mate (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Emris.

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Right at the Ocean Springs, overlooking the glittering city from the tower reserved for the one percent of the one percent. Elena fixes a mask around her eyes, dressed as some character from one of her vapid shows. I, on the other hand, am dressed as something Milo insisted on…. the Black Phantom, his current favourite superhero.

It’s a sculpted black mask and a tailored suit in a shade of midnight so dark it seems to drink the light.

The lane is choked with thousands of cars, but there are two lanes: one for the powerful, and one for the rest. Ours is a smooth river of black vehicles going toward the entrance. Across the golden globes and red carpet, staff in uniforms clear the way for our arrival.

“Ready?” Elena looks at me as if I have a choice.

Someone opens my door, and I step out into the electric buzz of the night. Elena waits inside the car until I’m fully out, ensuring all cameras pivot to capture her grand entrance. She takes my arm and plants a staged kiss on my cheek just as the camera lights explode in a frenzy of flashes.

And then, another car door opens.

A woman steps out in a white angel dress. She’s wearing a corset that sculpts her body, lift her bosom in a way that’s both sophisticated and utterly devastating. Silk and lace cascade from her hips, and her hair….that signature white is piled in an elegant twist. A black lace mask obscures half her face, but her lips are a slash of red.

Demetra.

She came.

The camera lights abandon Elena and me in an instant, swarming toward the new spect charged second, the three of us are locked in a stare. Demetra is the first to look away, t they glide down the red carpet ahead of us.

tra looks at me and for a

her Alpha Ronin’s arm as

“Is that…?” My mother’s voice comes from behind as she exits the following car. I’d forgotten the rest of my family was here. We all stare at the entourage of the Lion Pride pack. Slade walks past behind Demetra with his glare aimed at me. Then I see Eden, and Teddy almost calls out to him before she remembers where we are.

“That’s… that’s Miss Pride?” my mother stutters, eyes fixed on the white hair. “Her hair—”

“She’s pretty, like a fairy.” Teddy murmurs.

“Her hair is obviously fake!” Elena snaps.

“Like yours?” Teddy fires back.

“Can we just go in?” Silver says.

Inside the grand ballroom, every pack note is here. And in the center of it all, I see Alpha Ronin introducing Demetra to a circle of rapt Alphas. Alpha Ingrid of the Velocity Pack. Alpha Seh of the Moscow Pack…that married idiot, what is he doing hovering so close? More single Alphas orbit her like a pack of hungry wolves drawn to a new flame. They kiss her fingers, they preen, they offer their names before they’ve even seen her all face.

A server passes by with a tray. I grab a flute of champagne and din it in one go.

“Isn’t it a bit early for that?” Silver asks and his eyes follow my gage. “Is that her? Miss Pride?”

“Yes! Why are they all flocking to her? They’re acting like horny logs, and she looks like a whore”

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Chapter 20

“What?” Silver is taken aback by Elena’s answer.

“She’s just jealous she’s not the center of attention,” Teddy says with a smirk and walks away toward the crowd.

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“She does look like a whore pretending to be an angel. I should take my shot.” Regan adds with a crude laugh from my other side.

I turn my head slowly and let the full force of my glare land on him. The arrogance in his eyes dies instantly.

“What?”

“Don’t do anything.” I warn Regan, grabbing my second glass of champagne and moving away from my family. Then, I see my friend, Alpha Deskin coming towards me.

“You actually came to this thing?”

“Bloody mandatory fest.” I grumble, noticing his gaze go toward the center of the room… toward her.

“Have you heard? Your enemy’s got a daughter now. Can you believe it?”

“No.” I scowl.

As we walk, I see Demetra’s masked face turn slightly in my direction. Our eyes lock for a split second before she turns back, laughing softly at something one of the circling Alphas says.

“You know, a sweet revenge would be to bang Slade’s sister,” Deskin muses, “but you’re married.” If only he knew.

“She’s Demetra.”

I break the news.

He stops walking. “W-what?”

“The Demetra you helped me look for all those years ago. That’s her.”

“No. Moons, you’re serious? She’s the one in the mask!? And she Alpha Ronin’s daughterl?”

“Hard to believe, but it tracks. Her mother was said to have had many… partners.”

“Shit,” Deskin breathes. “Does your family know?”

“Only Teddy.”

I signal a passing server for another flute. The champagne isn’t doing nearly enough.

“You’re in deep trouble, my friend.” Deskin whispers. “Your true mate exists, and you’ve got another woman as your Luna If Slade finds out… forget Slade. How do you feel, knowing your mate is Ronin’s daughter? You hate that family more than the devil himself.”

“I hate them more than the devil.” I affirm.

Before he can reply, the LeadCon organizers in charge of the evening step onto the dais and chime a glass for attention. The murmuring crowd slowly quiets.

“Welcome, Alphas and Lunas, to the first day of the Alpha Fest!” man announces “Tonight is our royal ball dinner a time to dine together, connect, and later, to dance. At the end of the dance, we will all remove our masks to reveal the faces beneath Though I’m sure most of us already know each other, is tradition is a grand reintroduction, especially for new faces among us.”

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He gestures broadly. “In our midst tonight is Alpha Ronin’s recently returned daughter, of the Lion Pride Pack. She will introduce herself before the first dance and will have the honor of choosing her partner for it. Tonight, she graces us as the Celestial Starlight.”

Polite applause ripples through the room for Demi.

“For our first order of business…” a female coordinator continues “the pack that won last year’s Fest will choose which pack they wish to dine with for the next hour. Alpha Emris of the Black Covenant Pack, the floor is yours.”

A spotlight hits me and someone passes a mic. Across the room, Silver gives me a subtle nod.

My eyes sweep over the crowd, past the eager, masked faces, and land on Slade.

I raise the mic. “The Lion Pride Pack.”

A collective, surprised “Oh…” echoes through the hall, followed by scattered, uncertain applause. They all know my history. They all know the venom between us.

“A bold choice!” the coordinator says. “Excellent. Staff, please escort both packs to the head table.”

We are led to the golden table where our packs face each other like opposing armies. Teddy enters into the seat beside me, directly opposite Eden. Eden is seated next to Demetra. Slade takes the seat directly across from me.

Elena settles on my other side. Down our side is Silver, my mother, and Regan. Across from us, Alpha Ronin takes his place.

“Well, Alpha Ronin, tell us…did you have a mistress? Was it after your wife died, or before?” Mom directs the question to Ronin. He has that distinguished look, streaks of white in his hai. I remember a time when my own father called him a trusted friend. They were always together, our packs visiting one another. I even respected him once, when he helped my father search for me after I was taken. That respect died with my father.

“A one-night stand.” Ronin replies calmly, his tone gives nothing away. I search for Demetra’ shocked or ashamed. So it’s true. She really is his daughter.

“Does she speak?” mom asks, tilting her head toward Demetra.

ion. She doesn’t look

“If you speak to me directly, I will,” Demetra unfolds her napkin and lays it across her lap, her eyes meeting my mother’s

head-on.

“How lucky for you. Not many people find their lost children.”

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