Leanna's expression shifted, her eyes darting with anxiety. "What nonsense are you talking about?"
I was well-acquainted with her character, so I threw it out there, but her reaction made me chuckle dryly. "I was merely asking a question. Why so defensive?"
Dash shot me an angry look, his Alpha aura flaring. "Evangeline, quit stirring things up. If you keep this up, don’t expect me to show any courtesy!"
"I'm giving you a heads-up, the Lycan King will be at my mate pairing ceremony later. So if you mess it up, prepare for the consequences!"
Leanna stepped forward, shoving me with a force that surprised even herself. "Evangeline, if you know what's good for you, quit the theatrics. This is my big day."
I lightly brushed her hand away, my Gamma strength making her stagger back a few steps.
"Stop it!" Dash rushed to steady Leanna, his eyes blazing with fury. "Evangeline, don't you see that Leanna's pregnant? How dare you lay a hand on her?"
Thinking about the baby, with its paternity still a question mark, I couldn't help but let out a derisive laugh. "Are you so certain that the Lycan King is here for your ceremony?"
Dash and Leanna exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter. "If not for my ceremony, why else would he be here? Evangeline, you sure have some imagination!"
With feigned sympathy, Leanna added, "Dash, don't be so harsh. Poor Evangeline had such high hopes. From future Luna to spinster, it's no wonder she’s lost her wits."
The room buzzed with shocked whispers.
"Always thought she'd be running the pack, huh?"
"Yep, now she's without a mate; serves her right!"
The ones making comments were the long-timers in the Harrison Pack. I'd disciplined each one, and if not for Alpha Gavin's interference, they’d have been long gone.
Dash raised his hand to hush the noise, his Alpha tone commanding silence. "Evangeline, since you don't appreciate our generosity, I declare you're stripped of your Gamma rank. You're not suited even for an Omega's duties here!"
"Get out now!"
I shook my head, amused. "Don't worry about the Omega gig. In less than three months, you'll be on your knees, begging me to take over this pack."
The room was silent for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Leanna was laughing loudly, her gaze mocking. "Evangeline, you think you're the Alpha of the Wright Pack and we'll be begging you to take charge?"
Just then, the grand doors of the hall swung open, and a man in a sharp suit walked in, accompanied by a group of similarly dressed men, one of them holding an ornate gift box.
"Beta Judson is here!" Alpha Gavin rushed to greet him, his face alight with smiles.
The man was none other than Judson O'Brien, Beta to the Lycan King Lewis Rose. Everyone knew that Judson represented the Lycan King in all matters of importance.
Judson surveyed the room, his gaze briefly settling on me before he approached Alpha Gavin.
"Alpha Gavin, congratulations. This is a gift from the Lycan King to the groom!" He handed the gift box to Gavin. "The Lycan King mentioned he has some business to attend to and will be arriving later. He instructed not to wait for him once the auspicious hour comes."
When the box was opened, it revealed a perfectly cut diamond, surrounded by matching men's jewelry.
Someone in the know whispered, "Just that diamond alone could nearly cover the cost of our entire pack's territory."
Everyone present inhaled sharply.
"Groom?" Dash murmured, eyes fixated on the gift box. "It's mine, all mine!"
Beside him, Leanna was struggling to maintain her composure, her hands instinctively cradling her belly as if to remind everyone of her claim to Dash.
