She was right. Yet, again. If I went to tell Alonso about this and have her cast back to her pack, her baby would be fatherless while his father wasted in the dungeon. And knowing how mad Alonso was right now, he might kill Roland.
I might be mad at him for betraying me and his mate, he was still my friend and her mate and I wouldn’t want that for him. Of what use would he be to Mary if he couldn’t love her? She would remain in a loveless union with him which would mean more harm to her and their pups if they have any. I would never want any child to know the kind of hatred I experienced from my father.
I looked toward Mary and back at the two miscreants, wiped my wet eyes, and folded my arms on my chest. “You are going to go and apologize to her and bring her back to Lance’s quarters, and you Paisley, you are going to announce before everyone at today’s dinner that you are no longer interested in becoming Alonso’s chosen mate and that you find me more befitting for the role…” I challenged her with my eyes.
“And you say you aren’t devilish…” she dragged on smugly.
“It’s either that, Paisley, or prepare to be thrown out and I will still become the Queen, and your fate, Roland, would be decided by Mary and of course, my dear beloved mate. It’s your call…” I smiled devilishly as she said, and sashayed to my friends.
I took Mary’s hand and kissed it. “You will be fine without him, Mary, trust me.”
She shook her head. “I love him so much.”
“I also loved my former mate so much, yet, look at me today, when I look back at everything, I knew what I felt for him was mere infatuation. He betrayed you and us, you shouldn’t think of trying to accommodate him. You deserve better, both of you.” I pointed to her and Nadia. “Come here.” I dragged her into my arms in a squashing hug.
“What am I going to do?” she lamented.
I thought of it and exhaled, knowing what. “You are going to move in with me and together, all of us will work through this… as best friends.” I patted her back gently to soothe her. “So, I have told him what to do, with you. We will leave you two here, and he would bring you back home later…”
She ripped off and shook her curls. “I don’t want to speak to him!”
I held her shoulders and looked into her eyes, unwavering. “I wish I had a minute with Ethan. I had so much I would have loved to ask him. Do that with Roland on my behalf, okay?”
“What if I kill him?” She pouted.
“You can do better than that.” I hugged her once more and pecked her curls.
Paisley later joined us in the car and while it drove away I looked at the mates and nodded at Mary to be strong.
“Dan-”
“Don’t talk to me, Paisley. As far as I am concerned, you no longer exist,” I said shutting her up and took Nadia’s fingers in mine. She didn’t say anything to me anymore until the car pulled in front of the house.
I alighted and when we reached the foyer, I caught up with her until we were ear to ear and said, “Don’t mess with me, Paisley. I might be very soft, but thanks to you I have learned a lot, one of which is being wicked.”
“Danika-”
I bade her farewell and dragged Nadia into the house, literally gliding. My number one problem is done! I need to celebrate!
“How about you get the best wine in the kitchen with two glasses, or three… Yeah! Three, my baby is definitely going to celebrate with us. Me and you and when Mary comes back, we will celebrate once more, this time as best friends!” I quipped and Nadia chuckled and hurried to the kitchen.
“Whoo!” I flung my hands up in the air in exuberance, winking at the snotty face of Paisley as she trod past me and ran upstairs.
“Where in the goddess’ sake have you been, Munchkin?” I spun around to face Alonso with my full smile still on, Lance was behind him.
I went to him and crushed him in a thick hug. “I am very happy right now, baby. You have no idea. Hy, Lance!” I waved at him.
Alonso’s arms tightened about me. “You are not supposed to be out of bed, Munchkin. You are-”
“Pregnant! Yeah, I’m pregnant, not sick.” I giggled heartedly, and ripped away, taking his arm. “Come we are going to celebrate!”
“Celebrate what?” He cocked his brow.
I stalled, thinking of what to say, and then I veered in blithely, “The baby! For the baby! What do you think?” He smiled and nodded skeptically. “You too Lance, come along, you are going to be an uncle and should celebrate.” I started dragging Alonso to the tea room with me.
“You are terrifying me, Munchkin. You leave the house rebelliously and then you return acting like you won the lottery. This is the farthest I have seen you genuinely happy in the past… one month,” Alonso surged when we entered the dainty room.
I hugged his waist, burrowing into him. “Well, my dear my mate, that is because this is the first time I am seeing light at the end of the tunnel! Why are you just standing there, Lance? I might still be mad at you, don’t push it.” I eyed him as he hurriedly went to sit down on one of the couches.
The door opened and Nadia came in. She stood at the door in uncertainty, her frantic orbs skidding between my mate and Lance. Seeing her reservation, I vaulted up to her, took the tray from her, and dragged her in. “She is celebrating with us!” Alonso’s eyes dilated, his lip opening to protest and I beat him to it, “She’s my best friend! Mary is not here for now.”
They didn’t say anything afterward.
“Let me see that!” Alonso took the bottle from me and checked, perhaps, the alcohol content, only relaxing when he realized it was non-alcoholic.
“You found out about Paisley, right?” Alonso suddenly asked in the middle of the celebration. My glass paused halfway to my mouth and I was rendered mute. I didn’t know what to say and was terrified to lie to my mate for the first time, particularly on something we have both worked so hard together for.
“Yes, I did.”
…