Tangled Hearts - The Alpha's Baby Mama
Chapter 108: Before the inevitable...

Chapter 108: Before the inevitable...

Selene POV

Smoothing my features into an inscrutable mask I strode into the visitor’s waiting room. At the entrance of the room, I heard Reid’s voice. He was laughing wildly at something Conrad may have said. When I opened the door, the laugh died down as four pairs of eyes stared at me. Then Reid’s flickered with recognition as I stared at him pointedly.

"Your majesty!" Reluctantly, he rose to his feet giving me a stiff bow "I’ve been here keeping our visitor company," he said.

I fought the urge to roll my eyes. Why was he telling me that? I didn’t ask. "That’s good to know," I said dryly "Alpha Noah was looking for you earlier. You might want to go and see him, he’s in his office waiting for you,".

Reid’s eyes bored into mine with disbelief and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t leave but he mumbled an acknowledgement and promised Conrad that he’d be back before leaving the room.

As soon as we were alone, Conrad let out a satisfied grin "That one is easy. Is he always like that?"

"I don’t understand," I tried not to show interest "That’s Reid, Noah’s beta,"

"I know that," he smiled "But he’s easy and more friendly than all the people I’ve met today. While everyone is breathing down my neck and barking that I didn’t follow stupid, long protocols, he’s the only one who cares enough to know if I’ve eaten or whether I am comfortable... that sort of thing,".

"Good to know!" I said dismissively shrugging it off. "Anyways, I came here to tell you that Alpha Noah has agreed. All the Kings of the region will be welcomed at Moon Whisper. There are terms of course but nothing bad. They’re all very easy and doable terms. I promise. Now," I placed my hands on my hips "That I’ve kept to my end of the bargain, it’s time to keep to you. I’ll take my purse now," I stretched my hand towards him.

A mysterious and mischievous smile spread on his lips as he rose from the settee with a slow gracefulness that reminded me of a dog stalking towards you. His eyes glinted with undisguised calculation as they raked the length of my body. He crossed the room quickly and came to where I stood, closing the distance between us.

Up close, his amber eyes seemed to blaze with an intensity that should have made the old Selene cower, but I held his stare defiantly.

"Did he agree to everything?" he arched his brow "Including throwing a banquet for them and they all stay for at least three days before they leave? Did he agree to all of that and what are the conditions that need to be met for him to do all of this?"

I allowed a small, satisfied smile to curve my lips, I liked how it seemed so unbelievable even to him. "Nothing, Conrad. Unlike you, Alpha Noah is generous and believes in helping people who truly need help. So, everything would come without conditions. For the duration of the stay, the pack will take care of every expense, including the ones incurred. I know, this is no time to blow our trumpet but we do well for ourselves. So yes... Noah has agreed to open his arms wide to the visitors,".

"Did you apply..." he trailed off as his eyes glinted meaningfully "Any delicate considerations to secure his approval?"

Bile rose at the back of my throat as my skin crawled with irritation at his choice of words. I wanted to call him out at that moment for his undignified behavior but I decided to remain calm. Until I collect the purse, I’d have to dance to his tune.

"Yes," I agreed with a small smile "I did use my advantage as his Luna and mate but then again, he’s my husband and I could use whatever means pleases me to get what I want,".

"Ah, I suspected as much!" Conrad purred, exposing his white pearly teeth. I saw a golden canine teeth flash as he did that. "Nothing beat the potent sway a beautiful wife can hold over even the most stubborn of men,".

"Noah is not stubborn," I said a little too forcefully but then I tried to calm myself as I tried to speak calmly "Noah is anything but stubborn. Whatever resist he puts up is because he’s being careful and doesn’t want his goodness to be taken advantage of, especially by people like you,".

"But you sneaked out of the pack house to meet up with another man. It seems you love your mate but do not respect him as much because...".

"I did not sneak off to meet another man!" I yelled and then remembered I was supposed to keep up the façade at the end for it to become believable. I couldn’t believe for the life of me that he was trying to spin the narrative even when it was nothing but pure lies. I sunk my nails into my palms as I wrestled the anger that was fast turning into pure disdain.

"I mean..." I said a bit more calmly now "I didn’t go to meet any man in the hotel. Can we please stop selling this narrative? Stop spinning things around to make me look stupid, please. Can I get the purse now and just leave? Please... I have other things to do,".

He merely chuckled. He knew he was provoking me but it only goes to prove that Kurtis was right about him. He knew how to play mind games.

"You know," he shrugged "I’ve heard a lot about you. From when you first came to Moon Whisper and how you turned their economy around in less than a few moons to the saga that went on between Noah and his nephew, Alpha Xavier and everyone seemed to be so smitten by you. Even me, at some point, I won’t lie but now...". he trailed off

"But now that we’ve met, I don’t find you quite as dazzling as I was led to believe. You’re not even as beautiful as I envisioned. The woman whom everyone wanted to come for consultation at their pack, who was so revered that she only took two consultations every month turned out to be a... woman who was desperate to keep a man. Tell me, why are you so desperate to keep Noah as your mate?"

I exhaled reminding myself that this was all a game he was trying to play and nothing more.

I arched a brow at him "Have you never found your fated mate, Conrad?"

A muscle ticked in his chiselled jaw as his eyes flashed with amusement "You address me by my name and not my title. Show some respect at least. By the way, regarding the mate thingy... nope, I have not!"

"I don’t know who you are except that you’re the Late King’s brother. Hence, why I address you by your name and I am not surprised that you haven’t met your mate. Because if you have then you’d be able to relate. Being with your fated mate is the most incredible feeling in this world other than anything,".

"Ah yes, ’your fated mate’" he crooked his hand in the air "By that do you mean your mate’s uncle that you seduced and married when you were still bonded with your other mate? Tell me, was the experience worth it? Jumping from one bed to another within the same family? Don’t you have parents or family members who will be ashamed of the kind of person their beloved daughter has turned into?"

For the briefest moment, the calm façade I had on faltered and a flicker of pain passed through my eyes but it was gone in an instant, replaced by a cool detachment.

"I have places to be, Conrad and things to do," I said flatly, extending my hand towards him "My purse, now!!!"

"C’mon, are you angry? I was just funning. I thought we were friends,".

"If you’re quite finished with your comedy show, please return my bag. I have fulfilled my agreement, do yours or is that too hard for you to do to? Don’t make the last shred of respect I have for you, slip off,".

He cocked his head slightly as his eyes widened at my rebuke. Then he sighed.

"Fine! No need for such frosty air between us, Selene,". Turning towards a small box he had come in with, he retrieved the purse and held it out to me, dangling it tauntingly. "I wonder what’s so special about this that you’re willing to do anything for it,".

My fingers instinctively curled, longing to reclaim the purse but I remained rooted in place, still fixing him a cold, pointed look. I didn’t want to appear too enthusiastic, because he might notice. And I also didn’t want to raise suspicions.

"I’m still waiting,".

Giving me one last look, he pointed the purse, towards me and I collected it, sighing in relief as I felt the heavy weight of the purse in my hands. Thankfully, I know it cannot be accessed because only my fingerprint could open it.

Straightening, I faced him with a quiet smile "Our agreement ends now that my belongings have been returned. So, I shall leave first. Do try to enjoy these coming days and the banquet of course. After all, what sort of host would we be if we cannot afford to gift you the best and most delusional banquet you’ve ever wished for before the inevitable?"

Giving him one last lingering look, amidst his confusion, I turned on my heels and strode out of the room.