Edmund’s voice pulled me from my spiraling thoughts. I blinked, focusing on my Beta standing before me. His weathered face was as neutral as always. Edmund had perfected the art of showing nothing. In all the years I’d known him, I could count on one hand the times I’d seen him smile.
But tonight, something was different.
His eyes were hollow. And beneath that neutrality, I saw it clearly: disapproval and disappointment.
“The major part of the ceremony is over,” Edmund continued, his voice professionally detached. “May I request your permission to leave? I promised my daughter we’d watch a movie together tonight. And I have some other matters that require my attention.”
By “other matters”, I knew exactly what he meant.
Isabella.
He wanted to check on Isabella.
My chest tightened. “Of course. You’re dismissed.”
Edmund nodded once, then turned and walked away without another word.
I stepped down from the raised platform where the ceremony had taken place, and almost immediately, I was intercepted.
“Congratulations, Dimitri!” Alpha Morrison of the Northern Territories said, extending his arm. His pack was one of the largest inthe state, his business ventures tied intimately with Ravencrest Global. “Hell of a ceremony.”
“Thank you, Alpha Morrison.” I shook his hand, forcing a smile.
“This is Gary Linked, CEO of Linked Globally.” Morrison gestured to the man beside him. “I was just telling Gary about that last deal we closed. Fetched me close to fifty million in the first quarter alone. And now with the Ashworth alliance, Ravencrest is positioned to become the biggest name in our market.”
“That’s kind of you to say.” I extended my hand to Gary, my business mask sliding effortlessly into place. Years of practice made it second nature. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Likewise.” Gary’s handshake was firm, assessing. “Morrison speaks highly of you. Says you’re a man who makes wise choices.” He paused meaningfully. “Strategic ones.”
The implication was clear. “Wise choices” meant choosing what benefited the pack over personal desires.
“We should schedule a meeting,” Gary continued, sipping his champagne while his eyes swept over the gardens. “Monday morning, perhaps? My company could greatly benefit from Garnia’s resources. And I prefer working with men who understand that business requires certain…sacrifices.”
He must have witnessed me publicly reject my Mate. And now he knew I was the kind of Alpha—the kind of man—who would put profit above everything else.
“Of course.” I kept my smile in place. “I’ll have a meeting scheduled for Monday.”
Gary smiled, satisfied. “Excellent. I look forward to doing business with you, Alpha Ravencrest.”
As I walked further down the hall, passing polite smiles to people as they congratulated me, the hollowness only deepened, followed by a restless ache I couldn’t shake. I needed to find Isabella.
But what was I going to do? Comfort her?
I wasn’t sure. I just needed to find her.
I set my champagne glass on the tray of a passing waiter and turned toward the exit, just as my motherappeared.
“Dimitri, darling.” Her smile was radiant, dazzling in a way I’d never seen before. She reached up and kissed my cheek.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice dripping with a warmth so alien it made my chest tighten. They were words every child longs to hear. But not me.
“You did the right thing tonight. The strong thing. You’ve restored dignity to this pack, to our family name.” Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction, her smile widening. “You’re nothing like your father. He was weak, ruled by sentiment. But you—” her voice softened with pride—“you understand what it means to be Alpha.”
It was the first time she’d spoken about my father without bitterness. I stared at her, and something cold settled in my stomach.
Three weeks ago, this same woman had threatened to murder Isabella.
And now she stood here smiling like she’d won, like tonight was victory. I thought of the events of three weeks ago, my stomach turning.