Chapter 30
Valemia’s POV
I shook off the intrusive thought, reminding myself again that this was survival Dante might appear kind and attentive, but
I couldn’t risk trusting another Alpha. The illusion of safety they offered could break in an instant.
The electric tension in the cafe thickened as Aiden and August hanged stiff greetings with Drante and Caius It was a façade of politeness, the type of decorum reserved for moment when nobody could afford to show weakness
Celeste, of course, had no such reservations. She practically beamed at Cains, leaning slightly toward him in her usual coy way. “Hello again,” she chirped. “I don’t think we introduced ourselves properly at the festival.”
Caius smiled politely, though his usual case seemed a little restrained. “Celeste, right? I remember”
Dante’s jaw ticked slightly, and Aiden bristled, but Caius seemed unfazed.
I watched them for a moment before realization hit me. My brows furrowed as I pointed at Caius “Wait Aren’t you that guy from that time?”
Caius’s eyebrows rose in mock surprise, and then he laughed, a sound so rich and easy that I almost forgot the tension in the room. “Oh wow. You have quite the memory. Yes, I am that guy from that time.”
I rolled my eyes at his teasing tone, though I couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at my lips.
“What guy?” Aiden snapped.
“What time” Dante’s voice was equally sharp.
I hesitated, the memory of my panic attack at the academy bubbling to the surface. My throat felt dry, and I instinctively avoided meeting their eyes. “Oh, he helped me..” I trailed off, unwilling to explain.
Maybe Cajus understood my reluctance to explain so he smoothly interjected, “Remember when I went to meet Meredith at
the academy a couple of weeks back? I ran into Valencia and her friend. She dropped her papers, and I helped pick them up.
That’s all.”
I glanced at him in surprise, his lie so seamless that I almost believed it myself.
“Anyways,” Caius added, turning his gaze back to me, “I actually didn’t recognize you at first. The mask and everything. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized. No wonder you seemed familiar.”
A smile tugged at my lips despite myself. “Yeah, me neither. Thanks for back then, by the way,”
Aiden scoffed, his arms crossed tightly over his chest. “It was just some papers. What’s the big deal?”
My smile faltered, the words hitting a raw nerve. My lips twitched, and before I could stop myself, I smiled and said, “Well, he didn’t ignore me when I needed help. Not a lot of people do that.”
The sharp jab made Aiden flinch.
“Anyways,” Caius said, brushing off the tension, “what about your friend from that day? What was her name.. Marcelene? She seemed interesting.”
I blinked, caught off guard. “Marcy?”
He nodded, as a light redness bloomed on his pale cheeks. “Yeah Her. How is she?”
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Chapter 301
My lips quirked up slightly. I knew he was interested in her. But force a polite smile as guilt swirls in my stomach, “She’s okay.”
I knew Marcy, and as well as she tried to hide it. I knew of her anger and revulsion towards the Steele Pack.
After I had told her about my past life, how she lost everything, including her life due to that pack, I had seen the fury in her eyes whenever I spoke of Dante or the Steele pack.
“Does she have someone?” Caius asks with a glimmer of hope this dark blue eyes.
My hand in Dante’s grip tightens as I answer, “Yeah..she has someone she likes.”
“Oh..so no chance?” He says, chuckling. And for some reason I tell it’s strained.
“Yeah sorry. She won’t be interested.”
Celeste’s smile falters, and she cuts in with a crooked smile. “Probably because she’s just a servant and a soldier she doesn’t even look like a girl with all that muscle.”
My eyes widened. This was the first time in this life that Celeste had outright said something disrespectful. It had started much later in my past life, but right now that wasn’t what I was interested in.
Anger surged through me, und I turned to Celeste sharply, making sure to keep my voice as soft as possible. “She’s not just a servant She’s my friend. And Celeste…sweetheart. I think you should redo highschool biology if you think Girls aren’t supposed to have ‘muscles.”
Celeste’s mouth opened, then closed. For once, she had nothing to say.
Caius broke the tension with a chuckle, “Right, and she was actually toned. Not muscular. Though Fwouldn’t mind having her with muscles either.”
Dante didn’t comment, but his expression softened as he extended his hand toward me. My gaze flicked to Aiden, who looked like he was on the verge of protesting, but Dante spoke first.
“We’re engaged now, right? So what’s the issue?”
I hesitated, my chest tightening as guilt pooled in my stomach. Slowly. I placed my hand in his. His grip was warm, firm. and… reassuring in a way I didn’t want to admit.
As we entered the boutique on the mall’s second floor, the staff sprang to attention, bowing low and ushering us to the private shopping area. My stomach churned as Dante guided me inside, his hand never leaving mine.
The boutique was a luxurious whirlwind of silks, sequins, and velvet. I tried to keep my gaze straight ahead, but it was impossible not to be drawn to the dazzling gowns and sparkling accessories lining the walls.
Dante, however, seemed intent on watching me rather than the clothing.
Every time my eyes lingered on something, for longer than a second, he’d murmur to the staff, “We’ll take that.”
“Wait!” 1 protested for the third time. “I was just looking. You don’t have to buy it.”
He simply smiled, his voice soft but firm. “I want you to have whatever catches your eye.”
The pile grew alarmingly fast. Dresses in deep reds, royal blues, and soft creams were set aside. He even selected a stunning black gown that sparkled with tiny crystals like the night sky.
“Dante, seriously, this is too much,” I said, my voice rising slightly in panic.
11:41
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Chapter 30
He reached out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. The gesture made me freeze, my heart stuttering in my chest. “Nothing is too much for you.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but his smile left me speechless.
Even when we moved to the jewelry cases, it didn’t stop. A silveret with intricate designs, two gold sets with emeralds and rubies, and two diamond sets–all of them added to the growing collection.
“Dante,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Please. This is ridiculous
He glanced at me. his expression softening as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “Does it bother you that much?”
“Yes,” I admitted, my cheeks flushing. “I don’t need all this.”
“But you deserve it, he replied simply.
The guilt that had been brewing all day finally bubbled over.
As Dante spoke to the staff about finalizing the purchases, I slipped away, making my way to the bathroom. Grateful that Celeste was too preoccupied with hounding Caius. I honestly felt bad for the poor guy.
Aiden stopped me in my tracks, “Are you done?”
“I think so. I’m going to the bathroom.” I say.
CH’s on the first floor, this floor’s bathroom is under maintenance I just went there.” August pipes in.
I nodded, “Okay, I’ll be back.”
1 speed walk towards the escalator and make my way down to the washroom.
My breathing had started to increase significantly and my heart was palpitating madly inside my chest.
As soon as I entered I dial Marcelene.
“Valencia? What’s going on?” she asked immediately.
I pressed a hand to my forehead, struggling to breathe. “Marcy. I don’t know what to do. He’s… he’s so nice. He’s buying me everything. He’s so kind, and attentive. I- My voice broke.
“I feel like an asshole Marcelene. Should I… Should I just marry him? M–maybe he’ll be different from Jaxon?”
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