Chapter 54
Valencia’s POV
The soft cotton of the baby blue ruffled dress Dante had picked out felt light against my skin as I tied my hair into a ponyrail with a matching ribbon. I glanced at Castor’s shell, its surface already gleaming, but I still picked up a napkin to polish it further. My fingers brushed over its smooth curves as I worked, the warmth radiating from it steady and comforting.
When I turned, Dante was standing near the cot, a faint smile playing on his lips. My gaze shifted down to his attire–a crisp light–blue office shirt matching my dress, neatly tucked into black dress pants, all paired with a black suit jacket.
I frowned, motioning to his outfit. “Why do I look like I’m going on vacation while you look like you’re heading to a business meeting?”
He chuckled as he adjusted the cot, pulling out a concealed drawer. “You just need to relax and enjoy the trip. I’ll handle everything else.”
I raised an eyebrow, How many compartments and buttons did this cot have? “When did you even have time to get this thing made?”
“It’s actually something Mom made for us, he said, his voice softening as he straightened. “But since we ended up being born as pups, it wasn’t used and dad had–unsurprisingly–kept in stored somewhere.”
His answer caught me off guard. “Your mom. I haven’t seen any pictures of her around the house.”
A wistful smile crossed his face. “You’ve only been to the ground floor, the third, and this floor,” he said. “I guess that’s my fault. Don’t worry, I’ll give you the grand tour as soon as we get back
T
There was a spark in his eyes as he lifted a sleek black carrier backpack. Its pocket was in the front, designed to carry Castor. Seeing him with it made me laugh. “Dante, that thing does not go with your outfit.”
He frowned. “Doesn’t matter if it looks good. It’s for when you get tired holding him.”
The practicality of it made me smile, but I couldn’t resist teasing him further. “Is this it? Don’t we need anything else? Documents, maybe? Do we need a paternity test done?”
Dante shook his head, a chuckle escaping him. “Sweetheart, you can’t exactly do a DNA test on an egg. As for anything else they might need, we won’t know until we meet with them.”
Now that I realized what I said, I honestly felt stupid. Why would they need to get a paternity test? If Dante just showed them the scales on his wings it would be clear that he’s the father.
A knock on the door interrupted our conversation. Dante stepped out of the room, and I followed close behind, adjusting my grip on Castor. When we reached the hallway, I froze
A tall, burly man stood before us, his silver eyes sharp and assessing. His light–brown, almost dirty–blonde hair was neatly combed back, and a thick beard framed his face. His aura was commanding, almost oppressive, he stood at the same height as Dante and yet he bowed respectfully.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Valencia,” he greeted, his deep voice resonating through the space.
My instinctive response kicked in. I bowed slightly, murmuring, “Good afternoon to you too, but my gaze lingered on him. There was something familiar about his appearance, though I couldn’t place it. Where had I seen him before!
Dante’s frown pulled me out of my thoughts. Had I done something wrong?
The man’s stern expression softened into a genuine smile, his dangerous aura fading as he turned to Dante.
1/3
Chapter 51
“Valencia.” Dante said, his tone formal. “This is my father’s second–in–command, Sir Joseph
I nodded, offering a polite smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Joseph returned the nod, his gaze warm.
Soon, Marcelene and Caius joined us, and we descended in the elevator together.
For the first time, I took in the ground floor of the Silver Claw packhouse properly. The open space resembled a grand hotel lobby, with polished marble floors reflecting the sunlight streaming through tall, arched windows. In the center was a grand fountain, its cascading water shimmering under the natural ligh Surrounding the open area were hallways leading to various rooms, their intricately carved doors standing tall and posing
Above us, the second floor was visible, its railings adorned with sleek silver accents. Beyond that, a grand domed ceiling with stained glass panels cast colorful patterns across the room.
“It’s beautiful,” I murmured, taking in every detail. There were other wolves apart from us going in and out of the halls. Using a completely different elevator which I assumed took to the floors with offices.
Dante’s voice drew my attention. “Only our family and my father’s second and third in command live here. The meeting rooms and offices necessary for the pack are all on the second and first floor. As for the residential plots for our pack wolves, they are outside–you’ve seen them through the windows, haven’t you?”
I nodded, remembering the sprawling housing area I’d glimpsed before. Still, the sheer size of the castle–like packhouse seemed excessive for so few people.
My brows furrowed as another thought struck me. In my past life, the Steele pack had lost the war despite their wealth and strength. Why? With all the money that I had seen wouldn’t it be easy for them to over power us? As they had done in the first year. How had the tide suddenly shifted the year after this one?
And then there was Raiden’s illness. He was supposed to die within a year, but he seemed perfectly healthy now. What exactly had caused his sudden declinet
I shook my head, pushing the thoughts away as we stepped outside and climbed into the waiting limousine.
Raiden, Sir Joseph, Caius, Marcelene, Dante, Castor, and I rode in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound as the city faded into the distance. After about half an hour, we arrived at a marina.
The scent of salt and seaweed filled the air as the limousine came to a stop. My stomach twisted uneasily as I stared at the endless expanse of water before us.
“Are we getting on a boat?” I asked, my voice tight.
Dante nodded, his hand finding mine as he led me toward a gleaming white yacht moored at the edge of the marina.
The yacht was a masterpiece of modern design, its sleek lines and polished surface gleaming in the midday sun. The deck was adorned with plush seating, and a shaded area provided relief from the sun. A faint breeze carried the sound of gentle waves lapping against the hull.
Despite its beauty, a sense of unease settled over me
1 hesitated at the edge of the dock, my grip tightening on Dante’s hand. He glanced at me, concern flickering in his eyes.
“Are you okay?” he asked softly.
I swallowed hard, nodding even though the knot in my stomach refused to loosen. Water had always unnerved me, especially after that incident.
Chapter 54
Fuck.
