Chapter Five

Grayson

"You're awfully quiet this morning," I said as Hudson picked up his toast from his plate.

He didn't respond.

Slowly, he took a bite of it, and I picked up the orange juice beside me, taking a sip.

"So, are you trying to hold a grudge against me for wanting to protect you?"

"No, Father," he replied coldly, still not meeting my gaze.

I smiled.

"You will look at me when I'm talking to you," I commanded, and immediately, he turned in my direction.

"Why can't you see that I'm trying to protect you? Is it really that hard for you to understand where I'm coming from?"

"I haven't seen her in the longest time," Hudson said, his voice cracking. "I miss her."

And I didn't see Hudson as the grown man he was.

No.

I saw him as my seven-year-old boy who just wanted his mom.

"I'll make you a proposition," I said, slowly placing my fork down.

"We can have lunch with your mom, but I need you to introduce me to your fiancée, which, by the way, I'm only just hearing about recently."

The widest smile spread across Hudson's face.

"Everything with Olivia was just sudden," he said excitedly. "Are you serious about having lunch with Mom?"

I nodded.

"Of course."

I was going to tolerate his mother for however long necessary if it got me close to Olivia.

Even her name was ethereal, just like her.

"Thank you so much, Dad."

I forced a smile.

"You don't have to thank me. Just invite the future Luna of this pack for lunch. I want to get to know her properly."

"Of course," he said quickly, getting up from the dining table. "I'll go call her right now."

"Sure," I replied with a smile as he rushed off.

I picked up the orange juice again.

"Olivia," I whispered before taking another sip, then smiled to myself.

I made my way back to my room after breakfast and lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

I had a lot of work to get done, but I was so distracted that I couldn't concentrate on anything apart from her.

And lunchtime came around quicker than I had expected.

I walked out of my room, dressed casually.

The same way I was dressed the night she approached me.

We were supposed to have lunch in the garden, and when I got there, Hudson was standing opposite her.

From how her head was bent and how much she rubbed her palms, I knew she was nervous.

And the sight only made me smile.

I liked seeing her nervous.

That night, she was feisty, and seeing her like this was just too cute.

Hudson introduced us, and I acted like I had never seen her in my life, and she did the same thing.

Her acting skills were very impressive.

As the maids served us lunch, we all sat quietly and ate in silence.

From the corner of my eye, I watched her closely, and I saw how her hand trembled.

I didn't know if she was afraid or nervous.

"So, Olivia," I said warmly, "tell me about yourself."

She smiled awkwardly and tucked her hair behind her ear.

"There is nothing really to tell. My life is pretty much boring," she said with an awkward, nervous laugh.

"Do you love my son?" I asked, and her eyes widened for just a split second.

Hudson smiled proudly, like he was already sure of what she was going to say.

"Of course I do," she replied.

Hudson took her hand in his on the table, and I knew this was my son, but I wanted to snap his neck so badly.

"Wow, that's really something," I said.

She nodded, and for a moment, we just shared a look.

When Hudson wasn't looking, she gave me a small nod, making sure I recognized exactly who she was.

After lunch, she got up quickly.

"Thank you so much for having me, but I have somewhere very important I need to get to. It's a family event."

"Oh," I said calmly. "Sure, but I'll drop you off."

I watched as the color drained from her face.

"No, I wouldn't want to stress you that much. It isn't such a big deal. I didn't come with my car, so I'll just get a taxi to take me home."

"Nonsense," I said, standing up. "I have tons of cars in my garage. All you need to do is pick the one you want to go home in."

"I couldn't possibly ask you to do that. You are an Alpha, and driving your son's fiancée isn't that considered like an abomination or something?"

I laughed. "Well, if anyone thinks it's an abomination, I would like them to come say it to my face."

She didn't protest anymore. She got into the car, and in seconds, we were on the road. She still kept acting like she didn't know me even when we were alone.

"Olivia, such a beautiful name for a beautiful princess," I said, my eyes on the road.

"Please don't tell your son about that night," she finally said, and I could hear the panic in her voice, and I didn't just see it on her face; it was all over her body.

"So you love Hudson that much, huh?"

"Yes, I do. I love him so much, and I can't risk him finding out I slept with his father."

"If you love my son as much as you claim, why did you spend the night in a total stranger's room? I think in some places that's actually considered cheating," I said, unable to hide my amusement.

"Please don't tell him. Everything that happened between us was a mistake. I was drunk. I wasn't thinking straight."

"Olivia, I need you to leave my son for me," I said with a serious tone. "I want you."

She didn't say a single word until we stopped in front of the gate to her house.

"How... did you know my house?"

"You have no idea how much I know about you."

"I'm sorry," she said, "but I'm getting married to Hudson."

"We'll see about that," I replied with a smile.