Chapter 3

Mattew caught my wrist before I could leave.

“You won’t take my money? What’s that supposed to mean, Georgia? You want nothing to do with me?”

I looked down at his hand. “Let go.”

“We spent seven years together.”

“And you asked me to step aside for Claire. I did. You don’t get to decide when I come back.”

His grip loosened, and I pulled my arm free. He glanced at Claire, then lowered his voice as though he had finally understood.

“If it’s about the banquet, you could have said so. We’re welcoming the Alpha King in three days. I can take you.”

“I don’t need you to.”

“You’d be there as my guest. People would see you standing beside me again.” He looked at my dress. “But you’ll need to make an effort. I can’t have you embarrassing me.”

Once, I had waited an entire evening for him to introduce me to the elders as his future Luna. He had told me the timing wasn’t right.

Now he was offering an introduction as though it could make up for everything.

“No, thank you.”

Claire stepped closer. “Mattew, you said you were taking me.”

“And I am.” He slipped the check back into his jacket. “If Georgia would rather sulk, that’s her choice.”

“I won’t let you down,” she said, resting her hand on his arm.

He watched me as he kissed her forehead. I reached for my suitcase.

“Georgia. Think carefully before you walk away again.”

“I did that three years ago.”

This time, he didn’t follow me.

Outside the terminal, I called David’s aide and asked for another car. While I waited, I opened my phone’s camera. A red mark covered my cheek, and there was a small cut inside my lip.

I photographed both, then sent the pictures with an account of what had happened.

David called almost immediately.

“He hit you?”

“Yes. I’m outside now.”

“Stay there. Our security team is coming to you.”

“I’m not going back inside.”

“Good. Let them take you to the healer. I’ll deal with Mattew.”

His voice was controlled, but I knew him well enough to hear the anger.

Mattew had offered me money to make the incident disappear. David stayed on the phone until his people arrived.

The healer found no injury beyond the bruising and the cut. By the day of the banquet, the mark on my cheek had faded, and the clasp on my necklace had been repaired.

Riverdale’s reception duties had been handed over to the royal staff. David intended to speak to Mattew before the banquet began.

“Do you want to be there for that?” he asked.

“Yes. I want to hear what he has to say in front of you.”

Our son tugged at his sleeve, asking to be picked up. David lifted him, and I straightened the little jacket he had insisted on wearing to match his father.

Three years ago, I had left Riverdale with a suitcase and no idea where I would go. Meeting my second chance mate had not erased what happened, but it had given me a life I no longer wanted to trade for the one I had lost.

I kissed our son’s cheek and went ahead with David’s aide while David took him to the bathroom.

Inside the hall, the aide approached the dais to check our places. I had barely taken another step when Mattew spotted me.

“I knew you’d come.”

His gaze dropped to my necklace, then returned to my face.

“You could have saved us both some trouble and accepted my invitation.”

“I’m not here as your guest.”

“Then whose guest are you?”

I continued toward the dais. He stepped into my path and pointed to a table near the front.

“Our seats are over there.”

“Your seat is over there,” I said. “Mine is beside the King.”

Mattew looked toward the two chairs at the center of the dais. For a moment, he seemed unable to answer.

Then Claire joined him.

“Georgia, how did you get in?”

“I was invited.”

“By whom?” Her eyes settled on the moonstone at my throat. “You’re still wearing that fake?”

Her voice carried across the hall. Guests stopped talking and turned toward us.

Mattew leaned closer. “Take it off before someone from Blackwood sees you.”

I looked past him toward the royal staff.

“Let them see it.”