Chapter 4

“Isn’t that the Moon’s Tear?” a woman beside Claire asked. “The King bought it for his mate.”

“And Georgia thought she’d wear a copy to the Queen’s first official visit,” Claire said. “Apparently, being rejected once wasn’t embarrassing enough.”

A man near Mattew frowned. “Is she here with you?”

Mattew adjusted his cuff. “No.”

Claire smiled and held out her hand.

“You heard him. Give me the necklace and leave before you embarrass the whole pack.”

“You have no authority to take it.”

“Then perhaps we should call security.”

“Please do.”

Her smile disappeared. I lifted the pendant and turned it over, showing the royal jeweler’s seal beneath the setting.

The woman beside her leaned closer. “Wait. That looks genuine.”

Claire examined it, then looked at Mattew.

“She stole it.”

“You held it at the airport,” I said. “You even offered to buy it.”

“Because I thought it was a copy!”

Several guests moved closer. Mattew caught my arm and lowered his voice.

“Tell me where you got it.”

“From my husband. You’ve heard the answer before.”

“You expect me to believe the Alpha King married you?”

“I expect you to let go of my arm.”

He released me, but stayed in my path.

“Georgia, listen. Hand it over and apologize. I’ll speak to the royal staff before this goes any further.”

“You just told everyone I wasn’t with you.”

“And I’m still offering to help. All you have to do is ask.”

Seven years together, and even now he thought I would rather accept his terms than stand without him.

“I won’t confess to stealing something that belongs to me.”

Claire reached for the pendant. I caught her wrist, but she shoved me with her other hand. My hip struck the edge of the dais, and I grabbed a chair to keep from falling.

The necklace caught between her fingers. With one sharp pull, she broke the chain.

“Enough.”

David’s aide stepped between us and caught Claire’s wrist before she could move away.

“Put it down.”

“She stole it from the Queen,” Claire said. “I’m returning it.”

“Put it on the table. Now.”

Something in his voice made her obey. He signaled to a royal guard, then turned to me.

“Are you hurt?”

“My hip hit the step.”

“Please sit down.”

I lowered myself into the chair while he instructed the guard to keep Claire where she was. She looked at Mattew, waiting for him to object.

He crouched beside me instead.

“This is what happens when you refuse to listen. You could have given her the necklace.”

“She pushed me. You saw her.”

“You grabbed her first.”

I looked away from him. Across the table, the aide was speaking urgently into his phone.

Mattew moved closer.

“I can still settle this, Georgia. Tell them you came with me.”

“I didn’t.”

“You always have to make things difficult.” He glanced at Claire before lowering his voice. “The arrangement ended after her son was born. There’s nothing stopping you from coming back.”

For three years, he had apparently believed I was somewhere waiting for permission.

“There’s my husband,” I said.

Mattew followed my gaze toward the entrance.

David had entered carrying our son. The conversations around us faded as guests stepped aside, straightening their jackets and bowing their heads.

Our little boy was looking through the crowd for me.

Mattew stood, smoothing his cuffs.

“The King’s here. Whatever you do, don’t repeat that story in front of him.”

David saw his aide beside my chair. His gaze moved to the broken necklace on the table, then to me.

He started toward us.

Mattew leaned down, speaking quickly.

“Come home tonight, Georgia. Stop fighting with Claire, and we can finally complete our bond. You wanted a family, didn’t you? I’m willing to have a pup with you.”

Our son spotted me and reached out from David’s arms.

“Mommy!”

Mattew stopped speaking as David carried our child straight toward me.