Chapter 6

(Emi’s POV)

“What can I do for you?” I finally muster up the strength to say.

Mrs. Halifax sighs, rolling her eyes as if her time is being wasted. “Where’s the owner of this shop? We’d like to speak to them about an upcoming event.”

“I am the owner,” I say softly.

She stiffens at that, eyeing me like a bug she’d gladly step on. “You’re the owner?”

“Yes, I’m the owner,” I repeat, scanning their faces.

“Well, this isn’t going to work,” she huffs, shaking her head. She glances over at Spencer. “Was this your doing? I thought you stopped doing charity work.”

I flush in humiliation at that. I’m still considered a charity case even though I’m the owner of an established business. I freeze when I realize that I wouldn’t be in my position right now if it hadn’t been for Alpha King Lucian’s charity. My heart aches. Is this how he feels about me too?

It makes sense why he never wanted our association to be known. Me knowing is a complication to his carefully crafted plans. He wants to minimize the damage his own way and tie up loose ends. I’m currently that loose end.

“Mother, I haven’t seen or talked to her since that night,” Spencer grumbles in frustration. His eyes sweep from me to his mother. “I didn’t suggest this place—“

“I did,” Lysette cuts in with a shrug and mischievous cruel smile. “The Northern Alpha King is very fond of this bakery and patisserie shop. I want to give him every reason to attend. His presence at our ceremony will ensure and strengthen both of our families prosperity and reputation.”

So she is using me as a pawn to get what she wants? Correction, she’s using my baked goods to get Alpha King Lucian to attend.

“Well, dear, Lucian is Spencer’s cousin,” Mrs. Halifax reminds her and my heart twists.

How could I forget about that twisted family link? Oh course Alpha King Lucian wouldn’t want his cousin’s sloppy seconds. It’s one of the reasons Spencer tried to keep our relationship hidden so he wouldn’t embarrass the ‘family’ just like Alpha King Lucian is or rather was doing before I burst inside his office.

He doesn’t want to be humiliated. Now all this makes more sense. It makes more sense than what Iris was trying to convince me. Anger flares through me. I’m so sick of it. I’m so sick of being seen a charity case.

These people care about one thing and it’s their stupid reputation including Alpha King Lucian. I’m angry that Lysette has taken everything away from me. She gets public affection and respect. She got Spencer to dote on her. She’s probably the Northern Alpha King’s mistress judging by how they looked when I barged inside his office.

This has nothing to do with me. He just wants control the situation. He doesn’t care about me at all. He cares only about himself and I’m tired of not putting myself first. I’ve had enough of it all.

“Get out,” I snap, losing control of myself. “I want you all to get out of my shop.”

Lysette’s eyes pop open at that. I hear the other women gasp at my boldness. Spencer’s eyes widen and his mouth drops open. Iris even tenses next to me and I see her look at me in surprise.

“You’re not getting a single pastry, cake, or whatever the hell you were hoping for from my shop,” I growl at them as I pass by them to storm to the door. I open it and point at the open doorway. “You’re no longer welcome here. Don’t even bother coming back.”

Mrs. Halifax walks up to me and slaps me across my face. “You ungrateful little bitch,” she snarls at me. “We could’ve taken your little shop to the next level, but your pettiness is going to be your downfall. Now we’re going drag your name and your shop through the dirt.”

When the rest of the angry group take their leave, I shut and lock the door to my shop. I face a wide-eyed Iris gawking at me in shock and disbelief.

“What’re you doing?” she gasps. “I mean they deserve it obviously, but you know who they are. They can bring down your shop by just word of mouth.”

It doesn’t matter anymore. Everything I thought is mine was never fully mine. This shop isn’t fully mine. It’s his not mine. All the business traffic he orchestrated. That was him. He’s not even mine and he’s supposed to be my mate.

I’m just his dirty secret — just his stupid charity case.

“Let them,” I whisper. “I want them to.”

Her mouth drops open. “But what about what Adam said about Alpha King Lucian wanting to—“

“I don’t believe in fairytales anymore,” I tell her. “If he really wanted me, he wouldn’t have sent someone else to fetch me. He would’ve ran after me, but he didn’t. He wouldn’t taking his fiancee on dates and probably planning his own claiming ceremony.”

“Do you even hear yourself, Emi?” Iris gasps. “This isn’t just some wolf you’re messing with. He’s the Northern Alpha King.”

“And he won’t want to be associated publicly with a controversial business,” I point out and Iris opens her mouth to argue but freezes in shock. “He’ll drop the idea about being a general partner, because he won’t want his name to be dragged through the mud.”

She shakes her head. “You’re playing with fire, Emi. I hope you know that it’s not going to be that easy,” she warns me with a frustrated sigh. “Yes, he’s a ruthless businessman and the old ways aren’t what they used to be, but he’s a pure blooded Alpha from one of the most powerful bloodlines. Are you sure this is the wisest decision to challenge somebody like him?”

“You said it,” I say with false confidence and bravado. “It’s not like it used to be. In the old days, a pureblooded Alpha would move mountains to be with his mate. Modern times just made it even more about the right connections and the right pedigree.”

She chuckles. “Are you sure about that?”

“I am,” I nod my head even though doubt and worry is seeping into my body. What is done is done.

“I don’t think you are.” She takes a deep breath. “I’ve met him before—“

“So have I,” I gasp.

Her eyes narrow then she bites her bottom lip. “I have properly met him. You have too in a roundabout way. He doesn’t seem like a wolf that is easily thwarted by obstacles in his way, does he?” She raises her eyebrows, daring me to contradict her. “He seems like a wolf that will do everything in his power to get what he wants. To me, that sounds like an Alpha. I really hope you’re ready for that, because if I’m right, you just challenged an Alpha and he’s going to destroy all obstacles in his path to get what he wants. Judging by everything he’s done, it’s you.”

My doubts are forcing me to reconsider what I’ve done, but it’s too late for that now. It’s almost like fate has chimed in, cementing the path I forced myself to go down, because our phones start going off. I glance down at mine and start to see the slanderous remarks hitting the media and social media platforms about my behavior at the bake shop just like I expected to happen.

“I-I think you’re wrong,” I stammer weakly. “I think he’ll leave me alone.”

She shrugs. “I guess we’ll have to see, won’t we?” She sighs. “I have a date to get ready for and I’m pretty sure we’re going to be talking about this new development.”