Rejected, And Became A Heiress (Cara)

Alaric's POV

In reality, I've only waited for Cara's response for a handful of seconds.

...and yet, somehow, it still feels like forever.noveldrama

This is nothing but a simple request for a dance, and yet it so much more.

If she rejects me in this, perhaps she is rejecting me in every other way as well.

She should have rejected me, given all the wrongs I've done.. But she shouldn't have rejected me either, because this is a public place-an Alpha King extending an invitation to a princess from another pack. For the sake of goodwill between our packs, she would surely accept.

I know she cares about that. I took advantage of it.

...Goddess, please forgive me for being such a despicable person.

But I just want to hold her again.

I crave her.

I bent down, waiting for a long time. I could feel Cara's gaze on me the entire time, and I could almost imagine her beautiful green eyes, filled with confusion, staring right at me.

I: ".....

>>

But she didn't say "yes" or "no."

Yet, just as I'm about to give up hope and rescind my hand and my offer, not wanting to make her uncomfortable

- she places her hand in mine.

"I would like to dance, thank you."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"...Thank you, Cara." I say.

"It's okay. I want to say thank you too."She replies.

I take her hand.

I almost forget what it felt like the last time I touched her fingers, taking her hand.

My heart quivers, and I hear Grey howling excitedly in my mind.

With great satisfaction, I watch Matthew Bedford's face turn frosty.

Cara smiles at him guardedly. "You don't mind, do you, Matthew?"

"...How can I mind?" Matthew replies, though there's a tightness in his voice.

"I would never stop the Alpha King of DarkWood from receiving the first dance. Though I hope you will consider saving me a later dance..."

Before Cara could feel required to give him a positive response, I sweep her out onto the dance floor. With one hand on the small of her back, I hold her hand with the other. She places her free hand on my shoulder.

I take the lead, bringing her out and around the other dancers.

The melody is nice and slow, and many of the dancers close the distance between each other in the romantic mood.

The music swirls around us gently.

Meanwhile, Cara keeps her arms locked as firm and unmoving as steel beams. I don't try to bring her closer. Out of respect for her, I keep my arms locked too, maintaining a respectable distance between us.

Matthew watches us for a while, glaring, before he gathers what remains of his pride and sees his way off of the ballroom floor, disappear in the crowd around the outer edges.

With that threat out of the way, I focus on Cara. This close, can see the true beauty of her features. The gentle slope of her nose, the cupid's bow of her lips,

the depths of her beautiful eyes fanned by her long lashes.

I open my mouth, wanting to compliment her beauty tonight, but the words wouldn't come out.

"...I'm sorry I missed you earlier," I tell her.

"I was working," she says.

"I realize that now,"

I reply with a hint of my own embarrassment. "I'm sorry, Cara. I've been so wrong about so many things."

Though I should have known her work ethic would keep her from being idle, I never would have connected that Cara and Aylon are the same person.

"You have," she says. Glancing away from me, she asks,

"What happened to the flowers?"

"I left them on my table," I tell her.

"I've been hoping to have a moment alone with you tonight to give them to you properly.'

"I don't want to be alone," she says. "But you are welcome to give me the flowers

at any

time."

"I'll do that," I say. "...After this dance."

But I wish this dance would never end.

I'm grateful for this dance, for this excuse to hold her in my arms like this, so closely and gently.

It has been far too long since the last time we were this close, romantically like this. We'd had sex recently, but that was more frantic, filled with desperation and

lust.

She feels right in my arms, like she was always meant to be there.

Just watching her steals my breath away.

I might be staring, but I can't help myself.

What I wouldn't give to be able to share in these moments more often, forever.

**

Cara's POV

This close to Alaric, my heart races, pounding wildly in my ribcage.

I hope Alaric can't hear

In such a public setting as this, I saw no reason why I, as Bloody Moon's beta, would turn down a dance with Darkwood's king, especially as it was a polite way to refuse Matthew Bedford.

However, now that I am in Alaric's arms, I'm remembering all the reasons that distance is a necessity.

As drunken memories of that night resurface in my mind, heat rises in my cheeks.

As quickly as they flash through my mind, I push them away, focusing on the here and now.

This is just a dance. A nice one, but that's all it is.

We move perfectly together, our steps in sync. After Alaric's apology, he does not speak again and neither do I.

It adds to the unfortunate magic of the moment, allowing memories of our past to more easily wash over us. I do my best to keep them at bay.

The lustful memories, the good ones, and the bad... I don't want any of them here with me now.

I have a new life, as beta of the Bloody Moon pack. New responsibilities, new family, and children to take care of.

I cannot continue to allow myself to be caught up in memories of the past.

At that moment, Mia's words echo in my mind-

"Mommy, I want a dad."

My little Mia cried.

"Mommy, what was your relationship with that big uncle?"

My little Mia asked.

*

If Alaric is truly ready to be a responsible man, I should tell him about the

existence of these two children...

But I dare not make the decision lightly.

The mate bond is such a sacred thing for werewolves.

Our fate mate bond was once so precious and strong.

And he broke it so casually.

Even now, all these years later, it still hurt me like a hollow wound in my heart.

Like a piece of me was carved away and left empty.

I'm not sure if he will treat my children the same way he used to treat me-I don't

want my children to be hurt in

any way.

Slowly, the song winds down and eventually ends, leading to the end of our

dance.

Yet, even as I release Alaric's hand and lower my grip from his shoulder, he holds

me close around the waist, as if he's not quite ready for the moment to be over

yet.

Against my better judgement, I'm not either.

1 stay very still, not moving away as he moves closer to me

He places his lips by my ear, his breath hot on my skin and says, "...Holding you

in my arms is like nothing else in the world."

"Alaric," I whisper.

"Save another dance for me, Cara," Alaric says.

"...Save all of them for me."