After finishing their breakfast in the room, Grace gathered her hat and headed towards the door. There was tension in the room about the anger that had been building up for days.
Chris watched her with a cold, steely gaze. "Where do you think you're going?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Grace didn't bother to turn around. Her tone was sharp and annoyed as she replied, "I'm going for a walk, Chris. I can't stay locked up in this room all day." She reached for the doorknob, her fingers trembling slightly, but her resolve was unwavering.
Chris clenched his teeth. He wanted to stop her and show that he was in charge, but something about the way she was acting made him think twice. He could see that she was tired of being watched and controlled all the time. He felt something like guilt for a moment, but he quickly pushed it away.
"Fine," he said curtly, waving his hand dismissively. "Go, but don't wander too far. And remember, I'm watching you."
Grace turned and gave him a hard look, her eyes flashing with defiance. "Of course you are," she muttered under her breath before stepping out into the hallway.
*****************************************
Chris stood in his guest room, his gaze fixed on the scene outside the window. The garden was serene under the bright sunlight. Thomas waited patiently beside him for further instructions.
He turned to Thomas, his voice cutting through the silence. "What are the current positions of our recruits?"
Thomas, eager to please, answered quickly. "They're ready, Alpha," he said, his face lighting up with anticipation at the possibility of gaining power and additional land. "All they need is your signal."
Chris nodded but did not respond immediately. His eyes were drawn to Grace, who sat by herself on a bench, watching the little ducks swimming around in the lake at the estate. She tore pieces of bread and threw them into the water as the ducks floated by. The image of her pleading with him to spare her lover’s life flashed in his mind, sending a wave of disgust through him.
He turned away from the window and glanced back at Thomas.
"Tell them to take up position near the Grand Hall. Make sure they're indistinguishable from the rest of the pack," he ordered, his voice cold and authoritative.
Thomas lowered his head in a nod of agreement. "As you desire, my Alpha," he replied before turning to leave, oblivious to the rage that was building up inside Chris. "I will leave you alone."
As Thomas exited the room, Chris continued to watch Grace from the window. It looked like she had no idea about the chaos he was causing. He was angry that she seemed so cool, like she wasn't affected by how upset he was.
**************************************
Rosalie stared at her reflection in the mirror, adjusting the hem of her black dress to ensure it cleverly concealed her growing bump. "Hmm, not bad," she muttered to herself, pleased with her choice. Despite the fact that her pregnancy wasn't showing much yet, she couldn't shake off the nagging thought of how her wardrobe options were dwindling by the day.
As she was pondering her fashion predicament, Sandra and her betas barged into the room, their laughter filling the air. "Oh, look at you, Rosalie! Soon you won't be able to fit into anything but a tent!" Sandra joked, poking fun at Rosalie's expanding waistline.
Rosalie rolled her eyes, shooting back a playful glare. "Oh, please, I can still rock this dress," she retorted, striking a pose that emphasised her still-svelte figure.
Just then, Alex entered the room, his gaze landing on Rosalie.
"Wow, Rosalie, you look stunning as always," Alex complimented with a warm smile. Rosalie blushed.
"See, this is why we must get our mates." Ashley nudged Janet. "He will compliment us even when we are fat !"
The girls giggled and ran out of the room, leaving Rosalie and Alex alone. Alex took Rosalie's hand and whispered, "You'll always be beautiful to me, no matter what." Rosalie smiled, feeling grateful for his love and support.
"Ready to face the party, my dear?" he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
Rosalie grinned, feeling a surge of excitement mixed with a hint of nervousness. "As ready as I'll ever be," she replied.
She took a deep breath and followed Alex out of the room, ready to tackle whatever the evening had in store.
The lavish furnishings in the Grand Dining Hall of the Grey Stone created an ambience of grandeur and elegance that was really breathtaking. Perfectly formed circular tables with exquisite linens and glistening silverware were set up. Each is big enough to seat 10 people. Talented musicians performed the piano and violin in the background, creating a sophisticated atmosphere with soft tunes that floated through the air. The setting was bathed in a warm glow from the subdued golden lighting, which accentuated the hall's grandeur.
Rosalie stood next to Alex. Her shiny black dress hugged her curves just right, even around her growing belly. Even though she knew she was safe, she couldn't get rid of her unease. They stood near the door to the dining hall and waited for their guests to arrive. Rosalie nervously fidgeted with her necklace, a gift from Alex, as they exchanged small talk to pass the time.
Alex squeezed Rosalie's hand gently, offering her a comforting smile before releasing her. "You look stunning," he whispered, his voice soothing. "We've got this."
Rosalie nodded, but her nerves were far from settled. A flutter of anxiety churned in her stomach, her breaths growing shallow as she anticipated the imminent arrival of Chris and Grace.
Finally, the grand doors swung open, and Chris and Grace made their entrance, leading the members of their pack into the hall. Rosalie's pulse raced as she watched them approach. Rosalie looked away, refusing to meet their eyes.
As Chris and Grace reached them, Alex stepped forward with a warm smile. "Welcome, Alpha Christopher, and Luna Grace."
Chris nodded curtly. "Thank you." His eyes flicked to Rosalie, a hint of something unreadable in his gaze.
Rosalie couldn't avoid it anymore. She looked at Chris, who frowed, and then his eyes drifted towards her belly. Rosalie's heart skipped a beat as she realised Chris had noticed her pregnancy. His jaws tightened. Chris's gaze was fixed on her. Rosalie could smell blood wafting from him since he bit his lip so hard that it was bleeding. He seemed like he was about to lose his cool, but he maintained his composure and shook hands with Alex. Rosalie clenched Alex's hand hard in hers.
Grace turned her head to look at Chris, but he paid her no mind as he continued to stare at Rosalie.
"Rosalie, you look well." He managed to say.
"Thank you, Chris," Rosalie replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "Grace, it's good to see you again."
Grace greeted Rosalie in hushed tones, her voice a little raspy from crying, and she had been crying for a very long time. "Being Luna suits you, Rosalie. You look radiant. And Congratulations."
"Thank you, Grace." Rosalie said, placing her hand protectively on her belly.
Chris watched the exchange with a clenched jaw; his unreadable gaze would be normal to the others, but Rosalie knew that he was struggling to contain his emotions. She hoped that he would now give up and that things would become normal.
Alex gestured towards the tables. "Please make yourselves comfortable. Dinner will be served shortly."
As the guests began to take their seats, Rosalie felt a surge of relief. The initial encounter had gone smoothly, but the evening was far from over. She could still feel Chris's eyes on her, scrutinising her every move.