Two MonthsLater
I seeSoren almost every day, but barely at work.
At work, I see him maybe once or twice a week. But he comes over in the afternoons and cooks dinner for us. And we spend most of our free time together.
Every single day, Oliver asks when Soren is coming over. He’s really taken a liking to him, and Noah and I are both happy that he has.
Soren hasn’t mentioned moving in together since that first time, but we spend every night together as it is anyway, so it’s just a matter of making it official and working out what that looks like.
Oliver is running out the door to meet Noah as Soren walks in. “You off, buddy?” Soren asks him. It’s funny and heartwarming to watch him interact with Oliver. Soren is so tall, even more so than Noah. But that doesn’t intimidate Oliver at all. He loves it. He enjoys jumping up and smacking hands with him as he runs in the other direction.
Soren takes him to his gym, and they train together once a week, even though Oliver begs me to take him more often. I finally relented a month into our relationship and let him pick Oliver up from school, even though I was a bit hesitant because of what happened with Maya. But I trust him more than I trust most people now, especially when it comes to my son. And now Oliver expects it almost every day. The thing is, though, Soren is happy to do it. He tells me most of his work is done by noon. Plus, he’s the fucking CEO, so he can do whatever the fuck he wants—his words, not mine. I always laugh when he says things like that because I know he’s being truthful.
“You’re ready?” he asks, eyeing my dress. It’s blue to match my eyes. He told me his favorite color is the blue of my eyes, so I figured I would wear it for my first Forsaken event.
He’s invited me to a few events, but I had to decline because I had Oliver. He’s come back after every one and climbed into my bed only a few hours after leaving. He never stays at the events for long anymore, and I wonder if I’m to blame for that or if his members already hate me. I also think about what type of person it makes me that I don’t hate the idea of these hunts, with the Forsaken removing the scum of the earth. And I try not to dwell on that, and whatever it is he can’t share with me about the hunts.
“I am, are you?” I ask. His suit, including the shirt, is black, but he has on a tie that matches my dress.
“I am.”
I grab my purse and follow him out, our hands joined. Any chance this man can get to touch me, he takes. He guides me to the car, as if I don’t know the way, and then pinches my ass as I’m getting in. When I’m seated, he slides in right next to me and rests his hand possessively on my thigh.
This event is the “wives only” event. I told him I shouldn’t go. He told me he wasn’t going without me. So here we are, at an event where only married couples are present.
Someone opens my door, and I climb out, Soren right behind me. He takes my hand in his before we head up the stairs to the entrance.
When we enter, the room is dimly lit by chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. I look around and notice most people are coupled up and standing in groups. A few are speaking to each other near the bar, and a couple of the wives are chatting in one of the sitting areas.
If you were to walk in here, you’d assume it’s a regular event. I actually wonder if the wives know what these events are really about. Soren informed me that a few of the wives know some information, but most think it’s like a social club. When he told me that, I laughed and said, “What, like a country club?”
I recognize some of the faces from my research, but a lot are new to me. All of them make sure they come up and greet Soren, and he introduces me to all of them. But I know I’m not going to remember their names.
He guides me toward the bar, and that’s where I see two members I know and their wives. One of the couples is Arlo and Cora. Reon is with his wife, Lilith, who I’ve heard is as crazy as he is, if not more so, though I guess she did send me an invite to their anniversary party, and that was odd considering I didn’t know either of them. They look like they all just walked off a Paris runway, but their expressions remain flat until we get closer.
When Cora sees me, she pulls me in for a hug. “Arlo told me you two were a thing,” she gushes. I look at Arlo, who can’t take his eyes off her. You can tell he loves her.
“Yeah, I guess we are,” I reply.
“She’s my soon-to-be wife,” Soren interjects.
“Oh, you proposed?” Lilith asks, joining the conversation.
“No, he just keeps telling me that,” I say, and he raises a brow at me.
“You will be.”
“It’s why you’re here, Cressida,” Arlo adds.
“How is Maya?” Soren asks Arlo, and several of us tense at her name.
“I heard you’ve been avoiding her,” Arlo says.
“I have. It’s best for the time being,” Soren replies, voice both steady and sorrowful.
“I think you two should work out to what capacity you want Maya in your life,” Arlo suggests.
Just then, Lilith hisses, “Why is she here?”
