Two suited men with their faces covered by thick, dark sunglasses and their arms crossed over their puffed-out chests move aside to reveal a man who's quite put-together. In an expensive navy suit that makes him appear overdressed for the breakfast table, and a thick gold belt across his waist with an emblem of some sort embossed in the center, there's no doubt who this man is.
Prince Damion Hastings.
The man Delilah was supposed to marry and the reason we entered this fake marriage in the first place.
It's no wonder she came out and told her parents about our marriage and our mate bond. The prince is here.
Damion Hastings saunters forward with graceful steps, his polished shoes clicking against the tiles and cutting through the awkward silence. With one hand hooked on his belt, he reaches out a hand toward Delilah, blue eyes glimmering with wonder.
“Miss Delilah Hargreeves…” he says with perfect pronunciation. “It is truly an honor to finally meet you.”
“Prince Damion…” Delilah breathes as if she's momentarily dazed when she slips her hand into his. Watching the exchange churns my insides, and when Damion leans forward and presses his lips in a chaste kiss on her knuckles, I squeeze Delilah's hand to snap her out of her daze.
My inner wolf is ready to burst out of its confines and claw at the charming prince, but I gulp and swallow the anger rising like bile in my throat. Delilah clears her throat and gestures to me with a nod.
“It is great to finally meet you, too, Prince Damion. This is my husband, Hunter Black.”
Prince Damion turns to me with a courteous nod. “You are the husband…?” he quizzes as he cocks his head to one side, seemingly sizing me up as if he's not convinced.
Feeling smug about standing beside Delilah and stunning the prince, I clear my throat, lifting my chin with an air of haughtiness as I stick out a hand.
“I am her fated mate,” I declare proudly as Damion shakes my hand. My chest swells with pride when he appears taken aback by the news, and my hand is firm when he shakes it.
“Well, this changes things, doesn't it?” Damion chuckles as he crosses his arms.
“Forgive me for this, Prince Damion,” Delilah begins, but the prince raises a dismissive hand.
“Please, you may call me by my first name,” he muses. “Your parents have been quite the hosts, and I do consider myself among friends.”
“Right. Damion,” Delilah concedes. “I know this is sudden, but Hunter and I are fated mates. We couldn't wait to be married. You must have heard about fated mates.”
“Of course, I have,” Damion smirks. “It is rather sacred, so I do not blame you. I cannot object to your union, even if you were promised to me. However…” he pauses and turns toward her parents, flicking his sweeping long brown hair away from his face when he turns. “I was planning on staying in the States for a few days, so I will accept the kind hospitality and graciousness and stay in Scarborough for the rest of my visit. As long as that is fine with the Alpha and Luna.”
My blood boils, but there's nothing I can do when this isn't my house, my pack, or my territory. Delilah and I exchange glances, and there's a flicker of regret in her eyes.
“Of course, Prince Damion,” Alpha Gabriel nods curtly. “Please,” he gestures to an open chair on the right side of him. “Join us for breakfast.”
The invitation is only extended to the prince, but Delilah pulls me forward to two empty seats beside her mother. As we take our places, I notice the way Delilah's father speaks to the prince so freely while ignoring my existence.
I know their noses are turned up at me because I'm not an alpha, and any dreams of securing a pure bloodline for the heir of the Shadow Fang have flown out the window because I'm married to Delilah.
If I rejected her before because I thought I was doing it to protect her, then I was also protecting myself from the hostility I felt around the breakfast table. A surge of jealousy courses through my veins, and I bite my tongue in an attempt to calm down.
When the conversation eventually turns to me, thanks to the prince, who asks where I'm from.
“Concord,” I reply calmly, dabbing my lips with a napkin and becoming highly aware of the way the prince watches me as if I'm being tested.
“Are you planning on moving in with Hunter and his pack, Delilah?” he asks, turning his attention to her.
Before she can respond, I clear my throat, prompting her to reach for her orange juice. “Actually, I'm planning on moving in with Delilah.”
Beside me, Delilah chokes on the juice, her face visibly paling. I know it’s something we haven't discussed yet, but we didn't discuss announcing our marriage, either.
“Oh, really?” Alpha Gabriel asks with an arched brow.
“Yes, Alpha Gabriel,” I confirm sweetly as I hold my hand over Delilah's, my lips curling in a smirk. “Delilah and I thought I should move here, since she's very fond of her parents, and doesn't want to live elsewhere.”
“I see,” Alpha Gabriel hums as he returns to his meal, scowling at his plate.
