JESSICA
Present Day
The atrium is beautiful with its indoor waterfall, abundance of exotic flowers, and a tree as tall as the glass ceiling directly in its center. Cast-iron benches circle around its base in invitation to appreciate its beauty. Alpha Samuel Forester comes to mind. As a horticulturist, I think he would like this place. I wonder if he found his way here while he waited for me to finish the introductions.
“Alpha Princess?” Joe calls to me.
“Not to you, Joe.”
He gives me wry smile. “It's your title.”
I don’t like it. I’m not sure I will ever get used to Joe—or anyone, really—calling me that. “You’re family, Joe, so you can call me anything elsebutthat.”
He stands closer and boops me on the nose. “Alright then, little one. Everyone is in their places. Ready to meet the Alphas?”
Ready as I’ll ever be. Joe doesn’t wait for my answer. Instead, he holds out his arm to lead me to my designated spot.
Holden speaks into the camera. When he’s done, he gives me a curt nod and a wink. What the hell is that about? He fucking winked at me. Winked. The goofy grin on his face doesn’t sit well with me either. Then he announces who I’m to meet next. “Young Alpha Wills Powers of the Luna Solar Territory Three.”
I school my face, but inside, I cringe.
Through the door of the atrium, Wills walks in with his normally tan curly hair slicked back. So thick with hair product, it looks hard like a helmet. He flashes me a bright toothy smile. I mirror with my own big fake smile.
He reaches for my hand, and I try not to flinch. “Alpha Princess, you look beautiful, as always.”
“Wills.” I purposefully don’t use his title. Even though I know the production team wants it, I can’t force sweet and charming praises out of my mouth.
Wills beats me to it, saving me from falling grace.
“I see I left you speechless. A good sign, I hope.”
Yeah, sure, if that will make you leave faster. The heat in my cheeks builds. Not because I’m smitten. He makes me feel anxious and unsafe. I glance around the atrium, half expecting to see Elaine jump out from behind one of the bushes. She’s in jail, Jessica. She won’t be here. Goddess, why do I let that woman fluster me? I fought with men more dangerous than her, yet just the thought of her wrecks me.
Wills squeezes my hand. I finally bring my eyes to meet Wills’s. He looks worried and a little hurt. He starts to lean forward but hesitates. He briefly closes his eyes. “I’m not my sister, and I can’t speak for her actions. I’m truly sorry for everything she did to you. I just… I want…” He lets out a breath of frustration. “I know what you think of me. I’m hoping in time you’ll see the real me and give me a chance to prove that I’m not that cowardly kid you met a long time ago.”
Everything he just said, including his body language, facial features, even the energy surrounding him, indicates that he’s telling the truth and his intentions are genuine. But I don’t know if I can trust my read on him. My eyes dart to my mother, who in turn looks to my father. She gives me a slight nod, and I release a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
“Okay,” I reply quietly.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but thank you.” He squeezes my hand again, with a sad smile, and spins to take in the room. I turn, angling myself as I was told, so I still face the cameras and can observe the beauty of the atrium with Wills.
He leans in—not too close, just enough. I respect that move. “Do you like this space?” he asks.
“I do, actually. I can’t wait to come here when things are less busy, of course, and read under the tree.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I read my great-grandfather’s journal, and he described the castle to the letter. He mentioned the indoor garden quite a few times. I hired a crew to restore it as close to how he described it as possible.” He holds up both hands. “I made sure to clear it with your brothers, and everyone was vetted. I... Gods, I wasn’t thinking.” He tries to run his hand through his curly hair and then realizes it’s stiff with hair product. He looks down at his hand, embarrassed.
I can’t help but laugh just a little at his expense. “Relax. I said I loved it.”
“If you don’t want to take it as a gift from me, then I hope you will accept it from the company as a token of our?—”
I raise my hand. “Can we not do this? You don’t have to retract what you say out of guilt. You said you wanted me to get to know you, so act normal. Unless this is your normal, then, well...” I quirk a brow, hoping to lighten the mood.
His posture relaxes, and he blows out a nervous breath. “I’m glad to see that part of you, at least, hasn’t changed.” For the firsttime since this whole awkward thing started, his smile comes naturally.
“What part is that, exactly?”
“The part where you were always a straight shooter. I always liked that about you. It’s a quality I always found attractive.”
