Chapter 15 Eric

Chapter 15 Eric

The joyful expression was wiped off Cathy’s face as soon as Candy came in holding my hand.

My companion was a blonde with blue eyes, freckles on her nose and cheeks, and slim but with a guitar waist. They both had a lot in common. They were businesswomen, determined, with ambition, and through their veins ran the blood of an Alpha.

"Hi, I’m Cathy," she introduced herself, faking a smile.

Both blondes shook hands and smiled at each other. Candy ignored what was going on and just treated her as just another guest, but the discomfort on Cathy’s face was very obvious.

"Nice to meet you. Call me Candy," she replied.

Candy was the firstborn daughter of The Mist pack, one of the packs that inhabited under my father’s dominion. We were introduced a couple of months ago at a party, and my mother did her best to get us to go out.

For my mother, finding me a mate was priority number one, and not just any mate but one worthy of taking her place, and before Cathy arrived, the heiress of The Mist pack was her favorite.

"We were waiting for you," My father said. "We didn’t know you were bringing a guest, but for you, my dear, there will always be a place at this table."

My father said that because that was his way of showing hospitality, but the comment really rubbed Cathy the wrong way.

"Thank you so much, Alpha Patric," she replied. "It’s always an honor for me to be here."

Cathy no longer disguised her discomfort. She raised an eyebrow and made involuntary movements with her ears.

"Let’s not wait any longer. Let’s have dinner," I said.

I led Candy by the hand to her chair, right next to where I would sit. I arranged it and helped her sit down.

"Is that okay?" I asked her.

"Yes, honey," she replied.

I didn’t turn to look at Cathy, but I could feel the pressure of her gaze on me, her annoyance, and how she was holding back her anger. And I was loving it.

My mother waited for me to sit down and gave me a murderous look, judging me for bringing Candy just today.

I shrugged. Then I took Candy’s hand and put them together on the table, making sure Cathy could watch.

None of this was planned, but Candy had been insisting on me for days to have dinner, although I always excused myself to spend more time with my mate. Cathy did nothing but push me away, so when my father arrived from hunting and announced that he’d arrange a dinner to meet Cathy, I saw a unique opportunity to make her feel jealous so that once and for all, she’d accept that she does have feelings for me.

"Who’s hungry?" my father asked to end the awkward silence that reigned at the table.

I raised the hand I was holding Candy’s with and looked Cathy straight in the eyes. She was serious, silent, and clenching her jaw.

"Girls, please bring dinner," my mother announced.

Beatrice and a new woman came out of the kitchen wearing the white uniform they only dressed for special events. Between the two of them, they carried a metal tray with meat from the deer my father had hunted. It smelled fresh, and I could tell it was cooked with rosemary, garlic, and butter. The smell was exquisite to the palate.

Behind the two women, Magda brought a cart with salad and several bottles of red wine.

"It wasn’t easy prey," my father said, looking proudly at the meat.

After leaving the meat on the table, Magda served our plates, added the salad, filled our glasses, and returned to the kitchen along with the new one. Beatrice stood in the doorway with a bottle of wine in her hand and a cloth napkin dangling from her forearm.

"Bon appetite," my mother said. "You may eat now."

We tasted the deer as my father watched our faces looking to catch our reactions. "The deer is so soft and fresh. I’ve never tasted something like this," Cathy said after her first bite.

My father smiled, pleased.

"So, you’re a fragrance designer," my father started to feel comfortable enough to talk to her.

"Yes," she said, wiping her mouth with a napkin. "I have my own brand of products and branches in the U.S. and a new one in Paris."

"That’s impressive that such a young woman has accomplished all that," my father continued. "And what did my wife do to persuade such a busy woman to come and teach her."

My mother shook her head rolling her eyes.

"Nothing, she was just nice to me, so when she asked, I couldn’t help but accept," Cathy said.

Candy took a sip of wine and looked at her with intrigue. "You are the famous Cathy North everyone is talking about. It’s an honor to finally meet you. I didn’t know you were one of us. What pack do you belong to?"

"I’m not from any pack," Cathy replied with a straight face. "My only identity is fragrance designer and entrepreneur."

"I’m sorry, I thought you were..."

"Would anyone like more wine?" my mother interjected just in time before my father started asking Cathy awkward questions as well.

I squeezed Candy’s hand gently, and she understood not to ask anymore.

"Is she a human?" she leaned closer to me and whispered.

I looked at Cathy, who was in a huff seeing the blonde getting so close to me.

"No, but don’t ask her about her past. She doesn’t like to talk about it," I whispered as I pushed one of the strands of hair away from her face as gently as possible.

"It’s okay," she replied and continued drinking wine.

I felt bad because somehow I felt like I was using Candy, but at the same time, I loved watching Cathy hold back her emotions and pretend nothing bothered her.

"Would you like some more salad?" I asked Candy wiping some sauce from her lips.

"Yes, just a bit." I put some on her plate and motioned Beatrice to refill Candy’s cup.

Not only did I have Cathy’s attention but also that of my mother, who didn’t understand at all what was going on, but from her expression, I knew we’d have a talk.

My father was still unaware that Cathy was the daughter of Sith, my mother disapproved of my every action, and Cathy was furious and completely silent in her seat.

After we had our fill, we listened to my father brag about his anecdotes from his glory days when there was still a war between the packs.

"Before we say goodbye, I want to make a toast," my father stood up from the table and raised his glass. "I want to thank Cathy for keeping company with my Luna all the time I was away and for making her dream come true. Also, Candy and her pack, because you have always been loyal, and we have achieved many things together. And finally, for my Luna and my son because they are the pillars of my life. Cheers."

"Cheers," we said in unison and clinked our glasses.

"Now, it’s kind of late, and I’m already tired," my father announced. " I’m going to bed, but if you want, continue without me."

My mother said goodbye and escorted my father to the bedroom.

"It was nice to meet you, and I hope we can be friends," Candy said to Cathy.

"The pleasure was mine, and I’d love to, but in a few days, I’ll be back to my routine, and I don’t think we’ll see each other again," she replied.

Cathy nodded, turned, and walked off in the direction of the gardens, ignoring my presence completely. Her statement made me realize that she was almost gone, and I had promised myself to win her over while she was still here, but no matter if she left, I would go after her and make sure to try as many times as I could until she finally confessed her feelings and gave me a chance.

After she had left, I was alone with Candy. "Thank you for this dinner. I really had fun," she said, arranging her dress.

"Thank you for coming. Now let me take you home."

I had accomplished my goal, and now it was time for the second phase of my plan, but for that, I needed to be alone with Cathy.

She grimaced, and I knew what it meant. She wanted something else, but my mind was elsewhere.

"No need; you can send me to Lucas, or I could call someone," she told me.

"Come with me." I led her to the driveway, where Lucas was already standing guard, and handed him the keys to my Porsche. "Take her home for me."

Lucas nodded, and his eyes widened like saucers at the sight of the keys. He ran to the car and brought it up the driveway.

"I hope we see each other again," she said.

"Me too," I replied, knowing I probably wouldn’t see her again, at least not on a date.

I helped her into the car and waited until they left the property.

On my way back to the house, I saw through one of the windows Cathy walking alone and without direction through the garden.

I approached her without the slightest care, but she didn’t notice my arrival. She was absent to the point of ignoring everything around her.

"What are you doing here alone? It’s cold," I said.

"What are you doing here? I thought you would be with your girlfriend," she said, gritting her teeth.

She avoided my gaze and started walking in the opposite direction of me.

"Are you jealous?"

"Jealous? Why would I be?" she said, walking faster.

I followed her and grabbed her hand. "Wait."

"Leave me alone, okay?" she replied with a firm voice and her eyes storming imminently.

"I can explain, please."

"Explain what? You don’t have to explain anything to me. You and I are nothing but friends," she said with a cracking tone.

"Do you really feel that way?"

"Get away from me," she growled.

I pulled and caught her in my arms, she pushed me away and tried to break free, but the harder she tried, the tighter I held her.

"You’re jealous, it’s leaking out of every pore of your body, and I like it," I whispered.

She continued to struggle until she surrendered in my arms.

"Yes, I admit it," she said, raising her voice. "I was jealous. Are you happy?"

"Now I am," I said, bringing my body closer.

Tonight’s moon is obscured by a cloud, and the stars are scarce in the sky. I lay down on the grass and held her to my chest, not caring if my clothes were ruined.

"That dress looks beautiful on you. Since I chose it, I kept picturing how beautiful you would look with it on."

She plopped down on top of me, snuggled into my chest, and we watched the cloudy sky.

"Why did you bring her?" she asked me.

"Because I knew you would stop fooling yourself and accept that you are in love with me," I answered her without further ado.

"Is she in love with you?"

"I don’t think so. Her father is pressuring her to go out with me, and honestly, she means nothing to me. I only agreed to go out with her to please my mother."

She sighed and started massaging my bicep.

"Don’t do that again," she exclaimed.

"Only if you admit you’re head over heels in love with me," I challenged her.

Her pulse quickened. She leaned against my chest, letting her hair brush against my face, and looked up at me with her stormy gray eyes. "I like you, and I can’t explain how I feel about you," she confessed. "All these years, I tried to forget you, but I always dreamed about you, or you came to my mind whenever you could."

She couldn’t tell because her wolf hadn’t woken up, but I had felt that feeling every day during those six years, an emptiness inside that nothing and no one could fill, the longing to meet her and take her with me. So many times, I dreamed of her, and when I woke up, I implored the Moon Goddess to bring her to my side, even if it was only for an instant to feel her body next to mine and kiss her lips.

"Cathy, I want all of you. I need you," I told her.

She smiled and prepared her lips. I kissed her tenderly, and she let go. I stood and picked her up, and walked to my room, thinking of the different ways I would make her mine.