Chapter 0132
Truthfully, I can’t be angry with Gerald. He’s worked with Karl’s adoptive family for decades, literally
watched Karl grow up once he was taken in here. He’s steadfastly loyal, and clearly angry with me. But
his anger is founded on mistruths.
The sooner that Karl makes his official announcement, the better. If I’m going to be friends with
him and make trips to visit, then I need to confront him.
And if he doesn’te clean, then it’s high time that I set the record straight. The whispers, the
suspicious nces, the underlying tension—they have to stop. And they will, even if I have to be the
one to stop them.
I look back at the ss of iced tea, its contents shimmering in the afternoon light. I take a sip, letting
the cold liquid quench my thirst, but not my need for rectification. As I set the ss down, I make up my
mind.
When Karl gets home, we’re going to have to talk. And this time, there’ll be no room for waiting. He
needs to make this announcement today, or I’m leaving. And I won’t being back.
…
The moment Karl walks through the door, I can almost feel the air shift. I’ve been preparing for this all
afternoon, practicing in my head what I’ll say to him.
But just as I’m opening my mouth to talk to him, he interrupts.
“Sorry for the short notice, Abby, but I’m hosting an Alpha dinner tonight at our ce,” he announces,
hanging his jacket on the hook beside the door.
An Alpha dinner. I feel a sudden jolt of excitement that momentarily overpowers my need to confront
Karl; it’s been so long since I had the chance to prepare a feast for the Alphas. My fingers already itch
to chop, saute, and garnish.
“Oh, that sounds fantastic. What’s the asion?”
“Mainly council matters, and a few other things,” he replies, but there’s a pause that tells me he’s not
giving me the full story. “I’d like you to attend as my date.”
His words take me by surprise. “Your date?”
He nods, his eyes searching my face. “Yes, you don’t need to worry about the food. Just be there with
me.”
There’s a gravity to his words, as though he’s trying to bridge a chasm between us with this single
dinner. But I’m not ready to y the perfect Alpha’s wife. Those days havee and gone. That’s not
me anymore, and we’re not together.
“So, all of your old dresses are still in the wardrobe, or I can take you out shopping if you—”
“Sorry,” I interrupt, shaking my head. “That won’t be necessary. I won’t be your date, Karl.”
His face falls for a split second. He looks disappointed, thoroughly sol. But I won’t back down on this. I
expect him to throw a tantrum, or at the very least to make aint. And yet, somehow, he regains
hisposure without a hint of anger.
“Alright,” he says, though I can hear the hint of disappointment still threaded through his voice. “But you
don’t have to cook, Abby. I can have the staff prepare—”
“No,” I interrupt again, my voice firm. “I want to cook. Just get me the ingredients, and I’ll handle it.”
He hesitates, his gaze locked onto mine, as if weighing whether to argue or give in. Finally, he sighs.
“Okay. What do you need?”
I rattle off a list of ingredients for dishes I’ve already begun to visualize in my head: seared salmon,
roasted vegetables, a decadent chocte torte for dessert. He nods,mitting it all to memory, but
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there’s a lingering pause, a space filled with all the things we’re not saying to each other.
“Alright, I’ll get everything you need,” he says atst, breaking the silence.
“Thank you.”
He returns the smile, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Is there anything else?”
There’s so much more I want to say, one particr question that bristles at the tip of my tongue. Why
hasn’t he made that announcement yet?
But the timing isn’t right. A confrontation now, with the Alpha dinner just hours away, would only throw
us into chaos. So I push down my questions, my doubts, my insecurities, and shake my head.
“No,” I say, “that’s it for now.”
He nods, though I can see he’s not entirely convinced. “Alright then. I’ll go get the ingredients.”