Chapter 58


    Chapter 58 – Damage Control


    E


    On the fourth day of the festival we wake to headlines about Lydia’s reappearance in Moon Valley. I’m


    justing out of the bathroom following my morning bout of vomiting, when I find Sinir standing in


    the doorway, ring at the newspaper. I startle slightly, not expecting to see him in my rooms. I left his


    bed only half an hour ago, and wasn’t nning on seeing him again until breakfast. I’m not sure what’s


    on the front page of the paper, but it must be bad if it couldn’t


    wait.


    He nces up at me, frowning deeply. “I thought I asked you to tell me when you feel ill.”


    “Dominic, it’s happening so often now that it would be impossible to tell you every time, and it’s not as if


    I have a lot of warning when ites on.” I argue, though this isn’t the full truth. As much as his


    presence and gentle hands soothe me, I still find it horribly embarra*sing to be sick in front of him, and I


    avoid informing him whenever possible.


    Sinir narrows his eyes, but before he can call me out for bending the truth I cross the distance


    between us. “What’s going on?”


    He shows me the paper, which is dominated by arge ck and white photo of Sinir and Lydia by


    the snow maze. The headlines are in bold ck lettering above the image. Trouble in Paradise?


    Former Luna Returns to Reim her Mate.


    My eyes widen in shock, and I quickly scan the article. While the


    media had been kept away from the main feast, they clearly hadn’t been barred from the rest of the fair.


    Worse, it seems like they overheard most or all of Sinir’s confrontation with Lydia.


    –


    Though Moon Valley Alpha Dominic Sinir seems to have won the lottery with his second chance


    mate, E Correntin, his attention wasn’ t on his bride-to-be at the annual Yuletide Feast in Oldtown.


    Instead the prospective King was seen chasing his ex-wife Lydia Davis – now of the Bloodbane pack


    through the fair, causing his pregnant mate to walk out of the event in protest. Onlookers report that the


    two engaged in a heated conversation wherein Lydia professed her desire to mend bridges with the


    Alpha, iming she still loves him and that his second chance mate isn’t strong enough to lead the


    Moon Valley Pack. let alone the Kingdom. Though Sinir rejected her advances, Lydia fiercely


    dered she wasn’t going to give up on him, leaving many to wonder if the fated pair might be able to


    repair their rtionship.


    “They’re all like this.” He shares, tensioncing his words. “Every paper and tabloid is some version of


    this F uc king Lydia probably nted the story herself, given the way they left out the pieces that might


    make her look bad.”


    Guilt washes over me as I realize how leaving the festival must have looked to onlookers, especially


    given this information. “I’m so sorry I left.” I murmur “I didn’t think, I should have stuck it out and waited


    for you toe back.”


    Sinir frowns down at me. “What are you talking about?”


    “It makes it look like I was angry with you and we’re on the rocks.” I exin, my pulse fluttering.


    “E, none of this is your fault.” Sinir promises. “If anyone is to me it’s me for arguing with her in


    public, and Lydia for turning up to cause trouble in the first ce.”


    –


    “But “I try to object.


    “I said it isn’t your fault, and I meant it.” Sinir interrupts, cing his pointer finger against my lips


    “Is this going to hurt the campaign?” I ask, though ites out rather muddled since his finger is still


    pressed to my mouth.


    “It’s a hup.” Sinir states simply, “We’ll do some damage control at the festival tonight. I’ll invite a


    few trusted reporters and make a statement refuting all this, but the more important part is that we put


    on a good show. We’ll look so happy and in love that everyone will forget this ever happened.”


    “Okay.” I nod, trying to steady my nerves. “And it’s wa*sailing tonight, right? So all we have to do is


    drink and sing carols and enjoy the fair.


    “Right,” he confirms.


    “I wish I could really drink.” Iment. “I could use a bit of liquid courage tonight.”


    “You have nothing to worry about.” Sinir croons. “I know it makes you nervous but you always do


    beautifully at these events.”


    “When I stay at them long enough to participate, you mean?” I correct him, still regretting my decision


    to run out yesterday.


    “You’re growing the pack a prince.” Sinir smiles, “you get a free pa*s when ites to all these


    public responsibilities. In case you’ve forgotten I was voting for you to stay home entirely until you


    convinced me otherwise.”


    “I should have let you coddle me after all.” I sigh, “we could have


    avoided all this.”


    Sinir gathers me to his chest, hugging me tightly. “I’m d to see you’re learning that I’m always


    right.” He teases.


    Groaning. I try to squirm out of his hold – much good that it does. “You know I regretted it the moment I


    said it.”


    “I’m not going to let you forget it, either.” Sinir chuckles.


    Iugh, ceasing my struggles and submitting to his petting. “Bossy


    wolf.”


    When we arrive at the festival, the media descends almost


    immediately. Cameras are shing before we even exit the car. Sinir


    wraps a protective arm around my shoulders, growling softly when the reporters get too close, and


    eventually they back off, realizing they’ll be endangering more than their careers if they invade my


    space.


    “Alpha, do you have anyment about the reports regarding your ex- wife?” One of the reporter’s


    asks, shoving a microphone forward.


    “I’ll tell you what I told Lydiast night.” Sinir begins co olly. “That I’m happier with E than I ever


    was with her, and there’s not a


    snowball’s chance in hell that I would ever take back someone who Content rights belong to N?velDrama.Org.


    walked out on their pack when they needed them most. There’s no love lost between us, but I have no


    respect for a Luna who abandons her responsibilities as a leader.”


    The reporter murmur and exchange nces, and suddenly the microphone is pointing to me. “E, how


    do you feel about Lydia’s usations that you’re not strong enough to be the Alpha’s mate?”


    I lean into Sinir, trying to draw on his own raw power to give myself the confidence I need. “I think


    that Lydia is obviously the kind of woman who believes there’s only one way to lead, and one way to be


    strong. If she believes thatpa*sion and kindness are signs of weakness, well I think that says more


    about her than it says about


    me.”


    –


    Sinir leans down, dropping his lips to my ear. “You’re too humble.” He rumbles affectionately, making


    me blush. “You ought to tell them how fearlessly you braved those bath snakes yesterday.”


    I can barely contain myughter, grinning up at him and whispering, “I


    can’t say that.


    Sinir’s cheeks split into a wide smile, and he kisses the tip of my nose before turning back to the


    mbering pap arra zzi. “trust me. gentlemen, this one stands up to me on a daily basis. She might


    come in a sweet package but she’s got nerves of steel.”


    I’m blushing again, but the reporters are eating it up. They’re wearing the ravening expression of


    hungry jackals. and I suspect they’re thrilled to be getting this on tape. I can already predict the waves


    this will make when Sinir looks at me the way he is now I feel like I’m the


    center of his universe, and I know it’s all an act. To outsiders it will be beyond convincing. “Is there


    anything you would tell Lydia, if you


    could. E?”


    “I would tell her that if she cares about her life she’ll stay away from


    my mate.” I growl, surprising myself with my own ferocity. Where on earth did thate from? “And


    that the next time she wants to get a look at me she can introduce herself directly, rather than sneaking


    up on a breeding woman while she’s suffering morning sickness.”


    Thisst statement causes a near frenzy, and Sinir growls again. I watch as the crowd cowers


    instinctively, tucking their proverbial tails between their legs. “When did this happen?”


    “Last night.” Sinir answers darkly. “Why else do you think I went after her, or that E left? We’ve all


    seen what jealous she-wolves can do at the best of times, and I don’t take threats to my family lightly


    While the crowd immediately begins mboring for more information, Sinir raises a hand to forstall


    them. “Now, I’m going to take my


    beautiful mate and get lost in the snow maze.” He announces, squeezing my waist. “And don’t be


    surprised if she’s seeing stars when wee out again.”


    Hearty chuckles rise from our audience and though I a*sumed Sinir was joking. I quickly learn quite


    the opposite. He spends the rest of the evening kissing and caressing me for all to see, and by the time


    we get back to the house I think I’m so turned on that I think I’ll go crazy if I don’t find a release.


    Unfortunately there’s no chances for that tonight because Sinir takes me to bed almost as soon as


    we walk through the door. For the first time I seriously consider throwing in the towel and simply asking


    him to have S** with me, even though I know it’s just my libido talking The little voice in my head is


    whining with need, and I find myself hungrily watching Sinir as he climbs into bed beside me.


    Can I really do this?