Chapter 142
HANNAH
I searched Edward's face, almost sure I hadn't heard him correctly. Hoping like hell I hadn't heard him correctly.
But the truth was there, on his slightly flushed face, in his eyes now blazing with anger at his mother, a truth as plain as the back of my hand.
In that instant, it all began to make sense: the instant connection between us, his attempt to kiss me at the library after meeting me for the very first time, his habit of always hanging around me, how nervous and embarrassed he had been when I had asked if he had imprinted on anyone yet.
Edward had lied about not having imprinted on anyone to protect my feelings, so I didn't feel even more awkward around him. He must have planned never to bring it up, but now the truth had been forced out of him.
My mates were now standing tense and silent, ready to break into a fight if given an excuse to do so. Cade slammed a fist into his palm. Alpha Wallace shot him a warning look.
I leaned back in my chair, shocked and shaken.
What now? I wondered.
Everything was becoming more complicated by the second.
Edward turned to his mother with a glare. She was clutching the pearls around her throat tightly, staring at him like she had never seen him before.
"I hope you're happy now," Edward said bitterly. "Now that you know the truth, can you please leave Hannah alone? I don't want to force her to be with me." He gave my mates a sweeping glance. "Obviously she loves them, and she will reject me if I propose to her. Now let this end, mother."
He sat back down, breathing heavily and staring down at his hands.
Alpha Wallace started to say something, but he wasn't sure what, so he stayed silent. The silence in the room stretched to an uncomfortable extent.
"I can't believe you, Edward," the Lycan Queen finally said. "After all the opportunities you had... opportunities others would die to have... all the princesses and heiresses eager to have you..." She shook her head, her face etched with so much disappointment than her words could show. "You could have done so much better."
As she said that, she glanced at me. I could tell she wanted me to feel the weight of her words.
Edward could have done better, but she wanted to force me into marrying him. How hypocritical and confused must she be?
She rose to her feet, drawing herself up to her full height, gave us a withering stare, and stalked out of the room without another word.
Edward stood also. There was a hectic flush on his cheeks.
"I'm sorry about all of this, Hannah," he said quietly. He started to pull at his earlobe, then shoved his hands into his pockets instead. "And about my mother. At least she won't bother you again."
He waited for me to say something, but I couldn't form words. Not yet. He nodded to Alpha Wallace and followed his mother out.
"Well... that was something," Alpha Wallace huffed seconds after they left.
Cade moved to the back of the sofa, where I sat. His warm, strong hands gripped my shoulders and gently kneaded them.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Was I?
I shook my head. "How could I be? I feel really bad for Edward. And I'm surprised too. I mean, of all the people he could have imprinted on, it had to be me. Why? How?"
"It happens," Cade said. "Don't get worked up about it, okay? It's not your fault... maybe just the moon goddess having a little joke at our expense with you having so many... mates."
"Talk about a plot twist," Jace said, finally flopping into a chair.
"Good he backed off though, but that still doesn't mean I like him," Chase said.
Alpha Wallace, stroking his beard, straightened in his seat. "I think-"
A maid burst into the room, panting like she had run a mile. I felt my heart leap into my throat when I saw that she was crying. I recognized her. She was Willa's maid.
The girl looked wildly around, reeled, and fell to the ground at Alpha Wallace's feet.
"What is wrong?" he asked sharply, looking down at her.
The girl swallowed, struggled to compose herself and said, "It's Willa, Alpha. Something is wrong with her. I don't know what-"
"Where is she?" he barked.
The girl pointed and said something about Willa's room, but we were already headed there, running as fast as our legs could carry us. I was in the lead. I burst into the room at the same time as Cade.
There was a horrible gagging and gurgling noise. It came from Willa. She was on the floor, eyes closed, limbs jerking and spasming, legs drumming on the floor. She was foaming from her mouth.
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