#Chapter 24 Bad Press

Olivia’s POV

Normally, I wouldn’t care so much about this silly gossip column, but it wounds me where I felt hurt in the same way in the past. I was a substitute mate, useless and frivolous, and even at times called a whore as though needing attention from my mate was unreasonable to Alicia. It makes me sick to recall those pains, and I feel them now reading through the news.

I feel my hands shiver on the edge of my laptop, my wolf barking for me to get back to work, but I feel deflated by these rumors. If the Queen Luna were to be pregnant, which I am most definitely not, then it would technically be my second pregnancy. The hurt of losing the first one nags at me without relent.

“My dear, what’s wrong?” Gabriel asks, standing in the doorway to the library now, his legs crossed at the ankles and his hands stuffed into his front pockets. He looks accentuating lean in this stance, almost hitting his head on the doorway. “You were growling.”

“Oh, I didn’t know I was,” I breathe, shaking my head. “The reporters, like the photographer at the hospital, they’re in the Royal pack, right?”

He shakes his head, unconcerned. “No, not most of them. They come from other packs and even a few of them are rogues. Why do you ask?”

I shut the laptop down, leaning back in his leather, comfy desk chair. “No reason. Just wondering how much pull you have with getting certain things out of circulation.”

“What stories are bothering you?”

I decide not to answer, frustrated from the onslaught of old memories and past pains more so than the breaking of the news that I’m toying with three of four men at a time. I tell myself to ignore it, to move on, but it still resides in the back of my head as I return back to the work at hand. I have bigger problems to face then my heartache from the past.

Gabriel doesn’t return to the library, though, reaching across his desk and pulling a glass jar forward, holding it out with the lid open. He raises a brow at the colorful candies inside, all of the same variety just in fifty or so different colors.

“Here, have some candy, my dear. It might settle your nerves.”

My brow furrows but if it will get him to leave my side, I abide. I grab a handful and place the pile beside my laptop, picking at them leisurely while Gabriel watches. I meet his eyes at once, confused why he is so overwhelmingly focused on me right now.

I swallow another piece, surprised by the fruity flavor. “Why don’t you take those to the library with you?” I suggest, trying anything to get him to peel off of me.

He nods, something distant in his glare. “Sorry, I’m just surprised you actually took any. Typically you hate anything like candy or sugar, so I was just surprised, is all.”

My stomach drops, something about his claim as if he was expecting me to take the candy, even when knowing the Queen Luna normally wouldn’t. “What are you talking about, Gabriel? You offered them and I didn’t want to be impolite.”

He nods, seemingly unconvinced. “And the soap? You always liked the pink bar with rose pedals inside. I’ve never once seen you want anything green, let alone smelling like mint.”

I tap my fingers on his desk, heat filling in my throat. “What is with this questioning, Gabriel? I feel like I am being interrogated right now. Is this how you treat your wife?”

“This is how I treat you when you’re hiding something,” he says simply.

“Well, enough of it,” I bark. “I have a lot of work to do, on top of trying to run my charity while the news reports and photographers are painting the owner of the charity as a loose-moral slut who is apparently pregnant.”

His pristine features tighten. “What did they say about you?”

I open my mouth, ready to spill out all of my truth right here in this office, but I am stopped short, the phone ringing endlessly. It’s not mine so I don’t reach for it, but Gabriel doesn’t seem interested in picking up the call either. Instead, the min link is breached between us, a warrior calling out frantically.

We have a breach at the front gate.

I immediately assume the worst, maybe rogues coming to fight the King Alpha. Instead, Gabriel rushes to the back window and I get up to follow him, seeing the iron gates thrown down in heavy force, the sun on it’s descent down over the horizon from afar.

Even under the little light provided, I recognize Alpha Herold in the courtyard, stumbling around angrily while he fists a glass bottle in his palm.

“Are you kidding me?” Gabriel snarls his words. He picks up the ringing phone, another warrior frantic on the other end of the call. “Let him up here, I’m in my office. I’m sick of this Alpha overstepping his boundaries around here.”

I swallow hard, rushing to grab my laptop and my files, wanting to flee this room before trouble finds its’ way up here but I’m not fast enough. Alpha Herold comes barging into the room, still clinging to a near-empty bottle of liquor.

“Dammit,” I groan, setting my stuff back down in a messy pile on the desk. “Alpha, Herold, what is the reason for this visit? It’s sundown right now and you should be with your pack. You are causing stress for our warriors.”

“And you broke our palace gate,” Gabriel spits. “What’s your business here?”

“I saw the news tonight,” Alpha Herold says, his voice woozy with alcohol. He stumbles slightly in his stance, unsteady like we’re on a ship. “Is it true?”

I collapse into the desk chair, exasperated even before this stupid argument begins.

Gabriel moves forward, facing the measly Alpha with a dark look in his eyes. “Is what true, Alpha Herold, and if it is, why should it concern you?”

My ex-mate growls under his breath. “I just need to know if you got her pregnant!”

Gabriel snickers, shaking his head. “She is my mate, Alpha. You are overstepping your place and this odd connection you think you have with my Queen Luna is bordering the line of treason. You may be Alpha, but I am the King!”

“I just need to know if it’s true!”

They’re close now, closer than ever before, and this macho attempt to intimidate one another is incredibly irritating. They might fight, and I refuse to let them do that in this office, not while I have more business to worry about that includes saving my charity from these slanderous, false rumors. If people don’t donate, then I won’t be able to help Reese and wolves like him, and if they think ill of my reputation then they certainly won’t donate.

“Both of you leave, NOW!”

The two Alpha’s look at me now, petrified by my tone and volume. I don’t care anymore; I don’t want to have to deal with their squabbles back and forth.

“I’ll have him throw out of—” Gabriel starts.

“No,” I bark. “I want you both out of here, now! I am trying to do something good for my life, good for Reese, and I can’t do that if you two are bickering about some stupid rumors.”

They both look wounded by my words but I can’t deal with their emotions right now. I point at the door and watch them leave with their heads down. When they’re out, I slam the door, rattling the walls before I click the lock into place.

I’d rather fall asleep working again in this office and put up with those greedy toddlers.

I have more important issues at hand.