Chapter 48

Royal Alpha POV

I sat in my office, reading through reports from home. I was lucky to have the support of a loyal administration staff back in the pack. They kept me informed and up to date on pack business.

But I couldn’t focus.

By now Claire was at the gala Nathan and my daughter had put together.

I smiled to think of her all dressed up, sipping champagne and rubbing elbows with high ranking members of other packs.

The girl deserved a break from all the hard work she did.

And, knowing how difficult her life had been up to this point, I thought she deserved a chance to be seen as an equal as well.

It was shameful how she’d been treated all these years.

I sighed, thinking about the hopes I’d had that Claire was somehow related to my wife, or even to me.

Hopes that had only grown the more I got to know her.

Even now, knowing that the tests showed we weren’t related, I couldn’t help but feel a pull between us. It was such a strange, strong connection.

What else could explain it?

I shuffled through the other folders on my desk until I found the lab report. I’d barely looked at it when it first came, too disappointed to really pay attention to the full results.

Now I wondered…

Could it at least shed some light on Claire’s background, and our mysterious connection?

More curious than hopeful, I flipped to the second page of the report, where a detailed breakdown of the results were explained.

I frowned, noticing something odd.

And then my heart leapt.

Jumping up from my desk, I hurried out of the room, calling for my Beta.

“Get the car!” I cried. “I need to speak to Claire as soon as possible!”

Third Person POV

Claire stood in the grand hall, unsure what to do or how to act.

The room was filled with lavish decorations. A crowd of people dressed in the finest clothes mingled and chatted. Wait staff made laps around the room, carrying large silver trays of fancy pastries and glasses of champagne.

What was she doing in a place like this?

Every single one of these people would be outraged if they knew they had an Omega among them.

Yet here she was, in the expensive dress the Royal Alpha’s Beta had taken her to buy.

Amelia had helped style her hair and do her makeup, and Claire had stared at the results in the mirror for a full minute in silence.

She certainly looked like she fit in. But… she still didn’t feel it.

Then Amelia’s words came back to her, advice she’d given just before Claire left in the car the Royal Alpha had arranged to take her to the event:

You are Dr. Green, an amazingly talented healer - and a worthy member of the pack. You deserve to be there. So enjoy it!

Claire took a breath, and accepted the glass of champagne from a passing member of the wait staff.

And reminded herself that she did, indeed, deserve to be here. After all, the Royal Alpha himself had invited her.

So she would just relax and try to enjoy herself. After all, she’d never been to such a grand and fancy party before. She should be having fun.

Half an hour later she was finally managing to do just that: relax and have fun. A few people had recognized her from the clinic and said hello, which led to introductions to their friends, and then to theirs…

Before she knew it she was chatting and laughing and, somehow, actually enjoying herself.

Until Nathan and Sabrina made their grand entrance.

Conversation paused, and everyone watched them sweep down the large staircase as they entered the room.

And why wouldn’t they? Claire thought.

Sabrina was so poised and elegant, and Nathan looked so handsome and confident.

They really were a beautiful couple.

A sharp pang of sadness settled over Claire’s shoulders, but she did her best to shrug it off as conversation resumed.

She was here to enjoy herself, and to be a good representative for the Royal Alpha. Not cause some kind of scene.

For the Royal Alpha’s sake, as well as her own, couldn’t let the situation with Nathan affect her. Not tonight.

Across the room, Nathan’s gaze landed on Claire in the middle of a group of wealthy and influential members of several packs. He was startled to see her there, and to see her so relaxed.

Like she was having a great time. And like she belonged.

“Who is that lovely young woman talking to the ambassador from the Stone Ridge pack?” someone near him asked their friend.

“Hm?” Their friend looked over, spotted Claire. “Oh, that’s Dr. Green. The healer from the clinic? Apparently she’s here as the Royal Alpha’s representative.”

“Oh really? Well, we must go say hello…”

Shocked all over again, Nathan stared at Claire as the two people drifted over to join the circle around her.

He knew she’d been attending to the Royal Alpha at the clinic, attempting to treat his frenzy condition. But representing him here at the gala?

Just how close were his mate and the old Alpha?

And why?

After a moment, Nathan made himself look away and attend to his guests. He needed to be a good host tonight. This gathering could very well make or break his campaign.

But he still couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief, despite the confusion of seeing Claire there.

No matter the reason, her presence must mean she hadn’t been able to leave the pack - or Nathan and their son - after all.

Deep in the crowd, Sabrina was also focused on Claire, working her way through the crowd toward the other woman. The progress was slow, since she had to stop and chat and be the picture of the perfect hostess.

But beneath her gracious smile and charming laugh was a bubbling, boiling rage.

The Omega had crashed their event!

How dare she!

Greeting and chatting with important guests as she went, Sabrina made her way to the middle of the room, a few close friends trailing behind her.

In the space of a moment Claire found herself surrounded by a tight circle of Sabrina’s friends - and Sabrina herself.

The pretty hostess’ smile quickly twisted into a sneer as Sabrina leaned in close to Claire’s face.

“You may have my father fooled, Omega,” she hissed. “But he’s just a senile old man. Everyone else knows you’re the same worthless wolfless you’ve always been.”

Sabrina’s friends laughed and mocked Claire.

“You don’t belong here, Omega.”

“You’re so far below everyone here. You should be part of the cleaning staff!”

And then the moment was over, Sabrina and her friends melting into the crowd with a few last quiet laughs and the sound of swishing dresses.

Claire stared after them, feeling overwhelmed by having been ganged up on like that. And how closely their words echoed her earlier thoughts about not belonging here.

She’d been so determined to enjoy herself. Now she was struggling not to burst into tears.

And it only got worse.

The evening’s host suddenly called out for quiet as Nathan and Sabrina stood up on the steps again so everyone could see them.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, please join us in congratulating our Alpha and the Royal Princess. They are officially engaged to be married!”

Everyone joined the host in raising their glasses of champagne and toasting the happy couple, then the crowd burst into applause and shouts of approval.

“Wonderful! At last, Silverfang will have a Luna!”

“What a beautiful couple - and a perfect match!”

Nathan laughed when he heard that last comment, and agreed.

“Yes,” he said. His eyes found Claire in the crowd, and their gazes locked. “A princess is the only proper match for me.”

Claire’s heart sank. Feeling sad, overwhelmed and embarrassed, she set her drink down. She couldn’t take any more tonight - she had to get out of there.

But at that moment a commotion by the front door drew everyone’s attention.

“Stand aside!” shouted a familiar voice. “I must speak to Dr. Green.”

And then the Royal Alpha burst in, scanning the room until he spotted Claire. He rushed down the steps, past Nathan and Sabrina, who both stood staring at him.

The old Alpha hurried up to Claire and grabbed her hand. “Claire,” he exclaimed. “The tests - they were wrong! The samples got switched somehow.

“I knew my instincts were right. We truly are family.”

He put his arm around Claire, then turned to the rest of the room and proudly announced,

“Everyone - this is my daughter!”

People gasped in shock. A small circle of space formed around her and the Royal Alpha as people drew away to stare at them.

She was a princess?!