Chapter 34

Amber’s POV

Despite seeing Roman drop to one knee, I still didn’t believe I was seeing what I thought I was seeing. After all, I thought I had always made clear that my feelings for Roman were only those of friendship.

He knew that. We’d talked about it, and since then, I’d never given any indication that I wanted to share a romantic life together.

For him to take this opportunity to propose felt like the lowest kind of blow. There were so many people watching, including Julian. None of them good friends to either Roman or myself. And Alice was afraid trembling in my arms.

Even if I had felt romantic attachment to Roman, which I didn’t, I wouldn’t want a proposal this way.

An admittance of love… the desire to join two hearts as one…

The ceremony should be shared, but the question itself should be private. If Roman knew me half as well as he thought he did, he would know that I felt this way.

I trusted Roman, but it was difficult not to feel put on the spot. Like maybe he chose this exact venue, this exact location, with this many observers just so I would felt the pressure to say yes.

And what was all that nonsense about him being Alice’s father?

He must have been trying to protect Alice and me by saying that, but I wished he would have let me handle the situation, or at least would have talked to me about this first.

To say that in front of Julian…

I dared a look at my ex-mate, and found him watching Roman with a dark expression. He looked furious.

“Roman…” I said, trying to warn him. If I was lucky, maybe he was just trying to tie his shoe or something. Yet, when I looked down at him, I realized I was not so lucky.

Roman was holding up a silver ring with a large diamond on top.

“I’ve wanted to do this for such a long time, Amber,” Roman said. “Almost from the moment I met you. Please say you will consider it. Better, please say yes. Say you will be mine.”

I was so stunned by what was happening here. How could this be? How could he think this was a good idea, and an appropriate time?

I didn’t want to embarrass him in front of so many people, especially high society members that he might have dealings with in the future as the Alpha of another pack. But on the other hand, I wouldn’t just say yes to someone to spare them some humiliation. I’d never give someone false hope, even if it stung.

And this would surely sting.

Roman was a dear friend. Had I misread the signs somewhere? Had I led him on without meaning to?

Yet, just as I was trying to figure out a way to gently reject him while keeping our friendship intact, suddenly, Julian lunged forward. He grabbed Roman by the collar and dragged him up to his feet. Then, in a fluid motion, he drew his arm pack, and punched Roman right in the fast.

Roman’s eyes darken too, and he glares at Julian, as if ready to lash out at any moment. But Julian is clearly the stronger of the two, and Roman never bares his fangs. The tension between them is palpable. Julian’s expression is fierce and cold—something I’ve never seen from him before. That is, until Alice screams.

Alice, who had turned her head, just in time to see the punch, screamed loudly right in my ear.

Immediately, I rubbed my hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her, hoping she wouldn’t shift and hurt herself again.

“It’s okay,” I said, as soothingly as I could, as I walked a few feet away.

As I glanced back, I saw with some relief that Alice’s scream had brought Julian back to himself. He had released Roman and backed up a few steps.

His eyes were clear once more as he turned to me.

In the pause, Roman scrambled up onto his feet and hurried toward where Alice and I were.

Julian started to growl as he moved and jumped like he meant to grab Roman.

“Stop it, Julian!” I snapped. “You are acting like a child! I’m not your plaything! You can’t just chase away everyone else who gives me attention! And punching people. Scaring Alice!” Anger shook me inside and out. It made the words come out hasty, and not as well thought out as I would have liked. “I don’t know what I ever saw in you.”

Julian straightened, suddenly looking stricken, like he was the one who had just been struck.

I pressed down on any regret or guilt I felt in that moment, the moment I felt Alice’s tears dampen my shoulder.

He could have objected without scaring Alice. Or better yet, he could have left the decision to me instead of intervening! Did he think this display would have stopped me if I had intended to say yes?

Did he actually think I would say yes?

But then, why wouldn’t he? What did we really know about each other anymore? What did we ever really know? Even when we had been married, we’d been little more than strangers.

“I…” Julian’s voice was soft and somewhat shaken. He looked at his bloody knuckles like he couldn’t quite believe what he’d done.His blue eyes dulled. “I’m sorry, Amber. I’m sorry, Alice.”

“And me?” Roman asked sharply.

“Leave it, Roman,” I scolded.

“Me? What did I do? I’m the one who was assaulted!”

“You were too impulsive,” I said. “Why would you do this? And here?”

I looked around, and, seeing how many people were still watching, decided this wasn’t the place for this. I needed to get Alice away from so many watchful eyes.

And I wanted to get away from Julian.

Punching Roman… What a brute! He was being every bit the Alpha stereotype, punching without thinking, acting like I was his property that needed protected.

We might not be fully divorced yet, but I was still my own person. We hadn’t been together for a long time.

“I want to go home,” I said.

Alice sniffed into my shoulder. “Me, too,” she said, tears in her voice.

Roman huffed a harsh breath. “This way,” he said and gestured to the parking lot.

As proudly as I could, holding my head up high, I walked that way, not looking back.

Even so, I could feel the weight of Julian’s gaze on me with every step.

When we were out of immediate earshot of the onlookers, I asked Roman, “What were you even doing here tonight? Why aren’t you at home?”

“I couldn’t wait anymore,” Roman said. “I thought about how you looked tonight, and about the future I want for us… I had to ask. I couldn’t wait another minute. Oh, Amber, just say yes. I promise to treat Alice like my own…”

Alice started crying harder, nearly wailing.

My anger spiked again, nearing fury.

Could he not read the room here? Didn’t he understand how much worse he was making everything?

“Please, Amber,” he said. He tried to reach for Alice, as if to comfort her. “Marry me?”

“No!” I said fiercely, stepping backwards, keeping Alice in my arms.

Alice clung to my shoulders, her fingernails pinched my skin, becoming little claws.

My own heart was lurching, my body tense. I wanted to comfort Alice, but there was something about the way Roman was looking at me in this moment.

I felt like I couldn’t look away from him.

Because with each passing moment, his eyes were darkening, his face growing more and more grim.