Chapter 16

The drumming of my heart in my chest was deafening. Why would Ethan announce our marriage so suddenly?

I thought he wanted to keep it a secret.

A chorus of whispers and gasps erupted from the crowd. I could hear a few jeers of disbelief, not understanding what Ethan saw in me.

“How did that happen?” Silena exclaimed, unthinking. Ethan’s head snapped in her direction, giving her a nasty, icy glare. She lowered her eyes and gulped, mumbling out a halfhearted apology to me.

“It’s okay-” I tried to dismiss her words and forgive her, but Ethan interrupted me.

“Silena thank you for your work, but you are no longer needed in my company.” His face was stern, unfeeling.

Silena’s entire body went rigid in shock and she tried to argue. Ethan wouldn’t let her get a word in. His beta escorted her out as tears streamed down her cheeks.

I wasn’t sure what this announcement would mean for Ethan and I in the future. I supposed he would keep me a secret for the entire duration of the marriage. I never considered he would want to make the relationship public.

The following days were chaotic to say the least.

Word got out pretty quickly. Suddenly I was being followed around everywhere I went. It was especially bad at work. Reporters were constantly trying to get pictures of me and my workers in the restaurant - we had to even implement a ‘no cameras’ policy in the dining room after one paparazzi was trying to sneak in and knocked over a tray of hundred dollar cakes.

The moment I stepped out of the shop, I was bombarded with questions and demands. I managed to avoid dealing with too many of the crazed-paparazzi type reporters, but eventually my luck ran out.

“Ava! Ava!” I was walking up the stairs to the house when a man with a camera jumped out from a shrub nearby and ran up to me. “Tell me, why did you and Ethan keep your relationship a secret? Is he ashamed of you?What sort of decor does he keep in the bedroom?”

I froze as the flash from his camera went off repeatedly, blinding me. My mouth opened and closed while I tried to think of a response to give him. He kept circling me, taking hundreds of photos and asking dozens of questions.

The front door swung open and I could hear Ethan bounding down the stairs towards me.

“What is all this?” He demanded angrily. The camera clicks halted and the reporter went running down the street. Ethan wrapped a comforting arm around my shoulder and led me into the house.

I rubbed my eyes to soothe them from the constant flash.

“I’m sorry about this,” Ethan looked sheepish for once. It was sort of endearing the way he could go from cold and authoritative to more relaxed and bashful in an instant. “I didn’t mean to cause such an uproar.”

“You were only trying to help,” I shrugged like it was no big deal. Like nothing had changed at all. Even though everything had and would only continue to.

“Maybe we should lay low for a few days until something new starts trending?” He suggested. We entered the living room and took seats beside each other on the couch.

I grinned at him, “Okay! I wanted to take a few days off to experiment with some new recipes anyways.”

“That was easy,” He laughed. “I thought I’d have to drag you out of that pastry shop.”

I giggled and nudged his shoulder on my own. He smiled down at me softly.

“Well since you’ll be free, how about you accompany me to this charity ball I’ll be attending for those few days.” Ethan suggested. He saw the raised brow on my face and continued, “It involves discussions with other alphas from other packs. I think it’s important to show that we are a unit.”

I pretended to have to think about his invitation. I tapped my finger on my chin, humming as I left him waiting for my answer.

“It involves a very fancy dinner, and I figured that since you’re already being tailed by reporters we might as well make it public knowledge for the world; not just my company.” He wiggled his eyebrows to make the offer seem that more enticing.

At the mention of a fancy dinner, I took a look at my work clothes. The brown trousers and scuffed shoes were the nicest clothes I owned.

“I don’t have anything to wear to an event like that,” I admitted with a grimace. Ethan’s smile only grew as he told me that he’d take care of it.

“I know a ton of people who would be ecstatic to style you for the gala,” He whispered with a broad smile. Giving my arm a quick squeeze for reassurance.

I had no other choice than to trust him.

The evening of the gala, Ethan hired a team to make me look the part of an alpha’s wife.

Tristan, his beta, brought an armful selection of gowns for me to rifle through and two boxes of sparkly jewelry. The makeup team piled my hair high on my head and did my makeup. All that was left for me to do was pick a dress.

I let Ethan pick first. He chose a tight red dress from the selection. It was wrapped around me, hanging on to every crevice of my body. It showed off my stomach, which made me feel insecure as I gazed at myself in the mirror.

I didn’t look sexy like the girls in magazines; I looked frumpy, like a kid playing dress-up. I wrapped my arms around myself to hide the bits and pieces I didn’t like.

Ethan gave a pitying laugh, telling me to take it off. I playfully glared at him, telling him he made a horrible choice.

“You pick something, then.” He shrugs, raising his hands in surrender with a smirk on his face. “Be confident in yourself and wear something you know you’ll look good in.”

This time, I looked through the gowns myself and picked out the color I liked the best. I chose a dark blue dress with a flowing skirt and long, billowing sleeves. It was dark and subtle, but pretty all the same.

I stepped into the second dress, allowing Ethan to help me pull it up over my shoulders. The back consisted of a ribboned-corset and I had him tighten and knot the ribbons in the places needed.

He ran a finger down my bare spine, making my stomach flip and flutter, before cinching the waist. He gripped my hip to keep me in place as he tied the ribbons into the perfect bow. The warmth of his hand on my side made my face dark with a violent blush.

I only hoped the makeup hid it.

The gala was being held in a beautiful hotel for the duration of the weekend. Ethan stepped out of the car, reaching back to help me out of the backseat. Flashing lights darkened my vision as a throng of reporters shoved their cameras in our faces, shouting questions at Ethan and I.

Ethan simply ignored them, keeping his eyes on me as we walked into the hotel together. I couldn’t help but look around nervously at all the attention. I don’t know how he became so used to it.

While we walked, I used Ethan to support myself. I wasn’t used to wearing heels so tall, so I leaned into him closely, his arm resting on my lower back as we moved.

“Don’t be nervous, ignore them and focus on me.” He whispered lowly in my ear. I glanced up at him, he watched me intently, murmuring praises to keep my attention.

Despite his attempt, I had to look away from his intense gaze.

I was surprised that Ethan and I would be sharing a hotel room for the weekend. Given we were husband and wife, it only made sense. Though, Ethan and I had never shared a bed - except for that time I got drunk.

I don’t think that should count.

Ethan went to grab a quick shower before changing into his own suit for the gala, and I wasn’t sure what to do with myself.

I started rummaging through the drawers in the bedside table. The first drawer contained a few condoms. I picked it up to inspect it closer, I’d never actually seen a condom before.

I turned it over in my hand when Ethan emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist.

“What’s that?” He asked.

Startled, I dropped the contraceptive on the floor, my entire body freezing from embarrassment.

Ethan sauntered over to where I was, picked up the condom, and looked at me with a raised brow.

“Are you planning to use this tonight?”