Chapter 106

Cara’s POV

“Cara, it’s so lovely to see you,” Noel says. He stands as I near the table. “Sit. Join us! I’m sure the waitress will bring another menu.”

They’ve already finished their meal, but I would refuse anyway. I didn’t come here to be chummy with Noel. I came to talk with Landon.

“No, thank you,” I says at once. “I was hoping to speak with Landon.”

“Of course,” Noel says, gesturing to his friend across the table. “Why not do both?”

“I want to speak with him… privately,” I say.

“Oh,” Noel says. His expression waves for a moment, before his bright smile returns. “Of course. I understand. We were closed to being finished anyway. I can excuse myself.”

“I’m sorry to be rude,” I say.

“Not at all. Landon has been gone from your pack for some time. You must miss your brother terribly.”

“Noel,” Landon says, as Noel starts to stand.

“Think nothing of it,” Noel says. He leaves some money on the table to cover his half of the breakfast and then sees himself out.

“I’m sorry,” I say to Landon. “I didn’t mean to be rude.”

“Sit, Cara,” Landon says, giving me a small smile. “You weren’t rude. He was eager to leave because he was thinking you might want to talk to me about him. Is that true?”

“You are the only one who knows him,” I say, taking a seat. I don’t sit in the chair Noel emptied, but in the one beside instead. “He says he’s my mate but I don’t even have a wolf to confirm it.”

“Lucy still missing in action?” Landon asks.

“She’s sleeping,” I say. “Sometimes I can feel her presence but it’s faint. Always out of reach.”

“Well,” Landon says, “I will do my best to answer whatever questions you might have. Let me start by saying that Noel is a good man. I’ve known him for much of my travels and he’s never proven himself to be anything other than earnest and kind.”

“Do you think he’s really my second chance mate?” I ask.

“He wouldn’t lie about something like that,” Landon says with confidence. “If he says he feels a bond toward you, then I believe he does.” Landon considers me a moment. “Are you truly so disinterested in my friend?”

“He is handsome,” I say.

Landon waits a moment, before prompting, “But…?”

“I don’t know…” I’m having trouble truly expressing myself. Everything that’s going on with Alaric is so confusing. Given our relationship in the past, I know I shouldn’t want to give Alaric another chance. Yet my feelings for him still linger. Those feelings make it difficult to want to accept the love of someone else.

“Is this about Alaric?” Landon asks.

I don’t respond, which seems to be enough of an answer for Landon.

“Listen, you presently aren’t tied to either man, correct? Alaric or Noel?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No.”

“Then why not spend time with both of them?” Landon asks. “Don’t reject anyone outright. Just see what feelings develop naturally over time. Then decide which of the men you want to be with.”

“And if I want to be with neither of them?”

“That’s fine too. It’s your choice, Cara. No one is going to make it for you, or judge you for picking who you want to pick.” Landon shrugged. “I just hope you give Noel a fair shake. He’s a good guy and would be a good husband to you, if you let him. I’m not saying you have to pick him but don’t discount him just because he’s new in town.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” I say. Though without Lucy, I still can’t be sure the mate bond on my side is for real. It is possible for Noel to feel it, but for me to not. I wished Lucy would wake up. She could tell me right away what’s real and what isn’t. She would know which of the men I should pursue, if any.

For now, Landon’s advice does seem to be the best.

I’m nervous to pursue both men, afraid of my own feelings and what might become of them. With Alaric, in the past, I gave myself over so fully to my feelings, just to have them thrown back in my face time and time again.

I don’t want that to happen again, not with either man.

Though I’m older and smarter now. I know I won’t fall prey to the same situations that hurt me in the past.

Even so, I’m wary.

Dating both men…

Should I even date one of them?

Eamon’s POV

I head to work at 9am, but when I arrive, I find a group of nobles already waiting for me in the small sitting area outside of my office.

Cara isn’t in yet, and my other assistant is overwhelmed.

“I’m sorry, Alpha,” she says. “I tried to tell them to make an appointment.”

“This is too important to wait on appointments,” says one of the nobles, the boldest, it seems. I recognize the middle son of one of the old money families in town. Wallace, as the second son, will never run the company business. Ever he lives in his oldest brother’s shadow. As such, he’s taken to becoming one of the sharpest thorns in my side.

Wallace sees himself as an advocate for everyone, but really, he’s only ever cared about his own best interests.

Seeing him with this group, I anticipate a headache-inducing morning.

“Our concerns cannot wait,” Wallace says. The others with him agree. Among them, I spot a socialite I’m surprised to see this early, given how well known she is for her late night parties. Also there, are a pair of older couples. All busybodies, they typically stick their noses into other people’s business.

I want to spare my assistant their likely unfounded complaints this morning, as well as any other poor passerby in the hallway.

“In my office, then,” I say and usher them inside.

The office is large and they all fit comfortably. Granted, there aren’t enough seats so most of them, including Wallace, stay standing.

I barely have time to place my briefcase down on my desk when they start in on me.

“That woman is unfit to be our pack’s Beta,” Wallace says.

I lower my briefcase down and then look up at him, and the others who are nodding in agreement.

“That woman is my sister, Cara.”

“We understand there is a familial bond,” Wallace says.

“Even if she is your family, she hasn’t been one of us for long enough,” says the socialite. “She was the Beta at DuskWood, wasn’t she? How can we trust she is loyal to us?”

“I want to see her credentials,” says one of the older men. “That Alpha King from DuskWood has been snooping around after Cara, hasn’t he? It’s possible he made her Beta in an attempt to win her over romantically. Or sexually.”

“I would appreciate you not talking about my sister that way,” I snaps.

“Eamon,” Wallace says. “No one is trying to disparage your sister. It’s not her fault that she’s not capable. She simply isn’t.”

“She has proven herself,” I tell him.

All of them look skeptical.

“That’s impossible,” Wallace says. “There’s no way a woman could do this job.”