The Alpha's Companion

Chapter 31 - Camari

The next two days passed in a whirl, between the fitting for the gown and overseeing the last-minute arrangements, Lacey didn't have much time for anything. Then the day came when her family was to arrive, the day before the wedding.

Lacey had tried to tell Julien that she was Thorn Taregan's stepdaughter and not his blood, but they were both so busy that there wasn't time.

"Julien, I have to tell you something before they get here," Lacey said, standing beside him in the foyer, awaiting the arrival of her family.

"Okay." Julien looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

Then everything happened at once. The Silver Pack limos pulled up and Julien pushed through the door with Lacey following. As she saw her pack getting out of the limos, their fowl treatment, disrespect, and contempt for her came rushing back. But Lacey had changed, and she wasn't going to let her family treat her badly or hijack her wedding.

"Lacey," her stepfather, Thorn, nodded as he passed without a second glance, and then went straight to Julien. "Julien! It's a pleasure to see you again!"

All her brothers and sisters walked past her without a second glance, taking in the castle. But Lacey didn't care. There was only one person she wanted to see.

"Lacey, darling!" Her mother slid out of the head limo, and Lacey skipped down the steps to her, closing the distance between them.

"Mom...." Tears of joy filled Lacey’s eyes as she pulled her mother in for a hug. "I'm so glad you came."

"Of course!" Camari said when she released her. "You don't think I'd miss my daughter’s wedding, do you?"

Lacey held her mother's arm as they walked up the stairs.

"Camari...." Julien smiled, taking her mother's hand. "It's so good to see you again. I'm so glad you came."

Camari smiled, tilting her head to the side. "Of course. It's my daughter's wedding, after all."

Julien nodded, holding out his arm. "Shall we?"

Camari took Julien's arm on one side, not letting go of Lacey on her other side. "It's so good to see you both,” Camari said, giving Lacey’s hand a gentle squeeze.

They stopped a moment later at the foot of the stairs.

"Well, I'm sure you and Lacey have a lot to discuss." Julien squeezed Camari's hand, looking into her eyes. "I'll let Lacey show you to your room."

Camari smiled. "Thank you, Julien."

Julien walked toward Thorn, and they started talking pack politics.

"Well, that's our cue," her mother said, looking into Lacey’s eyes, and they started up the stairs. "So, how have things been... between you and Julien?"

Lacey nodded. "Tolerable. At least he stopped locking me up in my room." Lacey and her mother both laughed. They walked up the five flights of stairs and stopped before Camari's room.

"Have you told Julien...." Camari looked around to see if anyone was within earshot. "About Thorn... not being your real father?"

Lacey shook her head. "I've tried several times but haven't had the chance." She let out a deep breath. "We don't do a whole lot of talking."

Camari gave her a knowing look, lifting an eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

Lacey laughed. "No, no! Not like that." Lacey sighed. "We've just been busy with the wedding is all." Lacey opened the door to a luxurious suite. "Well, Mom, this is your room. The mansion's big enough for you and father to have separate rooms, but if you'd like one together—"

"No, that's alright," her mother said, quickly cutting her off. "Your father will be busy carousing with Julien and the two packs, and I'd rather not be disturbed."

Lacey sat on the edge of her mother’s bed. "Mom, how long have things been like this... between you and father?"

"What ever are you talking about, my dear?" Obviously, it was the norm with them, and Camari had just accepted that it was the way things were between her and Thorn.

Lacey sighed. "I hadn't noticed it before and I know you just arrived, but you and father seem to lead different lives under the same roof."

Camari shrugged, sitting on the bed beside her daughter. "Well, when you've been married as long as we have...."

"Mom, don't give me that," Lacey cut her off, and then lowered her voice. "Why haven't you ever left him? He doesn't treat you well—"

"I have a roof over my head, protection, children—"

"Who don't respect you," Lacey finished.

"Your father, Thorn, and I underwent the Mating Ceremony after we were married years ago. Thorn saw to that. Anyway, the ceremony linked our souls." Camari sighed. "Now, if either of us were to leave, the other would die of a broken heart."

"I doubt if Thorn would."

Camari scoffed, looking at her as if seeing her for the first time. "Lacey, what happened to you? You’re different now."

Lacey shook her head. "Nothing. I guess I'm a bit wiser now than when I left." She stood and Lacey pulled her mother in for a hug. "I'll see you at dinner?"

Camari nodded, smiling. "I'll see you then."

As Lacey headed out the door and gently closed it, she was thinking about her relationship with Julien when Scar stepped out of the shadows. She had been leaning against a wall, watching and listening. At that moment, Lacey wondered how much Scar had heard.

“Stalking the halls again?” Lacey asked. “As the Beta of this pack, haven’t you anything else better to do than to listen in on other people’s conversations?”

Scar smirked. “Well, I would, Alpha Queen….” Scar walked around her, an animal stalking its prey. Then she leaned in close and whispered, “But you really aren’t of royal blood, are you?”

“Yes, I am.” Lacey narrowed her eyes at Scar.

“Tsk, tsk,” Scar clicked her tongue. “That’s not what I heard.”

“I don’t know what you heard, and I don’t care. I am of royal blood.” Lacey walked past her, but Scar stepped in front of her.

“Mark my words, Princess. He will be mine.” Then she leaned in and whispered again, “He already is.”

“Not hardly….” Lacey laughed, looking into her eyes. “Beta.”

"Good evening, Alpha Queen," Scar responded, and then headed down the stairs, as an evil laugh resonated up the stairs and into the hall.