Pregnant After One Night With The Lycan By Kellie Brown
Chapter 14 Valentine’s Day
Tanya’s POV:
“Do you think he’s here to see Lily?” one of the workers asks.
“There’s no way. Prince Marco and Lily are a thing of the past. She’s engaged to Prince Eric.”
Outside, Marco walks away towards the entrance of the building. He’s coming this way, my heart pounding harder and harder with every footstep.
“Even if Marco married some she-wolf, Lily was supposed to be his fated mate. Why else would he be here?”
The sound of heels clicking against the marble floor makes me want to disappear as the crowd moves away from the window and shifts towards the main entrance. Lily appears with Ayana close behind her.
“Do you think Marco’s new wife is here? I haven’t seen her,” another employee says.
They’ve seen me, they just haven’t realized who I am, but they will soon. There are too many people around, but the focus is evenly divided between Lily and Marco. The last thing I want is to draw attention to myself, and I dig my nails into my palm to stop my hands from shaking.
Maybe I can slip away unnoticed while everyone is distracted. I lower my head, letting my sleek black hair form a curtain over my face. Everyone is watching Marco
as he makes his way toward Lily, gasping at the scene about to unfold, but Lily only smiles presumptuously. Even she expects that he’s here for her. I take a few unsteady steps backward, hoping to sneak off without causing a fuss.
But then Marco walks right past Lily without so much as a glance in her direction, as if he hardly noticed her standing there. Lily barely flinches, but her lips press together tightly as her former lover ignores her existence. She is unaccustomed to being ignored, just as I am unaccustomed to being noticed.
Before I can register what’s going on, Marco appears in front of me, blocking off my quiet escape route.
“Where are you running off to?” he asks, his low voice making the question sound more like a demand.
“Nowhere, I… I was just…” I stammer as everyone’s eyes turn to me.
Marco slides his hands out of his pockets, taking off his sunglasses in a swift motion. Those messy blond locks and electric blue eyes make him look like a roguish prince charming, and he crosses his arms over his broad chest, surveying me expectantly.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble sheepishly. “I was just leaving. Why are you here?”
“What do you think? I’m here to pick up my wife from work.”
My wife. I’m still not used to those words and hearing him call me that makes rosy heat rise in my cheeks. The corner of his lip curls slightly at the sight of my blushing as if he finds my modesty amusing.
But around us, whispers and shock ripple across the gathered crowd. My co-workers, who’ve barely noticed the arrival of the new employee, seem to see me for the first time. Their eyes feel like dozens of little needles, prickling my skin with jealousy and judgment. But Marco is watching me, too; his gaze seems to shield me from the rest.
“Thank you,” I whisper to him, wishing no one else could see or hear us.
He simply nods in response, and we walk out of the building together, the crowd parting around us. I tell myself that this is just protocol. Marco is the second prince, and it’s his responsibility to play the part of the dutiful husband. It’s an act, a role he has to play to maintain appearances.
I know that, but I still can’t push the butterflies in my stomach down completely. I’m so caught up with the feeling of him beside me, head held high and proud as he walks arm in arm with me, that I don’t even notice the glaring look of resentment that crept onto Lily’s and Ayana’s faces. «
Since Marco showed up at work that day, everyone at the Eau de Lune Parfumerie treats me differently. Some approach me with curiosity and f*orc*ed politeness, while others glare with unabashed envy and spite.
Today, however, the atmosphere in the perfumery is decidedly different. Many employees are eating chocolates and boasting roses or heart-shaped cards. Even Pauline seems to be in a good mood. It takes me a few minutes to understand the cause of such celebratory commotion.
It’s Valentine’s Day.
I’ve never really celebrated it before, even when I was with Brandon. The whole holiday seems luxurious and foreign to me, so I stay out of everyone’s way and try to
go about my work unnoticed. As the hours pass, couriers keep stopping by the building, delivering flowers and other gifts to the girls in the shop. Each new arrival is accompanied by excited gasps and cheerful giggles. Their unabashed girly joy is contagious, and I can’t help but smile at how happy everyone seems.
Until the questions start.
As the day’s novelty starts to wear off, many girls start to remember that I exist, and it doesn’t take long for them to notice my auspicious lack of gifts. Their attention turns on me gradually, and I feel myself shrink further into myself with every inquisitive glance.
To make matters worse, several girls come up and show off their flowers or jewelry to me, wondering at the sort of gift Prince Marco got for his new wife.
I haven’t even thought of that. I’ve never received a gift on Valentine’s day. Honestly, I’m lucky to have a husband, and Marco has already done so much for me. How could I possibly ask for anything more? I don’t need a fancy gift to show off.
But I can only imagine the judgment I would face if I voiced those sentiments, so I do my best to change the subject. Whenever someone approaches me to inquire about our plans for Valentine’s Day, I stumble and mutter whatever I can think of, avoiding any clear answers.
It looks like I might just get away without any drama, but then Pauline walks over to the counter where I’ve been working, and she looms over me with a malicious grin.
“Aw, don’t tell me Marco forgot about his wife on Valentine’s Day. He didn’t even get you anything, did he?” she taunts.
The look on my face is the only answer she needs. Everyone stares at me, their expressions a mix of disdainful pity and haughty triumph.
“How sad,” says one of the clerks with an exaggerated pout. “It’s such a pity that married couples get bored of each other. When the relationship is new, everything is exciting and great, but men lose interest the moment they put a ring on a woman’s finger. Don’t feel bad, Tanya. Guys forget about Valentine’s Day after they get what they want from a girl.”
That’s the kindest thing anyone says to me. Everyone else just muses over the doomed state of my relationship and whines about what a shame it is that Marco is stuck with a wife he doesn’t care about. Their words claw at my mind like nails on a chalkboard, and just when I think things can’t get any worse…
“Well, it’s hardly a surprise.”
Everyone whirls to face whoever just spoke, and I flinch at the sight of Marco’s sister walking into the shop.
“My brother has better things to do than throw gifts at a gold digger,” Cathy says, her eyes bearing into me disapprovingly. She strolls to one of the workers and hands them a piece of paper.
“There’s a banquet coming up soon at the palace. I’m here to pick up the requested fragrances.”
Two clerks hurry to the back, rushing to get the perfumes ready. Cathy returns her attention to me, glaring down at me over her nose even though I’m taller than her. A frightened, childish part of me wants to hide behind the counter to escape her mocking, but I f*orc*e myself to hold my ground.
“It’s amazing my brother manages to remember he has a wife at all, considering she’s so unworthy of him. The
Ironclaw Pack is the greatest pack in the kingdom, and Marco is the most powerful shifter among us. He’s the second prince of Mador, and his wolf is skilled and strong, even capable of manifesting through Marco and changing his voice. Yet you expect him to get a Valentine’s Day gift for his little w*ho*re?”
Cathy’s words are a slap across my face. I should be used to being tormented, but it hurts to be reminded of what I am to them. Only Marco sees me as more than a despicable she-wolf w*ho*re.
Just when I think I’m going to combust from shame, Lily walks in. Ayana trails behind her like a faithful dog. I brace myself for Cathy to embrace her, for the two of them to team up and tear me apart. But Cathy merely glares at Lily with unrelenting disapproval.
“Oh, look. If it isn’t Marco’s former tramp. I told you I would get the perfumes, Lily. You can go back to playing with my brothers’ feelings or whatever it is you do for fun,” she growls.
To her credit, Lily maintains her composure, smiling politely. It never occurred to me that Cathy would also be unfriendly to Lily, but I suppose it makes sense. Lily was Marco’s fated mate, and now she’s engaged to his brother.
They’re each dignified and elegant, but from the look in their eyes, I suspect they’d both be happy to rip each other’s throats out. Nervous sweat trickles down my pale skin. I’m a mouse caught between two lionesses.
“Cathy, darling,” Lily purrs. “I’m glad to see you have everything under control. Please let me know if there’s anything I can a*s*sist you with. And if you see Eric today, please thank him for me. Even though he’s busy with royal matters, he sent me a dozen white roses for Valentine’s Day. I’m so lucky to be engaged with such a thoughtful prince.”
She doesn’t say it to me, but I know what everyone is thinking. I can see it in their eyes as they glance from Lily to me. Even Cathy shoots me a smug little scoff.
I may be married to the second prince, but I’m not important. I’m not deserving. I’m not even worth a single flower…
Then there’s a knock at the entrance.
Silence falls over the perfumery shop as a currier enters, carrying the largest bouquet I’ve ever seen. The roses are not white or pink like the others, but rather a rich and sensual shade of scarlet.
“Tanya?” the currier asks.
All eyes fall on me as I take a hesitant step forward. “Yes?”
He hands me the bouquet, and my fingers find a small, folded note between the flowers. I open it, my heart skipping as I read over the printed message.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY
I’LL BE WAITING FOR YOU AT THE RESTAURANT DUMONET TONIGHT
-MARCO
Cathy gasps in horror at this note, “Tonight is the full moon, how can my brother…”
Perhaps if I wasn’t so consumed with excitement, I would have noticed the strange smirk creeping onto Ayana’s lips.