Rejected Mate's Ascension

Chapter 4. Sparks of the Old Flame

Harold popped me out of Maddy's car like a cork out of a bottle. I had to cling to his mighty arm to find my balance on the paving slabs in the high-heeled pumps. Not all of my unsteadiness was because of Maddy's impractical footwear. I hated to admit it, but Harold's cleaned up persona left me weak at the knees.

"Jules, you look lovely," he said, while I swayed in the wind. If that was so, then why did his lips twitch into an amused quirk?

"Thank you." Since my skirt ballooned like a sail, I set my feet wide like a sailor, ignoring silk's sensual tugs on my ankles. "I'm glad to see you've rediscovered the wonders of shampoo."

It wasn't a lie. The wind ruffled his hair, showing off their softness and luster to such an advantage that he could be the brand's face.

"And the flowers!" Harold kept teasing. "You really shouldn't have for my sake!"

The flowers! I forgot all about the flowers. Maddy furnished me with peach roses, because, she had cheerfully explained, her florist business had just auspiciously received an order for a funeral.

She even stuck a few into my pinned hair, chirping about Celeste's wedding and this spring's bridal styles. Obviously, the wedding fever hadn't gone down yet. Did Harold imagine it gripped me too? Goddess!

I shoved the flowers into his arms. "These were meant for Rowan's celebration of life. It would decorate yours, if you dare criticize my family. The dress-up is for them, not you."

Harold's smirk vanished. "Your family is here? For the ceremony?"

He looked so stomped that guilt stirred in the pit of my stomach. It was supposed to be him, me and our ruling couple. Apologizing to Harold for anything wasn't a part of my plan, but...

"I... I'm sorry about not warning you, but they got organized so fast. And the dress... I simply had no time..." I mumbled.

"That's fine," he said. "Lucky, everybody on my side can't wait to see my back, so they ignored my mate's pledge. Now, let's go inside before the wind blows you to Alaska."

We went through the revolving doors into the crowded lobby with marble floors, crystal chandeliers and floor to ceiling mirrors embedded into gilded plaster. As we passed them, every gleaming surface reflected a handsome sheriff in his crisp uniform and a she-wolf in a too-tight dress. Her windblown hair fell out of a pin-up studded by rose buds. She hobbled on high heels, but the top of her head still barely reached over her dashing companion's shoulder.

No way, no way this desperate woman should have been me, yet it was, and I had damn good reasons to not dash away, leaving the uncomfortable shoes on the floor for no prince to find.

One, my family was waiting.

Two, my revenge for my shattered heart, even though I imagined a proud avenger to look far more wrathful. And sleek.

"You...you wanted to talk about something, Harold?" I asked through trembling lips, to take my mind off how ridiculous my pretensions were.

"Yes. Sorry, it slipped my mind because..." his hand weaved through the air outlining the ultra-feminine shape of my outfit. An infuriating smile flitted on his lips.

Even more infuriating, some part of me rejoiced he was smiling again.

"I think you're going to love it," he said, still smiling.

We stopped in the middle of the milling tourists. His glance slid up and down, and across me, like he wanted to file away every embarrassing detail to tell our grandchildren.