Fate Mate

Chapter 21

Nolan looked like every woman's dream. He wore a sleek black suit that fit his broad chest to perfection. The top few buttons of his shirt were undone, revealing a whisper of dark chest hair rising above the collar. Not to mention the dark coat of stubble that adorned his sharp jawline.

I couldn't blame Savannah, Alpha Kayan's daughter, for the adoration that gleamed in her baby-blues as she gazed up at her escort. My mate.

"Dylan and Charlotte," Nolan grumbled from where they stopped a few feet away. "I'm so pleased that you could make it."

I nearly snorted at the flagrant lie that left his tight lips but, somehow, managed to maintain a cool glare as I beheld the trio.

"Nice dress, Charlie." Sophia winked at me by way of greeting, discreetly sipping on a glass of champagne and unlooping her arm from Nolan's. The dark-haired girl stepped closer to Dylan and me, until she faced Nolan and Savannah as well. Judging by Sophia's smirk, I could guess that she had just chosen a side in this battle between Alpha and Luna.

Pride sparked deep in my chest, but I kept my hazel orbs on Nolan. I didn't so much as acknowledge Savannah's presence... yet.

"Dylan and I are only sorry we missed the cake." I smiled.

Savannah cleared her throat and tugged on Nolan's jacket sleeve, a silent order for an introduction.

Nolan glanced down at the petite blonde, who wore a white gown that would have been better suited for a wedding. "Ah, forgive me. Savannah, this is Dylan, my third-in-command. And this is Charlotte... " Nolan paused, at a loss for words. I plastered a sickeningly sweet smile on my face and blinked expectantly. "Charlie is Dylan's mate," he finished.

My smile faltered for half of a second, revealing a slight crack in my icy shields. Fine. If he wants to play pretend, then let's freakin' play.

I turned toward Dylan, who looked equal parts shocked and confused, and grabbed his hand in mine. For a moment, I was scared that Dylan would try to pull his hand away from mine, but I shot him a warning glare that screamed: Do this for me. Please!

Dylan let out an uneasy chuckle, but pulled me in closer to his side nonetheless. "That's right. It's been the best few months of my life."

I would have been content if Dylan had shut his mouth there. He had done his job perfectly. But a wicked, masculine grin played on his lips, and he continued to run his damn mouth, "Don't get me wrong-- it took a few weeks to break her of her Golden Walkers prudishness. But now she is Black Lupis in the streets, and Black Lupis in the sheets!"

In one last display of arrogant pride, Dylan squeezed my side, so low that he might as well have been grabbing the outside of my ass. Oh my Moon Goddess...

My cheeks flamed to the color of beets, and Sophia nearly choked on her white-wine. Savannah's eyes widened in benevolent amusement, as if she could not wait until she had a mate herself. But Nolan... Every muscle in Nolan's body turned to stone, and his pupils dilated like a predator about to attack. I unconsciously took a step away from Dylan, for my own safety as well as his.

Savannah, thank my lucky stars, chose that moment to have an epiphany: "Wait-- You're Charlotte? Daughter of the Golden Walker's Beta?"

"Yepp, that's me." I gave the peppy blonde a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

"You probably don't remember this, but we used to play together as kids. When our training classes came together?" Savannah reached out with both hands to grasp my own, as if we were long-lost sisters who were reuniting after years of separation. I wanted to gag. "Can you still not shift?"