CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
950 Words
CHLOE
The drive back to Edward’s house was thick with a silence that felt heavy on everyone but him. He kept his eyes glued to the road, though I caught him glancing at me every few miles, his gaze lingering just a second too long.
When we pulled up, my jaw nearly hit the floor. There were people everywhere—maids and staff swarming the living room, setting furniture and decor into place.
"You've got a few maids, then," Edgar noted, his voice trailing off as he took in the scale of the operation. I was just as stunned. These people must have arrived while we were at school.
"As you can see," Edward replied shortly. He tossed his car keys into a small tray near the TV with a sharp clink.
"Why? Aren't you living at your stepfather's house?" Edgar pressed. I saw Sarah lean in, her curiosity piqued.
Edward looked at me, his expression unreadable as he weighed how much to reveal. Finally, he spoke. "We're not living there anymore."
"Wait a minute. 'We'?" Sarah jumped in, her eyes wide. "You mean you and Chloe?"
Edward didn't answer; he just gave her a long, flat stare.
"You're not eighteen, are you?" she asked, her voice rising in realization.
"Obviously. Look, lads, enough with the questions. Seriously. You're here to hang out, so just do that and be off," Edward snapped. Without another word, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room.
I felt a wave of disappointment. His attitude was exhausting, and I didn't want to leave our friends standing there like intruders. "Don't mind him, everyone," I offered, trying to smooth things over. "I'll tell you everything you need to know. Or, well, everything I actually know."
I ushered them onto the sofa. They leaned in instantly, hungry for the truth.
"Well, Edward isn't eighteen," I began. "I knew that from the first time we met, even if I couldn't prove it. He’s actually twenty-five."
Edgar looked like he’d seen a ghost. "What the hell! I had a scrap with a twenty-five-year-old Alpha? He could have slaughtered me on the spot."
I couldn't help but smile at that. I filled them in on what I could, steering clear of the details of his bank account, until Sarah brought up the one thing I was trying to avoid.
"What about what he said in class? He was deadly serious about you 'owning the school' by tomorrow."
Edgar blinked. "What happened in class?"
Sarah explained Edward's threat to buy the school, and Edgar’s mouth dropped into a perfect 'O' shape. He scratched the front of his head, looking thoughtful.
"I know Edward," Edgar said. "He's the only Alpha without a Beta best mate. He only took over his pack recently after his father died. And his father was the Hawthorne—the owner of all the Fleurs companies. Since he’s gone, Edward is the sole heir. So, yeah... acquiring the school? He could do that in his sleep."
I felt my head spin. Fleurs Company? If Edward was that rich, why was he sitting in a high school history class? Why did his mother marry my dad?
"Why haven't i thought that Edward is that Hawthorne. He’s filthy rich," Sarah breathed. "Then why is he here? And are Lunas even allowed to remarry?"
"I don't know why he's at school," Edgar admitted. "But as for the rest... it’s the 21st century. No one really cares about the old rules. Besides, the pack has a new Luna now." He looked pointedly at me, and I felt a hot flush creep up my neck.
"Not yet," I mumbled, fidgeting with my fingers. "I haven't been introduced or anything."
"You will be," Sarah said, smiling warmly at me. "You’re a human Luna to a massive pack and the mate to the Fleurs heir. It might be a hassle, but the Edward I know won't care a fig. He’d take on anyone who opposed him. You’re really lucky to have him."
I looked down at my hands, her words echoing in my mind. Lucky? This morning, he promised he’d do anything for me with every fibre of his being. He’d already stood up to my father. Maybe I was lucky.
"Enough about him," I said, trying to shake the thought. "Sarah, you didn't tell me you were mated."
"You didn't ask! Edward knew the first day I started," she replied.
I turned to Edgar. "If you knew who Edward was, why did you keep pissing him off?"
"I didn't know you were his mate," he muttered, standing up. "But his overprotectiveness says it all now."
"Where are you going?" Sarah asked.
"To look around. This house is too big to just sit in the living room. Plus, I need to wind Edward up some more. It’s good to have another Alpha as a best mate—that’s why I’m never calling him 'Alpha Edward.' Just Edward. Unless it's an official meeting, which I'll just avoid."
He was teasing, but he didn't realize Edward had appeared right behind him. Edward reached out, grabbing the back of Edgar's neck in a firm—but not painful—squeeze.
"Call me Alpha Edward," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
"Nah. Not happening, Edward," Edgar shot back.
The room erupted into laughter. Edward didn't join in, but I saw it—a small, genuine crack of a smile. He was finally starting to find some peace with these people.
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