Denied by Destiny Trapped in the Shadows of the Mate Bond novel Chapter 504

~ Jace ~

It was the calm before the storm. Jaxon had spent the day with a fucking smug smirk upon his face, something I wanted to beat right out of him.

To say he was pissing me off was an understatement.

By the time I had finished with training and pack duties it was already almost early evening. I hadn’t been at the alpha house all day, half expecting the Arancea’s to arrive early.

Half expecting to bump into Cleo before I was prepared. I stayed well clear in the eventuality of such a thing happening.

Walking into the alpha home, the sight before me is one of frantic energy and chaotic dismay.

Mum had roped Callie into prepping the meal, which judging by Callie’s eyes as I walk in, was the cause to the nervous atmosphere in the kitchen.

“Where have you been?” Callie grits out to me as Mum leaves her side to head into the pantry for something else, muttering a list of extra ingredients.

“Training and pack duties, why?” I move in closer, Callie adding small sprigs of rosemary onto a tray of roast potatoes.

“I told her I can’t cook.”

“Yes you can.”

“Barbecues, fish on the grill…things that I will cook when the restaurant is closed at the hotel Jace. Not bloody beef wellington.” She scathes at me, her eyes murderous.

“You’re nervous.”

“No shit.”

“I’m here next to you, you don’t need to be nervous This will work Callie.”

Mum could probably pick up on Callie’s nerves this morning, thinking helping to keep her busy would go lengths in calming her.

But judging by the mess of the kitchen and Callie’s appearance, it’s only stressed her out even more.

“I haven’t seen my parents since they all but kicked me out Jace…this is a bad idea…” She lifts the tray up to shake it out, biting down on her lip.

“Just breathe. Everything looks great.” I try to calm her spiralling nervous energy as best I can, secretly holding my own fear for how tonight will go.

Tonight was in celebration of my return, my acceptance of the alpha position of Clear Waters…and to announce Callie as my luna.

With my own fated mate sitting right in front of me.

I knew how important this was to her, how long she had waited…how many times I have had to encourage her into doing this.

And deliberately or not, they have come early…completely knocking her off course.

“Alpha Bill, Luna Louise…such a pleasure to finally meet you both.” Mum wipes her hands with a kitchen cloth as she moves towards Callie’s parents, shaking their hands.

Callie is of similar colouring to her dad; that permanently tanned skin, the dark silky smooth hair, but on first appearance she seemed to have her mum’s eyes.

Eyes that were sharply scanning the ground floor of the alpha home.

“Thank you for inviting us.” She politely replies, her eyes falling upon me and taking me in.

“Of course.” Mum responds giving me a look to introduce myself, but something holds me back. Maybe I look rude, but I don’t particularly care…not when I know how cruel they have been to their own child.

A tension falls upon us, where their eyes move to their daughter for the first time.

I can see they are scanning her…their jaws tense in a disapproving manner.

“You aren’t dressed?” Luna Louise tries to smile through the words, but it comes out with a distorted face as she seethes out the words.