The Mark of Betrayal (Samara and Roman) novel Chapter 78

Sloane

“Why do that Alpha and that woman keep looking at you?” Scarlet asks me.

I know who she's talking about and I can guess, but I’m not sure. Because we’re in the dining hall, I give her a look letting her know that I’ll tell her later.

“Mom, who are those people over there?” she asks instead.

Beta Elizabeth, now Luna Elizabeth, looks to where Scarlet is gesturing.

“Which ones? Those are all guests for Luna Samara’s ceremony tomorrow.

“Can you go around and let me know who is who? I mean, I know Sloane’s Grandpa Will and Grandma Jasmine, and her Grandpa Sterling and Grandma Devi, but who are the others?” she asks.

“The ones sitting across from Alpha Roman and Luna Samara are Alpha Waylon and his friend Judith,” she says.

“His friend? What does that mean?” she asks. Scarlet is really good at getting answers. The woman was introduced to me as Judith as well. No title, just Judith.

“It’s a long story, but I understand that Alpha Waylon is planning to take Judith as his mate,” Luna Elizabeth says.

“Planning to? Isn’t he kind of old to just be getting around to taking a mate?” she asks, and I look over my shoulder at the couple. My eyes connect with Judith. She smiles, but I turn away quickly. Scarlet’s right, it’s creepy.

“Well, he had a mate. I don’t really know what happened to her. Your father and I haven’t exactly been in our Alpha and Luna positions long enough to know the gossip, Scarlet.”

“He doesn’t have an heir?” she asks, continuing to probe.

“I don’t know the story, but I heard that he disowned his heir. He was stealing or something,” she says, distractedly. She’s feeding Aria a bottle while Aunt Samara talks with the guests.

“Well if he needs an heir, that woman is too old. He needs a younger mate,” Scarlet says.

“Why are you so interested, Nosy?” she asks, turning to Scarlet as Aria finishes her bottle.

“I can take her and put her to bed, Luna,” I say, quickly diverting the conversation.

“You don’t have to, Sloane.”

“It’s okay, I don’t mind. She’s my sister,” I say, standing up and walking over to her. I know from helping my mother when I was young that babies have to burp after they eat, so I begin patting her back.

“Scarlet, do you want to join me?”

“Sure,” she says, hopping up.

“Don’t forget to bring the baby monitor back down with you,” Luna Elizabeth says.

“Sloane,” Aunt Samara calls out as we start to leave the dining hall.

I turn and look at her.

“Are you okay? Do you need help?”

“I’m good Aunt Samara, thank you.”

I glance at Alpha Waylon and Judith who are once again watching me.

Once we’re upstairs, I hold out my pinky to Scarlet. “Bestie promise.”

She hooks my pinky immediately. “Bestie promise. Who are they?”

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