The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Chapter 55: Let’s Lunch

Elizabeth’s POV

Cody took my hands in his. His huge hands enveloped mine. I could feel the callouses on his palms from labour. I traced them with my fingertips.

“I’m sorry for not fighting harder for you, Lizzie, and for staying away all these years. I was so stupid and I was heartbroken when I saw you in your wedding dress knowing you wouldn’t be coming down the aisle towards me,” said Cody, leaning towards me.

I bit my lip.

“Oh, Cody,” I said, brushing my nose against his as I leant in. He withdrew a little and my face faltered. My heart stung at this simple little motion from him. I was very fragile right now.

“When you got in touch with me after all these years, I made up my mind to be fully honest with you. You deserve that,” he said, looking down at our entwined fingers. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I took a deep breath feeling a panic rising within me.

“The day of your wedding I was waiting for you like we’d said outside my cottage watching the main house in the distance, scared you weren’t coming. Malachi’s Dad came to me,” Cody began.

I gasped and anger welled up inside of me. That old creep.

“He offered me a huge sum of money to get lost essentially and I refused. No amount of money was worth more to me than being with you. He told me I was a fool, that you didn’t feel the same, that you wouldn’t miss out on your inheritance for the likes of me,” Cody explained, meeting my eyes.

I felt a pang of guilt. I kept silent, listening intently. Cody sighed.

“Malachi’s Dad, he said you weren’t coming and I should go see for myself how you were all dolled up for your wedding to his son, the Alpha. He said to go look before I turned him down. I told him to ‘f**k off’ and he just laughed,” I said.

I was shocked Cody had told a former alpha that and over me.

“But I did go look. I had to. It was getting late and you weren’t there yet. I climbed into your bedroom window and I saw you, the most beautiful bride ever, only not my bride,” Cody said.

I fought back tears listening to him.

“I could see it in your eyes you had no real intention of leaving with me,” said Cody sadly, shrugging.

“I let you go. I should have flung you over my shoulder,” Cody said with a laugh giggled and Cody stroked my cheek causing chills to creep through me. I found myself thinking about inviting Cody back to the pack house.

“I climbed back down and went to my cottage. I wrecked the place in a fit of frustration and rage, which was dumb. I heard laughter. It was that prick again,” he said.

I stifled a chuckle at how brazenly Cody spoke about the former alpha.

“He offered me the money again in exchange for leaving town. He said I could stay here, poor and lonely and watch you everyday with someone else or I could go heal somewhere with money to start making something of myself,” Cody said, sighing.

“I’m ashamed to say I took it and I left. I didn’t go for. I moved to Berryndale and worked and saved never made me nappy. It’s probably pathetic to admit it out my nappiest days were chopping woon, anticipating you coming by to show me how pretty you looked that day in another one of your gowns,” Cody said, chuckling and smiling sadly.

“I know you might feel differently knowing I took the money and I understand if…”

I silenced him with a kiss. He immediately kissed back drawing me to him, putting his arms around my waist as I flung mine around his neck. His lips found my jaw and then my neck. He seemed pleased that there was no mark there. Malachi had never marked me. I wondered if he had marked Felicity yet. Should I let Cody mark me? Was I rushing things? I had a son old enough to be Alpha and to court his own mate but I felt like a school girl when it came to these things. I had never been permitted to have many experiences with boys. I had never dated before Malachi courted me and all I could do with Cody back then was walk by in different outfits so he would admire me from afar or pay me a compliment. I had only ever been with Maze’s Dad.

Cody groaned a little against my skin. I hoped Mazey was preoccupied with the Friday lookalike or something and not witnessing this. I buried my face in Cody’s neck. His scent was glorious. If sunlight had a smell that would be Cody’s scent. He smelled bright somehow, fresh, new and yet familiar. He had an earthiness to his smell too like being out in a kitchen garden, surrounded by fresh produce, bathed in sunlight after rain. I sighed. I felt like I had finally come home after being away for years and years.

“You better be serious this time, Lizzie, because you’re never getting away from me again,” mumbled Cody in my hair smiled against his shoulder. Loud cheering made me look up. Cody did too. True and Timbre were dancing up a storm. I grinned.

“Some wild friends you got there,” Cody said.

I frowned. Did he disapprove of them? Would he ask me to hang out with them less? I really liked them though? They had found Cody for me in the first place pulling a few strings as he lived in Berryndale and getting his contact information. Malachi had always been so strict. Cody grasped my chin and made me look at him.

“I like them,” Cody said. “They’re great!” I smiled. “Cody,” I said hesitantly. – “Yeah, Lizzie,” he said.

I was nervous. I had never asked someone out before. Ugh. I needed to pull myself together. If Maze got that Friday pregnant, I’d be a grandmother. Why was I acting like a teenager?

“Um, would you like to go to the Berryndale’s Ladies’ Luncheon tomorrow as my…date?” I said, mumbling the last word.

Cody kissed me again. “What time and what should I wear? How about we match?” Friday’s POV

I was not looking forward to this Lady’s Luncheon thing. It was Thaddeus’ day and something that could actually dampen my mood enough to make me not excited about seeing Thaddeus was unheard of. I grumbled, staying in my bed, burying my face in my pillow, though I should be getting ready. Saturday jumped on back and kneaded me. Aww. Good kitty.

“Who’s the best kitty in the world?” I told him.

He meowed because he knew it was him. I gave him some cat wet food, his favourite flavour: turkey and cheese. He launched himself at it. I got back into bed to mope about the impending drama, My mother nonesty but didn t want those two coupies crossing pains. I was terrinea or a repeat or their rignit in the resuscitation room. I hadn’t seen it myself because I had been cornered by Thaddeus and Maze in the bathroom. My cheeks burned thinking about it. It was possibly one of my all-time favourite moments since my alphas had begun playing nice with each other. Even though I hadn’t seen the fight, Fang had given me a play by play. I sighed.

Ugh, stop moping. Just order the servants to handle it and keep the two couples from interacting too much! The Berryndale pack house staff will know what to do. There are probably important pack members that hate each other all the time, said my wolf.

She was right. But I don’t want the Berryndale staff to think I’m too pushy, Imused, nervous about giving orders.

You’re going to be their Luna, aren’t you ? Snapped my wolf. I was to be Luna, wasn’t 1? Yes! Said my wolf.

I nodded to myself, determined!

Felicity’s POV

My stomach was in knots as I got ready for the Berryndale Ladies’ Luncheon. Malachi’s Dad had never wanted me for his son for this precise reason. I did not belong in high society. Elizabeth would be there and she would be in her element. I knew she would never embarrass herself in front of her classy friends by trying to brawl with me as she’d done before so at least that was one less thing to worry about. I fidgeted with my outfit. It was designer. “A concord midi dress,” the snooty salesgirl had called it. Concord meant purple. I had a hat to go with it. All the ladies wore hats with fascinators. I felt so silly with it on. I sighed.

Malachi’s eyes lit up when he saw me. He snaked his arms around me from behind, admiring me in the mirror. He was shirtless and glorious in the morning. Well, he looked glorious to me regardless of the time of day, I finally had him all to myself. I kissed his bare shoulder. I admired the way my silvery mark on my neck caught the light. Malachi and I had wasted no more time in marking each other to seal the deal in

a lupine sense while we had been awaiting both of our divorces being finalised. I had been allowed a divorce by the Marigold court by special order (aka Maze) due to the circumstances considering Farris. was on the run from the law and there was no way I could serve him the papers. The Marigold court (again Maze) had refused to allow a divorce until both parties were in agreement (aka Maze felt sorry for his Mom). However, last night when we had arrived at the Berryndale pack house, Maze had happily brandished the signed divorce papers in his hands. Malachi and and I had been relieved, overjoyed actually, Malachi pressed his lips firmly to my neck.

“It’s all going to be fine,” he murmured against my skin, I nodded, smiling and his lips claimed my mouth. Thaddeus’ POV “Relax, little Luna,” I cooed, looking at her in outfit for the Berryndale Ladies’ Luncheon.

She was in a lilac tea length dress with a matching hat. Her beautiful dark waves were hanging down all around her. She had just explained to me what “tea length” was, something shorter than floor-length but longer than knee-length. Apparently, it was also called midi length. Today was my day so I was dressed up to escort Friday as she hosted the luncheon together with my mother. I had asked Maze to join U He sauntered into the room. He looked nervous too.

“Do you think our mothers will behave?” He asked doubtfully, looking at Friday,

“Well it seems like this Cody guy is my mother’s mate so she and my Dad should both be reasonably happy now,” Maze said.

Friday and I widened our eyes, looking at Maze in surprise. “Your mother had a mate this world time?” I asked incredulously.

“It’s a long story but basically both my grandfathers were rich, snobby friends who decided they wanted my Dad and my Mom to marry for prestige and to ignore their real fated mates which ultimately resulted in all the chaos we get to deal with today,” said Maze.

I knew he was hinting at Farris shooting his father. He still had not been caught. I was a bit relieved. If Farris were to be apprehended, he would likely be sentenced to death by the Marigold Court and that would crush my pretty little Friday. Friday adjusted her hat one more time. Her whole outfit had a shimmer to it that would be dazzling outside in the sunlight where the luncheon was held. Maze and I were both wearing matching lilac shirts with grey blazers and grey trousers so we would be coordinated with Friday.

“Let’s lunch, Lady!” Exclaimed my mother, bursting into the room suddenly.

Maze and Friday jumped. I extended my arm to Friday and she linked her other arm with Maze’s. We descended the main staircase and exited through the main entrance. The grassy lawn had a very long dining table set up underneath and open-air tent that had been constructed for shade. The table was set for about twenty-five of Berryndale’s most elite ladies and their dates so about fifty people were invited. The chairs were widely spaced and there was a centrepiece at every interval so there were about twenty-five gold vases overflowing with red and white roses, our three Berryndale colours..

Timmediately spotted our four danger zones or two rather if you considered them in pairs. Elizabeth was all in white lace with a white wide-brimmed hat and white gloves escorted by Cody who owned a popular construction company in Berryndale. He was a cool guy. My parents had commissioned him before. She was near the end furthest from the door with some of the other high-society ladies who were all chattering excitedly. Felicity was at the opposite end, nearest to the door, in purple matching with Malachi in a purple shirt with grey blazer and pant. Quite similar to Friday and us. We were going to take our seats at the centre with my Mom and Dad when our head butler Francois started to complain.

“Who seated the guests?” Asked Francois.

“I did, Sir,” said a new member of staff, a girl with golden skin and dark auburn hair I had seen Friday talking to upstairs for a minute.

“No, no, no, Susie, you have much to learn, ma petite, the mother of Alpha Maze and her date and the father of Alpha Maze and Luna Friday’s mother must all be dead centre with their children and our Luna and Alpha! It’s only proper!” He said rushing to move some name plaques and switch the people who had not yet arrived.

She kept trying to explain something to him but he quickly escorted Malachi and Felicity towards us.

“We’re all matching!” Said Felicity happily who seemed relived to be around familiar faces. I hugged her lifting her off her feet. She giggled in surprise. I hugged Malachi. Elizabeth and Cody came over. I quickly hugged Liz and clapped Cody on the back. Friday and Maze looked mortified and my parents seemed

none the wiser but they could easily be putting on their poker faces. We all sat in a group together at the centre.

“Excellent the leading families of the intendeds are all together!” Francois said clapping his hands.

He wasn’t wrong by the book but this was about to be interesting.