Beauty and

Chapter 20 Bailey

After a lovely hour sitting in the beautiful gardens with Luna Eden, enjoying the most delicious of cake and coffee, my Dad had come to find me, and see if I was ready to come home. He seemed excited to hear that Luna Eden was keen to have me come and work for her. So, when he told her she would be hearing from us very soon, I did not have the heart to disagree. Because, yes, they likely would be hearing from me, but it may not be in the way they were expecting.

My Dad had tried talking to me on the way home, wanting to know all the details of the interview, but in all honesty, I had lost all interest in conversation. I felt deflated. My mood low. I had been building up to this moment since the day I began my degree. Excited about the day I would gain a job offer. And now the seemingly impossible had happened, I was likely going to have to turn them down. All because of an over-bearing and controlling Alpha and ex-mate who seemed to think he still had some say in what I did with my life.

As a mate who had rejected me, he didn’t have a say. But as my upcoming Alpha, sadly, he would always have control and that is what he was using against me. Because that meant he could threaten me with a whole host of things, which is what worried me. Miles had changed from the guy he used to be. As his coming of age had approached, his attitude had grown. And since his wolf had arrived, he had become more and more egotistical. Narcissistic and self-centered.

As I hadn’t felt like chatting, my Dad had given up, and we drove the journey in comfortable. silence. I watched the scenery fly past the window of the car, losing my thoughts as we went. Wondering how to approach this whole mess, I found myself in. I know my Dad said he would deal with the Alpha when it came to me leaving for work, but I wasn’t expecting Miles to become so heavily involved. And my Dad had no clue he had been my fated mate. And if he did, I am certain he would not be so willing to allow me to leave the pack so freely then. I had nobody to

turn to.

“Am I okay to drop you outside the packhouse Bailey and you walk home? As I need to go to the office.” Dad asked as we came through the pack gates, the guard signaling to my Dad as he opened the gates.

I guess a walk wasn’t going to do me any harm. A little fresh air may even do me some good. “Yeah sure, that is fine.” I agree with a nod.

“Are you sure everything is okay sweetheart? You have been awfully quiet since we left Autumn Valley. Did the interview not go as well as you wanted?” My Dad asked as we approached the parking area outside the packhouse.

I smiled a sad smile at him. Ever the concerned Dad, thinking he was being so observant, yet he had no clue as to the things I have had to tolerate from my own pack members over the years that him and so many others have missed. “It went fine, Dad. I just need to decide what to do

now.”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

“What do you mean, decide what to do? You want a job. They are offering you one. A bit of a no- brainer, Bailey.” He says with a roll of his eyes, like he despaired at how my mind worked sometimes.

“Ir ie uite a dictance away Dad. And we don’t know set what Alnha will eau” I nointed out

“Like I told you, leave your Uncle to me.”

“It isn’t just him, Miles apparently told Jordan that I shouldn’t be working for another pack. That I belong to this one. So I think he may be reluctant to all

it.” I stretch the truth a little, so I don’t have to admit everything to my Dad.

“Well, King Lazy a*s can get off his high horse, because he ain’t the Alpha yet. And he should see the good in interacting with other packs in this way. Don’t let the jumped-up jerk get to you. I know you probably find that difficult when you are in love with him, but, he is not worth it, Bailey.” Dad said with a shrug.

I looked at my Dad with a frown. I am what now? I don’t f**king think so! “I think you have me confused with someone else there Dad, because I am most definitely not in love with that kn ob. I would rather eat my own eyeballs than be with someone like him.”

Dad chuckled to himself. “I know he is intolerable at times, but that seems a little extreme all the same. We just assumed you were, that is what he has always told us.”

My eyes widened at my Dad’s words. Miles has been telling our families that I was in love with him?! Either he was deluded or he saw some strange benefit to lying about something so ridiculous. But, what bothers me, is that one, they believed it. And two, if he would lie about something so ridiculous, what else would he be willing to lie about?

“Well, I can reassure you, Dad. That there is no hope in hell that I would ever be in love with that thing. We have more chance of the moon goddess coming for tea than we have of me falling in love with him.” I say with a roll of my eyes. “But, I doubt he will make this easy for me, he is more involved with pack decisions now in preparation for taking over as Alpha. So he will do his best to make my life difficult, as he always has since being a teenager.

“I apologize, Bailey. But, I will do my best for you.” Dad says as he steps from the car. “I had best get to the office, your Uncle has already been pestering your Mum about where I was. Anyone would think he couldn’t manage the pack on his own.” He says with a grin.

I smile and step from the car myself, but go to walk the other direction toward our family home. Planning to hide out there. “See you later Dad!” I called as I walked away, looking down to my phone. To be greeted by lots of messages from Harley saying he hoped today went well and that he was looking forward to seeing me. He was sweet bless him.

I was just about to mindlink him to let him know how it went when a heavy hand gripped hold of my shoulder. “So, you are back then? Decided not to run away?” Miles’s voice was h o ar se. Angry.

I turned to look at him. “I had no intention of running away, Miles, and you know I didn’t. My Dad took me.”

“Hmm. Still went without permission.” He hissed, his eyes almost squinting in anger. Causing me to roll my eyes in irritation. This guy is now in his twenties but still acts like a petulant teenager. Being demanding and spoiled.

“I am going home now, Miles, so if you don’t mind.” I said, moving away from him.

Balance:

dismissed you. And I am sure I told you it was Alpha Miles.” He snarls,

“And I think I told you, I would call you that when you gain your title, which is not yet.” I snapped. I know I am only going to anger him further, but I have had just about enough of his attitude towards me.

“You will regret this.” He hisses, as he lowers his face toward mine, his breath smelling of stale. cigarettes. I hadn’t even realized Miles had begun smoking. But, that is none of my concern. “You chose to go for a job off pack, when you were told to come home after studying because you belonged here.”

I rolled my eyes again. “Miles, I am not doing this. Why do you need me here? You made it perfectly clear you did not want me as your fated mate. You rejected me. So, why keep me here? Why do you feel the need to have me here? Does it make you feel in control? Because I will not have that. I will go to your father and explain it all. The rejection, everything.”

Miles’s eyes flash darker, telling me his wolf is lingering now. His hand holding me is shaking now. I have definitely caused him to be angry… “You will not go to my f**king Dad!” he roared. “I would lose everything then. They would either make me take you as my f**king mate, and why would I want you for a mate? Or he would take away my title for rejecting the fated mate I was given!”

“Bailey?” I heard Harley’s voice nearby, and both Miles and I turned to look at him. Eyes wide. The look upon his face was one of shock. There is no denying he had heard everything. Thought talking about something like this out in the open, and when so angry too, was never going to be the best of ideas…

“Harley…” I began.

“He is your fated mate?” he stutters, his tone a mixture of shock and hurt.

“No.” Miles interrupted. “She wanted me to be. Though she has always been in love with me. Clung to me, like so many of the other girls. But, this time she was telling me of about the fated. matebond. She was adamant about it, but I wasn’t feeling the bond.” he lies, and I see a disgusted look pass over Harley’s face. Like, his whole opinion of me had changed in an instant. He believed the words Miles was telling him? The pain in my heart at that realization was immense. Everyone would always believe him over me. “So, I rejected her to make sure, just in case.” Miles says with a shrug.

Harley shakes his head in disbelief. The look he gives me is one of confusion. Disgust. Gone is the friendly, flirty looks that gave me butterflies. No, this is a look that tells me he finds me repulsive. All because of some twisted lie from Miles… Then, he turns and simply walks away without another word.

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