The Dark Side of Fate

36 Engagement Dinner

~Tamia~

Planning the engagement dinner was tedious, but Avery and Linda came through.

Linda had moved back to Theodore’s room, and even though he didn’t kick her out, he was guarded with her. I noticed it during dinner.

Her actions hurt him, and he needed time to get over it, just like her.

Stephanie helped immensely with the seating arrangement and the menu of the engagement dinner, which made me realise she was over it.

I stood in the dance room and admired

what we had done.

Stephanie was drinking a glass of wine with Avery while Linda drank juice. We

had worked for a day and a half, only

taking breaks to eat and sleep; we were

exhausted. 1

I wondered why Sylvester did not allow me to hire an event planner for this. He refused to tell me, but I believed it had to do with trust and accessibility.

I joined the women at the table they were sitting at, and Stephanie smiled at me.

“You need to brace yourself, Tamia. Northern Alphas are very stubborn, and most of them are chauvinists,” she said, and we all laughed.

“The east isn’t any different,” I told her, and Linda chose that moment to mimic

Kyle.

“You are a woman. What do you know

about these matters? Leave it for the men

to handle,” She said. We all laughed.

“I see how well they handled the matter

when the northern soldiers called. They

just shoved us in their faces, afraid.” She said, and honestly, that was precisely what happened to them.

We had all somehow kicked against them, banding with the south against the north, but they did not listen, only for the women to be given as peace offerings. We didn’t commit the crime, yet we paid for

“You won’t have that much trouble

because of Sylvester. He adores you,

Stephanie said, and I smiled.

11

“How are things with Theodore?” She asked Linda, and Linda looked away, knowing it was her fault.

“The women in the harem were gossiping

about you and the Gamma; that was how I got to know,” Stephanie said and smiled at Linda.

“Marcel and Theodore are alphas from prestigious families. Their fathers occupied their present positions, and so did their fathers before them. The rules that apply to Sylvester apply to them. Even though they have not argued or fought anyone about it, they are going against tradition being with the two of you, and their families aren’t happy about it. But it really doesn’t matter as long as they are happy,” She said and

sighed. 1

“Why am I telling you this?” she said

with a smile, guessing that was what we were thinking.

“It is because I have never seen men

devoted to their women as these men are devoted to you three. The ones before

them were horrible. They were so bad that we, their mates, accepted their ill- treatment as a norm. They engaged in all kinds of orgies and torture. We dared not speak or complain. Our duties as their

wives were defined, and we had to stay within those confinements, or we would

be in trouble.

When I see how Sylvester is with you, Tamia, I wish Maurice loved me that way. But the truth is he didn’t. I was just a tool to him. This is why I am telling you this, Linda. Do not throw away a good thing.

I know what happened to the three of you in the east, and I can tell you that my son and his friends are decent men.

They aren’t douchebags and have a lot of respect for women.

They have all been burned by love in the past, and it is a joy to see them try again.

Do not make Theodore pay for a crime he did not commit. His only crime is loving you and wanting to take your pain away. I see it in his eyes. How he looks at you and how he treats you. 1

His mother asked me about you, and I had only good things to say. Please put your past behind you and look into the future,” She said and touched Linda’s

hands.

“I know you do not drink but try and stay clear of alcohol tomorrow night,” She

said with a broad smile. She felt Linda’s

palm and smiled.

“Because it won’t be good for the baby,”

She said, and we all gasped.

I looked at Linda immediately and

realised she was stunned too.

be a midwife. Your complexion,

swings, extra sensitivity to smell,

are all early signs of

If you do not believe me, you can have yourself tested.” She said, and

couldn’t believe it.

jealous because I

was a

test strips you can use,” Avery told Linda.

and I are trying,” She confessed, and

looked at me.

about you and Sylvester?” Stephanie asked me, and I

of Linda right now because Sylvester and I

confessed, and

smiled.

eager too. It will

the place. Children always have a

home to

I check?” Linda said, sounding a bit nervous, and we

a great friend to me if she wasn’t being a protective mother.

waited in Avery’s room while

used the toilet.

negative, but soon I realised they were joyful tears.

everything that was taken from her had been

her baby would have a father and not a

stand

woman he claimed

I returned to the alpha

and worried that something might be wrong with

will be great; make sure he lets you rest,” Stephanie advised and hugged me. Then turned to open her door when Glenda approached

asked, obviously tired of

drama.

of it lately, and

annoying.

not wanting to hear whatever was troubling her.

bedroom and

a hot bath to relax.

applied vanilla salts to

rested in it.

was nervous about the next day,

nervous about my life with Sylvester.

my lower belly with a deep longing wishing today’s news was

to share.

to have

did not know

into the

quickly dried my tears.

approaching the bathroom.

to

walked in and knelt by

day?” he asked, and I

smiled at him.

mother,” I said, and he smiled at me.

along,” he said

in the bath.

bad when

said, and I giggled and scooped some of

his direction.

in the bath and

to

dinner with our friends

the small dining room.

he would not

his mother

him to reconsider

I noticed Linda and

clear she hadn’t told him, and I

why. I guess she was

his reaction.

her. The last

away.

afraid he might not be ready. I could see it

was served, and I

the

them.

Vino’s party together?” I

Theodore said, and

reconcile, so I wondered what

in

placed his hand on my thigh to stay out

but I

wrong to leave a pregnant woman alone

and I looked at Linda, who looked away. I knew she was mad at me, but someone

stunned, and then he

began

Marcel told him, and

he accepted.

“Congratulations,” Sylvester said,

him,

Linda close

her neck.

should have told me. Now I know

been moody,” He said and

her more, tickling her in

process.

but soon started giggling, and just

together.