Rejected, And Became A Heiress

Chapter 0144 Chapter 144 Alaric's POV Shock strikes throughlike a lightning bolt, leavingtooted to the spot.

For a long moment, my mind is fully blank, as I take in the sight and the words of the host.

Cara... is Aylon Auburn? She is the Bloody Moon beta?! It doesn't seem real. Maybe I am dreaming again. Subtly, I pinch myself.

No, this is real! Then, in a rush, my brain clicks back on and a million thoughts flood in at once. With great regret and embarrassment, I realize that this should have been obvious.

Of course Cara wouldn't just sit around doing nothing. She is so exceptional, with such a strong work ethic and incredible skills, the Bloody Moon pack would have been incredibly foolish to let her skills go to waste.

And Cara herself would never stand for it.

She would want to feel useful. She would want to help.

How many times in the past did she step up to assist me, even beyond the regular duties of a beta? Just as many times, I didn't properly acknowledge the depths of her efforts. Then; like now, I was quick to assthe worst in her. Whether she tried so hard strictly for the money or not didn't matter. Still, she did the work and did it well.

I should have given her more praise.

Looking out over the crowd, I can see many faces among my familiar pack mates who are as stunned as me. Likely everyone remembers Cara, but did not expect to see her take on the beta role again.

The accident, the miscarriage, the falling out...

All of it was public, reported on by the news media.

That was almost one of the biggest scandals in DarkWood. Many people don't have a good impression of Cara- just think about what happened before; seven went out of their way to slander Cara as a bad woman! The entire DarkWood pack knew that Cara left us, the lost sister of the BloodyMoon Alpha. It becsomething like a Cinderella story among my pack, albeit with much more tragedy attached.

In the crowd, the wolves I don't recognize, the ones from Bloody Moon - they look at their princess and beta respect and pride.

The entire venue fell silent for a long while.

"...It's Cara! I should have known it was her! Besides her, who else could take on this responsibility?" "But she's a woman..." "So what if she's a woman?! The work she created as Aylon is enough to outshine everyone!" (( 1/3 Chapter 144 Then they slowly start to cheer.

Gradually, more and more people began to cheer for her.

The sound of applause is so loud that I half-worry the building might tremble to the ground around us from the sheer vibrations.

I'm proud of her- toothough with a hint of guilt. Why didn't it occur tothat Aylon was her?! I even saw her signature before.

Why didn't the connection click in my mind?! Cara waves at her adoring public. She places her hands together and bows slightly with gratitude.

She really is beautiful in that flowing dress, her red hair done up in a tight bun behind her head, leaving her long pale neck exposed.

She is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen... and the most captivating one as well.

How often, I've placed my mouth there, leaving soft kisses and marks along the column of her throat.

Yet I never made her mine.

What a fool I was. What a fool I still am.

...So close to her yet, still so impossibly far.

*** Cara's POV After what feels like forever, my ton stage in the spotlight comes to an end.

I'm overwhelmed with gratitude for the people's acceptance, but also with adrenaline for the nerve-wracking experience I just lived through.

Eamon laughs lightly at my expression. I have no idea what I must look like. Shell-shocked maybe.

"Don't worry,' Eamon says. "You get used to it!" I don't know if I believe that. I couldn't see a future where I'd ever becaccustomed to standing in the spotlight where a crowd cheered so loudly I could feel it inside of my chest.

"You did well!" Eamon says, patting my arm lightly with his free hand.

Soon after, food is served, the champagne is popped, and the orchestra starts up, ready to fill the ballroom with music to dance to.

When the focus is off the stage, and off of us, Eamon leans in and kisseson the cheek.

"Enjoy yourself tonight," he tells me. "This party is for you" "It's a celebration of the joint efforts of our packs," I remind him.

"Which you were a big part of," he counters, then laughs.

"Stop trying to convince yourself not to have a good time, and go have sfun!" With that Eamon releasesand himself disappears around the corner, out into the crowd. He's immediately 2/3 Chapter 144 embraced by members of both packs.

Those that linger, however, and seeare all quick to congratulate me, or insist on shaking my hand.

By the tI'm midway through the ballroom, I've already shaken more hands than I have in my entire life up until tonight.

My smile is so wide that it hurts, but it's still not disingenuous.

I feel like a different person tonight. Like I've been mistaken for a celebrity or something.

"Congratulations are in order, princess Cara!"Says a male voice from behind me. Turning, I see that voice belongs to Matthew Bedford.

Tonight, he's wearing a gold suit-one that's even more eye-catching and ostentatious than the Alpha Kings'. Just seeing him feels like my eyes are about to be blinded. Matthew:"Oh! My princess! my princess! You are so beautiful tonight!"

He gazes at me, intoxicated, and reaches out to get closer. I take ocer. I take an step back, wondering if it would be toe conspicuous to punch him right now.

Matthew: "Princess, look at this entire banquet-no one here deserves someone as charming as you, except me!" Apparently, with the way he's leering athe still hasn't given up his attempts to romantically pursue me. Around us, couples are beginning to pair up, slowly shifting, dancing in twith the music. Matthew holds out his hand. "...I know we had sdisagreements in the past, princess, but I would be honored if you would givethis dance!" This would be my first dance of the night.

As an honored person of the night, whoever I chose to dance with tonight would be a big deal.

It would be like giving my favor to that person, and showing the pack that person is to be respected, because they've been honored by the beta.

Matthew Bedford is not the person I want to give that honor too.

I've already thought of a hundred ways to reject him.

"- Her answer will be no, Mr. Bedford," Alaric says, appearing at my side as if this is a fairy tale and he is my knight in shining armor, "She has already promised the first dance with me." He steps forward, his dark hair and sharp blue eyes catching my attention. He looks stern, but there's a winth in his gaze that eases my nerves.

Alaric bows toslightly and holds out his hand. "...Cara, May I have this dance?" mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofifl0&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1