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~CHAPTER 57~
~Kael's POV~
We pulled up to the boutique about twenty minutes later, a quaint shop nestled in the heart of the neighbouring town with elaborate gowns glittering in the display windows.
The afternoon sun caught the sequins and beadwork, making them sparkle like captured starlight.
Rhiannon stepped out of the car, and the deep blue gown she wore caught the light beautifully. I found myself unable to look away, mesmerised by the way she moved, the way the fabric flowed around her.
"Focus," Karl growled in my mind, sensing my distraction. "You're staring."
"I know."
"Then stop. You're going to make her uncomfortable."
I forced myself to look away and guided her toward the entrance, my hand hovering near the small of her back but not quite touching.
The mate bond was still tingling from our earlier moment in her room, making every near-touch feel electric.
The boutique smelled of lavender and expensive fabric, with soft classical music playing in the background. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting warm light over racks of elegant gowns in every colour imaginable.
A middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a professional smile approached us immediately. Her eyes widened slightly when she recognised me, and her smile became even more welcoming.
"Alpha Kael, what an honour," she said with a slight bow. "How may we assist you today?"
"The lady needs gowns," I said simply. "Several, for formal occasions."
Her gaze shifted to Rhiannon, and I saw her eyes light up with the challenge. "Of course. Right this way, my lady. I have some pieces that would be absolutely stunning on you."
She led Rhiannon to a section of the boutique filled with evening gowns, and I followed at a respectful distance.
Rhiannon began to browse, her fingers lightly touching the silk, velvet, satin, and lace. She tried to keep a neutral expression, but I could tell she was intrigued, especially when she lingered over certain items.
I stayed close, watching her, noting the tension that still lingered in her posture. She was still rattled from everything that had happened earlier: the sparring with Talon, the charged moment between them, Lucien's sudden appearance. I could see it in the set of her shoulders, the way she held herself just a bit too carefully.
"This one is lovely," the woman was saying, pulling out a silver gown with some beadwork. "The cut would complement your figure beautifully."
Rhiannon nodded politely, but I could tell her mind was elsewhere.
Then a man appeared from the back of the boutique, dressed in a designer suit that probably cost more than most people made in a month. He was handsome in a polished way, with slicked-back brown hair and a smile that was all charm and no substance.
He approached Rhiannon directly, holding up a different silver gown, this one with a daring neckline and an open back.
"This would look absolutely incredible on you," he said in a confident voice. Too bold for someone who'd just met her. "Are you looking for something specific? I'd be more than happy to assist you personally."
His smile widened as Rhiannon glanced at him, and I felt my wolf bristle immediately. A low growl was building in my chest, and I had to physically restrain Karl from pushing forward.
"Easy," I warned him silently.
"He's touching what's ours," Karl snarled. "Look at him. The way he's looking at her."
"She's not property."
"No, but she's our mate, and he needs to back off."
Rhiannon's lips twitched with what looked like amusement as she engaged in conversation with the man. "That's very thoughtful of you. What's your name?"
"Miles," he said, stepping closer. "And you are?"
"Rhiannon."
I knew exactly what she was doing. She was testing me, trying to provoke a reaction, seeing how far she could push. And damn it, it was working. My hands clenched into fists at my sides, and I felt my control starting to slip.
"Kael," Karl warned. "Don't just stand there. Do something."
I stepped forward, and the temperature in the immediate area around me seemed to drop several degrees as I moved, my alpha aura unconsciously flaring out.
Miles' eyes met mine, and all the colour drained from his face as he recognised me. His confident smile faltered, then disappeared entirely.
"Alpha Kael," he stammered, taking a hasty step back from Rhiannon. "I… I didn't know she was your woman. My sincerest apologies, I meant no disrespect."
I kept my voice steady and calm, but it carried weight that made him flinch. "She's not just my woman. She's my mate."
The word landed like a claim, like a brand, and Miles backed off immediately, muttering more apologies as he practically fled behind a curtain to the back room.
Rhiannon turned to look at me with a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. Her eyes glinted with something that might have been mischief or satisfaction. "Possessive, are we now?"
I shrugged, forcing a casual grin even though my heart was still racing with territorial instinct. "Just clarifying the situation."
"Uh-huh. Sure."
She shook her head, but I caught the flush that coloured her cheeks, the way the bond sparked between us in response to my claim. She'd felt it, that surge of connection when I'd declared her mine.
"Good," Karl said with satisfaction. "Now she knows."
"She already knew."
"Knowing and hearing it declared publicly are two different things."
The woman returned, pretending she hadn't witnessed the entire exchange, and guided Rhiannon toward a fitting room with several gowns draped over her arm. "Why don't you try these on, dear? I think you'll find something you love."
As Rhiannon disappeared behind the curtain, I found myself pacing the boutique, unable to stand still. My mind kept circling back to the Alpha Ball, to what it would mean to present her there as our mate.
It was a chance to show her off, to let the other packs see what we had. But it was also a risk.
The carved message: "The daughter remembers. The father's blood cries for justice", still haunted my thoughts. Someone out there knew about our situation with Rhiannon, and they were watching, waiting.
How much should I tell her? How much did she need to know?
"Tell her everything," Karl advised. "She deserves the truth."
"The truth could scare her away."
"Or it could make her trust us more. Secrets have a way of destroying bonds, Kael. You know that."
Before I could respond, the curtain rustled, and Rhiannon stepped out.
I froze mid-pace.
She was wearing a deep crimson gown that hugged every curve before flaring out at her hips. The colour made her skin glow, brought out depths in her eyes I hadn't noticed before.
The neckline was elegant but daring, the fabric seeming to shimmer with every breath she took.
But it was the way she looked at me that truly stole my breath; her eyes locked onto mine with a defiant spark, chin lifted, shoulders back. She knew exactly what she was doing, how she looked, and she was challenging me to react.
My breath caught in my throat. Every thought in my head scattered like leaves in the wind.
"Say something," Karl prompted. "Don't just stand there gaping like an idiot."
But I couldn't.
I literally couldn't form words. All I could do was stare at her, at this magnificent woman who was slowly working her way past every defence I'd ever built, and wonder how I'd gotten so incredibly lucky.
Rhiannon's lips curved into a slow, knowing smile as she watched me struggle for words.
She did a little turn, the fabric swirling around her legs, and I swear my heart stopped beating for a full second.
"Cat got your tongue, Alpha?" she teased. "You were so articulate just a few minutes ago when you were declaring ownership to poor Miles."
I cleared my throat, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "I wasn't…"
"Speechless?" she supplied helpfully, taking a few steps closer. I found myself tracking every sway of her hips. "Because you look pretty speechless to me."
"You look..." I started, then had to pause to collect my thoughts. Karl was no help, just preening with satisfaction in the back of my mind. "You look really good."
"Really good?" Rhiannon's eyebrow arched, and her smirk deepened. "That's the best you can do? The great Alpha Kael, reduced to 'really good'?"
Despite myself, I felt a grin tugging at my lips. "Fine. You look absolutely stunning. Beautiful. Breathtaking." I gestured toward the fitting room. "Take that one. Definitely take that one. But try the others too. I want to see…" I caught myself before I could finish that sentence.
"Want to see what?" she prompted, eyes dancing with mischief.
"Just try the others," I said, deflecting. "I have a feeling they'll all look incredible on you."
She studied me for a moment longer, as if trying to decode something in my expression, then nodded and turned back toward the fitting room. Before she disappeared behind the curtain, she glanced over her shoulder at me.
"You know, for someone who claims not to be possessive, you're doing a terrible job of hiding it."
I didn't have a response to that, so I just watched her vanish behind the curtain again.
The woman returned with more options, and over the next half hour, Rhiannon modelled several more gowns. Each one was stunning in its own way, and each one left me more entranced than the last.
Finally, as she emerged in an elegant black gown with subtle beading along the bodice, she paused and fixed me with a direct look.
"Alright," she said, crossing her arms. "Before we go any further, why exactly are we buying all these dresses? What's the occasion?"