Chapter 191

Theodore’s POV

I watched my mate discreetly, and noted her lack of surprise as Lucas and Owen were served their suits. When she rose after Owen’s dramatic exit, I sent her every ounce of strength I could through our bond, supporting her the only way I could right now as she confronted her ex-mate and attacker. I smiled as I heard the words she delivered so tactfully.

“I hope you get everything you deserve.”

I thumbed Violet’s token that hung around my neck. I couldn’t wait to get my token back where it belonged, close to her heart.

You didn’t want to warn me about this? I asked my mate as she strode elegantly back to her table.

The genuine shock on your face was important for our ruse. We don’t want them to suspect your next move.

The line of blessings awkwardly began forming again for the people who hadn’t yet shaken hands with the bride and groom. Whispers rose throughout the hall into unintelligible but tense chatter.

I studied Lucas, then glanced at the door my half-brother had left through. I don’t think either Lucas or Owen care about the shock on my face right now.

Maybe. But Eva sure seems to.

I froze, slowly turning to look at my date. I found Eva scrutinizing my face.

“Can you believe the audacity of the Vainthotts to sue our own king?” she asked, and I knew it was a test.

I looked away from her probing gaze to watch the Vainthotts who were suddenly being offered a wide berth by other guests. I blinked, shaking my head as I tried to process the ramifications of their actions. “I’m as surprised as you are,” I murmured.

When I returned my gaze to Eva, she seemed satisfied with my answer, and I was annoyed that Violet had been right to keep me in the dark. Eva would certainly report this moment back to my brother.

I glanced at one of the Beta tables where Dahlia was sitting. Theoretically, she could have been sitting next to her fiancé tonight, could have stolen precious minutes with him, but without a date of her own, Violet was expected to keep her Beta at her side for the evening. I was glad to know he was at her table with her when I couldn’t be.

I felt guilty though, like I was selfishly stealing Dahlia’s mate away from her in order to protect my own.

It didn’t take long for Owen to return to the party, apparently not yet ready to leave despite the embarrassment he had just suffered. Though I noticed guests gave him as wide of a berth as they were giving the Vainthotts.

The celebration continued, my muscles contracting as I watched each little tradition unfold: the first bite of dinner that Lucas and Nora fed each other, Lucas taking out the traditional braid in Nora’s hair, and Nora untying his necktie as symbols of the privileges and responsibilities they now held for each other.

All the little traditions I hadn’t been able to partake in with Violet at our wedding because Lucas had kept her from the celebration by drugging her and forcing himself on her.

I flexed my toes in my shoes, contracted my abdominal muscles, and ground my teeth: anything to keep my rising fury out of public view.

Eva had finally worn me down, convincing me to dance with her, when Owen approached us. Half of the guests were on the dance floor, though my mate was not one of them. I was glad for my half-brother’s interruption at first, glad for an excuse to stop holding Eva so close, especially when she kept smirking at Violet the entire time.

But the smug smile on Owen’s face had my hackles rising.

He stopped right in front of us, and we stopped dancing as he eyed us. Eva was quick to submit, bowing deeply before greeting him with, “Your Majesty.” He offered her a smile like she was a good little dog.

Then he folded his hands in front of him and turned his gaze to me. “I hear you found a way to fund the Shelter Project without me.”

Shit. I had taken a gamble when I had revealed as much in front of Eva and her friends, but I was hoping I had nipped that in the bud. I didn’t know which one of them had passed this information on, and I didn’t know how Owen was about to play this.

So I stood my ground, remembering Lieutenant General Rufio’s words. “A general always finds a way.”

Owen’s brows furrowed just slightly at the reminder that I was in command of his army. His eyes flitted briefly to the shattered band on my forehead as he gritted his teeth. “I see.”

The threat in those two words had everyone else on the dance floor stopping, too – and backing away from us. The music cut out as my little, half-brother stared me down. With a whoosh of his royal cape, he spun to face the rest of the room.

“You surely all remember the so-called ‘Shelter Project’,” Owen used his fingers to create air-quotes, “that we recently voted on. That this man,” he pointed an accusatory finger my way, “spent weeks lying to us about, pretending it was a charitable project meant to protect the most vulnerable werewolves.”

Where the hell was he going with this?

With a flourish, he spun around and stepped forward to get right in my face. His voice rang against my ears as he projected for the whole room to hear. “When in reality, you’ve been amassing an army of rogues to take me down under the guise of the Shelter Project!”

I stared him down in disbelief until I couldn’t hold it together anymore. Taking a step back, I let out a raucous laugh. “What?”

My whole life, he had been paranoid about me taking the crown from him, but this conspiracy theory took the cake. Though technically, I supposed, I was now coming for his crown.

But not for me – or so I hoped. And certainly not like this.

My laughter echoed through the otherwise silent hall. “I’d ask for your proof, but you can’t possibly have any since it’s not true,” I finally said, wiping a hand down my face. “I’ve told you before, and I’ll spend the rest of my life telling you if I have to: I do not want the crown.”

“I may not have proof yet,” he turned toward the rest of the room again, “but you’ve all seen the growing rogue problem on the news. I am the only leader capable of protecting you from their cruelty. Remember that,” he found the Vainthotts in the crowd and stared them down, “when they try to come for my crown.”

Well, that explained the continued propaganda against rogues that Owen had been clearly paying the news outlet to report.

I took a deep breath as my half-brother stormed off the dance floor, werewolves parting to make a path for him.

Just about a week left, I reminded both my mate and myself. And then, one way or another, we won’t have to deal with him anymore.

Then something tugged in my mind, a sort of confusion. Turning, I looked over Eva, wondering why she wasn’t upset to find out I was still pursuing the Shelter Project, even after I had implied to her that I no longer was.

Then I realized she wasn’t upset to find it out because she already knew. Somehow, she already knew – and she was probably the one who had told Owen.