Chapter 5 The Sterling Family's Arrival

All my thoughts skidded to a halt. I blinked once, twice, but couldn't make sense of what he'd just said.

"Huh?" I managed eloquently.

I glanced at Elva, sleeping peacefully in Kane's arms. She was three years old. That lined up with our breakup three years ago. But...

I tried to recall that night. We'd been so young then, too eager and inexperienced. We'd both finished in clumsy haste. I couldn't quite remember where he was when he'd climaxed. But hadn't he been wearing protection?

"You're mistaken," I said, hoping to ease his mind. "Her name is Elva. But she's not yours."

His eyes widened momentarily. "You—"

Whatever he wanted to say, he seemed to struggle getting it out. He swallowed hard.

His gaze darted between Elva and me. "She looks like you."

Of course she did. Her birth mother was my identical twin sister. But I wouldn't tell Kane that. Elva was mine in every way that mattered. I wouldn't have her seen as anything less.

My silence seemed to enrage him further.

Elva stirred in his arms, and he immediately cut off the sound.

We both waited until her breathing steadied and put her on the bed. When she was fast asleep, Kane straightened and motioned me toward another door leading to a bathroom.

I raised an eyebrow at him.

He gestured toward Elva's sleeping form.

He obviously didn't want to wake her with whatever he was about to say. I didn't want that either.

With a sigh, I walked into the bathroom. It was nearly as large as the room we'd just left.

With Elva out of earshot, Kane's entire body tensed, making him seem even taller.

"Elena."

Hearing my name from his lips for the first time in three years sent an involuntary shudder through me.

If he'd been anyone other than the man I'd once loved, I would have run for the hills. But he was that man. And he was angry—his body nearly trembling with rage.

I waited for the accusation I knew was coming. Even when I heard it, it hurt like a physical blow.

"How long after our breakup did you wait before you let some other man get you pregnant?" His eyes burned into mine. "A week? Two? It couldn't have been long."

He sounded jealous. Or was that an illusion? Maybe he didn't care about me at all and was just angry.

His dark eyes scorched me, leaving my heart in tatters. Never in a thousand years would I have thought Kane could be so vicious to me.

"It wasn't like that," I said, trying to defend myself.

He crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn't going to listen.

"Why even come here?" he demanded.

"My application was selected—"

"Why even apply? Were you trying to get to me?"

"No."

"Maybe you regret your child's father. Maybe you want me back." He laughed bitterly. "Like you have a chance."

His words sliced into me as surely as if he'd been holding a knife. He had changed so much since I'd known him.

Three years ago, he'd been kind and patient. I'd given him my heart, and he'd gently cradled it. So many nights, we'd lain under the stars, trading kisses and stories.

Once, when he'd spent all night looking at me, I had told him, "You're missing the starlight."

He'd replied, "I can see it in your eyes."

The man before me now was nothing like the one I had known. This man was arrogant, cold, and imposing in how he carried himself.

Facing him now and seeing what he'd become brought all those feelings crashing back so hard they stole my breath.

Well, I wasn't that young, innocent girl anymore.

"Believe whatever you want," I said, putting bite into my own voice. The hurt made it easier. "Being here is a mistake, and I intend to correct it."

"Good," Kane said, so coldly that a chill ran along my spine. "You're the only woman who ever dared to break up with me, Elena. I'll never allow the same mistake to happen again."

He turned and left, walking back through the sitting room and out into the parlor. I thought he might slam the door behind him, as enraged as he was, but instead, he closed it gently.

I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't.

He'd been kind to Elva. He hadn't taken his misconceptions about me out on her.

"Excuse me? Excuse me, miss?"

I blinked my eyes open to find a nervous official hovering over me.

"I beg your pardon, miss, but Alpha, Luna, and their heirs have arrived. I suggest you hurry to the hall at once."

"Oh, uh—" I rubbed sleep from my eyes. "Wait—"

When I looked up again, he was already disappearing through the doorway, leaving it open.

"Mommy?" Elva sat up on the couch, watching me with curious eyes. "Is it time for more pretty dresses?"

I gave her my softest smile. "It is. We have to be quiet though, okay?"

"Okay."

I pulled Elva into my arms and carried her out to the hall. The Sterling family was standing on a raised platform. Alexander Sterling stood in the center, with Diana on one side and the three heirs flanking his other side. Kane, Julian and Mason.

Wait! Standing next to Kane was Julian?

I recognized him from my days at Bluestone Academy, though we hadn't been friends. Since Julian and Kane had been rivals, and I was Kane's girlfriend, I'd avoided interacting with Julian as much as possible.

Noticing my gaze, Julian smiled at me, making me quickly look away.

"Ladies!" Alexander said, calming the crowd. "Congratulations on having been selected for this monumental event. We are very pleased to have you here and look forward to getting to know you better over the coming weeks. We will now begin an introductory briefing. Only the selected ladies are requested to stay for this session."

His eyes traveled over the crowd but stopped when they landed on me with Elva in my arms. Every eye in the room followed his gaze. Whispering immediately surrounded me.

"Young lady, step forward please," Alexander said.

Not daring to disobey, I walked to the base of the platform.

I didn't know if he was waiting for me to speak, so I said, "Forgive me, sir. I think there's been some kind of misunderstanding."

"How do you mean?" he asked.

"I'm a young mother. My friend submitted my application without my knowledge. I'm sorry for wasting your time."

Vanessa huffed a harsh laugh. "She doesn't even have an inner wolf."

The murmurs grew louder.

"A moment," Alexander said. He turned and motioned his family closer.

They spoke in turn, too quietly for anyone else to hear.

"I'll pack at once, sir. I'll be gone within an hour, " I said, didn't want to hear their rejection.

"Wait," Alexander said. "You can stay here. Your child, too."

Stay? They wanted me to stay?

How could I possibly fit into this competition?