Chapter 16
The day before her departure dawned quietly. Marissa‘ s breath clouded in the crisp morning air as she opened her door of her parents‘ house, only to find a breathtaking sight–a mountain of gifts arranged along the path. Her heart. skipped, stunned at the grandeur: crates of gleaming jewels, silks finer than anything she’d seen, and boxes upon boxes.
wrapped in velvet and lace. There was no need for a name. She knew instantly they were from him–the Alpha King.
As attendants unloaded the final crate, they nodded respectfully before heading off, leaving Marissa to stare at the luxurious bounty left at her feet. A flutter of unease stirred within her chest, her wolf bristling at the attention such an extravagance would undoubtedly draw. She barely had time to worry about it before the chatter started, whispers spreading through the pack like wildfire.
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“Marissa, what’s all this?” One of the
pack members asked, soft but tinged with awe. She stepped forward, eyes widening as she took in the collection. “It‘ s…
beautiful.”
Marissa nodded slowly, a mixture of excitement and apprehension swirling in her chest. She hadn‘ t expected so much, nor had she expected it to arrive in such an open display. She could practically feel the pack‘ s curiosity flaring to life as pack members began to gather in small clusters, casting glances her way.
As the murmur of voices grew, Marissa glanced around, hoping to avoid an awkward confrontation. Her gaze met that of her father‘ s, who gave a silent nod before returning inside to distance himself from the growing crowd.
For days, she had been sleeping in her parents‘ home, wanting to avoid Ivy and Alpha Caleb who had been living under the same roof as her.
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But just as she started bringing a few of the boxes inside, she spotted Caleb
approaching, his expressions puzzled and wary. And worse, Ivy had tagged along, her eyes widening with barely disguised greed as she swept her gaze over the pile.
“Marissa!” Ivy gasped, her eyes lighting up as they landed on a particularly exquisite necklace draped with diamonds. She reached out, her fingers lingering on a sapphire ring set in white gold. “Where did all of this come from? I don‘ t think. I‘ ve ever seen anything so… luxurious.”
Marissa resisted the urge to pull the jewelry from Ivy‘ s grasp, forcing a tight smile instead. “Just a few gifts,” she replied, hoping to keep her tone light.
“A few?” Ivy laughed, her fingers still brushing over the treasures. “I think half the city’s fortune is sitting in your front yard!”
Marissa said nothing, silently ushering Ivy away from a delicately crafted diadem. But
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Ivy’s eyes flickered with envy, look that grew sharper as she inspected the pieces. more closely. After a moment, she turned back to Marissa with a saccharine smile.
“Oh, but you don’t really need all of this, do you?” Ivy asked, her tone falsely sweet.
“It’s so much. Maybe you‘ d consider donating some? I mean, really, you have more here than one person could ever
wear!”
Marissa’s lips tightened as she met Ivy’s gaze, her tone cold as she replied, “No, Ivy. These aren’t for… sharing.”
Ivy’s face faltered, her hand dropping from the necklace. “Well,” she huffed, a glimmer of frustration in her eyes, “seems like a shame to keep it all to yourself. Not that it’s any of my business,” she added quickly.
Alpha Caleb stepped forward, his eyes. narrowing slightly as he surveyed the gifts.
“Marissa, where is all this from?”
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Marissa tried to school her expression into neutrality, aware of the weight of his curiosity pressing in. She didn’t owe him an explanation, and she wasn’t about to share details that were her own to keep. “They’re just gifts, Alpha. You don’t need to worry about them.”
But Caleb‘ s gaze was unwavering, his brow furrowing as he glanced between her and the lavish display. “Gifts? From who?”
Marissa’s patience began to thin, but she forced herself to remain calm. “It‘ s…
private.”
That was when his expression darkened as he crossed his arms, not willing to let the matter drop. “Marissa, come on. I am your boyfriend. Where did you get this? Is someone trying to court you despite knowing you are the Alpha’s girlfriend? You’ve never been one to accept gifts, much less… whatever all this is. Don‘ tI
deserve to know?”
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Marissa looked at him, annoyance stirring within her as she felt the possessiveness of her wolf flare up. Deserve to know? He had distanced himself from her, chosen to favor Ivy s presence over her own, and now he dared to demand answers? She met Caleb’s gaze, her voice cool.
“It’s none of your business, Alpha. This has nothing to do with you.”
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