Her revengeful Bastard

Proposal

*Anna*

“I heard you were seen strolling through the park with Tempest yesterday afternoon”. Kyle says suddenly.

I stare up at my waltzing partner’s somber face. I have never known Kyle to look so serious. I have arrived at the ‘Luna’s in fullmoon’ ball, maid in tow, respectfully late, expecting him to arrive even later. Instead he was already there. As soon as I had greeted the host and hostess, he swept me onto the dance floor.

The inquisition begins without him even asking how I have been since he has last seen me. “It wasn’t arranged”. The exact truth. “Our paths simply crossed, and he was gentlemanly enough to spare me a few moments”.

“He’s a bastard, Anna”. He looks at me.

My mouth drops open at the harsh word, delivering cuttingly, in a manner I know he would never use to Kai Tempest’s face. His voice holds disapproval, disappointment, but also a measure of something I think might be jealousy. “You indicated the other night during dinner his illegitimacy was only a rumor”.

“Now I know it to be true”. He shakes his head lightly.

With the knowledge, I should think less of Kai Tempest, be horrified at the way I had stared at his hands as he assisted me with my bracelet, be mortified by the gladness I had felt as he escorted me in the park. Yet I seem incapable of viewing him any differently. “Have you ceased your associations with him then ?”

Kyle appears decidedly uncomfortable, glancing around quickly as though fearful someone might overhear our conversation, while all along his tense expression is going to be cause for much gossip and speculation. “It will do your reputation no good to be seen speaking with him”.

“So if he approaches, what am I to do ? Give him a direct cut ?” I ask.

“Simply don’t acknowledge him. If you do not speak to him first, he cannot speak to you”. He points out.

I raise one eyebrow. “Did he strike you as someone who follows the society rules of packs ?”

“You cannot encourage him or give any indication that you can overlook the circumstances of his birth”. He says a tad harshly.

“That’s hardly fair. He’s done nothing to deserve my censure”. I say softly.

He shakes his head. “He was born on the wrong side of the blanket”.

“How is that his fault ?” I know I shouldn’t discuss this, but I can’t let it go.

He releases an exasperated sigh. “My parents would not be at all pleased to know you have spoken with him. They made that perfectly clear the other night”.

“You were the one who brought him up during dinner after we both agreed we wouldn’t mention the encounter”. I point out.

His cheeks goes red. “I didn’t mention the encounter, only the man. You are the one who is going to cause problems if you continue to associate with him”.

“I’m not associating with him. We merely spoke when our paths crossed in the park”. And near the shops. Not that I am going to mention that. It would only heighten his upset, which I am finding distressing enough, as he has never been cross with me before.

“How did he know you’d be in the park ?” He questions.

Having never seen him so blistering mad, I am feeling rather aggravated. “What do you think ? I sent him a missive and told him to meet me there”.

The anger that flashes in his eyes gives me pause and makes me realize it might be best not to taunt him.

But communicating with my fan leaves a great deal to be desired, and at the moment, I have a need to speak what is on my mind. I have the fleeting thought that Kai Tempest would applaud me, and inappropriately, I take a measure of pleasure in that.

“Honestly, Kyle, you can’t think I encouraged him in any way”. Although I had, just a tad, when I had mentioned the hour I usually stroll through the park. I do hope the heat rushing into my cheeks is not giving me away. I had longed to do something I shouldn’t, to take a chance, a risk, and then Kai Tempest had come along, dark,

dangerous and tempting. Even though I would never go beyond a stroll with him, I had been flattered to know I appeal to someone other than Kyle.

“It’s frightfully warm in here”. He says curtly. “Shall we take a turn about the gardens and allow the fresh air to cool our tempers ?”

I nod. “This heated discussion seems to warrant it”.

With my hand on his arm, he escorts me out through the open doors onto the terrace and down the steps into the gardens. Lighted torches lining the paths reveal other couples walking about. I wonder how many of the women are holding folded fans to their lips, signaling they want a kiss. Would Kyle accommodate me should I make use of my fan ? I wish I had more courage and wasn't hesitant to find out. Not that I am particularly in the mood for a kiss at the moment. We have never before stepped out of line with each other, have never had a row. I don’t much like it now, although in a strange way it makes me feel very much alive, as though I have gone through life in a trance, simply existing from one moment to the next.

“My meeting him was merely a coincidence”. I admit, wondering why I feel I have to be the first to offer an olive branch. “If you must know, he even asked for you, wondering why you weren’t in the park”.

He looks at me. “I was told you strolled with him for a considerable distance”.

“Nothing untoward happened”. I hate apologizing for something that is not my fault. “Do you have people spying on me ?”

“That’s the thing, Anna. Among our kind, everything is noticed and commented on. A couple of guys mentioned it at the club, and not in a kind way. He’s not the sort with whom you should be seen consorting”.

I sigh. “I wasn’t consorting. How many times must I say it ? Besides, you seem to like him well enough”.

“A man is allowed to associate with whomever he wants. A woman cannot”. He says.

“It was an innocent walk”. I point out yet again.

He clears his throat. “I simply find it odd that within the space of a few days, you have crossed paths with the man twice”.

He wouldn’t be at all pleased to discover there was a third time … or a gift. “He was probably always around before. We just never noticed him because we had never been introduced to him”.

“He doesn’t strike me as a man not noticed”. He says, and I have to admit he is right.

“Are you jealous ?” The hope filled words pop out before I can stop them.

His voice is almost emotionless now. “I simply don’t want him to take advantage of you”.

“We were in a park where an abundance of people were strolling about, and my servants were there too. I don’t see how that could happen”. I point out.

“If it were his intent, he would find a way”. He huffs, sounding like he knows what he is talking about.

I shake my head. “You speak so poorly of him, and yet I thought you wanted to go into business with him”.

“I don’t trust him. At least where you’re concerned”. He laughs harshly. “Good God, perhaps I am jealous. Do I have a reason to be ?”

“No”. At least I don’t think so. A man like Kai Tempest would never be accepted by the Alpha and Luna. I am not even certain he would be welcomed by my parents, had they still been alive. Kyle is the sort of man a woman of my rank is mated to. It helps that he has been my friend for so long. The fact that he doesn’t create the strange stirrings within me that Kai Tempest does is no doubt a good thing. A she-wolf should at all times be calm, collected and in control of all her thoughts, putting errant ones to rest quickly. “I care for you deeply, Kyle”.

He smiles, and it softens his face. “And I you”.

“Then why have you never kissed me ?” I despise the surfacing doubts regarding his desire for me and mine for him. I am beginning to wish we had never gone to The gardens. Everything seems to have changed that night: the way I view him, myself, our future.

“Out of respect. A man doesn’t dally with a woman he intends to marry”. He says.

My heart gives a little kick as I stop walking and face him. “That’s the first time you’ve made your intentions regarding me clear”.

“It’s always been implied. I thought you knew that”. He looks at me, his expression surprised.

“Yes, but a woman likes to have clarity. I’ve been extremely loyal, and have welcomed no other advances or interests. And I’m not getting any younger”. I point out.

“Neither am I, actually. My father pointed that out to me recently”. His deep sigh fills the night. “Shall we make it official, then ?”

Stunned, I watch as he goes down on one knee and takes my hand. “I adore you, Anna Lightfoot. Will you honor me by becoming my wife ?”

The words ebb and flow around me, at once ghost like, yet solid. I am not quite certain what I have expected of a proposal. A declaration of undying love perhaps. My heart is pounding with an erratic rhythm. A realisation of Being true mates. Birds taking flight. The sun replacing the moon. Stars shooting across the sky. I have waited eons for this moment. It seems it should be more profound, causing my knees to tremble and my lungs to cease functioning. Instead my body gives no reaction at all, as though his proposal has yet to penetrate.

“Anna ?” he prompts. “I would welcome a quick response as there’s a pebble digging into my knee most painfully”.

His words bring me back to the reality of the moment. Isn't a simple proposal more profound ? Doesn’t it speak to a more honest relationship that doesn’t require fancy words or decorative phrases ?

“Oh, yes ! I’m sorry”. Covering my mouth with my hands, I laugh, striving to not become hysterical at what should have been an incredibly romantic moment. “Yes, yes, of course, I’ll marry you”.

“Marvelous”. He gets up, dips his head. I close my eyes, waiting …

“Oh, my word! Kyle, did we just see you down on bended knee ?” A she-wolf calls out.

My eyes fly open as Miss Summer and her escort, Thor, the Alpha of the Thornback pack, walks nearer. Blast it all! I don’t mind that they have seen the proposal, but couldn’t Summer have held her tongue until after I had been kissed ?

“You did say yes, didn’t you, Anna ?” Summer asks.

“Naturally”. I tell her.

“I daresay it’s about time you two got on with things, and at my family’s ball, no less. You will allow me to make the announcement once we return to the salon, won’t you ? I won’t take no for an answer”.

Raising a brow, Kyle looks at me. “I see no harm in that. We’re moving forward, after all”.

I feel my face grow warm. This is truly happening. The fanfare is about to begin, and once the announcement is made, there will be no turning back, no changing of minds for either of us. “Shouldn’t we wait until we’ve told your parents ?”

Grinning, he tweaks my nose. “They know, silly girl. My father is your guardian, and I had to get his blessing first”.

“Oh, yes, of course”. When has that happened ? Shouldn’t I have been consulted ? No, it has always been assumed …

“Congratulations, old chap”. Thor says, holding out his hand. “Even if it did cost me five hundred pounds”.

He is no doubt referring to the stupid wager made at the Alpha’s club regarding when Kyle would ask for my hand. I feel distant, separated from myself as I watch my betrothed shake the Alpha’s hand. Now that the moment is actually here, it doesn’t feel real.

“My luck is much better than yours”. Kyle says. “I shall soon have the lovely Miss Anna as my wife”.

“Let’s go announce it, then”. Summer says. “As I can hardly wait to make a splash”.

As she winds her arm around mine and begins leading me back to the house, I can’t help but think that this moment isn’t about Summer at all … and yet the girl is going to make it so.

“I’m so excited for you”. Summer says. “Kyle is quite the catch. I know a few she-wolves who are going to be disappointed. Even though we all expected him to marry you, some were foolish enough to hold out hope”.

I wonder if any gentlemen has held out hope for me, if Kai Tempest’s recent attentiveness has been more than kindness. What does it matter ? I have been traveling this path for most of my life. It is reassuring to see the destination on the horizon … at long last. Still, it seems I should have experienced a measure of excitement rather than simple relief.