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CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN

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[Video footage of Paragon Gala red carpet]

[Pack de Clare enters and poses together. Cameras flash and reporters ask questions]

“Pack de Clare, will you answer questions about your relationship?”

“Will you be doing any interviews?”

“Are you bonded yet?”

“Has being together affected your racing at all?”

“How was your heat?”

“Grayson, does she fuck like she races?”

[Grayson de Clare takes a step toward the divider and is stopped by security. The reporter was escorted from the event and banned.]

Walking the red carpet gave a new meaning to the phrase ‘seeing stars.’ The flashbulbs still pulsed across my vision despite my desperate blinking.

“It never seems that bright when you see a red carpet in photos.”

“No kidding,” River muttered.

It was a first. I’d never done a full on red carpet like this, and I’d be a liar if I said nerves didn’t grip my gut. Or I would be nervous if not for their hands on me. One of them had been touching me since we left the penthouse, and I absolutely did not mind.

“Grayson.”

We turned together and found James Robertson approaching with his partner, a male beta. “James.”

They shook hands.

James swept his gaze over the rest of us and nodded at me. “Vanessa. Good to see all of you. You know my husband, Reece?”

“We’ve met briefly.” I shook the man’s hand again. He had a killer smile and a soft vibe that paired well with James’s strict intensity.

“Nice to see you again, Miss Lennon.”

James smiled, and it completely transformed his face. I could count on one hand the times I’d seen it, but he was far less intimidating. “Ah.” He looked over and my stomach dropped and he called someone over. “There. Both my drivers in the same place.”

Lars came to us, dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, just like everyone else. He looked good, but no amount of finery could mask the coldness in his eyes. “James,” he said. “Grayson.”

He didn’t speak to the rest of us, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

“I trust my contract is being looked at? It’s well past the summer break.”

“It is,” James said. “But tonight isn’t the night for business.”

Lars nodded once. “I’ll see you at the track then.”

Under his breath, I heard River growl. My hand in his was the thing that made it stop, but James was already looking at us. “Is that a normal interaction between you?”

How honest could I be here?

Thank fuck for Grayson, who drifted into my line of sight and gave me a nod, letting me know to tell the whole truth. I loved that man.

“That’s actually tame. Frankly, I’m relieved when he ignores me.”

James stared at me, any pretense of a smile gone. He looked for the lie that wasn’t there. “Like I said. Tonight’s not the night for business. Grayson, as usual, thank you for your generous donation. I’ll see the rest of you later?”

“Of course.”

He and Reece left hand in hand, and I glanced at Grayson. “He didn’t know?”

“He knew. But telling someone that one of your drivers hates the other isn’t always a shock.” No, I imagined not, given how competitive racing was. “Seeing it in action is much more telling.”

Beck touched my waist and leaned in. “Would you like a drink, love?”

“Something sweet and cold.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

God, these heels were amazing but my feet already ached. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted someone and grinned. Annika had gotten ready too, and there she was, on Ronan’s arm in front of everyone. River followed my gaze and did a double take. “Wait, what?”

“Sorry,” I said. “She made me keep the secret. If it makes you feel better, I’ve only known since Deutschland.”

They got waylaid by Vic, the owner of Xelerate, and his pack. I slipped my arm through River’s and relished the butterflies in my stomach when he turned and kissed my bare shoulder. “I’ve already threatened his life if he hurts her,” I said.

“I would expect nothing less. And I’ll back you up.”

Waiters circulated with flutes of champagne. Elias grabbed one, but I waited for whatever Beck was bringing me. I looked around again, and people were chatting here and there in little groups. Occasionally splitting and mingling like atoms.

Beck appeared once more with a glass full of something ruby red in a frosted glass. It was exactly what I wanted—fruity and deliciously cold.

“Thanks.” I looked around, sipping slowly. “Is this what happens? People just kind of… stand around?”

Elias choked on the sip of champagne he’d taken, fighting for breath through his laughter. He waved me off, still laughing and downing the rest of the champagne in one go before leaving the flute on another tray. “Yes,” he finally said, wiping away tears of laughter. “Yes, it’s exactly what happens. And it is boring as hell . In case you wondered why I decided to leave my luxurious life behind. This is what ‘they’ do. Rub shoulders with each other, gossip, and give enough of their money that people don’t second guess them.”

He looked away, and for the first real time I got a glimpse of the life he left behind. A life full of nothing but empty parties and small talk would be torture for Elias. He was so full of life. Playful. Funny. As beautiful as this party was, it was neither.

“Speak of the devil,” Elias muttered.

Across the room, I spotted two people I recognized as his parents. Beatrice and Heath Coleville. The woman held herself with a poise that only came from years of training and grace. The man too, looked regal from a distance. Sometimes you could just tell.

“Those are your parents?” I wanted to make sure.

“Yes,” Elias said softly. “They are.”

“Do I get to meet them?”

He sighed, and there was so much pain in it that my chest ached. “If you really want to.”

“I want to.”

Taking my drink and handing it to Beck for safekeeping, he slipped his hand through mine with another sigh. “Then let’s get this over with.”

The others trailed behind us, not encroaching on our space, but still within distance, supporting. Elias cleared his throat as we approached them. “Mother, father.”

They turned toward us, a sickly smile appearing on his mother’s face. She looked me up and down, her eyes catching on the incredibly revealing side of my dress.

That single look told me Elias had shielded me from the worst of this, and when he said his parents didn’t approve, it wasn’t in a gentle, parental, ‘maybe you could try something else, dear,’ kind of way.

But Elias still smiled as he pulled me forward. “This is Vanessa Lennon. My Omega.”

“Ah yes,” his mother said in an accent that was just as smooth and posh as his was. “The driver everyone is talking so much about.”

“It’s very nice to meet you. I’ve been looking forward to it,” I said, inclining my head. We hadn’t talked about protocol, but I didn’t think that Britannian nobles were looking for a handshake.

“It’s good to see that she can wear a dress, Elias. Revealing as it is. At the very least when you come home you both won’t be covered in grease.”

His father chuckled, though he’d said nothing else, and my jaw nearly dropped from the outright rudeness. “Excuse me?”

Hurt lashed through me fast as a whip. Not just for me, but for my Beta. Who had nothing but love for everyone. What the hell?

“Oh, it’s nothing, dear. We just have different expectations in our world, and Elias has been very clear about rebelling against them.” She smiled, but it was fake. “Our friends already talk about it far too much. So it’s good you’ll be able to fit in. That’s all.”

Rage sparked under my skin. Elias squeezed my hand, tugging me like he wanted to pull me away, but I resisted. One look in his direction showed his face painted with defeat. This was what he’d been afraid of, and why he hadn’t wanted them to meet me.

Fine. Before this moment I hoped I’d be able to help mend the bridge between Elias and his family. But fuck them if they couldn’t even be bothered to try. I certainly wasn’t going to let the man I loved walk out of here with that expression on his face.

I tilted my head and looked at them. “Why are you here?”

Elias’s father glared at me. “Excuse me?”

“Why are you here?” I asked again.

Both of them gaped at me like fish on the bank of a river. Like they didn’t understand the question.

“This gala is sponsored by Paragon Racing. My team. Elias’s team. The only reason you even get to be here is because your son is one of the most important mechanics on one of the best motorsport teams in the world. If you hate what he does so much, enough to be openly rude to him and his pack, his family , why are you here?”

The space around us went still and silent with shock. Not just in our circle. The silence was spreading.

“We are his family,” his mother hissed through her teeth. “Even if he’s forgotten that.”

“It’s all right, Nes,” Elias said quietly. “It doesn’t matter.”

“No. It’s not all right and yes, it does matter.” I held his hand firmly and faced his parents. “I didn’t lie to you. When we came over, I was excited to meet you. I pushed the introduction in spite of Elias’s reluctance. Turns out he was far more charitable in his description of you than you deserve.”

His father’s face turned deep red. “How dare you. We?—”

“Should be ashamed of yourselves for showing so much contempt for your son. Because you don’t approve of his career? Your behavior is inexcusable. Whatever else you were going to say doesn’t matter. You can’t bask in his generosity at the same time as insulting him to everyone he knows. That’s not what a family does. We are his family.”

Elias squeezed my hand once more, but it didn’t feel like warning or anger. It felt like relief.

“If all you’re going to do is pretend Elias’s career is beneath you, please leave.”

His mother’s face shifted into a smirk worthy of a sneaky cat. “You can’t ask us to leave. You’re nothing but a driver.”

“Maybe she can’t, but I can,” Grayson said, setting a hand on my shoulder. “Or have you forgotten who I am too?”

Beatrice—I refused to call that woman his mother again—paled when her eyes landed on Grayson. Like she’d forgotten there were other witnesses, let alone ones as powerful as Gray.

“Elias,” his father snapped. “Talk some sense into them.”

When I looked over at him, all I saw was a contented peace on his face. No more pain. “No, father, I don’t think I will. Have a good night.”

One gesture from Grayson had security coming toward us, but they never made it. His parents stormed off in a huff, wanting to avoid a scene by being escorted out of the party.

It didn’t matter. Their exit was watched by pretty much everyone. We’d probably get hit with it in the press in some way, but I didn’t care. They deserved it. But…

Maybe I shouldn’t have done that in public.

As soon as they were out of sight, dread hit me, and I turned to Elias. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped like that. But I couldn’t stand the way they looked at you and?—”

Elias pulled me in and kissed me. Hard. Hard enough to ruin my lipstick and I didn’t even care. “Don’t fucking apologize,” he said against my lips. “That was incredible. I’ve never seen that look on their faces before, and I’d love to see it again.”

“I didn’t overstep?”

“If that’s overstepping, please do it every time we see them. If we ever see them again.” I felt him smile. “Thank you.”

He wasn’t kissing me now, but still holding me close. “They’re foolish for thinking that,” I said quietly. “And for making you feel like what you do isn’t important. Or worthy.”

“I won’t lie. The guys have been dying to do that since they met my parents for the first time. They’ve held back for my sake. I’m glad they did, because I don’t think it would have been as sweet coming from them.” He smiled, looking happier today than I’d seen him.

“I hope I didn’t make it worse.”

Elias raised an eyebrow. “After that, you think anything you said could make it worse?” He chuckled, fingers slipping beneath some of my silver ropes to touch my skin. “No, beautiful. You were spectacular.”

River grabbed my drink from Beck and stole a sip before handing it back to me. “Good riddance.”

I snuggled into Elias’s side while the others kept close. My instincts told me he needed me, and I wanted to be near all of them. “Surely there’s something fun to do at these parties,” I whispered to him. “Or are you going to tell me Elias Coleville never went wild?”

One side of his mouth tilted upward, eyes dancing. “There might be a few things. But not many we can do at a party we’re technically hosting.”

Gray cleared his throat. Though I could tell he held back a smile of his own. “Yes. Let’s try to avoid anything too scandalous.”

“You mean, not more scandalous than getting two members of the Britannian nobility escorted out?”

“Exactly.”

I looked at Elias, and he winked, pulling me deeper into the crowd.