Chapter 3 Chapter 3

"I'm buzzing with excitement!" I announce with a toothy grin, pirouetting to face Caterina. Her eyebrows lift in an unspoken question. "So, what can I do to help?" I ask, a brow playfully arched in return.

Caterina throws me an insouciant shrug. "Well, I'm elbow-deep in croissant dough, so there's that."

What followed was a whirlwind thirty minutes of shaping, baking, and general kitchen chaos. We managed to churn out around two hundred golden, buttery delights. Yet, in the midst of our culinary storm, my gaze kept straying over to Sabrina. It was her first time attempting croissant origami, and her efforts, while earnest, were hilariously malformed. I stifle a snort as flour dusted Sabrina's face, a smirk dancing on my lips.

Sabrina catches my stifled amusement. "What's so funny?" She grumbles.

"You're folding them all wrong," I chide, pursing my lips to hide a grin.

With a narrowed glare, she hurls a piece of dough at me in retort. Quick on my feet, I dodge the incoming projectile which smacks Caterina square in the face.

"What the -?" Caterina yelps, staring at us with dough-dappled cheeks. The sight of her dough-covered face is so absurd that I have to swallow my laughter.

Sabrina points an accusing finger at me. "It was meant for her!"

"Who, innocent ol' me?" I flutter my eyelashes, feigning innocence.

Both of them fix me with matching smirks and I raise my brows in disbelief.

"No way!" I laugh, attempting to flee the scene. But Caterina is quick, her hand snagging my arm. "The alpha mind-linked me. He wants to see you."

Nodding, I switch from playful to serious, preparing myself to face him. When he tells me I have to attend an event tonight, and worse, he wants to introduce me as his mate, I resist the urge to roll my eyes. I'm not ready for that.

"I haven't even accepted you yet," I retort, my heart pounding.

"Cut it out," he growls, "it's not like you're going to reject me. Be ready by seven." With that, he dismisses me with a flick of his hand and turns back to his work.

Arrogant alpha... I grumble to myself as I head back upstairs to the room Caterina had shown me earlier. He can't just boss me around, I resolve to myself. I'm not some puppet he can control.

As I'm lost in my thoughts, a knock on the door brings me back to the present. "Come in," I invite, trying to sound composed.

Sabrina enters, carrying a box. "The alpha sent this for you," she says, placing the box on my bed. "He said you should wear this tonight."

Curiosity piqued, I walk over to the box. Lifting the lid, I find a stunning navy blue dress with a single sleeve adorned with glittering beads. The dress is beautiful, but the thought of being paraded around as someone's mate makes me groan.

The rest of the day passes in a flurry of preparation, with Sabrina helping me with my hair and makeup. She even tries to persuade me to wear a pair of silver stilettos, but I stand my ground and slip into my comfortable white sneakers instead. She wrinkles her nose at my choice but finally gives up and fetches a pair of silver flats.

Dressed up and ready, I head downstairs, only to find Jacob, the alpha, waiting for me. I inwardly scoff as Kole, one of his minions, awkwardly informs me that Jacob "has demanded" my presence. Taking a deep breath, I follow him to a grand door behind which awaits a room full of curious faces.

"Irene?" A familiar voice calls out, drawing my attention. My eyes widen as they meet Jimmy's. A wave of shock washes over me. What is he doing here?

My head swiveled towards him, my eyes bulging with shock. His sudden appearance was like finding a shark in a bird's nest. Absolutely out of place, not to mention a little bit terrifying.

"Ah, a reunion?" Jacob's voice echoed through my confusion. He was looking back and forth between us like a spectator at a tennis match.

"Jimmy and I used to run in the same pack," I managed to get out, plastering a strained smile on my face.

"Just a humble pack member," Jimmy interjected with a smirk that had the temperature in the room dropping a few degrees. He turned towards Jacob, giving him a curt nod, "Jacob."

"Jimmy, so delightful to see you and your mate this evening," Jacob's voice oozed polite civility. My gaze shifted rapidly between the two men, the tension thick enough to chew. "This is Irene, my mate. But it appears formal introductions aren't necessary."

How on earth did Jacob know Jimmy?

I volleyed back a tight-lipped smile towards Jimmy before swiveling to Jacob. "Why not acquaint me with the other guests, darling?" I crooned, piling on the sugar with my words.

With a nod, Jacob led me away from Jimmy. We made our way to an elderly couple who enveloped Jacob in a warm hug. "Irene, these are Penny and James. They've been like parents to me," he explained.

"It's a pleasure to meet you both," I replied, my smile genuine this time.

"James, Penny, meet Irene, my mate," Jacob announced, his voice revealing a hint of anxiety that piqued my interest.

"Oh, Jacob, we are so pleased for you," James beamed, while Penny's eyes sparkled with pride.

"Thank you," Jacob exhaled, a sincere smile lighting up his face. That was a first. What was going on here?

"You wouldn't happen to be Shane Montgomery's daughter, would you?" Penny queried, looking at me with newfound interest.

"Yes, he was my father," I replied, a trace of melancholy seeping into my smile.

"No wonder you looked familiar! Your mother and I were old chums," Penny exclaimed, her grin infectious.

"You knew my mother?" The surprise was evident in my voice.

"Of course! Your mother was a force to be reckoned with," Penny reminisced with a hearty chuckle.

"If Irene inherited even a fraction of her mother's spirit, Jacob, you have your hands full," James joined in the laughter, slapping Jacob's shoulder. I couldn't help but smile, truly amused. I liked these folks.

We chatted for a bit longer before the conversation veered towards pack matters, a topic that I felt better left to those involved. "I'm going to find myself a drink," I excused myself, attempting to slide away.

But Jacob had other ideas. As I started to leave, he caught my hand in a gentle grip, signaling that the evening was far from over.