Chapter 20

Estelle’s POV

Nigel’s message flashed across my screen.

[Estelle, the pack has lost partnerships with Firemoon, Riverside, and Oakwood Packs due to communication issues. Can you reach out to them p>

I stared at the message for a moment, then typed back: [I will not be handling this until Jessie and Ashley have apologized for wasting my time p>

When I had refused to go over and help, they had resorted to spam calling me with all sorts of questions about Ashley’s newborn babies. I still had not forgotten how they tried to get Asher to force me to apologize to them.

This was to give them a taste of their own medicine.

I tucked my phone away and looked up to find Caleb watching me with knowing eyes.

“Everything alright?” he asked. “You look like you got some bad news p>

“Just some spam messages,” I replied with a shrug.

Caleb’s expression suggested he didn’t entirely believe me, but he didn’t push, which I appreciated.

“So,” I said, changing the subject as we were seated at a corner table, “tell me more about the coastal territories. I haven’t had much interaction with those packs yet p>

Caleb launched into an explanation of the various coastal pack dynamics, his enthusiasm infectious. The way his eyes lit up when he talked about different pack structures told me why Killian had recommended him so highly, and not just because he was Killian’s son. Caleb genuinely cared about the political landscape and understood the intricate relationships between territories.

I found myself relaxing for the first time in days, enjoying normal conversation that didn’t involve family drama or pack betrayals.

That peaceful moment was shattered when someone roughly bumped into me from behind, nearly knocking me off balance. The impact was hard enough to seem intentional.

Caleb’s hand shot out, steadying me as I turned to see who had collided with me.

A woman stood behind us, her long black hair perfectly straight and her blue eyes cold as winter ice. She was stunningly beautiful, with sharp features and an expression that suggested she found the entire world beneath her notice. Her outfit screamed expensive—designer dress, perfect makeup, jewelry that probably cost more than most people’s monthly salary.

“Lena!” Caleb’s voice carried surprise and something else—wariness, maybe?

The woman—Lena—looked between us with obvious disdain. Her gaze lingered on me with particular distaste, like I was something unpleasant she’d stepped in.

“Is she why you broke up with me, Caleb?” Her voice was accusatory.

Caleb immediately shook his head. “No, Lena. That’s not—” He stood up quickly, putting himself slightly between us. “This is Estelle Harper, the new Luna of the Blackmoon Pack p>

Lena’s eyebrow arched, and I saw recognition flicker across her features. “Harper.” She said the name like she was tasting something bitter. “So you’re Alpha James’s long-lost daughter p>

“That’s right.” I kept my voice level, though I could feel my patience wearing thin. I didn’t particularly like being examined like a specimen, and I definitely didn’t appreciate being knocked into.

Lena’s eyes swept over me critically, taking in my simple but well-made clothing, my practical hairstyle, my lack of ostentatious jewelry. Whatever she saw clearly didn’t impress her.

“How… quaint,” she said finally. “I heard you were raised by some backwoods pack. Moonveil, wasn’t it p>

The insult was subtle but clear. I felt my jaw tighten. “Yes, I was. And you are p>

“Lena Hart.” She said it like the name should mean something to me. “Eldest daughter of Alpha Matthew Hart of the Scarletfang Pack p>

Now I understood. The Hart name was familiar. I’d met her half-sister Vivian when purchasing the villa. The memory of that encounter wasn’t pleasant either.

“Ah,” I said, keeping my tone neutral. “Vivian’s sister p>

Something flickered in Lena’s eyes at the mention of Vivian. Annoyance, maybe. Or jealousy.

“Half-sister,” she corrected sharply. “We don’t have much in common p>

“Except your charming personalities,” I replied sweetly.

Lena’s eyes narrowed. She clearly wasn’t used to people matching her sarcasm. Most people probably cowered when faced with her cold demeanor.

“Well,” she said, her voice dripping with false politeness, “how lovely to meet the famous lost princess. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other soon p>

With that, she turned on her expensive heels and walked away, her posture rigid with offended dignity.

Caleb let out a long breath once she was gone, his shoulders relaxing visibly.

“Sorry about that,” he said, sitting back down. “Lena can be… intense p>

“That’s one way to put it.” I watched as Lena joined a table across the restaurant, where several well-dressed young women were sitting. They immediately leaned in as she sat down, clearly eager to hear whatever gossip she was about to share. “She seems like a real ray of sunshine p>

Caleb rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. “She’s actually not usually that rude. She’s more… aloof than actively unpleasant p>

“You’re defending her.” It wasn’t a question.

“I guess.” He shifted in his seat, looking uncomfortable. “Lena’s complicated. She’s had a difficult life, being born to an omega mother and always having to compete with her half-sister for their father’s attention p>

I studied his face.

“You know her quite well,” I observed.

Caleb sighed. “She’s my ex-girlfriend. We just broke up recently p>

That explained the tension. And the way she’d immediately assumed I was the reason for their breakup. It also explained why Caleb seemed so uncomfortable with the entire encounter.

“I had assumed so.” I didn’t push for details. Breakups were messy enough.

“It’s complicated,” he said again, then seemed to realize he was repeating himself. “But that’s over now p>

I nodded, letting the subject drop. The last thing I wanted was to get caught in the middle of someone else’s relationship drama. I had enough of my own to deal with.

The mention of relationships reminded me of my own complicated situation. Caleb must have been thinking along the same lines because he suddenly straightened up.

“Speaking of relationships,” he said, “you’re engaged to the Lycan King, right? Have you spoken to him since the announcement p>

I sat a little straighter. “Not really. Just a quick text to confirm the engagement p>

“That’s it?” Caleb looked surprised. “No phone calls? No visits p>

“No.” I picked at my napkin, feeling oddly embarrassed. “I suppose he’s busy with Lycan affairs p>

“Still, you’d think p>

My phone began ringing, cutting off whatever Caleb was about to say. I glanced at the screen and saw Nigel’s name again. This time, it was a call.