Chapter 52 The Unexpected Encounter

Luna Seraphina watched her daughter’s face light up.

"You really like her, don’t you?"

"Mom, you have no idea how incredible she is."

"Because she found the problems in your thesis?"

"That’s part of it." Lila settled back in her seat. "When Professor Chase saw my revisions, he couldn’t believe I’d fixed everything so quickly. He thought I’d need weeks, maybe even a whole new round of experiments."

"But that isn’t why you admire her."

Lila shook her head.

"Eira grew up in an Omega group home. She came to Palo Alto with no family money, no Pack connections, and no safety net. She built a life and a career on her own."

Her smile faded slightly.

"And now she isn’t even working in her field because Alpha Killian hired her as his secretary."

"Your brother didn’t force her to take the job."

"No, but he’s certainly making it hard for her to leave."

Luna Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "Is he?"

"I probably shouldn’t have said that."

"Probably not."

Lila smiled, then looked out the window.

"Everything I have came from you, Dad, and the Sterling Pack. I’ve worked hard, but I’ve never had to wonder whether I could afford school or where I would live. Eira never had that kind of support, and she still made something of herself."

"That doesn’t make your own work less valuable," Luna Seraphina said.

"I know. I just respect her. She’s brilliant, and she doesn’t need anyone’s approval."

Pride warmed Luna Seraphina’s expression.

"You sound like a very good friend."

"I’m trying." Lila’s grin returned. "Honestly, I wouldn’t mind having her in the family someday."

Luna Seraphina laughed. "Then your brother may need some help."

"He needs a personality transplant. Most of the time, he says nothing. When he does speak, he sounds like he’s firing someone."

"Some women appreciate a challenge."

"Eira has suffered enough."

They were still laughing when the car pulled up outside Sterling Group.

Eira was waiting near the entrance. Her eyes widened when she saw Luna Seraphina in the car. Lila had forgotten to mention that her mother was joining them.

Lila lowered the window.

"Surprise."

"I noticed."

Luna Seraphina smiled. "I hope you don’t mind me joining you."

"Of course not. It’s good to see you, Seraphina."

"Get in. We’re already late."

Lila moved over, and Eira climbed into the back seat beside her.

A security officer recognized the Sterling family car. Before it had even left the curb, word reached the executive floor.

Miles stepped into Alpha Killian’s office.

"Your mother and Lila were just downstairs."

Alpha Killian looked up in surprise. His mother rarely came by without calling first.

"Are they coming up?"

"Not exactly." Miles paused. "They picked up Eira and left."

Alpha Killian had already started to rise.

He slowly sat back down.

--

The Eden Garden

The restaurant sat at the top of Riverside Tower. Greenery spilled from hanging planters, and the glass walls opened onto a view of the city. Soft violin music played in the background.

Eira’s olive coat fit right in with the garden setting.

Monica, the owner, came over to greet them.

"Seraphina. Lila." Her gaze moved to Eira. "And you must be new."

"This is Eira," Luna Seraphina said. "She’s a friend of Lila’s and works with Killian."

"It’s nice to meet you, Monica."

"You too." Monica smiled. "I’ve heard good things."

She led them to a quiet table near one of the garden terraces.

"I saved you the most private spot I could, but we’re still in our soft opening, so another party is seated nearby. The Hales booked a family dinner."

Eira’s shoulders tightened.

Lila noticed at once. "Sebastian Hale?"

Monica nodded. "That’s the one. Five guests."

Lila counted them in her head.

"His parents, his sister, and Alpha Sebastian make four."

"The reservation was made by Serena Winthrop," Monica said. "She listed herself as Luna Hale."

Eira picked up her water and took a slow drink.

Lila’s expression cooled.

"That’s interesting."

Luna Seraphina glanced between them. "Isn’t she the woman who came with Alpha Sebastian to the gala?"

Before Lila could answer, the Hale family arrived and took the table behind them.

Isabella’s voice carried across the room almost at once.

"Serena, how did you get a reservation here?"

The Eden Garden was still in its soft-opening phase. It had no public booking system yet. Most tables went to investors, friends of the owner, and guests with the right connections.

Serena smiled. "A friend from the research council got me on the list."

"Of course she did," Isabella said. "You know everyone."

She started to sit beside Serena, then changed her mind.

"I’ll leave that seat for Sebastian."

"Has he said how far away he is?" Luna Margaret asked.

Serena checked her phone. "He’s in the elevator."

Isabella grinned. "He texted you and not the family chat?"

"Don’t start."

Serena’s blush only made Isabella smile wider.

A moment later, a host approached with Alpha Sebastian.

"Your party is right this way, Alpha Hale."

Alpha Sebastian thanked him and loosened his tie as he crossed the dining room. He had expected a quiet dinner with Serena, not his entire family.

His steps slowed.

They were all there, smiling and ready to celebrate.

Everyone except his wife.

"Sebastian." Serena raised a hand. "Over here."

He started toward them, then caught sight of the woman seated at the next table.

Long golden waves fell down her back. A white dress showed beneath an olive cashmere coat, and a pearl gleamed at her ear when she turned her head.

Something about her felt familiar.

Monica glanced toward the Hale table.

"Sebastian Hale keeps looking over here."

Eira’s back stiffened.

She had felt his eyes on her since he entered the restaurant, but she refused to turn around. Whatever he wanted, it could wait.

At the other table, Alpha Sebastian finally set down his coat.

"That’s Luna Sterling," he told his family. "I should go say hello."

Roger nodded. "Of course."

Serena stood with him. "I’ll come with you."

"That’s not necessary."

"I’d like to meet her."

Before he could object, Serena slipped her arm through his. Alpha Sebastian hesitated, then let her follow him.

They stopped beside Luna Seraphina’s table.

"Luna Sterling, good evening. I don’t believe we’ve been formally introduced. I’m Sebastian Hale, Alpha of the..."

His voice trailed off when he caught sight of the woman beside her.

"Eira?"

He pulled his arm free from Serena’s without thinking.

The sudden movement made Serena’s smile tighten.

Eira looked up at him.

"What a coincidence."

Her tone was calm, almost bored.

No anger. No questions. Not even surprise.

The distance in her voice bothered Alpha Sebastian more than anger would have.

Serena recovered first.

"Eira, I didn’t realize you had dinner plans here."

The words sounded friendly enough, but the question beneath them was clear.

How had Eira found her way into Luna Seraphina Sterling’s private dinner?